AKG N60NC Wireless on-ears
AN ELEGANT SOLUTION FOR VAGABONDS AND AUDIOPHILES.
IT CAN BE challenging to walk the lines between style, comfort, portability and durability without having to stray too far in any one direction, but with the N60NC Wireless, AKG does so with aplomb and grace. The understated aesthetic deftly dodges any gaudy styling with its low-key black coat and sensible silver trim. The ear cushions are incredibly deep and compensate for the relatively un-padded headband, and thanks to the unit’s featherweight 200g build these are comfortable. Predominantly plastic in construction but with key components made from metal, the N60NCs are lightweight yet sturdy, and fold down into a tiny bundle courtesy of swivelling, collapsible cups and a cleverly designed neoprene pouch.
You’ll get 15 hours of active noise cancelling enabled, wireless playback and double that when cabling up with ANC switched on, which is seriously impressive for a unit this size. However, it is a little unfortunate that there’s no way to disengage the noise cancelling when going wireless in order to eke out even more power on extended voyages. That said, with ANC as effective as this (once again, considering the unit’s size and on-ear format), you’ll likely want to keep it active whenever you can. It’s not quite as effective as some over-ear designs (the Bose QC35 and Sony X1000 range are still the players to beat in this field), but the effect is the best we’ve heard from on-ear cans. Engaging this feature is as simple as flipping one of the pair of paddle-switches, which doubles as the Bluetooth pairing control when held a little further. The other cleverly-implemented paddle-switch is dedicated to skipping tracks forward or back, effectively condensing what would be five or six buttons into two elegant switches. These paddles and the dedicated volume up and down buttons are found on the right housing, while the micro-USB charging port and 3.5mm audio jack are found on the left, neatly separating controls from cabling.
The audio profile of the N60NC isn’t skewed heavily in any one direction, but the bass and the lower-mids do get a touch more love than the upper frequencies. This isn’t as prominent as it would be in many earbuds or in-ear headphones as the sense of space in these cans belies the unit’s size and format. The frequency separation and clarity delivered by these on-ears makes for some seriously premium sounds, and any treble that would have otherwise been lost in a bass-heavy profile still remains present and distinct as a result. This translates to headphones that aren’t especially suited to any one style of music but will work wonders no matter what genres you favour.
The biggest strike against these on-ears is the asking price of $449, and the most likely threat to the AKG N60NCs is the company’s wired version at $100 less. If you travel often and are a sucker for stellar audio, then the wired N60NC are definitely worth the asking price, and if you’re deadset on cutting the cord, the N60NC Wireless will not disappoint.