- Table of Contents
- Intro
- When It Matters
- Our Tests
- Conclusion
- Feedback
- Comments
- 25.96%Ease Of Use
- 25.96%Feedback
- 14.42%Call/Music Control
- 14.42%Volume Control
- 4.81%Microphone Control
- 4.81%Channel Mixing
- 4.81%Noise Cancelling Control
- 4.81%Talk-Through
Whether you're beating your personal best at the gym or unwinding to some tunes in your lounge using Bluetooth or a trusty ¼" audio cable, having to pull out your device to pause your music or switch windows to cycle to the next track can be an unwelcome disruption that breaks your immersion. Dedicated headphone controls provide baseline (or more) functionality that improves flexibility without sacrificing convenience or increasing friction.
That said, the implementation of control schemes varies depending on the product. Most have at least basic functionality, but some headphones offer additional options, giving you control over channel mixes, active noise cancelling (ANC) modes, and even presets. Aside from the options provided by built-in controls, we also evaluate the quality of these controls—whether they are easy and intuitive to use and provide adequate feedback, haptic or otherwise.
Test results
When It Matters
With once-premium and exclusive features like ANC and transparency (talk-through) moving into the mainstream, headphones have more settings than ever for listeners to tweak besides simple track and volume controls. While this expansion is welcome, headphone users may prefer to adjust their tracks, accept calls, and toggle through ANC modes without pulling out their connected devices or opening an app. Control schemes can vary greatly depending on the headphones' intended use and market position; premium wireless models come with controls for their dedicated features, while audiophile headphones may have no controls. Depending on your setup and intended use, you may prefer simplicity or no built-in controls on your headphones, so we don't weigh controls as heavily as more universal aspects like comfort or build quality.
Our Tests
When evaluating headphones' controls, we look at the controls available on the device itself and associated dock, transmitter, or case (when applicable)—this doesn't include any software controls. That said, we factor in built-in controls that are remappable through software, as long as they don't overwrite other core functionality like volume or play/pause control.
OS Compatibility
On certain headphones, some core functions of their onboard controls may be limited or disabled depending on the connected device or its operating system. With the focus shifting towards ecosystem-dependent features in headphone brands outside of just Apple, you may be concerned about device flexibility. To address this, we test our devices for control compatibility with Android, iOS, and PC—for applicable devices, we also assess functionality with Xbox or PlayStation consoles. Fortunately, most devices retain wide compatibility with a variety of operating systems and devices. For example, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)'s control scheme is fully functional on Android, except for Siri access (which we don't consider a necessary control). That said, this comparison only addresses the physical controls available on the device itself and doesn't factor in the ability to configure or remap controls.
Ease Of Use
While this test is a subjective measure for evaluating the control scheme of headphones, we adhere to a consistent rubric involving multiple individuals' evaluations and regular comparisons to similar products. This assessment considers how intuitive the controls feel, how easy they are to locate and press or touch, and whether the layout or gestures minimize accidental inputs. For example, you might run into fewer accidental inputs using wireless earbuds with pinch controls like the Nothing Ear, as you're less likely to touch their control surfaces when adjusting their fit.
 Their touch controls are often accidentally triggered when adjusting the headphones' fit. |  Two control wheels allow scrolling through ANC and volume adjustments. |
While preferences may vary, this test helps identify headphones that offer the most natural and effortless user inputs.
Feedback
Like our ease of use test, this one is subjective, but we apply a consistent rubric to evaluate how well headphones confirm and respond to user inputs. Whether through tactile, auditory, or visual cues, strong feedback ensures that users know when an action has been successfully executed, reducing repeated or erroneous inputs. Headphones with voice prompts and unique chimes for specific inputs minimize ambiguity and the learning curve by directly confirming the action, thus scoring more favorably. We also evaluate responsiveness, considering whether controls like track skipping suffer from noticeable delay.
Good Feedback: Sony ULT WEAR Volume Warning: user inputs are picked up by the recording | Mediocre Feedback: Devialet Gemini II True Wireless Volume Warning: user inputs are picked up by the recording |
In summary, this test helps identify headphones with reliable and identifiable feedback, ensuring controls feel responsive.
Supplemental Tests
Call/Music Control
Most headphones with onboard controls have functions for playing and pausing tracks, which typically double as functions for accepting and ending calls.
Volume Control
This feature is found on most headphones with controls and is useful for making volume adjustments on the fly.
Microphone Control
Microphone control is useful if you take lots of calls or use voice comms when gaming. We assess whether the headphones have mute/unmute functionality or microphone level adjustments.
Channel Mixing
This feature is generally found on gaming-oriented devices. It allows you to adjust source-specific levels when listening to simultaneous audio, so you can mix voice chat and game audio depending on your needs.
Noise Cancelling Control
Headphones with noise cancellation systems vary in how much control they offer. Some have a simple on/off control, while others allow fine-tuned adjustments to the system's strength or let you cycle through preset levels.
Talk-Through
Some headphones have a talk-through function, which allows you to hear your surroundings and converse with neighbors. Manufacturers often call this feature different names, like transparency, ambient mode, or talk-through.
Additional Controls
This captures additional controls not covered by the previous categories, including preset controls, voice assistants, etc.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the effectiveness of a pair of headphones' controls depends on their functionality, responsiveness, and ease of use. Whether you prefer physical buttons or touch gestures, a well-implemented built-in control scheme can greatly reduce the hassle of navigating playlists or picking up calls. While we evaluate the effectiveness of these headphones in a structured manner, your experience with built-in controls will also depend on your preferences—perhaps leaning towards no controls for an audiophile pair of headphones or physical buttons for their instant haptic feedback.
Feedback
What do you think about how we evaluate controls? Do you have any suggestions or questions? Please let us know in the comments or email us at feedback@rtings.com.
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