Sprout Harmonic 4.0 Bluetooth Headphones offer crisp audio and active noise-cancelling for PC and mobile devices.
The headphones come with a USB Type-C charge cable, a wired audio cable and an adapter for aeroplanes. All this fits in the fancy zippered clamshell protective carry case.
Whilst well-presented and accessorised, the headset itself feels a little flimsy. This is possibly a trade-off to keep it light at only 240g. However, with its soft pleather earcups and headstrap cushions, it still has a premium finish. The headstrap extends with positive clicks, and the earcups have a bit of play to fit over your ears comfortably. The earcups also fold up and can twist to lie flat on a table or around your neck.
The headset has active noise-cancelling (ANC) to block out ambient sound. This can be switched on, switched to ambient mode and switched off via a button on the left earcup, just above the USB-C charging cable input.
On the right earcup is the on button, the volume button and the Duolink/Bluetooth pairing button. The very discreet microphone can also be found on the left earcup, along with the auxiliary audio input socket.
The 1000mAh Lithium battery will give you up to 50 hours of playback at 50% volume without ANC. A 10-minute charge will net up to 5 hours of playback, with a full recharge taking 2.5 hours.
The sound quality is rich and crisp, even at max volume (I like my music loud). There’s no distortion, even with more bassy tracks. You’ll feel a heavy beat in your ears, reproduced solidly, like you are in your private dance party.
The Bluetooth range was impressive. Sprout says 10m, but I was a good 20m away from my phone, and still the audio was crisp and clear.
I would normally opt for a headset that is wired or features a 2.4GHz dongle for gaming on a PC, mainly due to issues with Windows. The Harmonic 4.0 worked fine, though, with the ANC in particular making games more immersive by reducing outside distractions.
The headset also worked well with Nintendo’s Switch 2, providing crisp audio. It paired well with the console despite also using a 3rd party Bluetooth controller. The microphone, however, does not work for Nintendo chat. Unfortunately, the headset will not work with either the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S due to limitations placed on the console hardware by the manufacturers.
When connected to a phone, you can use the headset to listen to music and audio from games and video, but switch to taking a call with a press of the on button. Voices are clear, and the other party will have no problem hearing you.
The Duolink function enables the connection of a second headset to the first, creating a “replica” that can listen to the same source as the primary headset. This is a great option for the kids in the car, watching videos on a tablet.
Sprout’s Harmonic 4.0 Bluetooth headset is worth a look if you are after an active noise-cancelling audio solution for mobile or PC use. The included carry case and aeroplane headphone adapter make it great for travelling, especially if you plan on using your Switch 2. It’s another standout bit of kit from Sprout’s audio lineup.