Monoprice SYNC-ANC, Wireless Headphone With More … For Less

Whether You Go Wired Or Wireless, It’s A Sound Deal

Two Sources Simultaneously As Well

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, as once again we post a quick review of a headset from Monoprice.  The SYNC-ANC are similar to the M1000ANC headset but with a few major differences, perhaps the most pertinent is the $60 price tag.  They support Bluetooth 5, with low latency AptX support, and the SYNC-ANC also function over a 3.5 mm cable connection if you prefer the old school connection.

The Active ANC works with either connection; which makes it worth noting you should turn it off via the switch on the left earcup when not using the headset to get the most out of the battery.  That battery is rated for 20 hours of wireless listening without ANC, dropping to 10 hours with it enabled.  As the ANC is dependant on the battery, while plugged in you can expect around 14 hours of audio which is why it is wise to turn it off as well as the headset itself when you aren’t using it.

Monoprice Giveth And Monoprice Taketh

The Monoprice SYNC-ANC are comparable to the M1000ANC headset recently reviewed here, with some extra features as well as some lessened capability.  To be fair, the biggest limitation is the battery which lasts 20 hours at best, while the $130 model can handle close to 60 hours.  The audio quality is comparable, they may lack Dirac Virtuo Spacial Audio but only the SYNC-ANC supports AptX low latency.  The same is true of it’s ability to be happily connected to two devices simultaneously.  While you don’t want to listen to two sources at the same time, it is very nice not to do the unpair and pair dance every time you want to move from a phone to a wireless receiver or other source.

This headset is also better for those that prefer physical switches to tapping out patterns on earcups.  There is a physical power switch as well as one to toggle ANC off or on, volume is controlled by a rocker switch on the right earcup along with a pause and resume button.  The headset is charged via mini-USB as opposed to USB-C, and as it ships with a reasonably long 3′ charging cable this shouldn’t put you off.  It also comes with a 3.5mm cable of similar length if you need to go wired instead of wireless.

These Cans Can Do

Physically the SYNC-ANC are comfortable to wear, with earcups large enough to cover the ears of anyone that isn’t British Royalty.  The metal headband is built to survive being tossed in a bag without harm and the padded leatherette covering is comfortable during prolonged usage.  They also lack any RGB-itis, the only lighting is on the bottom of the earcups to indicated if ANC is enabled and the charge level; ranging from blue to red as the battery drains.

Monoprice did not include details on the drivers nor the sound pressure that the ANC can deal with but in both cases the performance is at least as good as other headsets in this price range, if not better.  They are not able to provide the same level of volume as the M1000ANCs, but can certainly push out a decent level of audio.   The ANC is effective, though I encountered an odd bug which prevents me from recommending you from taking the SYNC-ANC on a long walk on the beach.  The microphones seem to pick up the noise of the headsets moving while you are walking, and emphasizes into a quite noticeable thud with every step.  That effect disappears if you disable ANC and does not seem to be present at other times, like a bumpy ride on the bus.

Comfortable On Your Head, And Your Wallet

Not all of us are audiophiles, seeking the best possible audio experience no matter what the cost.  Yes the Sennheiser HE 1 is a gorgeous piece of kit but it will also cost you ~$60,000.  If that is what you seek then Monoprice’s SYNC-ANC are simply not for you; the same goes if you consider Beats audio to be a bit limpid on the bass.  If you are looking for a comfortable set of headphones with a decent response range and a balanced sound then these are certainly worth consideration.

The headset offers a lot of convenience, with wired operation meaning you could take these on a flight with you and comfortably listen to entertainment while blocking off the background noise and you should expect the battery to make it through.   It is nice having upwards of 50 hours of battery life but it is certainly not necessary nor should you expect it at this price point.  The ability to seamlessly switch audio sources is more convenient than you might think, not to mention the effective range of AptX low latency means you don’t need to be close to either of those sources.

Once again Monoprice has managed to trim off the right features in order to reduce the price of the SYNC-ANC Bluetooth headset, while retaining that which is important.