Noise Master Buds Max Review: Quiet Comfort Meets Sound Style
Are over-the-ear headphones finally back? The jury is still out. But the Noise Master Buds Max look great and sound even better, which is an absolute win
When it comes to affordable over-the-ear headphones, there are very few contenders that get it right.
Indian smartwatch and connected lifestyle brand Noise has been pushing the envelope with its audio devices over the last few years with a host of offerings across at appealing price points. One of the latest in its line-up are the Noise Masters Buds Max headphones.
I have, personally, never been a big fan of over the ear headphones. They often tend to be clunky and can be an impediment in hot weather. The ease that true wireless earbuds offer is unbeatable. But Noise Master Buds Max have been a pleasant surprise.
The one thing that the Noise Master Buds Max does get right is comfort. The headphones are lightweight. The vegan leather cushions are soft on the ears while the aerospace-grade metallic grills offer both durability and a premium finish.
The design of the headphones distributes pressure evenly, minimising ear fatigue even during long listening sessions.
During a recent trip to Dubai, I tried the headphones on both my flights – that’s almost 6 hours of non-stop wearing – and came out of the experience with little to no discomfort in my ears.
Master Buds Max offers 60 hours of continuous playtime, which Noise claims is the longest in its category. A quick 10-minute charge gets you 10 hours of playback, which is impressive.
To get the best out of the headphones, you need to download the Noise Audio app and sync the Master Buds Max with your device. Once paired, the headphones connected with my Android device almost instantaneously. You can also seamlessly switch between a laptop and a smartphone with the dual-device pairing feature. The headphones are also intuitive and power off automatically after a while if they are not connected to a device.
The Noise-Bose partnership still works wonders with excellent audio quality. If you like your sound balanced, then the standard equaliser should work well for most users. The headphones are also designed for spatial audio.
Noise has also introduced Dynamic EQ here, which is an adaptive tuning system developed that analyses both your listening environment and volume level to ensure consistent audio quality. At lower volumes, it enhances bass and vocal richness, so the audio never feels flat. At higher volumes, it controls excessive highs and lows to prevent distortion or fatigue. At Rs 9,999, the amount of output customisation offered is excellent. The Noise Audio app is also easy to use with a nifty interface. The wear detection system on the headphones was also spot on.
Phone calls were crystal clear, thanks to the 5-microphone system and advanced ENC technology that filters out background noise during calls.
The other big, impressive tick is the active noise cancellation that goes up to 40db. Very often, while trying the headphones in loud Delhi traffic, I was able to drown out the constant honking and din thanks to the ANC. It feels like a snug fit around your ears when you want a quiet environment. Transparency mode works quite well and at one point I was able to have a conversation with my office colleagues while having some music on.
The titanium colour scheme is eye-catching but you can choose from two other options.
Are over-the-ear headphones finally back? The jury is still out on that one. But the Noise Master Buds Max look great and sound even better, which is an absolute win-win.