Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones Review: Worthy of the Short List If On a Budget or Not

Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones Review

The $99 Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones show how far basic audio technology has come. Monoprice makes high-end audio equipment, computer accessories and many other things. For many Monoprice products that I review, the sweet spot is solid tech at an affordable price. The BT-600 ANC headphones fall into that category. 

These headphones offer wired and wireless support, outstanding noise cancelation, and a nicely made travel case into which the Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones fold flat. Yes, there are even less expensive ANC headphones on the market, but the Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones step above the least expensive with comfortable earcups, very well-designed controls, and outstanding sound.

Specifications

• Driver Size: 40mm
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Sensitivity: 100 +/- 3dB
• Bluetooth® Version: 5 (supports multiple device pairing)
• Noise Canceling: Up to 35dB
• Audio Playback Time: Up to 40 hours
• Weight: 283g/10 oz.

What we like

Pros

• Attractive and well-styled
• Touch controls with minimalist physical buttons
• Affordable
• USB-C charging
• Bluetooth 5® with A2DP v1.3, AVRCP v1.6, HFP v1.7, and HSP v1.2 profiles
• Multi-device pairing
• Supports aptX HD, AAC and SBC codecs

From the leatherette-wrapped ear cups that offer great noise isolation to the forgiving headband and attractive design, these $99 headphones look as good as they sound. The wide, pliant earcups cover my ears completely, putting no strain on them after extended periods of listening to or watching content. The light but solid construction demonstrates user-centric design: simplicity and function.

The right earcup holds the only physical buttons, a simple switch and a pair of well-labeled rockers poised in a straight line. One of the best designs I have reviewed. Rather than searching for controls, they just sit ready to manage ANC modes, power and Bluetooth. No searching or guessing or referring to a manual, and no need to remember which toggle or switch does what. All in one place and easy to manage.

The Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones’ right earcup holds the multifunction controls for pause/play and volume. Like all touch controls, they take getting used to, but more so than many, they provide a relatively simple set of gestures that are easy to remember. Call control also falls to the right earcup.

The left earcup holds the USB-C charging port, while the right contains the 3.5mm audio jack.  The left earcup also sports the charging indicator LED, while the right holds the ANC mode state indicator.

Bluetooth 5® connectivity brings superior connectivity as well as multi-device support. For full HD-connected audio, the Monoprice package includes a standard audio cable for 3.5mm wired connections.

Basic cardboard packaging without frills ranks high on our sustainability score.

Sound

I found the audio experience with the Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones to be pleasant across a wide range of genres and listening experiences. 

The early whispers of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody lead easily into the post-operatic histrionics of the song. The piano is distinct and clear in the background behind Freddy Mercury’s mercurial vocals. The pick glides, squeaks and creaks across strings played at the song’s crescendo, and the final whisper and cymbal fall resonate aptly through the 40mm cans.

I found equally pleasurable or disturbing audio careened through the headphones as Guns N’ Roses’s Welcome to the Jungle screamed and thumbed, followed by the dulcet Caribbean Blue from Enya. And then the Beastie Boys browbeat the lows with Brass Monkey’s honks.

And I listened intently again, with intimacy and heartbreak, to Hamilton’s It’s Quiet Uptown. 

I found nothing wanting in my listening experience. Crisp highs. The Monoprice BT-600 ANC headphones deliver good separation across a broad soundstage. Close your eyes, and you might be seated in the front row as Sia sings over David Guetta’s Titanium. Bulletproof audio.

What could be improved

Cons

• No on-head sensor
• No companion app

I feel like I’ve been writing reviews lately where the negatives substantially outweigh the positives. That won’t be the case here.

With the $99 price point in mind, I have no meaningful complaints about the Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones. It would be nice, for instance, if the BT-600s included an on-head sensor that would auto-pause playback when the headset is removed—a common feature of earbuds. It’s a nice feature but by no means essential. 

The BT-600s also don’t have a companion app, but that is OK—as apps require a significant amount of engineering to control hardware options with software. The lack of an app speaks to the simplicity of the BT-600 design—they do not need the app because these headphones are designed to just work. In some ways, that is an advantage, as some headphone-specific features, like in-device equalizers, can conflict with streaming features, such as Apple’s Spatial Audio.

Sometimes, a lack of complexity is an advantage.

Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones: The bottom line

Monoprice hit a perfect note with the BT-600 ANC Headphones. They feel premium and offer outstanding sound and superb noise cancelation. The BT-600s should be on any list of top-notch over-the-ear headphones, for those on a budget or not. Buy these headphones and spend your extra hundred or more dollars on something else.

Monoprice provided the Monoprice BT-600 ANC Headphones for review. Images courtesy of Monoprice unless otherwise noted.

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