It's 2020, the year of USB-C, Bluetooth 5.0, sophisticated touch controls, aptX like codecs, multi-point connectivity, and of course the every improving "active" noise cancellation experimentations in high-end headphones.
And just when I thought Bose would reign as the absolute supreme with NC700 with its build, touch controls, call quality, noise cancellation (Sony XM4 tad better in this department but sorry - too bass heavy for me), balanced sound stage (audiophiles, settle down, these are $250 consumer grade Bluetooth headsets, not your Planar or Grado, or tube amplifier driven Sennheiser), there came a pleasant surprise from...Microsoft!?
The Surface Headphones 2 is an absolute joy to listen to and checks almost all the boxes for me. Priced at a modest $250, I am not going to say that there aren't other / better options out there, but this overall "package" from Microsoft really hit the spot for me, at least.
The case: Absolute perfection. Slim profile, rugged, and looks very business-friendly.
The headset: Big ears, rejoice! Perfect fit and roomy. Not too clamp heavy unless your head dimensions are inhuman. The cushion materials are very good but may attract oil / dust so best to keep them in the case when not in use, and it will need a mild wipe down every now and then. The build is solid otherwise.
The controls: Absolutely amazing rotary dials and the touch controls are fine. There is a very handy mute button, too. Every once in a while they will not respond to my touch but once you kind of figure out what that touch surface likes (hint: fleshy part of your fingers - not nails), you'll be just fine. Another hint: if you want to skip to next (two taps) or previous (three taps), do those taps very quickly for them to register every single time.
The sound quality: I do not believe in the concept of headphone burn-in, because let's face it, it's got almost nothing to do with the headset, but more your ears adjusting to the new headset's sound stage. A bad sounding headset is a bad sounding headset now and in a year from now. I believe in initial impression. As soon as I put these on and started my test track, it brought a smile to my face, just like its competition Bose (again, Sony XM4 was too bass heavy for me). An open, crisp, wide sound stage with very sufficient bass, and a little more emphasis on mid-frequencies, but overall very very pleasing. It is a keeper. About initial impressions, I recently I tested an AKG 371 BT and while a name brand, it was somewhat disappointing given its fit, form, and mainly sound quality as soon as the test track started, so back it went.
The noise cancellation: The rotary dial is awesome for controlling noise cancellation and volume super quickly. Noise cancellation has max, medium, low, pass-through, and amplified surrounding settings, the last two great for phone calls that will require a bit of side tone (you hearing your own voice) that feels more natural. The noise cancellation is on par with Bose NC700, which is more than enough. Please do not expect either of these headsets (even XM4 for that matter) to fully drown out high pitched sounds. Noise cancellation works on low frequency continuous hum like jet engine noise and a little bit helpful for mid frequencies like reducing the harshness of people chatter. If you have a dog that barks or a baby that cries, that's on you, it's not the headset :)
The call quality: Very good. No complaints unless you are taking calls standing at the top of the mountain with heavy wind or in heavy traffic. Even then, you can be heard but don't expect work meetings to go well in those situations. Moderately noisy coffee shop or home settings are perfectly fine for these.
The connectivity: It's got Bluetooth 5, so its range shouldn't be an issue. No latency when watching videos. It also can connect to two devices simultaneously (say a phone and a tablet), and even if you are listening to your tablet, it'll stop whatever is playing if you get a phone call. Cool! Even Microsoft Windows 10, with its atrocious Bluetooth management, connects to this seamlessly (it'd have been shameful if it didn't). The app is OK - nothing to write home about. If you have a Windows 10 machine for work and need something that's not Jabra or Plantronics, this is highly recommended.
TL;DR: This is a very 2020 generation headphone with USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0. Get it if you don't want Jabra or Plantronics for your Windows 10 ecosystem. Great call quality but won't cancel heavy winds, great sound stage with sufficient emphasis on bass, comfortable fit for big ears but may not be for overly large heads, excellent controls, case and the headset built-to-last, multi-point connectivity is A-OK, the app is alright.
Side Note: Only if you have small / mid-size ears (e.g. if the original AirPods fit you very well), and do not care about noise cancellation, you may want to try Surface Buds. They didn't stay in my ears at all, so back they went.
| Wireless Communication Technology | Bluetooth |
|---|---|
| Special Feature | Crystal-clear Omnisonic Sound; Touch, Tap, and Dial Controls; 13 Levels of Active Noise Cancellation; Ultra-Comfortable Ear Pads; Dual Mics |
| Included Components | Surface Headphones 2, Carrying case, USB cable, Audio cable, Quick start guide, Safety and warranty documents |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Headphones Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |
| Ear Placement | Over Ear |
| Control Type | Touch Control |
| Cable Feature | Detachable |
| Item Weight | 0.64 Pounds |
| Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Style | Over-Ear |
| Control Method | Touch |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Controller Type | Wired |
| Battery Life | 20 Hours |
| Bluetooth Range | 10 Meters |
| Manufacturer | Microsoft |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 20 Hours |
