The QCY H3 is a new product from the Chinese manufacturer of electronics, these new headphones fall into the budget category, and yet, their specifications sheet say otherwise about the performance, not to mention the positive feedback from the users who bought it and loved it for what it offers in terms of sound and especially the noise cancelling.
The device comes with 3 mics for an effective ENC, buttons for control and a sturdy body with comfortable memory foam ear pads and headband, under the hood it boasts the new BT5.3 chip, a 500mAh battery that gives up to 60 hours of autonomy and a 40mm driver capable of Hi Res Quality, but the most anticipated feature here is the 43 dB hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, in this review, i will go over all of the above and more to determine whether this device is worth it.
QCY H3 Features
- Button controls, convenient and easy to use
- Ergonomic design
- Bluetooth 5.3 with Multi-Connect
- 43dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation
- QCY App Support
- 3 mic Noise reduction for calls
- 60 hour Long lasting battery
- Hi-Res Audio
- Cinema Level 3D Sound
- 40 mm composite dynamic driver
- Waterproof
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Design And Build Quality
The QCY H3 headphones boast a thoughtful design and solid build quality. While they do lean toward the slightly larger side, with measurements of 160.2*81.7*196.8mm and weighing in at 260g, this doesn’t compromise their overall elegance. Their matte finish not only adds to their aesthetic appeal but also serves a practical purpose by preventing scratches and fingerprints, ensuring they maintain a fresh, new look over time.
The ear cups are designed for a sealed fit, providing noise isolation for an immersive audio experience. These cups feature synthetic protein leather ear pads paired with slow spring memory foam, offering exceptional comfort with minimal pressure on your ears. This design enables you to enjoy your music for extended periods without discomfort. The headphones are also highly adjustable, with foldable ear cups, rotatable heads, and a bendable headband, all contributing to improved user experience, comfort, and portability.
However, it’s worth noting that some users have reported experiencing ear sweat during extended use. Nonetheless, it’s generally advisable to take breaks when using headphones for extended periods to prevent potential discomfort. On a positive note, the unboxing experience is impressive, with well-organized and nicely presented contents, adding to the overall premium feel of the product.
Waterproof
QCY advertises this device as waterproof, which means that this device can be withstand light splashes of water, this allows you to use it during training without worrying about sweat damaging it, and it’s a nice plus to have at this price point, but keep in mind, never submerge it under water because that will damage it, keep it away from water sources as much as possible to preserve it for longer periods.
Button Controls and Functionality
The QCY H3 headphones feature a button control interface, which is a common choice in the industry. This decision aligns with user-friendly operation, ensuring that essential functions are easily accessible. On the right side, you’ll find the volume buttons, a multi-function button (MFB), and an ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) button. The buttons are thoughtfully placed for convenience, and their tactile and rigid design enhances ease of use. With this intuitive button layout, users can effortlessly control playback, manage calls, activate voice assistants, and toggle noise cancellation settings, enhancing the overall user experience.
ANC Button:
- Switch Mode: Press Once to switch among ANC ON, OFF and Transparency mode
- Adaptive Noise Canceling: Double Press when ANC is On
The Multi-Function Button:
- Power On/Off: Press and hold for 2s/4s
- Play/Pause: Press Once
- Low Latency Gaming mode: Double Press
- Voice Assistant: Triple Press
- Answer/End Call: Press Once
- Reject Call: Press and Hold for 1s
The Volume Buttons:
- Increase Volume: Press + Once
- Decrease Volume: Press – Once
- Previous Track: Press and hold VOL + for 1s
- Previous Track: Press and hold VOL – for 1s
- Factory reset : Press and hold both VOL + and VOL – for 10s
QCY H3 – Connectivity & Pairing
The QCY H3 headphones employ cutting-edge Bluetooth 5.3 technology, ensuring a dependable and uninterrupted connection spanning from 10 to 17 meters. This functionality seamlessly integrates with its compatibility across multiple platforms on many Bluetooth enabled devices.
The Bluetooth 5.3 chip offers support for both SBC and AAC codecs, catering to the preferences of different users. SBC prioritizes energy efficiency, a favored choice among Android users, while AAC emphasizes superior sound quality, albeit with a minor uptick in battery consumption, making it a preferred option for IOS and MAC users. This diverse codec support enhances the auditory experience, accommodating a wide-ranging user base.
The pairing is fairly simple, you only need to follow the next steps:
- Turn on your QCY H3 by pressing the power button for 2s, the LED Dot will blink red and white
- Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone
- Find the QCY H3 and click on it then allow pairing
This process is only required once, from then on you only need to turn the QCY H3 and BT on and the two devices will pair automatically.
It’s worth mentioning that you can use this device in wired mode using the AUX cable included in the box, simply insert one end of in the 3.5mm jack Audio port in your headsets and do the same on your phone or PC, this way you get superior audio quality, reduced latency, and it works even when the device is not charged, so it’s a nice safety option if your headphones ever run out of juice.
Multi-Point Connection :
For total convenience, H3 can be connected to two devices at the same time. It’s a Perfect option for office workers and students, you can now watch a movie, a lecture or anything of the sort on your computer, and be able to receive a call on your smartphone and answer it from the headphones, then go back to your movie, without any inconvenience.
QCY App Support
The QCY app is available on the App Store and the Play Store, and requires Android 8.0 or above and iOS 13.0 or above. This meticulously designed app significantly enhances the user experience by simplifying access to and control of the many features offered by the QCY H3 headphones. While the headphones work fine even without the app, forgoing its utilization would mean missing out on a host of intriguing features that could elevate your audio experience to new heights.
After installing the app, you are going to have to add the device to the app to start benefiting from the features, and to do that you need to follow these steps:
- Turn the headphones on and click on the plus button at the top right corner of the App’s home screen
- The QCY H3 Headphones will appear, click on it and allow the pairing
That’s all, you may now proceed into exploring the app and customizing the headphones to your preference.
QCY App Features
The app offers many features that are useful for the user and improve the user experience, here a list of some of the features:
- Button customization: customize the button layout and the action executed with each prompt to match your preference or possibly a layout that you’re already familiar with
- Timing to power off: you can set your device to turn off after a set period of time, this feature is useful to stop the audio from playing all night long to preserve your ears and preserve the battery for the next day
- Firmware update: this feature is crucial, it allows you to update the software of the headphones and receive updates that can potentially fix bugs or bring forth improvements to the sound quality, latency, or overall user experience.
- Integrated Equalizer: the equalizer allows you to change the sound profile which changes the way music sounds, you can either choose one of the preset profiles or create your own.
- ANC control: this menus is all for activating Noise Canceling, and adjusting its profile depending on the environment
- Battery display: accurate displaying of the battery level of the headphones in real time
- Turn Gaming mode on: toggle gaming mode on and off to get low latency during gaming.
QCY H3 – Audio Quality
The QCY H3 headphones redefine sound quality with their exceptional 40mm drivers capable of encompassing the entire auditory spectrum from 20Hz to 20kHz. In wired mode, the Hi-Res certification unlocks an unparalleled audio experience, faithfully reproducing the original sound with minimal loss. Moreover, the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.3 technology, along with support for AAC and SBC codecs, further minimizes sound quality degradation, resulting in a rich and immersive listening experience.
Music enthusiasts can anticipate a robust bass and well-defined mids, providing a balanced sound profile. However, it’s worth noting that the treble might come across as somewhat subdued and veiled. Considering its price point, the QCY H3 stands out as a rare gem in the realm of sound quality, offering an exceptional audio experience that rivals more expensive options. In wired mode, the Hi-Res certification elevates the sound quality even further, reducing losses and delivering an enhanced music experience. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that noise canceling cannot be activated in this mode, which is a trade-off for the audiophile seeking uncompromised sound fidelity.
Active Noise cancellation
The QCY H3 boasts an impressive 43dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) capability, exclusively operable in Bluetooth mode. With its cutting-edge hybrid ANC technology, this headset utilizes five microphones in concert to effectively neutralize noise, achieving an outstanding 43dB noise reduction. This ANC system also offers four distinct noise cancellation modes, ensuring a comfortable noise-cancellation experience tailored to various environments: Indoors, Outdoors, Anti-wind, and Commuting.
Moreover, the QCY H3 features state-of-the-art Bimodal Ear Canal Adaptive Audio Compensation. This advanced feature allows the headphones to discern individual ear-canal structures and wear styles, subsequently fine-tuning noise-canceling parameters to optimize the audio profile for each user. This results in a consistently premium listening experience, uniquely tailored to different individuals.
Additionally, the Adaptive ANC ensures that external noise is effectively silenced, providing a focused and distraction-free environment. Notably, the Transparency Mode allows users to stay aware of their surroundings while enjoying their music, making it ideal for activities like shopping, walking, or chatting.
Microphone Quality & Bluetooth Calling
The QCY H3 headphones come equipped with an impressive microphone setup that supports Bluetooth calling. Featuring three integrated microphones designed for electronic noise reduction, these headphones utilize advanced Very Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (VDCNN) technology. This innovative approach allows the built-in microphones to adapt to different environments seamlessly, automatically adjusting the noise-canceling level to provide a stable, natural, and high-quality calling experience, whether you’re indoors or outdoors.
In quiet environments, the microphones perform exceptionally well, ensuring crystal-clear communication with your call recipients. However, in more complex or noisy surroundings, the three microphones work in tandem to eliminate background noise and deliver your voice as clearly as possible. While this dual-microphone system does a commendable job in challenging conditions, you may still encounter a slight drop in call quality, depending on the level of external noise present. Overall, the QCY H3 headphones excel in Bluetooth calling, offering reliable and clear voice transmission in a variety of scenarios.
Low Latency & gaming mode
The QCY H3 headphones are a game-changer when it comes to low latency performance. Whether you’re streaming videos or diving into intense gaming sessions, these headphones ensure that delay is practically non-existent. You can enjoy your favorite YouTube videos or streaming shows on platforms like Netflix and Hulu without any pesky lip-sync issues.
Gaming Mode:
For gaming enthusiasts, the QCY H3 offers a dedicated gaming mode that takes latency reduction to the next level. In this mode, latency can be impressively reduced to just 0.068 seconds, guaranteeing a seamless and immersive gaming experience. This reduction in delay can provide a significant advantage in casual gaming scenarios, giving you a competitive edge.
However, for those seeking the absolute best performance and lowest latency, using the headphones in wired mode is recommended. This eliminates latency entirely and offers the best chances for victory. If you’re looking for even more remarkable low-latency performance in wireless mode, you might want to explore the Baseus AeQur GH02 Headsets, which employ cutting-edge 2.4GHz technology to achieve an incredibly low latency of just 20ms.
QCY H3 Battery Life and Usage
The QCY H3 features a substantial 500mAh battery, ensuring prolonged use before needing a recharge. With ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) turned off, these headphones provide an impressive 60 hours of continuous usage. Even with ANC activated, you can still enjoy a commendable 35 hours of usage on a single charge. For periods of inactivity, the headphones boast an astounding standby time of up to 300 hours, making them ready whenever you need them.
Recharging the QCY H3 is a breeze; it takes just 1.5 hours to fully charge the device using the included USB Type-C cable from 0% to 100%. Moreover, the accompanying app provides real-time battery level monitoring, ensuring you’re always aware of the remaining power. This reliability means you can count on these headphones to be your trusty companion, without the constant worry of running out of battery. If, by chance, the battery does deplete, you can still use the headphones without power by connecting them via the AUX cable. This level of versatility ensures uninterrupted listening, even in situations where recharging isn’t immediately possible.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, the QCY H3 headphones deliver on multiple fronts, offering a compelling package for audio enthusiasts. The inclusion of firmware updates and Hi-Res support ensures these headphones stay relevant and maintain their audio quality. With a solid build quality and a comfortable fit, they’re well-suited for extended listening sessions. What truly sets them apart is their remarkable value for the price, providing performance that competes with, and often surpasses, more expensive options in the market. These headphones come highly recommended, not just by me but also by numerous satisfied users who have experienced their impressive noise-canceling capabilities and overall quality.
QCY H3 Price And Where To Buy
If you Liked the QCY H3, go check it out on the AliExpress Store and don’t miss out on this amazing deal.
What’s in the Box?
- QCY H3 Headphones
- Case for the headphones
- User Manual
- Charging Cable
- AUX cable
QCY H3 Specifications
| Specifications | |
| Product Name | QCY H3 |
| weight | 260g |
| Driver Size | 40mm |
| Materials | ABS,Plastic,Leather,Silica gel |
| style | Over Ear |
| Earcups | Sealed |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Transmission Distance | 10-20m |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Charging Interface | Type-C |
| Microphone Sensitivity | 99dB |
| Harmonic Distortion | 3% |
| Speaker Impedance | from 33 to 100 Ω |
| Battery Capacity | 500mAh |
| Total Playback Time | Up to 70 hours |
| Charging Time | 1.5 hours |
| Noise Reduction | Active Noise Canceling Technology |
| Game Mode | Yes (68 low latency) |
| Voice Assistant Support | Yes |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android devices |
