I’ve probably used and evaluated over 100 headphones over the years, having reviewed high-end A/V equipment as part of my “past life”. Without argument, the market presents an almost limitless amount of options. From budget-friendly earbuds to high-end products like Apple AirPods and the latest products from Sennheiser and Audio-Technica, you can spend almost any amount of money.
The Status 3ANC headphones promise top-notch sound quality with active noise cancellation. Are they worth the $199 price? Let’s find out.
First Impressions
Right out of the box, the case of the Status 3ANC headphones promises something beyond the typical fare. A sleek “pill box” design with USB-C connectivity combines with either a matte white or black finish, gives it a premium look.
Then you open the case.
The 3ANC earphones have an…unusual design. While the build quality feels solid, the headphones resemble a small USB thumb drive. Don’t get me wrong, they fit well and they stay in your ears. The look is just a tad unconventional—even if it does afford them the ability to have exceptional runtime (see below). We found the silicone earbud cups comfortable (we used the Medium size of the three provided). I found that I could easily wear them for 8 hours straight without any discomfort.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the Status 3ANC headphones is respectable. The default EQ on the earphones provides clear mids and highs. I did find that I preferred tweaking these a bit to achieve punchier bass and slightly crisper highs. The nice thing is the App (I used iOS but you can also download it for Android) makes this fairly easy. I listened to all sorts of tracks, including classic rock, pop, classical, and (real) country. You get a 10mm dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers for a true 3-way system. For contrast, Apple AirPods Pros use a single 11mm dynamic driver.
I enjoyed the wide soundstage and found that I could get just about any style of music to sound excellent on these earphones.
Active Noise Cancellation
One of the standout features of the Status Between 3ANC headphones is their active noise cancellation (ANC). It does this, in part, through the use of 6 “beamforming” microphones (3 per earphone). These not only help with active noise cancellation but also with respect to taking hands-free calls.
On airplanes, or even in the office, I enjoy noise-canceling headphones when it’s time to tune out the environment. The ANC on these headphones actively reduces ambient noise to a significant level. They should work well in noisy environments like airports, coffee shops, or while babysitting your nephew (just kidding). Status gives you the option of turning ANC off, on, or using Ambient Sound mode where it makes it easier to hear voices but not noise.
Battery Life
Battery life is often a concern when it comes to wireless headphones. However, the Status 3ANC headphones don’t disappoint in this department. You get a respectable 8 hours of continuous audio playback with ANC on and around 12 hours with ANC off.
Bring along the case, and you can get up to 24 hours of playback time with ANC. Practically-speaking, you could wear these for days without having to use anything other than the case to charge them. They should work really well for long trips or extended listening sessions.
Connectivity
The Status 3ANC headphones come equipped with Bluetooth 5.2. Pairing the earphones with both my iPhone 13 and my iMac was a breeze. I could even go back and forth and swap between different devices without much trouble at all. Range impressed—Bluetooth has come a long way since the instability of earlier iterations.
Additional Features
The touch controls on the Status 3ANC headphones are intuitive and responsive. Whether you want to play/pause your music, adjust the volume, or skip tracks, the touch controls make it easy. I took a few calls on these earphones and they did really well with no one being the wiser that I wasn’t pressing my iPhone up against my face to take the call.
Price Point
Considering the features and sound quality that the Status 3ANC headphones offer, they are priced reasonably at around $199. They really do sound good, well worth the money and far better than most pairs I’ve listened to that cost about half as much. Of course, you also get the ANC and heaps of runtime to make it an even better value.
Final Thoughts
The Status 3ANC headphones are a great first in-ear ANC solution from Status. They certainly deliver on sound quality and features. The active noise cancellation is effective, the battery life is commendable, and the overall listening experience is top-notch. If you can get past the odd look, then the Status 3ANC headphones should sit at the top of your shopping list.
