Microsoft introduced their original Surface Headphones a couple of years back, and they just introduced their new model, creatively called Surface Headphones 2. I tried the first model at a Microsoft Store but didn’t like it – the treble sounded too harsh and strident for me. However, my company supplied me with a Version 2 as part of the teleworking effort during the current Covid pandemic, so I got a chance to try it.
The headphone arrives in a very nice box, which contains a case for transporting the headphones, which in turn fold flat in the case. The headphones are very comfortable and have a quality feel to them. There is a dedicated Surface Audio app that you can download on Windows 10 that lets you use different equalizer settings if you so prefer. I just use the neutral (flat) setting.
The headphones pair quickly and without issues via Bluetooth. They can pair with multiple devices so they’re easy to use with multiple computers. I’ve used them with my Windows 10 work laptop, my Surface Pro 7 tablet and my Sony ES home theater receiver.
An interesting feature of these headphones is their adjustable noise canceling. By turning the left earcup (the outside is a knob) you can vary the noise canceling from max to zero and you can even amplify ambient noise if you wish. The amplify function prioritizes speech, which can be handy. I found the noise canceling worked well, although my Sony WH-1000XM3 works even better. The right earcup knob controls the volume.
The sound quality is pretty good – they’re not audiophile headphones by any means but the sound is pleasant and enjoyable to my ears. The bass is good and goes deeper than I expected, the midrange is good (especially for voices) and the treble is smooth and non-fatiguing, although maybe on the darker side, which I tend to prefer. Interestingly, I thought the sound quality was better when listening via my Sony receiver than from a laptop. I’m not sure why – maybe the Sony tries to use the best codec that it can find. I will say that although I found the sound quality to be enjoyable, my Sony WH-1000XM3 and Audeze Mobius sound noticeably better.
I’ve used these headphones during multiple Teams and Skype meetings and the sound quality is very good – it’s easy to hear what other people are saying and other participants have had no problems hearing what I’m saying even though the microphones are mounted in the earcups instead of on a boom microphone.
If you're using Microsoft Office 2016 you can also use the ‘dictate’ function which allows you to speak by pressing the Dictate toolbar button and having your speech translated to text. The voice recognition worked very well during my use.
In conclusion, I think it’s important to consider what these headphones are designed for. This isn’t a pure audiophile headphone designed to listen intently to ‘Take Five’ for the 257th time to try to discern new microdetails. These headphones are designed for an office environment where they can help filter out the yapping of your more or less annoying coworkers while participating in conference calls – and as a bonus they let you listen to music while working or during your downtime. Looking at these headphones through that lens I would say that they work pretty darn well. The headphones look good (especially in matte black IMHO), have a nice feel to them and are very comfortable. Good job, Microsoft!
The headphone arrives in a very nice box, which contains a case for transporting the headphones, which in turn fold flat in the case. The headphones are very comfortable and have a quality feel to them. There is a dedicated Surface Audio app that you can download on Windows 10 that lets you use different equalizer settings if you so prefer. I just use the neutral (flat) setting.
The headphones pair quickly and without issues via Bluetooth. They can pair with multiple devices so they’re easy to use with multiple computers. I’ve used them with my Windows 10 work laptop, my Surface Pro 7 tablet and my Sony ES home theater receiver.
An interesting feature of these headphones is their adjustable noise canceling. By turning the left earcup (the outside is a knob) you can vary the noise canceling from max to zero and you can even amplify ambient noise if you wish. The amplify function prioritizes speech, which can be handy. I found the noise canceling worked well, although my Sony WH-1000XM3 works even better. The right earcup knob controls the volume.
The sound quality is pretty good – they’re not audiophile headphones by any means but the sound is pleasant and enjoyable to my ears. The bass is good and goes deeper than I expected, the midrange is good (especially for voices) and the treble is smooth and non-fatiguing, although maybe on the darker side, which I tend to prefer. Interestingly, I thought the sound quality was better when listening via my Sony receiver than from a laptop. I’m not sure why – maybe the Sony tries to use the best codec that it can find. I will say that although I found the sound quality to be enjoyable, my Sony WH-1000XM3 and Audeze Mobius sound noticeably better.
I’ve used these headphones during multiple Teams and Skype meetings and the sound quality is very good – it’s easy to hear what other people are saying and other participants have had no problems hearing what I’m saying even though the microphones are mounted in the earcups instead of on a boom microphone.
If you're using Microsoft Office 2016 you can also use the ‘dictate’ function which allows you to speak by pressing the Dictate toolbar button and having your speech translated to text. The voice recognition worked very well during my use.
In conclusion, I think it’s important to consider what these headphones are designed for. This isn’t a pure audiophile headphone designed to listen intently to ‘Take Five’ for the 257th time to try to discern new microdetails. These headphones are designed for an office environment where they can help filter out the yapping of your more or less annoying coworkers while participating in conference calls – and as a bonus they let you listen to music while working or during your downtime. Looking at these headphones through that lens I would say that they work pretty darn well. The headphones look good (especially in matte black IMHO), have a nice feel to them and are very comfortable. Good job, Microsoft!
