- Table of Contents
- Intro
- When It Matters
- Our Tests
- Conclusion
- Comments
- 50.0%Continuous Battery Life
- 20.0%Total Battery Life
- 10.0%Charge Time
- 10.0%Power-Saving Feature
- 5.0%Audio While Charging
- 5.0%Passive Playback
Our battery test measures how long your active headphones will last on a single charge. If your headphones play audio wirelessly, cancel ambient noise, or enhance your listening experience with active features, their battery will drain over time.
The importance of battery life is dependent on your listening habits and headphone choice. If you're often on the move and do not have a lot of opportunities to charge your active headphones, then a long-lasting battery may be more suitable. Likewise, if you use your headphones sparingly or rarely find yourself in need of additional noise cancellation, then a short battery life may not be much of an issue. However, the ideal active headphones should deliver the full set of their active features without requiring multiple charges throughout the day.
We test headphone batteries based on battery life, charge time, and battery-saving features like auto-off timers. We also test whether the headphones can stream audio while charging or passively when the active features are turned off.
Test results
When It Matters
Active features, such as noise canceling, wireless audio streaming, and bass-enhancing toggles or sliders, will dictate how long the headphones' battery will last. A poor battery life performance may ruin your listening experience, as most active headphones, especially wireless ones, will stop working once the battery is dead. Therefore, battery life will matter more for listeners who need active features to reduce the ambient noise of loud environments or prefer a wireless connection to their audio devices.
Our Tests
We judge the performance of a pair of headphones' battery by measuring the charge time, battery life, and additional battery-saving features like an auto-off timer. This test is done in a closed, soundproof box to get the most accurate results. We also check if the headphones can continue playing audio when charging.
Battery Type
Most active headphones use two types of batteries: AAA batteries, which are easily replaceable, and embedded, rechargeable Li-ion/Li-Polymer batteries, mostly found in newer models. AAA batteries also have rechargeable variations but require an external battery charger, unlike embedded ones, which charge via the headphones' Micro-USB port.
We use new AAA 1.5V, MN2400 Duracell batteries for each test to get the most consistent results. However, the battery type isn't scored because battery life is more dependent on the headphones' design, and its longevity is taken into account with the battery life test.
Continuous Battery Life
Headphones' continuous battery life is measured by taking both a time-lapse video of the headphones (to monitor changes in their LEDs when applicable) and audio recording with binaural microphones. To standardize testing between products, the headphones' levels are set to 85 dB SPL (250-2000Hz pink noise) after head calibration using one of our measurement rigs. Throughout the duration of testing, we play a looped track to simulate load on the headphones. For headphones that have active noise cancellation, we also enable the feature with the preset used in the noise isolation section of testing (when applicable).
Additional Charges
[Coming Soon]
Total Battery Life
[Coming Soon]
Charge Time
Time-Lapse Video Recording
The charge time is measured using a similar setup to the battery life test. However, we don't add a load to the headphones when charging. This measurement uses only a time-lapse recording of the active headphones' LEDs.
Charge time is done strictly with headphones that have an embedded, rechargeable battery and not with those that use AAA. Charge time will also vary depending on your power source. For example, charging with a PC will take a bit longer than charging directly from a wall outlet using the provided power adapter.
Power Saving Feature
 Android Bose QuietComfort 35 |  Android Parrot Zik 3.0 |
Some active headphones have a built-in auto-off timer or one that you can enable via their provided apps. For this test, we connect the headphones to an audio source and then stop streaming audio to see if the headphones will automatically turn off after a set time. This feature allows headphones to reduce battery consumption when they're not being used, so it's given a more substantial weight in the overall battery score.
Audio While Charging
Some headphones allow you to continue streaming audio while charging. For this test, we plug the active headphones into a power source and check whether the audio continues playing. However, audio while charging is only possible in certain situations, like being at your desk at the office or on a plane/train. Therefore, it's not given much weight in the overall score for the battery test.
Passive Playback
All the active features of a pair of headphones stop working when the battery is completely drained. However, some active headphones can also work passively so that you can continue to listen to your audio even when they're out of power. Depending on the headphones' battery life, you won't always be able to charge them when they die. Therefore, headphones with passive playback will be scored slightly better than those without.
Conclusion
Our battery test measures the time it takes for active headphones to be completely drained from a single charge. Usually, when the battery runs out, you lose some or all the active features that the headphones provide. Wireless headphones, especially, turn off when the battery is dead, leaving you stranded without audio until you can connect them to a power source. Therefore, we test the charge time and battery life, as well as battery-saving features like an auto-off timer for all our active headphones. We also check if you can use them while they're charging or passively when the batteries are completely drained. Depending on your listening habits and headphone choice, long-lasting battery life may be crucial if you don't often get the chance to recharge throughout the day.
Recommended Articles
Comments
Battery Life Of Headphones: Main Discussion
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- 21010
Hi, I would like to know if the definition of 90dBSPL for battery life test was changed to 500Hz 90dBSSPL with V1.8? Or is there another definition?
Hi there. We haven’t made any changes to our calibration process for testing battery life for headphones. They’re set to output the same levels with our test tone (250-2000Hz) and play a looped track until their battery runs out. That said, as our methodology has evolved over time, the exact details in the article aren’t fully up to date. Rest assured, measurements from older test benches are still comparable with current ones, and we’re working on updating the article.
Edited 1 month ago: clarification - 21010
Hi, I would like to know if the definition of 90dBSPL for battery life test was changed to 500Hz 90dBSSPL with V1.8? Or is there another definition?