Headphones these days are so common, most people have a decent set; commuting, computing, Office work or just to avoid the noise of the world. So it’s nice to see something with a point of difference which the Pump X brings to the table.
The hardware
On the surface, the BlueAnt Pump X headphones are just that… Headphones.
When you start delving a bit deeper into the package contents, you can see quickly that the target audience is going to really appreciate what’s on offer. When you open the box, you’re greeted with a really solid case for your headphones, the headphones and two sets of interchangeable ear cups. One is the standards, padded ones with plenty of foam for comfort; the second has a gel insert that cools your head while you wear them.
This is actually pretty nice improving the comfort if you’re working hard at the gym, but it doesn’t last very long. I did find a trick though; I left the gel ear cups in the fridge when they weren’t in use and I got most of the way through my workouts before I started to actively notice the heat from my headphones. It’s also really nice to have another set of ear cups to change to, that I haven’t soaked in sweat to wear when I’m doing other tasks around the house.
The headband is well padded, holding the ear cups on your head quite — almost uncomfortably — firmly. I can see why it’s so firm, that is very useful when you’re moving around in a gym environment, particularly if you’re lying down for exercises. It’s worth noting that across the first 12 – 15 hours of wear, that tension on the band reduced to a level I found it far more comfortable.
Battery Life
One of the issues I’ve had with noise cancelling headphones over the years is as soon as ANC is turned on, the battery dies; often quickly. This is not the case on the Pump X with the battery, of course, the battery does drop faster with ANC on but it’s not as dramatic as some other brands I’ve used.
Audio and Controls
In true BlueAnt fashion, the audio is pretty solid. It’s not going to stand up to the critique of an audiophile, and side by side you’ll hear the difference in a comparison with brands like Bose, Sony and Sennheiser; but those have a retail cost of $50 – $200 more.
What you’ll get from the Pump X is a pretty well balanced (a little lacking in bass for my taste, but that can be tuned with a software EQ) audio experience that has an impressive range on Bluetooth. I’ve left my phone in my gym bag, and enjoyed a reliable connection from a reasonable distance away; even with a lot of other people using Bluetooth headphones and — realistically — causing some interference.
The controls for the Pump X are really cleverly hidden in the graphics on the side of the earcup. With the “X” having the play/pause button as well as the volume control.
Noise cancelling
The Pump X is something of a surprise package for my mind here, because the ANC on it isn’t just surprisingly good; it’s good… Period. Being brutally honest, it’s not as good as the Sony WH-1000 series, again, they’re notably cheaper. That aside, if you’ve got an older generation of one of the bigger brands, or haven’t had a decent set of ANC headphones before, you won’t be disappointed.
For these to be capable of drowning out the volume and variety of noises my daughter makes around the house is nothing short of impressive.
Is it worth the money?
The TL:DR version is yes, the BlueAnt Pump X headphones offer great
Comfort is a big thing for headphones and — after the initial breaking in — these really are super comfy with plenty of adjustment to add to the interchangeable ear cups. When you put that together with easy to use controls, great battery life and really solid sound; you’re not a winner in my book.
If they’re sounding like something you’d like to grab, you can pick a pair up from BlueAnt for RRP AU$299.00, but of course, keep your eyes out for specials.
