The Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones caught our eye with their elegant design. Following the ‘less is better’ fashion trend, these Audiomax Headphones adopt a minimalistic style and yet nothing is left to chance – all the details have been carefully considered. The headband meets the ear pieces with two rectangular aluminium surfaces that feel smooth to the touch and have shiny contour lines. The upper part of the Audiomax headband is covered with leather-like soft cushions. Their opaque black colour contrasts with the polished grey of the two aluminium surfaces. The outer side of the earpieces is made with smooth black plastic that provides a great tactile experience. Between the outer- and inner part of the earpieces, an aluminium line surrounds each earphone and it evokes the aluminium surfaces on the headband. See all headphone reviews.

For all their style, the Audiomax HB-8A doesn’t sacrifice pleasure for elegance. Black cushions, which softly adhere to the ear, cover the inner side of the earpieces. The headband’s length is adjustable, meaning that you can customise it to fit. Plus, the Audiomax HB-8A’s foldable design makes it easy to carry around. On the right earpiece are all the controls, including a power button that also answers phone calls, an LED indicator, buttons for controlling the volume, USB and audio cable ports and a small hole for the microphone. A little niggle is that the buttons for controlling the volume are the same for changing the song; we found it quite irritating when we tried to change the song from Rolling Stone’s Satisfaction and instead got it at maximum volume.

Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones review: Audio performance

Now, let’s look at Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones audio performance. The Audiomax Headphones sound good with a great variety of songs, from rock music to blues. Highs and mids are clearly reproduced and the bass fairly balanced; their timber is great and give an overall warmth to the music. The resulting sound is rich and deep. The audio experience is further improved by passive noise isolation. In terms of phone calls, Audiomax Headphones work very well. The receiver and caller’s voices are crystal clear, and there is no background noise. But what really impressed us is the battery life. The Audiomax HB-8A claim to provide 19 hours of playtime, which is way above average for wireless headphones. And in our tests, we reckon it’s a claim that could actually be achievable – obviously your mileage will depend on how you use them. The Bluetooth range is up to 10 metres, but may be shortened by obstructions such as walls. The Audiomax HB-8A Bluetooth Headphones come with a USB charging cable, 3.5 mm audio cable and a protective bag. Read next: Best headphones 2015.

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