Baseus Bowie 30 Max Wireless Headphones Hands-On Review

Baseus Bowie 30 Max Wireless Headphones Hands-On Review

As a tech-savvy individual who values quality and affordability, I must say that the Baseus Bowie 30 Max has truly impressed me! Coming from someone who spends countless hours listening to music and making calls on various devices, these headphones have stolen a special place in my heart.


Modern headphones often include Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but not all ANC headphones can match the quality of high-end models. That’s where the Baseus Bowie 30 Max wireless headphones excel, offering more than just premium features. They introduce spatial audio and head tracking to enhance the user experience. The Bowie series by Baseus includes several wireless headphones and earbuds, with the Bowie 30 Max being the top-tier model. It boasts superior ANC, well-balanced sound, and additional features that make it a cut above the rest in the market.

Baseus boasts a diverse assortment of products, including charging gadgets, USB hubs, audio equipment, and car accessories. Notably, their headphone selection is more limited, comprising only two wireless earbuds and two on-ear headphones under the Bowie series. Despite being the priciest wireless active noise cancellation (ANC) headphone in their lineup, the Bowie 30 Max, falls within the budget range due to regular sales that consistently keep its price below $100.

What’s In The Box?

Baseus Bowie 30 Max Wireless Headphones Hands-On Review

  • 1x Baseus Bowie 30 Max wireless headphones
  • 1x Short USB Type-C cable
  • 1x 3.5mm cable
  • 1x Quick Start guide

The unboxing experience with the Baseus Bowie 30 Max is simple and straightforward with minimal packaging drama and just the necessary accessories. There is no carrying case or pouch included with these headphones, which is to be expected at this price point, but would still have been nice to have.

Design and Build Quality

The Bowie 30 Max retains the visual style of the previous Bowie headphone models, but has a more robust appearance and is only available in matte black. In contrast, the Bowie D05 wireless headphones can be found in shades of gray and white, while the Bowie H1i offers options in white, black, and green. The main difference between them is that the Bowie 30 Max lacks a wide range of color choices, but it has made advancements in both design and construction.

The headphones you see here are built with a mix of metal and plastic materials. These sturdy components are enhanced by soft padding on the distinctively marked earcups and headband for added comfort. Even when they arrive flat in the box, they’re highly adjustable. The earcups can rotate 120 degrees and fold inward, making it convenient to store them in a backpack. Although a carry pouch or case would be an extra touch, these headphones are already portable and easily adaptable. The key advantage of this customization is a comfortable user experience that isn’t too heavy on the head or overly tight.

The majority of controls, including the USB Type-C charging port, 3.5mm jack, and control buttons for audio adjustment, are positioned on the right earpiece. These control buttons consist of three pieces: two volume control buttons and a central multi-function button that can be programmed for up to three different commands, triggered by single, double, or triple presses. The power switch is also situated on the right earcup, but it’s placed far enough away from the other controls to prevent accidental activation while using them.

On the left earcup, there’s a solo control for adjusting Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). You can effortlessly toggle between ANC being turned on, turned off, or switching to Transparency mode.

Specifications and Features

Maintaining its commitment to providing top-tier attributes at affordable costs, Baseus unveils the Bowie 30 Max. Among these premium aspects is spatial audio synchronized with head movement. Delving into the technicalities, these headphones are equipped with substantial 50mm drivers bolstered by improved low-frequency responses, a detail noticeable once you activate Bass Boost through the Baseus application. I’ll expand on that aspect further down the line.

These headphones feature Advanced Noise Cancellation (ANC) capable of reducing up to 96% of background noise or up to 45dB, making them top-notch in terms of specifications. They offer Hi-Res audio functionality, whether connected via wired or wireless means, and they utilize LDAC for superior Bluetooth streaming of high-quality sound. The Bowie 30 Max boasts Bluetooth 5.4 technology, enabling multiple device connections simultaneously, allowing two devices to be connected at once. The pairing process is straightforward, similar to other wireless headphones; however, to connect a second device, the initial device must first be disconnected. Each earcup has a white light that shows the connection status and charging progress.

The spatial audio and head-tracking capabilities, usually found in pricier headphones from brands like Apple, Sony, and Bose, are surprisingly present in these budget wireless headphones. Some may find this surprising, but they perform quite effectively. One of the standout features of the Bowie 30 Max is that you can activate spatial audio and head-tracking independently, which is ideal. Typically, manufacturers combine these two distinct features under the umbrella term ‘spatial audio’, but the app allows you to toggle on fixed spatial audio and spatial audio with head-tracking separately.

As an enthusiast, I’d say this technology ingeniously employs a built-in gyroscope and accelerometer to monitor my head movements. This allows directional audio to remain stationary relative to me, regardless of any left or right head movement. It’s particularly beneficial for immersive gaming and VR experiences, rather than just streaming music from a smartphone.

Additionally, it offers a low-latency setting claimed to be around 0.06 seconds or 60 milliseconds. Despite being relatively high compared to other options, you won’t notice any delay when using Bluetooth or the 3.5mm cable connection.

As a gamer, I’ve been enjoying my Bowie 30 Max headphones, but I noticed that the battery life can vary quite a bit depending on the features you use. In the best-case scenario, it can last up to 65 hours, but turning on Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and head tracking significantly reduces this number.

After the battery is depleted, a brief 10-minute recharge provides approximately 14 more hours of usage, while a full charge, taking roughly 90 minutes, brings the headphones back to 100%. Remarkably, this impressive battery performance is notable given its competitive price range.

Comfort

Baseus Bowie 30 Max Wireless Headphones Hands-On Review

The Baseus Bowie 30 Max, weighing at 320 grams, is lighter than the AirPods Max yet heavier than both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Despite its weight, it sits comfortably on the head, and the cushions surrounding the earcups are soft to touch. Even after prolonged use, they do not feel excessively heavy. However, a potential drawback is that the earcups are somewhat small and shallow, which may make them seem less spacious compared to other active noise-cancelling headphones. This might cause your ears to occasionally come into contact with the inside of the earcups, an issue that can vary among users but should be considered.

Rotating earcups provide a customizable, comfortable fit that caters to various head sizes. However, I found the clamping force a tad firm, particularly for those who wear glasses and may experience pressure build-up quicker than others. Adjustments can be made without any creaking or noise, which is commendable. Furthermore, when not in use, they can rest comfortably around your neck without hindering movement, adding to their convenience.

Sound Quality

Straight out of the package, the Bowie 30 Max offers a well-balanced sound spectrum that avoids the excessive bass often found in budget headphones. It cranks up the volume significantly without distortion or clipping, though regular use found 30% volume to be more than adequate. The initial impression of what Baseus provides with the Bowie 30 Max is quite impressive. Additionally, the Baseus App offers a customizable equalizer and five presets. Unfortunately, when spatial audio is enabled, you cannot modify any EQ settings, making it difficult to distinguish between the presets.

Activating spatial audio noticeably enhances sound quality, giving an impression that the sound environment expands. In essence, spatial audio aims to provide a full, immersive 360-degree listening experience by mimicking how your ears perceive sounds from various directions. However, the quality of this experience depends largely on the source and recording methods of the audio. Nonetheless, when using the Bowie 30 Max, the fixed spatial audio setting is highly recommended for optimal performance.

Using the multi-function key on the Bowie 30 Max made answering calls a breeze. Moreover, the call clarity was outstanding due to its dual microphone Environmental Noise Cancellation feature, ensuring that conversations were clear and easy to understand for both parties.

Overall Impressions

The Bowie 30 Max wireless headphones from Baseus offer an outstanding collection of high-end features for a surprisingly affordable price. These include advanced active noise cancellation (-45dB), extended battery life up to 65 hours, spatial audio with head tracking, and the ability to connect multiple devices at once (multi-point connectivity). Straight out of the box, they provide excellent sound quality that becomes even more impressive when combined with the customizable equalizer settings.

Currently, these items are being sold on Amazon for $150, but at present, they can be found for just $100 due to a promotional discount of $30. Remarkably, if you check the Baseus website, they have them priced at $80, and with an extra $10 off coupon code, it seems possible to get the Bowie 30 Max for less than $100 even during the promotion. At this price point, it represents a fantastic deal and a great offer.

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2024-11-08 02:07