The Insignia NS-AHBTOENC wireless headphones are a very nice option for a comfortable listening experience at home, traveling or while working out. They incorporate an effective noise suppression and echo canceling system, use the latest Bluetooth 5.0 connection technology, have easy-to-operate controls and a very long battery life. And, since these are made by Best Buy’s Insignia brand, these features are all provided at a very economical price.
Here are the key features:
• Insignia Model NS-AHBTOENC noise-canceling over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones
• Bluetooth 5.0 reception range up to 33 feet
• Noise-canceling/suppression technology helps block external noises, may be switched on or off
• Monitor function allows ambient sound to be easily heard while wearing headphones, may be switched on or off
• Built-in microphone for making and receiving phone calls
• Touch control on side of right earphone to raise/lower volume, next/previous track selection
• Power, Bluetooth pairing, Monitor and Noise Cancel buttons on left earphone
• Rechargeable internal lithium ion power source: 3.5 hours to fully charge with included micro USB connection cable
• Headphones will operate up to 20 hours continuously from a full charge, 16 day standby time
• Can also operate without using any power by connecting a 3.5 mm stereo cable to left earphone
• 3.5 mm (headphone) male-to-male connection cable included
• Easy to follow illustratedd quick set-up guide
• Foldable design for compact storage
• Size: 6.7 inches by 7.5 inches by 2.3 inches
• Weight: 8.5 ounces
• One year warranty on parts and labor
Included in the box are the headphones, instructions, a 33 inch long micro USB charging cable and a 50 inch long 3.5 mm direct-connect wire cable. The quick set-up guide is comprehensive with step-by-step instructions for using the headphones, a trouble-shooting checklist, technical specifications and detailed explanations for using each feature.
The headphones have a non-reflective black finish, substantial bass-producing drivers and super-soft memory-foam cushions on each headphone for superb comfort and noise isolation.
First step is to charge the headphones. Just attach the charging cable, plug it into your computer or a USB outlet and LED lights will go out when they are fully charged (about 3.5 hours when fully discharged.) A red LED light next to the charging port goes out when the unit is fully charged. The stated music playing time of twenty hours seems right and may even be conservative.
Next, press the power button for two seconds to turn them on – an audio prompt indicates when the power is on or off. Pair the earphones with your phone or other source via Bluetooth. Pressing the power button for four seconds initiates pairing. An audio prompt guides you, but my phone paired them very quickly and without drama. A blue LED indicates the connection has been made.
The headphones are fully adjustable and the very soft pads completely and comfortably enclose most ears. I cannot stress enough how comfortable these headphones are. They are light (a bit over 8.5 ounces) and have plenty of adjustment range to enable a good fit. The earphone pads are fairly large (about 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide) so they qualify as “over ear” and they provide very good sound isolation. You can wear them for many hours in perfect comfort and your ears will thank you afterwards.
Even without the noise-canceling function most external sounds are blocked. Pressing the ANC (automatic noise canceling) button turns on that feature and there is an audio announcement that it is active (or that it has been turned off.) The ANC technology is very effective for random noise. I turned on both my shower and bathroom sink faucet and the noise (which would normally be very loud) was just a faint hiss which I could easily ignore while listening to the music. Even without music playing the noise canceling feature was pretty effective. These would be great on a noisy airplane ride!
The Insignia AHBTOENC headphones have a nice reproduction of mid-range notes and provide plenty of bass. I feel that their performance on upper range notes was not as faithful as some other (much more expensive) headphones I own so they may not meet the most demanding audiophile’s expectations. However, given their modest price and the bonus of the noise-canceling feature, these headphones will satisfy most users for casual listening. They are a perfect choice for traveling and would pass boring hours in airports and on planes with gold stars for quality, sound level and range.
Like all good earphones these will respond to various voice commands, allow you to interact with Siri, take calls, etc. Each earphone has some controls. The right side has a nice touch pad which will raise/lower volume, skip tracks (forward and backward), pause and repeat tracks and has a microphone for use during calls. The left side turns the earphones on/off, handles Bluetooth pairing, activates the noise cancelation feature and also takes calls
The Bluetooth 5.0 connection is super-reliable. I have used the headphones in my home and can walk 35 to 40 feet from my phone without a connection break. If you lose connection it quickly restores itself when you come back into range.
Bottom line - the Insignia AHBTOENC noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones are an excellent value for music fans who want a very comfortable headset, superb noise isolation and a dependable travel partner. I have given this item four stars, losing one star only because the music reproduction was just not as good as I would hope. However, on balance, I think you will be happy with this purchase!