I hope it doesn’t sound boastful to state that as TechRadar’s Audio Editor, a lot of headphones, earbuds and “exciting review opportunities” cross my desk every day.
And as you can probably imagine, every press release I read claims that these headphones and nobody else’s – how could we even entertain those! – are the most exciting audio innovation since Oliver Lodge invented the first true moving-coil loudspeaker in 1898 (absolutely not to be considered the first ever loudspeaker, before you write in) and we should fire up our best headphones and best over-ear headphones buying guides for their immediate inclusion.
So it was with trepidation that I accepted a set of headphones from plucky audio specialist OneSonic, a company that has only been in existence since 2019 and operates solely out of Dublin, Ireland.
First off, the Studio Pro headphones are currently only available in the UK and Ireland, which isn’t great for a global publication such as ours. Second, there’s no app support, no live translation tech, no spatial audio side-sauce, no auto-off… you see where I’m going here; they’re just noise-cancelling headphones. OK, they also come with a 3.5mm wired cable for wired listening, but that’s about it.
So why am I still writing this missive? Because despite my reservations, after running them in overnight on Wednesday and slipping them over my head Thursday morning, I’ve barely taken them off.
Remember when headphones were just… good headphones?
First off, these headphones are comfortable, even with glasses on. The few buttons on the right ear cup (power, volume up/down and a touch-point in the center of the cup to scroll between ANC, Transparency and ‘Off’) are easy to find. The design features a metallic headband, decent hinges that rotate to allow the ear cups to rest flat on the nape of your neck (drivers facing in, as it should be) and beautifully cushioned cups and band – although vegan music lovers should note that I believe there’s real leather here.
OK, so there’s no companion app. But remember when no headphones had an app to help you operate them, they just sounded good? I’m the first to knock a product that can’t do what others can and praise an option that offers a suite of extra features, but sometimes it’s worth pointing out that if a set of headphones sound good and cancel noise well, there’s a lot you can forgive…
And simply put: from my few days with them, the OneSonic Studio Pro are these headphones.
Noise cancellation that delivers
After deploying noise cancellation with a quick tap in the center of the left ear cup (a voice announces what you’ve done), I’m nicely cocooned in a bubble of near-silence and peace but with no odd nauseating feeling of suction. It’s the kind of performance you’d normally have to pay Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones money for – and just so we’re clear, those cost $429 / £449 / AU$649 at launch, where the OneSonic Studio Pro cost £179.99, or around $240 or AU$369, if they were sold in these regions.
Even with my other half (who incidentally never touches headphone apps) tapping incessantly on his keyboard next to me, I hear virtually nothing except my music – and reader, said tapping can be a ‘trigger sound’ for me, since his touch can be a lot heavier than mine, depending on the urgency of the deadline.
OneSonic claims that these Bluetooth 5.4 headphones’ hybrid ANC is good for up to 33dB noise reduction and although I’d need to test it further for a full review, I have to say that at this point, I’m not arguing.
Money talks – and this kind of sound quality silences critics
Did I mention the premium hard-shell case, with velour-type fabric on the inside?
David Cawley, CEO of OneSonic, told TechRadar: “With StudioPRO, our aim was to deliver a headphone which delivers a big, broad and immersive sound for electronic dance and heavy metal. Interestingly, these two genres demand the same type of high performance from audio hardware. We were so obsessed with making the audio experience perfect, that we’ve used metal extensively throughout the product to give the stiffness and structure you need to hold and deliver a big and immersive audio experience, particularly big and clear bass.”
What I can tell you is that from the moment I put Melissa Etheridge’s Bring Me Some Water on (which is country rock, if anything, so not even the target market) and heard Etheridge’s textured, strummed axe and emotive vocal, I knew Cawley was onto something – and I don’t say that lightly.
Switching to Could Have Been So Good by Rules & Bandit, so at least I’ve listened intently to the dance music genre these cans were tuned for, I’m dropped into a mix of dynamic yet nuanced rises and falls, crisp leading edges of notes, impactful changes of pace and a thumping, impulsive, agile bassline. There’s vigor, but never at the expense of clarity. I need to test it further for a full review (is there very occasional bloating in heavier, more extreme tracks? I don’t think so, but it needs further investigation) but initially, I’m a huge fan.
Features are not OneSonic’s forte (sound quality is)
Again, I’m worried that with very few extra features on the spec sheet – no auto off, proprietary spatial audio, hearing tests or EQ tweaks, and crucially no companion app – OneSonic might struggle to compete against the heavy hitters. There’s no aptX or LDAC support either, and the battery life is fine rather than fantastic, at 40 hrs (with ANC off), or 25 hrs (ANC on).
That said, I maintain that for their relatively nominal asking fee, I predict a stonking great hit. If you just want headphones that put you in the music and cancel noise, add them to your list for a test drive – if you’re lucky enough to live in the UK or Ireland, that is.
