With the overwhelming amount of headphones on the market, it can be hard to pin down which one offers that sweet spot between great sound and affordable pricing. Altigo is a newcomer into this arena, yet the Altigo Over-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones pleasantly surprised us with how much they have to offer at such a low price point of just under $70. To that effect, they are incredibly comfortable to wear, they offer rapid charging, noise cancellation and phenomenal sound for a low price.
Unboxing and set-up
A sturdy gray drawstring carrying case, a very short micro USB charging cable, and an aux audio cable are all included. Being that the headphones cost under $70, I was very surprised by the quality of the extras, particularly the drawstring carrying case helps makes the headphones feel more luxurious.
Bluetooth pairing is very easy and as straightforward. Navigating the controls are also simple and easy with a power on/off button, and up/down volume buttons that work for song skipping too.
Battery
A standout feature is how quickly you can charge up the headphones due to the “rapid charge” feature. Just a quick 5-minute charge buys you 1.5 hours of playback time or a 10-minute charge will provide you with 2 hours of playback. That can make a real difference when you only have 5-10 minutes in an airport or before leaving your desk. When fully-charged you can expect up to 30 hours of playback time.
Comfort level: Excellent
The Altigo Over Ear headphones are pretty light, weighing in at about 10 ounces, and they offer a cushioned headband. They sit quite comfortably too. Some headphones we have tested overdo the grippy material on this part of the design which results in sore hair follicles from too much friction, but not with Altigo.
The cushioning on the earphones is soft and very comfortable, but where the design really shines for me is with the earphone shape. The earphones are oblong rather than round. Round ones tend to sit on my ear and squish them, which causes sore ears after a long listening session, but the oblong shape of the Altigo’s is perfection. It completely encompasses the ear, adding both to the comfort of the wearer and to the noise blocking capabilities. The earphones can also pivot outwards which helps them naturally adjust to the angle of your head.
Noise canceling and overall sound performance: Top Notch
Altigo’s Over Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are not always in noise canceling mode – you can turn that on by pressing the button on the side. That said, I found them to be quite good at blocking out ambient noise even without the noise canceling feature turned on. Unfortunately, when using the noise canceling feature, the audio gets a little more muffled. Overall, it is nice having the option to not use the noise cancelation when you don’t need it, returning the sound to a more full-bodied crisp experience.
As for the general audio experience, these headphones are extremely impressive for their price. I tested the same tracks on these headphones against another higher end brand headphones that cost three times as much and found the sound to be just as good, but that the noise canceling on the Altigos are even better.
The Bottom Line
Altigo’s Over-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are an excellent buy at $69.99. Everything about them is on par with brands that cost 2 to 3 times as much. The sound is full and crisp, noise cancellation is solid, and we love its fast charging. And notably, they are extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Altigo might be a newcomer, but their Over-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones offer a great value in the ultra-competitive headphones market.