Samsung upgrades its on-ears again with the Level On Wireless Pro headphones

By Kris Wouk August 17, 2015

Last year, Samsung introduced a new line of audio products called the Level line, including new over ear and on ear models dubbed the Level Over and Level On respectively. The Level On headphones offered a nice balance of sound quality and features, though the cable dragged them down a bit. Earlier this year Samsung cut the cord, debuting the Level On Wireless, and now the headphones are getting yet another upgrade.

Today Samsung announced the latest in its premium audio line, the Level On Wireless Pro headphones. You’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the same pair of headphones, but as the name hints, there is a major difference under the hood.

The Level On Wireless Pro headphones introduce a new new digital codec similar to aptX, called Ultra High Quality Audio (UHQA). This method of transmission works for both wired and wireless connections and is claimed to provide sound quality that, according to Samsung, is “higher than that of a CD, providing an almost live listening experience.”

Of course, to experience UHQA you’ll need high quality source audio to begin with, and it only works with a limited selection of devices. Currently, only the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus support UHQA.

As with the previous iteration, the Level On Wireless Pro headphone feature the same memory foam around the ear cups. Two color options are available — gold and black — replacing the previous model’s white and tan color scheme.

The rest of the features from the preceding Level On models are here as well. The Active Noise Cancelling uses four microphones to phase out the outside world, while the Talk-In Mode does the exact opposite, piping in audio from around you, allowing you to hear traffic or a co-worker trying to get your attention. Battery life ranges from 10-20 hours of playtime, depending on your ANC settings and whether or not you’re plugged in or wireless.

No information is yet known on pricing or availability. The current Level On Wireless sell for roughly $250, so we’re expecting the price to be somewhat higher for the Level On Wireless Pro.

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Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

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