Kogan's flagship headphones are wickedly good for their price, so what's the catch?

Kogan is my favourite place to go for gifts, knick-knacks, and affordable tech; they're even my telco provider.

So, when I got the opportunity to review their highest-tier offering of headphones valued at just $80, I knew it had to be too good to be true.

Here are my honest thoughts on Kogan's NC45 Ultra Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones (gee, what a mouthful).

NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.

Order for $79.99

First impressions

These headphones are a luxury for what you pay. I'll say that upfront. Inside the box is a grey headphone case. That's the first tick from me, as some headphones don't even come with a case!

Inside the case is a USB-A to USB-C charger cable and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio jack (for audiophiles who frown on Bluetooth).

My pair came charged, so all I had to do was hold the power button on, and it auto-started searching for a device to pair with, too.

So how do they actually hold up?

What I liked

Noise cancellation

You tend to go a little crazy testing headphones over and over. Is this noise cancellation that good? Is this pair's sound quality that great?

I had no questions about Kogan's pair of headphones – $80 is a bargain for the quality of the noise cancellation. It does a surprisingly good job in office settings, muting the sounds of (most) keyboard clatters from other people. You can still hear your own, but it's muted.

On my public commutes, I found that it was OK. That said, I don't think I've worn a pair yet that fully blocks out all the huffs and puffs of buses and trains, anyway.

The headphones also offer a transparency mode, which lets you talk through the music and hear your surroundings. It's a good standard in headphones that allowed me to talk to my mate at the gym while still listening to the tunes (and yes, the noise cancellation holds up well here, too).

Sound quality

With raised hands, eyebrows and that questioning look one gives when they're about to say "it's not bad"... it's not bad! I didn't feel upset by the sound quality; there's a bit of bass in there, albeit a bit muffled. The mid-tones are good when listening to lyrical songs, and the higher tones aren't bad. Don't expect phenomenal sound quality, but if you're after an affordable pair, these will do well.

Battery

I'll give it to Kogan, they promise up to 35 hours of active noise cancellation, and while I didn't leave it on for 35 hours straight, it gets you through a couple of days without charging it.

Here's the catch...

Finicky controls

The first problem I encountered was the touchy controls. There isn't a dedicated Bluetooth pairing button on the headphones, but rather a multifunction button, which takes a bit to switch the headphones to other devices, like my laptop.

I like to fidget too, but these headphones are not the ones to do so on. The ANC button can be touchy and easy to overload with commands if you're not careful.

The overlapping controls on the power button (to pause) and volume buttons (to skip songs) take a bit to get used to compared to other headphone control systems. My tip: don't make assumptions about these buttons; instead, read the manual.

No sound customisation

If you are serious about sound quality and customising is the first thing you do when you buy a pair of headphones, these won't satisfy your needs. What you get is the sound profile they come with. While my praise is aforementioned, I do have to note that I experienced a bit of distortion when I turned it up too loud. Not a problem for me, since I like my hearing and tend to listen at a lower third volume; people who like to blast music may not appreciate it.

Comfort and build

I don't hate the way these sat over my ears, but they didn't quite sit right on my ears. Don't fret, though, the headphones are extendable for the bigger heads.

Moreover, the headphones also don't fold, so you'll have to carry them either in the case or around your neck.

The verdict

If you're an audiophile who loves customisation, you might want to consider a different pair. Beyond that, Kogan's NC45 Ultra Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones provide serious bang for your buck if you're on a budget. The headphones have decent sound quality, good noise cancellation, and a strong build, even providing a case to pack your headphones in. For $80, there's a lot to love here.

The writer was loaned Kogan's NC45 Ultra Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphone for the purpose of this review.

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