Headphones are enjoying a resurgence of sorts, but the portability of earbuds remains undeniable. It is a good thing then that the Philips TAH8506 wireless headphones are foldable and come with a sleek and premium case. Made of matte black plastic, the headphones feel robust and premium to the touch. The earcups and the soft pad on the headband come wrapped in artificial leather. The fit around the ears is snug, and the foam in the cups is soft enough to mould and insulate around the temples of glasses.
In addition to the carry case, you get a USB-C cable, a 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable (the headphones have a 2.5mm slot), and an adapter for use in airplanes. The right cup has the power, voice assistant, and active noise cancellation (ANC) buttons along with the 2.5mm audio port, USB-C charging port, and a status indicating LED. The headband adjustment is clicky and satisfying. However, the earcups are not breathable, which won’t be an issue indoors or in an air-conditioned environment. These headphones have multipoint support for up to two devices and also support Hi-Res Audio. Further, it is compatible with the Philips Headphones app allowing for customisation of the sound output among other features.
I must admit that I enjoyed using these headphones. They became a mainstay while editing videos, and I had them on for long hours. The soft earcups are a boon and ensure comfort. The clarity is great and comes in handy while overlaying music over videos. I listen to a wide variety of music, and these perform well across genres. The 40mm drivers are geared moderately towards bass, but the soundstage comes across as decently wide with good clarity across frequencies, and the bass can be easily adjusted as per preference using any equaliser. The ANC works well too and manages to isolate you from traffic noises well enough. The Awareness mode is also useful when you’re strolling outside with the headphones on.
Music is easily controlled using touch and swipe gestures on the right earcup. Also, you can pause the music to listen to ambient noises by placing your palm on the right earcup, which is a useful and cool feature! Battery backup is great, and a full charge lasted me more than 10 days with nearly two hours of daily usage at high volume levels and ANC on. The battery backup can easily be stretched much more if used without ANC. Plus, the option of having wired connectivity is also good to have in case the headphones run out of juice. Overall, the Philips TAH8506 are a good-looking pair of headphones that pack in useful features and are a great buy.
Price: ₹ 14,999 | www.phillips.co.in
