Design and features:This Bluetooth wireless noise canceling home/studio-style over-ear model provides very good sound and excellent active noise reduction. Its closed design and electronic noise canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones work with or without the noise canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music, and the audio cable can be detached to get it out of the way when the headphones are being used for noise reduction only. The headphones have low sensitivity when powered with or without the noise cancelation feature turned on, so while they can provide satisfying volume levels when used with home audio equipment and higher powered portable audio devices, they may not be a good match for lower-powered portables. When powered off, they have medium high sensitivity, so they can provide satisfying volume levels when used with home audio equipment and lower-powered portable audio devices. The Life Q30 has a volume control plus an integrated microphone and player function controls. Additional features include Detachable audio cable. Earcups fold and swivel to flat for ease of carrying and storage. Soundcore app download for Apple and Android mobile devices adds additional features and software updates. Has three noise cancellation modes that can be selected using the Soundcore app - Transport (emphasis on low frequency noise cancellation), Indoor (emphasis on midrange noise cancellation), and Outdoor (emphasis on wide-band noise cancellation), The headphone noise cancellation control default setting switches between noise cancellation on and off, and ambient monitoring. Pressing the right panel for one second activates transparency mode by allowing human vocal sounds in. The app can be used to switch ambient monitoring between full audio range ambient monitoring or vocal range only ambient monitoring. Any of the noise cancelling or ambient monitoring settings can also be selected using the app. Power on indicator light only persistent when noise canceling or ambient sound monitoring modes are enabled. Has music player transport, call connect/disconnect, noise cancellation on/off, digital voice assistant activation, and Bluetooth volume controls. Has power on/off, battery level and Bluetooth pairing alert tones. Supports NFC (Near Field Communication) Bluetooth pairing of Android mobile devices that have that feature. Has multi-point feature - allows simultaneous connection of two Bluetooth devices. In Bluetooth mode will automatically power off with loss of BT signal when not in noise cancelling mode. Has quick charge feature: 5 min of charging will provide 4 hr. of playtime. Supports Apple Siri and other unspecified digital voice assistants when used with Bluetooth connected devices that have those features. Bluetooth connected Apple mobile devices using iOS Version 5 and above will show the battery level. Soundcore app download for Apple and Android mobile devices can be used to adjust the tonal balance of the earphones using tonal presets, custom EQ, switch between noise canceling on/off and ambient monitoring, switch between the various noise canceling modes, switch between ambient monitoring modes, check battery levels, and update firmware. Soundcore app also provides multiple white noise options and soundscapes in its sleep mode settings. This model comes with detachable 50-inch long standard audio cable, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, Quick Start guide, carrying case.
Sound quality:We found the Life Q30 delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks and excellent active noise reduction. With the noise cancelling mode engaged and the Soundcore app set with noise cancelling in transport mode, equalizer set to Soundcore Signature (default), the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) goes deep, but is very prominent and boomy, and has excessive impact. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but is a bit hazy and grainy, and can be overwhelmed by the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.). The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is a bit prominent, smeared and sizzly. The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears and does a decent job of recovering room ambience. Warm character. The overall sound can be summarized as very bassy and a bit grainy. The Soundcore App tonal presets and EQ adjustments have a noticeable effect on the sound. When cord connected to AC powered devices may produce a noticeable hissing and/or humming noise when the noise canceling or ambient sound monitoring feature is engaged. No hum when NC is off or with portable devices that are not connected to a charger. Noise Canceling: Excellent noise reduction across the entire frequency range with the low frequencies reduced the most. A very faint rushing sound can be heard in quiet environments when there is no audio program to drown it out.
Comfort and Fit:We found that these headphones produce a sense of light to moderate pressure around the ears.
As typical of over-ear models the ear pads might feel hot and/or sticky after prolonged use.
Large
Users with larger ears might find that the over-the-ear fit of the ear pads might feel cramped, or that the ear pads sit on, rather than around their ears; in that case the less-than-ideal fit around the ears might interfere with the earpad seal and reduce the noise reduction capabilities of the headphone.
Users with larger heads might find that the headband does not have enough adjustment range to allow the earcups rest properly over the ears and/or that the headband presses uncomfortably on the top of the head.
Stability
Some users may find that when they lean far forward the headphones feel unstable and shift forward, but not to the point of falling off/possibly to the point of falling off.
Other noise
When wearing this model while walking the muffled vibrations from each foot step can be heard through the headphones.
When the audio cord is used the sound of it rubbing on clothing may be faintly heard through the earphones.
