Phiaton PS300NC review

Neatly packaged, but the sound and noise cancelling aren’t up to it Tested at £210

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Neatly packaged and presented, but the sound and noise cancelling aren’t up to it

Pros

  • +

    Folding, pocketable design

  • +

    rechargeable battery packs are useful

  • +

    sturdy carry case

Cons

  • -

    Serious lack of clarity

  • -

    cloudy sound

  • -

    so-so dynamics

  • -

    noise cancelling isn’t great

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We love some elements of these Phiaton PS300NC noise-cancelling headphones.

They’re a lightweight folding design, which makes them portable. They’re comfy, too: they sit on (as opposed to over) your ear, so aren’t quite as secure a fit as the Bose QuietComfort 15s, but the pads are soft and your ears shouldn’t overheat.

Phiaton PS300NC: Rechargeable batteries

The cleverest part of the PS300NCs, though, is their rechargeable battery pack. Or rather packs: as well as one to use in the headphones while you get a second to keep on standby.

In the box you also get a USB charging dock and a power adaptor, so you can top up power levels on your travels.

But, even if you do completely run out of juice, you can bypass the noise-cancelling and just pass music through like conventional cans.

However, there are some elements we can’t really forgive. The noise-cancelling isn’t terrible, but the Phiatons let through a greater dose of chatter when compared with rivals around this price.

Phiaton PS300NC

Phiaton PS300NC

Phiaton PS300NC: Sound quality

They’re also disappointing when it comes to sound quality. Overall, they’re relatively well balanced tonally, but there's a serious lack of clarity.

Spin Mona’s Listen To Your Love and strings are devoid of any snap or sparkle, while drum kicks plod along with a dull vagueness.

Despite promising much in their design, the Phiatons just don’t get the basics of their raison d’être right.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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