How well do the BT-600 ANC headphones stack up? Find out as Daniel Lipscombe goes ears-on with Monoprice’s mid-range headphones.
Sound Quality
I want to get my major complaint out of the way from the off. The Monoprice BT-600ANC headphones need to be improved in the low end, with the bass feeling slightly muted. There’s no crunch or heft in the bottom of music or sound effects in video games.
I listen to music that favors bass above anything else, so I put these headphones through their paces. Hip-hop and dance lack body, which left me without an all-round experience. While Monoprice claims “deep, accurate bass” real bassheads out there will be left wanting more.
What the BT-600 ANC misses in the bass, it makes up for with clarity. Vocals are crisp and feel multilayered, with production effects like reverb, or panning, coming through clean.
Switching over to gaming, the lackluster bass robs any realism from shooters as assault rifles feel underwhelming. Playing Diablo 4 however, is a dream – every sound effect comes through the jumble of chaos. Coins clink together, potions rattle, and dialogue made me feel I was a part of the game world.
Of course, this isn’t a gaming headset. The primary focus is music, and for this the BT-600ANC is serviceable but it won’t stack up to the likes of Sony or Sennheiser. Where these cans get one up on some competitors, is in the noise cancelling. I tried them in my local cafe and very little noise came through. I even listened to a track where I whistled along and could barely hear myself.
Switching to ambient mode, I could hear people serving me in shops, or listen out for traffic when on a busy street. This makes the listening experience a bit of a mixed bag for these mid-range headphones.
Design and Build Quality
The BT-600ANC headphones are sleek and clean – a mix of charcoal and black which is always very easy on the eyes. Despite being made of plastic, the headphones feel sturdy and high quality. The ear cups might be a little small for some, but they’re comfy enough for long sessions.
Personally, I’m not a fan of touch controls on the exterior of headphone cups, but the response to taps and swipes works as they should, I’d just rather pull my phone out and use a proper interface.
The buttons for Bluetooth pairing and turning on the headphones are solid and feel nicely reactive. It should also be stated that holding the button to pair the headphones doesn’t take an age as it does on other headphones (Sony I’m looking at you!).
The headphones fold up tightly and also arrive in a lovely carry case which offers the best protection when transporting them in a backpack.
Battery Life
Monoprice states a 40-hour lifespan from one charge and they’re not lying. Unless you’re the type of person who walks around all day every day with headphones slung around your neck, you’ll get away with charging them every five-to-six days easily.
Verdict
For the midrange price of $99 or £99, you can’t complain too much unless your favorite genres are built on bass. The battery life will keep you listening and the build quality offers a really comfortable experience.
I feel like headphones with this level of noise canceling would usually come with a heftier price tag, so if this is the top of your list, you can’t go wrong.
Review unit provided by PR on behalf of Monoprice. | To learn more about our review policy click here. | Alternatively, click here to find out why you can trust me.
