Surface headset: very expensive, even too expensive?
7.3.2019
Translation: machine translated
Microsoft is determined to challenge Sony in this market, and is launching the Surface headset to take on the Japanese brand's flagship product. If it weren't for the price of the headset and the somewhat disconcerting marketing strategy, this ambition might well be crowned with success.
"You are connected to the ipade [unintelligible]," Microsoft's robotic voice tells me when I pair my Surface headset with my iPad. This will be the last acoustic fault of the Surface I hear during my test.
So Microsoft is getting into headphones, in a market that is more competitive than any other. Wired or Bluetooth? Circum or supra? Not to mention the question of price. Here, Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot, because the Surface costs the eyeballs.
Microsoft shoots itself in the foot
At the close of writing this article in February 2019, the product costs in the region of 400 francs. By way of comparison, the star of active noise-cancelling around-ear headphones is the Sony WH-1000XM3, in other words the de facto benchmark in the market Microsoft is trying to conquer.
Not only has it won numerous awards around the world, but it's also produced by a brand that has built up an excellent reputation in this field over time. A newcomer to the market charging 20 francs more can only count on the curious and the fans who don't yet exist, which is to say not very many people.
It would have been wiser for Microsoft to price the Surface at around 320 francs, or even just 299.90 (the famous psychological barrier!), so that it would be able to compete with the XM3 on that ground. And Microsoft keeps harping on about the lack of profitability. You know what's not profitable? A product that doesn't sell. In that case, the release of Headphones 2, or whatever the next model is called, could be called into question. This is how I would have done it: come up with an interesting model in terms of price and quality with Headphones 1 and wait for Headphones 2 to really make a profit.
Unless of course you adopt an even weirder strategy along the lines of marketing headphones, one of the most useful survival tools in the urban commuting jungle, not as headphones, but as an accessory for your other devices? I can just imagine the meeting: "That'll nail it for Sony!"Indeed, it makes you wonder why no other brand has chosen this most brilliant marketing strategy.
Let's be honest: this is a headset, not an accessory! And expensive with that. Suffice to say, it's not a given.
Auto-pause could well be worth 20 francs
As I write this, I'm listening to music with the Surface headphones. It's not bad, not bad at all in fact. The fit is comfortable, my ears don't get hot and the active noise reduction works well. I'm listening to "Autobahn" by German band Ohrbooten when editor David Lee pops up. Does he want to tell me something? I don't really need to put the headphones down, but I do anyway. When the boss is talking, I can at least pretend to listen.
The headphones then tell my Spotify to pause the music. Spotify executes. This feature was highlighted by Microsoft at the launch event in Zurich. I was sceptical about how well it worked and how useful it would be, but I have to admit that it's one of those features that I was missing without realising it. I've really been won over. For it alone, I'd consider paying the extra 20 francs over the XM3.
Especially if you often listen to music in the office. After all, it often happens that the boss comes in to tell you something and if your music keeps droning on in the background, it doesn't sound very serious. Or if, like me, you like listening to podcasts, you miss a bit by only listening to the boss with one ear, which is doubly annoying: you didn't get what he wanted and you still missed a few minutes of the podcast.
Two knobs to do it all
The headset software and sound are really well done. On the hardware side, Microsoft sets itself apart from the competition with one detail in particular: the curvature of the headband. While other headsets are designed to be as round as possible, the Surface is curved outwards. This slightly strange look seems counterproductive, as it prevents the headset from taking up as much space as possible when folded. As a result, the case supplied is bulkier. It also gives off a strange chemical smell. And so does the helmet itself. If you've bought one too: did you have the same experience, or is this just about my demo copy?
The thumbwheel on the right earpiece adjusts the volume. Continuous adjustment works perfectly: great! On the left is the noise reduction. It's strange: the mechanism doesn't seem to adjust continuously. For the test, our editor Luca Fontana insults me copiously, hoping I don't hear anything. Test passed! I turn the dial, hear a beep and then "...your mother". Not exactly what I'd call a continuous setting. Especially as I had to turn it a long way to hear the beep. It would have to be really stepless or some sort of button.
Speaking of buttons, the headphones have touch-sensitive earcups. Basically, this is where the play/pause controls are located. There are other functions, but they're harder to access. Both earpieces incorporate the same interface.
- One tap: play/pause
- Two taps: next track
- Three taps: previous track
Beware: you need to be quick. The play/pause function reacts immediately. This is probably because it's the most used. A slightly less nervous interface would still have been appreciated.
Let's move on to the hands-free function
Like its competitors, the Surface headset can interact with your smartphone, regardless of brand, and act as a hands-free kit. But unlike some others, the Surface is compatible with Skype, which can be interesting in the office. That's not my case, my Skype VoIP hasn't worked for ages and that's fine.
However, I have no problem connecting the headset to my current phone, a Huawei Mate 20 Pro. As the weather is nice at the moment, Luca and I go out on the doorstep so I can phone him. It goes pretty well for a normal phone call, i.e. via the phone app. Luca's voice isn't particularly clear, but despite the noise of the nearby tram, we manage to chat about climbing walls and the best kebab in Zurich.
Things get complicated when I try to use WhatsApp's built-in phone function. Not only do we notice a two-second delay, but I find it hard to understand the person I'm talking to. A shame, but hopefully this can be fixed on the software side.
Does anyone know what the situation is with Skype?
A solid starter model but starts with a handicap
The test ends on a mixed note. I have nothing to criticise about this headset in terms of sound. Comfort is spot on. The noise reduction works and doesn't make me feel nauseous, even after several hours. There's nothing to criticise about the operation of the microphones themselves either. Despite all the criticisms, I'm fairly convinced by this headset. The telephony deserves a few adjustments. Other headsets, including the XM3, are undeniably better in this respect.
The difficulty lies in market positioning. Microsoft is complicating the task with such a high price for a first model. Is the extra cost worth it compared to competing models? Not really, no. Indeed, the XM3, to return to the de facto benchmark, costs 20 francs less and can also pause music when the headphones are removed.
Commuters will find the Surface and its giant case too bulky. I hope the next model folds up to fit in any bag. Indeed, given the way it's currently configured, I get the impression that it's not designed for nomadism. A headset that stays on the desk after work isn't necessarily a bad concept, but not at this price.
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.
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