The Samsung Level Over-Ear are well-crafted, comfortable Bluetooth headphones that sound great and leak little sound. They deliver decent isolation that might not be the best for very loud environments but is sufficient for office-like environments and regular commutes.
Our Verdict
The Level Over make for good everyday headphones. They have sufficient features to handle most test cases and environments but maybe a little bulky for high-intensity activities
-
Sturdy, comfortable design.
-
Great, customizable audio reproduction.
-
Leaks very little sound.
-
Touch-sensitive controls, prone to mistakes.
-
Slightly heavy.
Decent for neutral listening. They have a good frequency response that's also adjustable with the aid of the Samsung app. Soundstage is a little limited because of their closed back design, but the sound quality and comfort level is good enough for long casual listening sessions.
Decent for commuting. Their noise isolation performance is decent enough for moderate levels of ambient noise.
Mediocre for sports use. Comfortable and wireless with a good control scheme. However, they're bulky and a little unstable.
Decent for office use. Noise isolation performance should be enough for the chatter of a busy office, and they don't leak much.
- 7.2 Mixed Usage
- 7.4 Neutral Sound
- 7.5 Commute/Travel
- 7.0 Sports/Fitness
- 7.2 Office
- 5.9 Wireless Gaming
- 7.5 Wired Gaming
- 6.8 Phone Call
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Sep 28, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Mar 01, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Mar 17, 2016: Review published.
- Updated Mar 15, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Samsung Level Over Wireless are a much better wireless headset than the Samsung U Flex if you prefer over-ears to in-ear headphones. The U Flex are a lot more portable than the Level Over Wireless. They're also more breathable and stable for sports and physical activity. On the other hand, the Level Over Wireless have a better default sound quality that you can customize with any Android phone, not just Samsung devices like the U Flex. They're also noise cancelling headphones, so they're a bit more suitable for noisy conditions and commuting, and they have a longer battery life than the U Flex.
The Samsung Level Over Wireless are a much better wireless headset than the Samsung Level U Pro if you prefer over-ears to in-ear headphones. As expected, the smaller format of the Level U Pro makes them a lot easier to carry around than the bulky Level Overs. They're a lot more breathable and stable for sports and physical activity and also benefit from the same customization options as the Level Over. The Level Over, on the other hand, have a better default sound quality and they're also noise cancelling headphones, so they're a bit more suitable for noisy conditions and commuting. They also have a longer battery life than the Level U Pro.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are better wireless noise canceling headphones than the Samsung Level Over Wireless. The Bose are smaller and easier to carry around, even if they are not the most portable headphones. The Bose are also a lot more comfortable to wear for long listening sessions, have a much better noise cancellation feature than the Samsung, and a much better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box. The Samsung, on the other hand, have a better app that gives you access to a graphic EQ and presets, so you can change the way they sound. They also leak quite a bit less audio, which is good if you like to blast your music in the office.
The Samsung Level Over Wireless are a much better wireless headset if you want an over-ear headphone, but the Sony WI-C400 are a better choice if you want something more portable. The Sonys have a wireless around-the-neck design that's a lot easier to carry around on your person than the bulky Level Over Wireless. They're also a lot more breathable and stable for sports and physical activity. On the upside, the Level Over Wireless have a much better sound quality which you can EQ to better match what you're listening to. They're also noise cancelling headphones, so they're a bit more suitable for noisy conditions and commuting, although portability might be an issue for some.
Test Results
The Samsung Level Over have a sleek, stylish design. The headband has a matte black finish accentuated by the silver of the frame, connecting metal joints and the decorative rings around each ear cup. The faux-leather padding on the underside of the headband and on the ear cups looks good, feels soft and contributes to the overall modern and sleek esthetic. The backs of the ear cups have a glossy finish for the touch-sensitive pads, which adds a little more flare to an already eye-catching pair of headphones.
The large oval ear cups fully encompass the ear and the soft padding on both the ear cups and the headband make them comfortable to have on the head for a long period of time. However, they are a little heavy and the ear cups do not swivel or adjust much, which can put some tension on the head.
The touch-sensitive controls are a nice addition to the Level Over and are the primary mode of control when used wirelessly (as tested). The touch pad is functional and convenient, once you are accustomed to it. Unfortunately, the very sensitive touch pad is prone to erroneous inputs, which can be quite frustrating. The provided inline controls of the cable are top notch but were not evaluated in our wireless Level Over test.
The Level Over are bigger than your average over-ear headphone. They take up a lot of space and are not portable. They don't fold flat or into a more compact format for easy transportation, which means you may need a large bag to carry them around.
Comes with a hardshell case that will protect the headphones from impacts. The hard shell will also shield the headphones from water damage. However, the case is quite large and will take up a lot of space in a bag.
Build quality is decent. These headphones feel sturdy, the plastic ear cups look durable and the headband feels solid enough to be able to handle a few drops. Disappointingly, the frame is only covered in a metal finish and is not actually metal and the glossy back of the ear cups could easily get scratched through wear and tear.
The Samsung Level Over are surprisingly stable for their size. They apply enough pressure on your head to remain in place during casual listening sessions.The large earcups and broad headband provide enough surface area to prevent the headphones from swaying during moderate physical activity. Unfortunately, these are not sports headphones.They're a little too bulky and heavy, and they will slip off your ears while running or jumping.
Average isolation. The earcups provide good passive isolation in the treble region, reaching the maximum of -36dB. The active noise cancellation provides a steady -14dB of isolation throughout the bass and mid regions, except for around 300Hz, where they don't seem to be doing much.
Good leakage. Depending on the playback level, the perceived profile of the leakage could become broader. But the overall level of the leakage is within good values.
The Level Over Wireless have a bit more battery life than that of the level on and delivers up to 18 hours of continuous playback. They also charge a bit faster than the level on and have an auto-off timer, which saves quite a bit of power when they're not in use. Additionally, these headphones can continue streaming audio when charging, making them a decent options to use in the office or on a plane/train where you have access to power source. However, they won't be ideal for particularly long weekend trips as you still have to charge them throughout the day.
The Level app has a simple and clean interface that provides a practical set of features. It gives you access to two types of graphic equalizers, an adjustable auto-off timer, and a noise canceling on/off button. However, there are no room effects to enhance your listening experience, and the battery indicator is little small and doesn't provide enough information.
Samsung Level Over Graphic Equalizer 1
