Budget ANC Headphones Perfect for Gamers

While Bluetooth headphones, including ANC capable ones, are nothing new, the SoundMagic P58BT promises to bring a fresh entry to the game with its low-latency gaming mode. Not to mention, these headphones are incredibly affordable at $80.

At this point, there is a good selection of gaming headsets that also offer ANC, but there are very few daily driver headphones that I would feel comfortable recommending to gamers, at least using their Bluetooth connection option. Headphones like the Bose QuietComfort might have class-leading ANC performance, but their latency cannot keep up with the needs of gamers who need a reliable connection to not detract from their gaming experience.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been able to put the P58BT to the test. Whether I was playing games like Space Marine II and RoboQuest, or just listening to music and podcasts throughout the day, these headphones were my daily drivers, and while they aren’t quite magic like the name suggests, I was thoroughly impressed.

SoundMagic P58BT Design and First Impressions

Taking the SoundMagic P58BT out of the box for the first time wasn’t the most premium experience, but considering these headphones are at least $100 less expensive than most of its competition, we can’t blame SoundMagic for not splurging on the packaging. That being said, the packaging was pretty padded, and I had no concerns about the headphones being damaged when shipping. While I do like the storage bag that has become relatively standard with most headphones nowadays, it does feel a bit unnecessary. All this bag is going to do is protect the headphones against scratches; any falls or drops are still going to hurt them when they are in the carrying bag.

Moving past unboxing, the P58BT doesn’t look like it only costs $80. These headphones have a very similar styling to their competitors, such as the Bose QuietComfort and Sony WH-1000XM5. The earcups are more oval than those two headphones, which are excellent for glasses wearers, taking some pressure off. However, it is worth mentioning that these headphones are mostly made out of plastic, so they won’t have the same texture and feeling that those higher-priced headphones have.

Despite the slightly lower quality of the build material, the touch controls on the P58BT are some of the best we have tried. Because play and pause is activated with a double tap, while everything else is controlled with swipes or longer presses, it is tough to hit the next song or activate your voice assistant accidentally. However, the touch panel is sensitive enough that the touch controls still make it easy to control your music without needing to take out your phone.

To switch between the different listening modes—ANC, Transparency, ANC Off, and Low Latency Gaming Mode—all you have to do is click the button on the bottom of the left earcup. While that is not an uncommon control scheme, Game Rant has tested budget headphones that could only be controlled through an app, so it’s lovely to see SoundMagic avoid that pitfall.

SoundMagic P58BT Comfort

The P58BT delivers a very comfortable wearing experience; while testing these headphones, I easily went for hours at a time without needing to take a break, which is not the case for many of the ANC headphones I have with me. When I was first taking a look at the headphones, I was a bit worried about how far the drivers stuck out into the earcup, but I was pleasantly surprised after my first session. That being said, if you have larger ears, you might run into issues with these headphones touching your ears while listening, which can become very uncomfortable.

As I mentioned earlier, these headphones are very comfortable for glasses users. The shape of the earpads and earcups allows most glasses’ arms to sit comfortably across the earcups without creating too much pressure to push them into your head. While that is a boon for glasses users, if you do plan to wear these headphones to work out, you might find the clamping force a bit lackluster. The P58BT doesn’t necessarily slip off quickly, but it is prone to sliding around a fair bit.

Finally, and this is generally true with ANC headphones, with the ANC turned on, you will feel some inner ear pressure. This can be pretty disorienting at first, especially if you have never used ANC over-ear headphones before. During this testing period, I was able to get used to the inner-ear pressure reasonably quickly compared to more powerful ANC headphones I have tested in the past, like the Soundcore Space One.

SoundMagic P58BT Battery Life

• 60 hours of continuous playback with ANC off
• 35 hours of continuous playback with ANC on

Considering where most battery life was on wireless headphones a couple of years ago, 60 hours of continuous playback time with these headphones is thoroughly impressive, especially when you keep in mind that they are just $80. There are premium headphones that don’t even hit that mark. During the testing period I had to charge the headphones once when I first opened them up, but after that initial charge they lasted easily all week.

However, if you have ANC on all the time, the battery life is a fair bit lower, coming in at about 35 hours of continuous playback. While it’s not nearly as impressive as the 60 hours without ANC for this price point, that is still a respectable number. By comparison, the Sony WH-1000XM5 only advertises 30 hours of continuous playback with ANC turned on. It is worth noting that the WH-1000XM5 uses much more power-hungry drivers and higher-resolution Bluetooth codecs, so that might cause a lower battery life.

SoundMagic P58BT Audio Performance

Design and comfort are great, but they don’t mean a whole lot if the audio performance doesn’t hold up; it’s part of the deal. The SoundMagic P58BT sits in a relatively weird hybrid point between a gaming headset, thanks to its low latency mode, and a pair of daily driver Bluetooth headphones, thanks to its sleek design and easy connectivity.

Gaming

Because you can use these headphones in wireless mode with a fast, low-latency connection or with a 3.5mm aux cable regardless of your console of choice, you can easily use the P58BT for gaming. Now, keep in mind that you won’t get all the features that come with a dedicated gaming headset, like microphone support, but for solo gaming, these headphones are a pretty solid choice.

Whether I was playing a laid-back game or a more fast-paced competitive game, I never felt like the Bluetooth connection lagged to the point where I was getting pulled out of the game. Head to head with a wired pair of headphones, there was a noticeable latency difference, but not to the point where it felt detrimental. Also, if you need to compensate for that latency, you can easily plug in the 3.5mm wired connection.

The P58BT delivers a powerful sound that is reasonably well-balanced with the mids and highs. The soundtrack and dialogue always came through clearly, but it didn’t quite have the magic touch that you can get from other headphones. Bass heads will probably feel a bit let down by these headphones. They don’t deliver on the rumble and powerful hits I expect from bass while gaming. Normally, this can all be tweaked with EQs, but unfortunately, you cannot change the EQ of the P58BT. You are stuck with the out-of-the-box sound.

Music and Podcasts

When it came to music and podcasts, I felt the same way that I thought about the gaming audio performance. Nothing sounded terrible or wrong, but the pizzazz just wasn’t there. Not to sound too much like a pretentious audiophile, but these headphones lack sparkle in the highs and a rumble in the low end, where you can really feel the bass.

However, considering their price point, and if you are more of a fan of listening to podcasts and audiobooks, these headphones might be a perfect pick-up. Thanks to the pretty excellent ANC performance and accurate mids that allow vocals to sound natural, these headphones have found a home in my rotation when I am in an audiobook mood. They are perfect for a day of chores around the house and powering through hours of audiobooks.

Is The SoundMagic P58BT Right For You?

While the SoundMagic P58BT might not be the holy grail pair of headphones, they are certainly an excellent choice for a lot of people out there who are looking for a pair of headphones that can do it all from daily driver use to gaming, all while coming in at a reasonable price point of $80. All that for under $100 is hard to beat nowadays, especially when you throw in that they have pretty decent ANC performance that will easily keep out all the distracting noises from your listening and gaming sessions.

If you are willing to sacrifice the ANC and want a bit more from the audio performance, something like the OneOdio A70 might be a better option. At $70, the OneOdio A70 is right around the same price level with a very similar level of comfort. The biggest loss you are going to have to face is the lack of ANC, but with music playing through these headphones, the passive isolation is pretty decent in most cases.

If you are looking for a pair of wireless earbuds that can be useful for gaming and daily use, the Soundcore VR P10 might be the best option in this price range. At just $80, these earbuds are the same price as the SoundMagic P58BT, and they even feature a USB-C dongle that you can easily connect to consoles like the Nintendo Switch for a wireless audio experience without the need for Bluetooth. However, again, you are going to have to sacrifice ANC, and the battery life is nowhere near the impressive 60 hours with the P58BT.

FAQ

Q: Is SoundMAGIC a Chinese company?

Based in Hong Kong, SoundMagic is a Chinese company. With over 15 years of experience in the audio industry, SoundMagic has proven itself a reliable source for high-quality headphones and earbuds at affordable prices.

Q: Is noise canceling good for gaming?

While ANC won’t inherently make gaming a more immersive experience, if you are a louder environment, or just a place where you can’t control surrounding noise ANC is a great way to block out all those distracting noises and allow you to focus on the game.