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Is active noise cancellation expensive? Forget it. Indeed, this technology appeared on the market in a niche
What is it?
ACME BH316 is a closed-type wireless headset with microphone (i.e., blutooth headset) equipped with an active noise canceling function. Senior model in the line of closed headphones ACME.
For those who somehow hear for the first time about suchbrand. ACME Group is a Lithuanian diversified group of companies. It exists since 1993 and works in the areas of technology, service, film distribution (all of a sudden!) And investment. Under the ACME brand, the production of audio and video equipment, fitness gadgets, smart home components, peripherals and accessories is carried out.
What are interesting?
A good balance of price and opportunity. See for yourself: large, solid-looking “ears” with active noise reduction for 84.99 euros. But this is still an advance, let's check if everything is really so good there.
What is in the box?
Headphones themselves, a half-meter microUSB cable, audio cable (minijack to minijack, length 1.5 m), instructions. All this in a solid plastic case with a zipper.
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The case is good, durable, pleasant to the touch, sized, inside a voluminous pocket-grid, where you can fold the cables and a couple of sandwiches something else.
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Standard cables with manufacturer's nameplates, but without frills such as fabric braiding or twisted inserts. Unpretentious.
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How do they look and manage?
ACME BH316 are typical gated headphones. Big, black, just a classic.
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Folds up for compact storage and transportation.
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The ear pads rotate 90 degrees for comfortable wearing on the neck.
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The size of the headband is adjusted in the traditional retractable way; divisions are applied to the metal arm. All moving parts work smoothly, without any backlash or squeaks.
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The central part of the bow is covered with leather-like material both from below and from above. The material is soft and pleasant to the touch.
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He also covered ear pads.
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On the outside on the speakers is a small notch of thin concentric circles. It looks solid, but such a surface requires some care.
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The rest of the plastic parts are matte, this is a good solution, the coating will not collect fingerprints and minor scratches. The brand logo is also matte, it is not striking.
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Control elements are assembled on the right earphone. There is a volume control button, a power and pairing button, an active noise reduction switch (ACP), an audio jack, an LED indicator and a microphone hole.
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The round power button is also responsible for answering an incoming call and the function of pause or resume playback. There are no separate buttons for navigating the playlist.
The ACP slider switch has its own blue LED, which constantly indicates noise reduction. It is quite large and noticeable.
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Status LED - small, flashing blue in operating mode, red on charging, blue-red in detection mode. It is a traditional range.
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There is another microphone hole on the left earpieceand a microUSB connector. The fashion for USB-C has not yet reached conservative audio products, which is a pity. The design as a whole looks reliable, the materials are pleasant. For the love of minimalism, I would probably do without the ACP indication LED, but this is a matter of taste. Overall, the BH316 looks and feels nice, high quality and expensive.
How does it work?
Connecting to bluetooth devicesin the usual way. Hold the power button until the red-blue LED flashes (about 7 seconds), select our headphones on the smartphone (or other device) in the list of available devices and you're done.
ACME BH316 can also operate in wired mode.When you connect the audio cable, bluetooth is automatically turned off. This hybrid design is a big plus; you can listen to music even with a low battery. In addition, there is a nuance with sound quality, more on that later.
The controls located on the right earpieceThey are large and comfortable enough to be used by touch without any problems. The ACP switch is implemented in the form of a sliding switch, and not a button, so its state is intuitive even without an indicator.
I note a very comfortable fit on my head. The oval shape and the movable fastening of the ear pads in combination with a soft surface material and plastic filler ensure such a snug fit that you can even catch a peculiar vacuum effect.
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And here is the most interesting moment. The irony is that, despite the presence of an ACP, half of all the noise isolation work is done by the structure itself. Perhaps that is why active noise reduction here is implemented quite delicately. In order not to completely cut off the listener from the world and not endanger the street.
Now everything is in order.Firstly, the ANC in the BH316 works independently of all other functions. It is available in both wired and wireless mode, with or without a signal. Does not work only with discharged batteries. Secondly, if you are not listening to anything (music is paused), then the world around you will be partially audible both with and without ANC enabled. There is no complete and absolute isolation here. Noise cancellation cuts out low-frequency hum, but leaves human voices quite audible. I have come across much more aggressive implementations of ACP. But let's say “thirdly” and turn on the music! All sound security is in the forest; you can hear nothing but music even in a noisy metro. No, of course, if you limit the volume, signals important for self-preservation can be heard. But in general, the design has good soundproofing properties. Active noise cancellation again dampens the low-frequency component of ambient noise, but it works delicately; the feeling of “turning off the sound around you” does not arise.
What about autonomy?
According to the ACME BH316 specification, they should work up to 23hours in playback or talk mode, and in standby mode last up to 300 hours on a single battery charge. With headphones of this design, autonomy is a little simpler than with tiny in-ear models; there is enough space for the battery and it is easier to ensure autonomy. In general, the specifications do not lie; the total operating time on one charge is really close to a day. It takes about an hour to fully charge.
How do they sound?
To be honest, I did not expect special miracles fromheadphones for 85 euros, but the ACME BH316 was pleasantly pleased. In the audio cable connection mode, the sound quality is comparable to more expensive models. In general, headphones have a pronounced character. They give a tight bass “kach”, but are less expressive at high frequencies. Fans of classical music will not go, but, for example, the dub sounds very rich here.
Support for APT-X is not provided. In bluetooth mode, sound detail is predictably reduced, again this is most noticeable at medium and high frequencies. However, you need to consider the quality of the audio material itself. If it is mp3 with not the highest bitrate (imagine this!) Or streaming audio that is sensitive to the signal quality of the mobile network, then there will be no advantages for a more expensive audiophile solution.
As a telephone headset, the ACME BH316 works well, the interlocutors have no complaints about the sound quality, and neither does the wearer of the headset.
How comfortable are they?
This section could be skipped becauseergonomics has already been said above. But I will not miss and I will say again that the headphones are comfortable and the ergonomics are good. The head does not get tired (the mass of the device is 282 grams), the buttons are accurately grope and well pressed. But it is clear that you should make adjustments for the form factor. The usability of large headphones is always limited to hats, hairstyles and activities (for jogging, you still need a different design).
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In the dry residue
ACME BH316 - high-quality wireless headphones withgood sound and the ability to use in wired mode (which makes the sound even better). A delicate noise reduction system complements the soundproof design and provides comfortable listening to music even in noisy places.
At the official price of 1499 hryvnias in UkrainianThe retail BH316 has no clear competitors with the same design and capabilities. Sound monsters like the Sony WH-1000XM3 will ease the wallet by up to six times the amount, for undemanding users this is too much. At the same time, there is a limitless Aliexpress where you can find similar options for other small brands.
4 reasons to buy ACME BH316:
- combo of high-quality sound insulation and delicate ACP;
- Convenient folding design and solid case included;
- the possibility of both wireless and wired connection;
- good ergonomics.
2 reasons not to buy ACME BH316:
- insufficiently detailed sound in some musical genres;
- lack of APT-X and USB-C.
Technical specifications headphone ACME BH316
Type of
Closed, wireless, with ACP
Radius of action
Up to 10 meters
Range
20 Hz – 20 kHz
Resistance
32 Ohm
Driver diameter
40 mm
Sensitivity
121 ±3 dB
Bluetooth
5.0
Waiting time
up to 300 h
Play / Talk Time
until 11 p.m.
Interfaces
Micro USB (5 V DC), audio-in 3.5 mm
Weight
280 g
ACME BH316
Available Noise Canceling Enclosed Headphones
Nice materials, comfortable design, decent sound. The delicate ACP system helps soundproof ear pads. But demanding music lovers will need a more expensive model.
