Quietwave Audio Review: Noise-Cancelling Headphones Under $200, Tested

Noise-cancelling headphones have changed how we work and travel. Done well, they turn a noisy train carriage or open-plan office into something close to calm. Done badly, they add a faint hiss, squeeze your head and die halfway through a flight. The premium models cost $300 to $400, which is a lot for something you will probably leave on a train at least once.

Quietwave Audio sells its own range of headphones, earbuds and accessories at prices that undercut the big brands. Its top model, the Wave Pro, costs $199. I spent six weeks with it, on commutes, a long-haul flight and in a noisy office, and compared it with two better-known pairs at $279 and $349.

What Quietwave sells#

The range comprises the Wave Pro over-ear noise-cancelling headphones ($199), the Wave Air lighter on-ear model ($119), the Wave Buds true wireless earbuds ($89) and a wired Studio pair ($39). Accessories include a hard case ($19), replacement ear pads ($22) and a cable for wired listening.

Product pages provide full specs: driver size (40 mm), Bluetooth version, supported codecs (SBC, AAC and LDAC), claimed battery life and weight (262 g). The store also publishes frequency response graphs and a plain explanation of how its noise cancelling works, which is unusual.

How we tested#

I used the Wave Pro for six weeks. I:

• Measured cancelling with a phone sound-meter app on a train, in an open office and on a plane, comparing against the two reference pairs.

• Ran a full battery test with noise cancelling on at a moderate volume.

• Tested calls in a quiet room and in wind.

• Wore them for three-hour sessions to test comfort, and used the returns process.

Noise cancelling#

The cancelling is very good for the price. On a train, it reduced the low rumble by roughly 24 dB, compared with 30 dB for the $349 reference pair and 27 dB for the $279 model. That means it is not quite as good as the flagships, but the gap is small and most people will not notice it in daily use. Voices and sudden sounds still filter through, as with all headphones, and a transparency mode lets you hear announcements.

On a flight, engine drone dropped to a gentle background, and I slept better than usual.

Sound and battery#

Sound is warm and balanced, with plenty of bass that does not smother the vocals. The included equaliser lets you tweak it. LDAC support gives high-quality audio to compatible phones. Battery life was 38 hours with cancelling on, close to the claimed 40. A 10-minute charge gave about five hours of playback.

Comfort and controls#

The Wave Pro's memory-foam ear pads are soft, and with a clamping force that is gentle, I could wear them for three hours without discomfort. They run warm in summer.

The touch controls on the right ear cup are the weak spot. They work well in dry conditions but became erratic in light rain, pausing music and changing tracks on their own. A physical button for play and pause would be better.

Calls#

In a quiet room, my voice was clear and natural. In wind, however, the microphones struggled, and a listener said I sounded muffled and distant. For office calls they are fine, but they are not the best for walking outdoors.

Shipping, service and returns#

Orders shipped the same day and arrived in three business days. The headphones arrive in a soft pouch rather than a hard case, and the case costs an extra $19, which feels petty at this price.

Support answered a question about multipoint pairing in an hour, with a clear step-by-step guide. The return window is 60 days, with free return shipping, and I tested it with the Wave Air on day 50, receiving a refund in four business days.

Price and value#

At $199, the Wave Pro offers roughly 85 percent of a flagship's performance for about half the price. That is a bargain for most commuters. The cheaper $119 Wave Air lacks the cancelling depth, and the $89 buds are decent but not remarkable.

Who should buy, and who should skip#

Buy from Quietwave Audio if you want strong noise cancelling on a budget and appreciate honest specifications.

Skip it if you need the best call quality outdoors, dislike touch controls or want the absolute best sound. For a quiet evening at home, our Hushwave review covers sound machines.

The verdict#

Quietwave Audio earns 4.2 out of 5. The noise cancelling, battery life and value are excellent, and the return window is generous. Erratic touch controls, no included hard case and wind-prone microphones keep it from a higher score.

Disclosure: we bought all products ourselves. Some links on this site are affiliate links. See our review policy.