Looking for a new set of over-ear wireless headphones? You should definitely consider Mpow H5 which feature active noise cancellation, wireless connectivity and a large battery. We had the headphones with us for a couple of weeks and in this Mpow H5 review we will be sharing our complete thoughts to make your buying decision easier.
Mpow is an up and coming brand that makes various smartphone oriented accessories, however, it is generally known for its audio products: headphones and earphones. In this article we will take a look at it’s over-ear headphone offering: the Mpow H5. Packing various premium functions and features, the highlight is definitely the active noise cancellation which is mostly found on much pricier headphones than the H5. In our review ahead, we will be taking a detailed look at the hardware, sound quality and overall value.
Technical Specifications
Here are the specs for Mpow H5 Headphones
- Wireless Technology: Bluetooth 4.1
- Weight: 232.46g
- Connectivity: microUSB
- Colors: Black
- Battery Capacity: 3.7V/300mAh
- Microphone: Yes
- Audio driver size: 40mm
Whats in the Box?
Starting with the box, MPOW ships H5 headphones with some key accessories. Apart from the headphones, you also get a microUSB to USB Type-A cable for charging, a long 3.5mm connecting cable and a soft cloth carrying pouch. Also, there is standard paper work included as well within the box.
Build and Design
Inspecting the exterior of the headphones, MPOW H5 are quite well designed. With a minimal approach, there aren’t many complicated lines or shapes going on. The ear-cups are covered with these curved plastic finish pieces on both ends. Further, these covers have a grill cut-out on the top side to let air pass through for deeper base. As for color options, there is only one and that is black. The headband on top is thin and is wrapped in soft foam for comfort fitting. The design allows for extension of the headband so each user can find the perfect fitment. Even more, the ear-cups swivel both horizontally and vertically to provide ideal shape for each customer.
For the ear-cups themselves, they are over-ear style and have great cushions. In our use, we found them quiet comfortable and were able to use them continuously for hours on end. The headband support in addition to the soft ear-cups makes for comfortable listening. Over our usage period (couple of weeks), the materials used to cover the ear-cups seemed durable and didn’t wear off.
For the button layout, both ear-cups have buttons placed on them. The left unit houses volume keys, Bluetooth pairing key and also, the microUSB port for charging. For the right, it has a single toggle for turning Active Noise Cancellation on or off and also a 3.5mm jack. Lastly, there is a single multi-purpose LED light to communicate whether Noise cancellation is on or off and what bluetooth state it is in (pairing or connected). A USB Type-C connection would have been nice, hopefully in the next iteration.
Sound Quality & Noise Cancellation
To go along with H5’s great design, these headphones offer some great sound. As sound is subjective, if you are looking for true, studio level feedback then these aren’t it. However, if you are an average user who loves bass, these headphones deliver quite well. Tuned for extra bass, we found the sound to be quite powerful so much that when at hundred percent volume, you can feel the vibration of the drivers.
Undoubtedly, the key feature for Mpow H5 is Active Noise Cancellation. With the ANC button, you can activate noise cancellation as need be. Compared to higher-end Noise Cancelling headphones, Mpow H5 stand their ground really well. The noise-cancellation works really well to block out noise. Noise cancellation is intended to be used with music or audio playing. While we have seen headphones come out with an option to vary the level of noise cancellation — such as Libratone Track+, we think this single-setting approach at this price is sufficient.
Battery & Connectivity
Being Wireless Headphones, battery and connectivity are two fundamental parts of the whole package. Mpow utilizes Bluetooth 4.1 which is long range and has a stable connection to the device it connects to. Range wise, you can be seated as far as 33ft from your phone and the headphones will still work. However, if there are closed doors or walls in between, the range is drastically less.
For battery life, we were suprised by H5’s endurance, these headphones easily lasted a couple of full-use days! Mpow markets 30 hours battery and we certainly think it can achieve that with an average volume and ANC on. Despite being microUSB, the charging is pretty quick as well because the physical battery module itself isn’t that large to begin with.
Additional Features
Mpow has added some extra functionality to the headphones which makes the deal even better. For us, the CVC 6.0 microphone definitely stands out. Unlike many other headphones we have tested, the audio output from the microphone is quite high quality and works perfectly for calls, streams and more!
Conclusion
All in all, if you are in the market for good quality noise cancelling headphones, definitely give Mpow H5 a shot! On top of the great hardware, design and functionality, the pricing seals the deal. Noise cancelling at its own seems to justify the price but Mpow has taken a step ahead and added additional quality features. The only shortcoming that we will add is the glossy back ear-cups but then again, that’s a personal preference and some customers might even prefer the glossy finish!
Buy Mpow H5 ANC Wireless Headphones
