I use a lot of headphones. Some I really like, some I really love, and some are just okay. But the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones really surprised me. I have to be honest. When the company first contacted us about a review my first impressions of the product (based on the website) wasn’t all that great.
When the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones showed up and I opened them, well, I was very surprised. The packaging was not only really well done, but the headphones looked better than what I first saw online. Let’s get into the full review of the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones!
Specifications
The SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones have the following features and specifications:
- Drivers: 40mm
- Impedance: 32Ω
- S.P.L.: 115±3db S.P.L. at 1KHz
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20,000Hz
- Microphone Directivity: Omni-Directional
- Noise-Cancelling Type: Hybrid Digital Process
- Noise-Cancelling Width: 50Hz-1KHz
- Bluetooth Version: 4.2 (2.40GHz-2.48GHz)
- Bluetooth Distance: Up to 15 meters
- Support Profiles: SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX Low Latency
- Battery: 720mAh
- Run Time: Up to 20 hours depending on use
What’s In The Box
- SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones
- SHIVR branded case
- SHIVR button
- AUX cable
- USB Type-C cable
- Airline adapter
- Manuals and documentation
Design
When SHIVR first approached me with the opportunity to review, the initial photos they sent didn’t give me much hope for the look of these headphones. But my rush to judgement going off of only photos was premature. When I unboxed the SHIVER 3D Wireless ANC headphones, I was actually really impressed.
While most of the materials used here are plastic, they do feel high-quality and the headphones are well built. I love the black and grey color scheme, and the SHIVR logos on the sides glow blue when the headset is on, which is a nice touch.
The earcups are super plush. I am not sure what kind of material is being used, but they were cushy and didn’t make my ears hot. They are very ample and cover my entire ear as well. The headband is made of the same material and was super comfortable. I easily got through my 2-3 hour listening stints without any discomfort.
The build quality is solid with no signs of creaks or noises and the frame is fairly flexible. It’s not as flexible as other headphones but flexible enough. The earcups fold flat as well as fold in for easy storage. The included hard-shell carrying case is a really nice value. It’s well designed and will protect the SHIVER 3D Wireless ANC headphones well. The SHIVR logo is located on the front and is well done. I did notice that the exterior of the ear cups hold fingerprints more than I’d like.
The adjustability is also great and allows the headphones to fit my large melon just fine, although I do have them at the max opening. The SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones also has tilting earcups which helps with comfort.
Both earcups house a variety of controls which are as follows:
- Left Ear Cup:
- Power/Bluetooth Button:
- Switch ON powers up the headphones/Reconnects to last device or goes to pairing mode
- Switch OFF powers off the headphones
- MFC Button:
- Single press turns on ANC–>Ambient Sound–>turns ANC off
- Double press turns 3D sound on (press again to turn off)
- Press and hold for 3-seconds turns SHIVR logo on and off
- Right Ear Cup:
- +/- button increases and decreases the volume
- Play/Pause button:
- Single press plays/pauses or answers/ends calls
- Press and hold for 2-3 seconds rejects calls
- Double press skips track
- Triple press goes back a track
Overall, the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones are really well-designed headphones. The build quality is solid, the comfort level is great, and they look and feel like premium headphones. The SHIVR logo that lights up is a nice touch, and it’s even nicer that they allow you to turn this on and off to fit your preference or need.
Ease of Use
The SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones are very simple to use. Pairing is done just like any other Bluetooth device. Simply turn them on and you should go directly into pairing mode or pair to the last device. Just find the SHIVR headphones on your device’s Bluetooth list, choose it, and you’re paired.
All other controls are simple, it’s just a matter of single, double, and triple presses to activate functions. Overall, very simple to use.
Sound
The SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones really surprised me in the sound department. They actually sound great without the 3D sound effects engaged. They have a fairly balanced soundstage in normal mode and the ANC works well. The ANC isn’t as good as some of the bigger names in the industry but it’s very acceptable.
Everything was very balanced in normal mode with ANC on and ANC off. Ambient sound mode allows you to quickly turn your music off and hear what is going on around you without taking the headphones off. Not something I ever use but it could be useful for some.
One feature I love about the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones is the auto-pause/auto-play feature. When you remove the headphones your music will pause and when you put the headphones back on the music will continue. It’s not a new feature by any means, but it should be included with all headphones.
Finally, how the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones 3D sound. This is what really surprised me. I’m usually not one for gimmicky sound trickery, and I have used 3D audio products in the past. But I was really pleased with SHIVR’s 3D sound. Here’s how SHIVR explains the technology:
Traditional two-channel audio-only delivers sound from the left and right side, but in real life, we can identify sounds from various directions, distances, and the surrounding environment. Real sounds mix as they bounce off walls, floors, and ceilings, and gives us a feel of room size and the materials within it. We use a gyroscope technology-based 3D audio algorithm to achieve the 3D spatial sound.
SHIVR
It’s very hard to explain the 3D sound experience. It is very much like being in a room and hearing things more naturally. The one thing I did notice is the bass frequencies seem way more exaggerated. I generally prefer a mostly flat EQ with just a notch or two more of bass. I think the bass is tweaked much higher than I prefer. But after wearing them for a few days, I got used to it. It was still noticeable on some songs, though. The bass will sometimes flood over the other frequencies, not giving me the most accurate of sound reproduction. I think bass lovers will really enjoy these headphones using the 3D function.
Overall, the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones sound pretty great. I’m not a fan of gimmicky features like 3D sound, but SHIVR’s implementation here was actually good, and I used the 3D sound feature for most of my usage time.
Reception/Call Quality
Bluetooth reception is excellent on these headphones, and the call quality is good as well. I don’t use headphones in general for phone calls, especially over-ear headphones, but if that’s your thing then they work fine.
Battery Life
The SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones have up to 20-hours of battery life. I didn’t run an exhaustive test on these, but they lasted me for a few weeks with listening stints of 1-2 hours a day. I don’t see why these won’t hit the 20-hour mark. Keep in mind, ANC, 3D sound, volume levels, distance from the source, and the light-up SHIVR logo will impact battery life.
Overall, I don’t see why most people can’t get a few days of battery life with heavy use and at least a week with light use.
Price/Value
The SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones are priced at US$199 which is a really great price. I think the company priced these fairly and they do deliver plenty of value with their ANC and 3D sound. Not to mention the build quality and great materials.
Wrap Up
The SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones really surprised me in all departments. Some of the promo shots initially led me to think they were ugly headphones, but they are very attractive. The sound also surprised me. I am not usually a fan of 3D sound but the SHIVR headphones did impress. Be aware that they are bass-heavy in 3D mode which not everyone will like.
*We received a sample of the SHIVR 3D Wireless ANC headphones
Last Updated on February 3, 2021.
