[REVIEW] Creative Zen Hybrid ANC Headphones – Great Sound & Battery Life

Intro to the Zen Hybrid World

The Singapore-based audio company Creative has deep expertise in the audio space, and its new Zen Hybrid ANC Headphones are a testament to that. With Active Noise Canceling technology (ANC) growing in popularity, many companies are entering the market to stake their claim as the go-to brand for noise-cancelling headphones – or at least give it a try.

Tech Dreams, Instant Means: Up to $5000 at Your Fingertips

The Zen Hybrid offers affordable active noise cancellation with clear and exciting audio. The device would be ideal for users looking to upgrade from a low-end model to mid-tier headphones. It comes in a clean white design and would look great with any outfit.

Click here for the Creative Zen Hybrid Headphones.

Price & Availability

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Creative Zen Hybrid (White) Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient Mode, Up to 27 Hours (ANC On), Bluetooth 5.0, AAC,...

5.0

BUY NOW

Amazon.com

Creative Zen Hybrid Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, Ambient Mode, Up to 27 Hours (ANC On), Bluetooth 5.0, AAC, Built-in...

5.0

BUY NOW

Amazon.ca

The Design

The right earphone cup houses the controls, including the ANC button, which switches between ANC and normal modes, a 3.5mm audio jack, a power button and a volume rocker. The USB-C charging port sits on the left side.

The headband is rigid and stays in place when you set it. The firmness from the band is made cozier with the padded cushion for comfort that lasts all day, plus memory ear cushions covered in soft leather; This allows you to wear them for hours without strain. All the little add-ons make this a plus in comfort and portability.

The Zen Hybrid folds up and comes with a soft carrying bag for added scratch protection. It fits easily in most bags without any issues. The ear cups are versatile, decently sized, and able to turn 90 degrees; This makes them a good fit for the majority.

Battery Life

After a few minutes of charging, you get a couple of hours of music playback. The battery will deliver 21 hours of playback with ANC and roughly 29 hours with ANC off. Your mileage will vary.

Sounds Quality

The Zen Hybrid’s 40mm Neodymium drivers deliver decent sound staging, with instruments having enough space to play around. While listening to an assortment of EDM music allows me to experience the vast range that the sounds can travel. With Acappella being delivered with greatness to the deep-sounding drum and bass, without any distortion, clear and crisp music enjoyment.

All this thumping from the likes of the Spice Girls Wannabe Vs Moguai – ACIIID remixed mashup by Rafael Grilli is all that is needed to convince me that these headphones are dope! You can use the EQ in the YouTube Music app if you need more control over your sound.

The ANC on the Zen Hybrid works well for most scenarios. However, you may still hear ambient noise while commuting on trains or through busy streets, so you may want to amp up the volume to balance out this extra noise.

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Final round

With a price of $98.99, the Creative Zen Hybrid headphones are a good deal for anyone looking for great sound with ANC capabilities at a reasonable price. Creative has been making great audio hardware for years. No surprise that their venture into the ANC market is going well–and the company has wisely avoided some of the pitfalls that other ANC devices face.