Beyerdynamic Lagoon ANC Traveller

Appearance

These robust and high-quality, but rather understated, black over-ear headphones offer a comfortable and secure fit due to their adjustable spring steel earpieces and memory foam padding with an imitation leather cover. The design of the rotatable and foldable ear cups means the headphones can be folded to save space and be transported – a case is included. The device is equipped with Bluetooth 4.2 and features active noise cancelling, touch functions, sound personalisation and decorative lighting to assist function on the inside of the ear cups. A battery life of 45 hours with ANC and 24.5 hours without is also extremely competitive.

In practice

First of all, the new update 1.1.01 must be installed. This is very straightforward, but unusually for a pair of Bluetooth headphones, done via USB using PC/Mac software. The basic concept has of course not changed. The Lagoon ANC fit well and stay on your head, and they offer a configurable touch-sensitive field on the right ear cup. In addition, there are two buttons with which the device can be switched on and off, and noise-cancelling can be switched between two intensity gradations. Control of levels, music and calls (including track skipping and fast forward) are controlled via the touchpad, as is activation of voice assistants. The automatic pause function, when you take the headphones off, is also very convenient. Bluetooth pairing is fast and allows the simultaneous operation of two source devices. The wireless link also proved to be stable over several rooms with an iPhone 8.

Noise Cancelling

The most important technical innovation is the manufacturer’s adaptation of the two ANC gradations. Level 1 is intended to be more effective than before, while level 2 has been further optimised for noisy environments. In our first test, the constructive passive damping in combination with the electronics proved to be equally effective and straightforward. As usual, the noise-cancelling function is particularly effective in the low frequency range and with static background noise. At level 2, it is thus possible to effectively isolate oneself from the environment when sitting in trains or airplanes, with or without music and without the diving bell effect. However, a quiet background noise can be perceived here. This also applies to level 1, which is slightly less intense, but it is also efficient. Personally, I find both levels too similar to each other. Therefore, I would have preferred to have a freely adjustable intensity setting with two storable positions via the app. However, the Lagoon ANC still lack the ability to temporarily restore environmental sound to the headphones via touch function for communication with the outside world.

Sound

Our evaluation of the sound has not changed. The Lagoon ANC deliver an appealing and balanced sound via the Bluetooth wireless link. The tuning is rather powerful and rich, but at the same time delivers a very detailed resolution. Their performance is commensurate with the price range and adapted for mobile use. The manufacturer provides good codecs with AAC, aptX and aptX LL. From deep bass to treble, the results are consistently good, while delivering good definition and detail resolution. Tonalities, dynamics and timbres are reproduced reliably, resulting in a harmonious overall experience with impact, without annoying overemphasis and harshness. This results in the universal suitability of the Lagoon ANC for all genres. However, I would not want to compare the headphones I tested with audiophile open constructions for wired home use – there are limits to the stereo imaging, spatial reproduction and dynamics. However, the Lagoon ANC are one of the few Bluetooth headphones that sound even better in purely passive wired mode.

With regard to the personal hearing profile, for me the changes to the neutral setting were minimal. I felt a slight increase in the upper midrange. In my case, I can’t see any real added value there. On the other hand, noise-cancelling provides added value, especially in noisier environments, as disturbing outside noise is reduced and the focus on music reproduction is increased. If you are listening in your living room at home, you can switch off the ANC because it makes a slight noise and using it also slightly affects the quality of transparency.