Audio-Technica ATH-SR30BT Wireless Headphones Review

November 17, 2018 5:19 pm

Is your phone charge always at 9%? Do you go to coffee shops just for the power outlets? If so, you probably have an aversion to plugging things in at night. Well, you’re in luck. Audio-Technica has introduced a headphone with a 70 hour battery life. At $99, the ATH-SR30BT seems like a great deal. But do these immortal cans sound any good? Let’s find out in this Audio-Technica ATH-SR30BT Wireless Headphones Review.

IN the BOX

Headphones

Micro-USB Charging Cable

FIT

The SR30BT are very light and just big enough to be over-ear headphones. But people with big ears, or those who prefer a roomy feel might need something larger. For this lady, they felt perfect. The fit was snug without feeling too tight. So, the sound isolation is decent with no compromise on comfort.

DESIGN

What sets these headphones apart from the pack is the battery life. With 70 hours of charge, this headphone will outlive your hamster. Aww, poor Fluffy. But when the 70 hours of battery life does run out, you’re %^@# out of luck. Unfortunately, the SR30BT does not have a wired capability. There’s no input for a cable, so you can’t use these in passive mode. And you’ll just have to muster up the energy to recharge them with the included micro-USB to USB cable.

Another defining quality of these headphones is that they employ Bluetooth 5 technology. And although this is slowly becoming the standard for newly released wireless headphones, it’s still hard to find a pair with Bluetooth 5 for this price.

The SR30BT comes with all the usual functions. 3 buttons on the left earcup allow you play, pause, skip and control volume. You can also invite Siri or Google Assistant over for a chat by holding down the middle button. Audio-Technica headphones tend to be easy to pair. When you take them out of the box, all you have to do is turn them on, and you’ll find the headphone in your Bluetooth settings. After you’ve first paired them, they will connect automatically every time you turn them on.

In terms of call clarity, the sound came out pretty clearly through the headphones, but my buddy on the other end of the line said I sounded muffled. So, the microphone is less than primo. Still, it’s clearer than a walkie talkie. Hey, give these cans a break. They’re 100 bucks.

With respect to build quality, these headphones look solid enough to last a while, but maybe not as durable as some other top brand-names I’ve seen in this price range (like the Sennheiser HD 4.40BT). That being said, because of their small size and ability to fold (and fold flat), the SR30BT are super portable.

SOUND

I was surprised by how good these cans sound, considering the price. Bluetooth 5, baby. It really makes a difference. The other great thing about the SR30BT is that they’re pretty versatile in terms of genre.

I started off with some pop. While I wouldn’t call this a bass-heavy headphone, it delivered enough low-end punch to make my booty shake. And listening to hip-hop, the sub frequencies really came out to play. But what about rock? Thanks to a present and nicely balanced midrange, rock choruses had tons of body and fleshy goodness. To test out the clarity, I played a little folk music. Acoustic guitars were very clean and well separated, and they conveyed a nice crystal-like quality. Moving onto classical music, string instruments in the high frequencies weren’t incredibly detailed, but they presented a pleasing smoothness that was easy on the ears. And speaking of high frequencies, percussion in this range was really crispy and sparkly, giving pop a good amount of snap. I dig these.

One thing to note, however. If you tend to listen to music at very high volumes, just be aware of the fact that Bluetooth headphones in this price range don’t get dangerously loud. Still, for those who care about the health of their ears, the volume on these cans should be quite sufficient. Careful, kids.

SUMMARY

I’m a fan. Decent build, easy portability and great Bluetooth 5 sound for 100 bucks. 70 hours of battery life is almost unheard of in the wireless world. And even for this reason alone, these cans are worth it.

You can find these headphones for the best price at:

Audio 46: Audio-Technica ATH-SR30BT Wireless Headphones (Use our promo code, “majorhifi” to get a 10% discount)

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