Mu6 to my Ears

I’ve always said that a good pair of headphones can really change your life for the better. …Okay, well, maybe I haven’t. But it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a sentiment that I’ve always agreed with, however. As both an avid (and admittedly very picky) consumer of music, and someone who typically cares just as much about how a video game sounds as how it plays, it wouldn’t be hyperbolic in the least to say that good audio quality is something that I most certainly care about and pay attention to—something which I’m sure applies to the majority of those reading this review, too. Fortunately, in this day and age, we’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to audio consumption. And, as far as those choices go, Mu6’s latest piece of wearable audio equipment, the Mu6 Space 2 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, is a pretty darn good one if I do say so myself.

Jumping Right In

The Mu6 Space 2 comes packaged with everything that you’ll need to get going. Well, you know, except for the companion app.

If I were some kind professional (or non-professional) music reviewer, the first thing I would have done with the Mu6 Space 2 headphones upon receiving them would have been to fully figure out how they work, and methodically test each and every feature right away. But I’m not. I’m just a guy who likes playing video games while also wanting them to sound nice. So, naturally, the first thing I did after carefully opening the packaging (which was honestly really neat) and unfolding the headphones (which was also really neat) was pick up the handy-dandy aux cord that came along with it, plug it into my Switch, and start jamming to some Pokémon Mystery Dungeon DX (because that game has some seriously amazing tracks). Now, I’ll make something clear; using these like normal headphones means not using them to their full potential—something which I kept in mind while doing so, just in case I noticed any major problems. Fortunately, said problems never manifested. These puppies are impressive even without all of the bells and whistles, offering both a quality audio experience (although I did find myself wishing that I could up the bass just a tad at times), and a light and comfortable design that undermines it potential bulk, ensuring that listeners can use them for hours on end without really feeling weighed down by them.

Let’s Get Digital, Digital (At Least Partly)

The mu6 app is simple and easy to use but doesn’t exactly offer a lot of options.

The list of things that the Mu6 Space 2 has to offer doesn’t stop at Switch audio enhancement, though. Despite my insistence that they could be used to make my beloved beeps and hoops sound better, these headphones shine the most when they’re connected to your smartphone. By downloading the companion app, simply titled “Mu6,” and pairing the headphones with their phone (I used an iPhone X for all of this, just for reference), users can make use of the Mu6 Space 2’s more defining features—the most important of which being its Active Noise Cancellation, which, fortunately, works quite well. Now, technically speaking, you don’t need the app to make use of the ANC, as you can make use of it if you decide to turn the headphones on while using an aux cable, but what the app does let you do is exert greater control over the ANC yourself by switching between “Normal” and “Strong” options (and also includes an additional ANC toggle button on the headphones themselves). Alongside that, the app also lets users whether or not they want their Mu6 Space 2 to power off after a period of inactivity, and allows them to disable auto pause & a play—a feature which uses a sensor on the inside of the left earpad to detect whether or not it is being worn, pauses the music if it detects that it isn’t, and resumes playing once it senses that it is once again (which I’m very glad that I had control over because it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea).

The features don’t stop there, either! Built into the outside of the right earpad is a touchpad that lets users increase or decrease volume, pause their music, and skip songs by swiping in the appropriate direction, and even lets you temporarily disable ANC by putting your hand over the entirety of the touchpad. Unfortunately, unlike everything else I’ve covered so far, this part of the Mu6 Space 2 is a bit hit-or-miss in my opinion. While I do like being able to quickly and briefly disable ANC and can do so with ease, the rest of the touchpad’s features were surprisingly difficult to get to work correctly. The touchpad itself is a little finicky regarding where you need to stop and start your swiping, and, because I couldn’t actually see it, I ended up not doing what I wanted at least half of the time (although I guess you could technically attribute this all to user error). Fortunately, this wasn’t a deal-breaker for me—I’m so used to controlling everything with my phone, anyway, that I just continued doing that. However, if you were specifically interested in this feature, be warned that, while certainly usable, it isn’t quite perfect.

A Sound Investment

I’ve always loved a good pair of headphones. And, in a world in which many of us find ourselves staying at home alongside friends and loved ones for extended periods of time, I would argue that having a good pair of headphones is more important than ever. Fortunately, the Mu6 Space 2 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones very much fall into that category. Despite the few minor complaints that I had here and there, I have very much enjoyed my time with them (I’m even using them to listen to music as I write this review!), and can comfortably say that, whether you’re using them to really get into the zone while you play your favorite games or to help keep you focused while you’re hard at work, a pair of quality headphones like these is most definitely worth its $199 price tag.

Interested in picking up a pair of Mu6 Space 2 headphones for yourself? Feel free to head on over to their official website! And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to use the coupon code HPP10 at checkout for an additional 10% off!

Final Verdict: 4/5

Full disclosure: This review is based on a product sample provided by the manufacturer.