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Microsoft Surface Wireless Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones (Gray)(open-box excellent) - $159.99

$159.99
+7 Deal Score
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With the release of the Surface Headphones 2, the first generation is now on clearance at Best Buy. New condition is now sold out. Best Buy has the Microsoft Surface Wireless Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones (Gray) (open-box excellent) on sale for $159.99. Shipping is free, otherwise select free store pickup where available.


While still the older generation, this model received praise for its great design and solid general performance. Improvements in the second generation include better battery life, higher quality codecs. The second generation only retail for $250 ($100 less than the first generation's retail price), but every dollar counts for some buyers. I mostly agree with MKBHD's evaluation of these headphones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuNYtj8keaE

edit: added open box price

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/micr...Id=6299139
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$159.99

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Joined Jul 2017
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Original Poster
alatsisalex
05-22-2020 at 07:19 AM.
05-22-2020 at 07:19 AM.
I have been using the second generation surface headphones for about a week. I can answer any questions you have about the second generation, but will admit any comparison I make to the first generation is based on limited, second-hand usage.
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Joined Feb 2010
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turns2stone
05-22-2020 at 07:22 AM.
05-22-2020 at 07:22 AM.
I have these originals. I think they're great. With the Cortana app, you can tweak the EQ. Knock the lowest bass down by -2 and mid bass down -1, and you get a very neutral sound.

I never had an issue with battery life. I find them very comfortable.
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Joined Jun 2013
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Raeynn
05-22-2020 at 08:18 AM.
05-22-2020 at 08:18 AM.
Quote from SamS :
I have these originals. I think they're great. With the Cortana app, you can tweak the EQ. Knock the lowest bass down by -2 and mid bass down -1, and you get a very neutral sound.

I never had an issue with battery life. I find them very comfortable.

Seconded on comfort and battery life, but the huge factor for me is the dial noise-cancellation. I work in a busy office and the ability to dial it up to ten when I am focusing and down to 0 when I am asked a question by a coworker is huge. I got these last prime day for about $200, for the open-box option its a definitely solid buy.

Good find OP! Thank you for posting! 😁
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Joined Sep 2009
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Orisue
05-22-2020 at 08:20 AM.
05-22-2020 at 08:20 AM.
Instead of cortana, I heard you can use google assistant instead. Is this still true with iPhone users or you need an android phone? (I'm in the google ecosystem on an iPhone)
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Joined Jul 2017
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> bubble2 79 Posts
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Original Poster
alatsisalex
05-22-2020 at 08:36 AM.
05-22-2020 at 08:36 AM.
Quote from Orisue :
Instead of cortana, I heard you can use google assistant instead. Is this still true with iPhone users or you need an android phone? (I'm in the google ecosystem on an iPhone)

My first thought is not directly because I think the default voice assistant cannot be changed on iPhone. However, there is a common workaround I think would work in general. You can set a phrase that opens the Google assistant through Siri. Then, tap and hold on the headphones, say the Google wake phrase, and proceed with your request. See link for specifics: https://www.searchenginejournal.c...te/280109/
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Joined Feb 2010
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turns2stone
05-22-2020 at 08:38 AM.
05-22-2020 at 08:38 AM.
Quote from Orisue :
Instead of cortana, I heard you can use google assistant instead. Is this still true with iPhone users or you need an android phone? (I'm in the google ecosystem on an iPhone)
I'm an iOS user with these original Surface headphones. But I don't see any way to change the voice assistant to Siri. The only options are a toggle for "Listen for Cortana". Of course, if you "hey Siri" and your iPhone picks up your voice request, your response will play back via the connected headphones.
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Original Poster
alatsisalex
05-22-2020 at 08:44 AM.
05-22-2020 at 08:44 AM.
Quote from SamS :
I'm an iOS user with these original Surface headphones. But I don't see any way to change the voice assistant to Siri. The only options are a toggle for "Listen for Cortana". Of course, if you "hey Siri" and your iPhone picks up your voice request, your response will play back via the connected headphones.

From several links on quick Google search, it seems like Siri is supported. Maybe it defaults to Cortana if you have Cortana downloaded? Try uninstalling Cortana if you have that on your phone to default to Siri.

Reddit post saying Siri works:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/...urce=share
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Joined Feb 2010
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turns2stone
05-22-2020 at 08:53 AM.
05-22-2020 at 08:53 AM.
Quote from alatsisalex :
From several links on quick Google search, it seems like Siri is supported. Maybe it defaults to Cortana if you have Cortana downloaded? Try uninstalling Cortana if you have that on your phone to default to Siri.

Reddit post saying Siri works:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/...urce=share [reddit.com]
I just tried, cannot get that to work.

I don't want to delete the Cortana app, because that's what controls the EQ, which is really needed if you want a neutral sound. Possibly the Gen 2 model supports native Siri much better than this one.
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Original Poster
alatsisalex
05-22-2020 at 09:00 AM.
05-22-2020 at 09:00 AM.
Quote from SamS :
I just tried, cannot get that to work.

I don't want to delete the Cortana app, because that's what controls the EQ, which is really needed if you want a neutral sound. Possibly the Gen 2 model supports native Siri much better than this one.

I control my EQ on Surface Headphones 2 through the new Surface Audio app, which I believe also support the first generation headphones. You can also control EQ on a Windows 10 Surface Audio app on desktop. Using this may allow you to uninstall Cortana to default to Siri.

Surface Audio app info
https://support.microsoft.com/en-...headphones
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Joined Feb 2010
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turns2stone
05-22-2020 at 09:14 AM.
05-22-2020 at 09:14 AM.
Quote from alatsisalex :
I control my EQ on Surface Headphones 2 through the new Surface Audio app, which I believe also support the first generation headphones. You can also control EQ on a Windows 10 Surface Audio app on desktop. Using this may allow you to uninstall Cortana to default to Siri.

Surface Audio app info
https://support.microsoft.com/en-...headphones [microsoft.com]
Thanks, I wasn't aware of that app. I downloaded it, and deleted the Cortana app. The apps are very similar in functionality.

So, I can press with one finger on the surface (ha!) of either ear cup, and can ask Siri questions, picked up by the headphone mic. I cannot figure out how to get them to listen for "hey Siri". I thought that was only a feature of AirPods with the H1 chip.
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Original Poster
alatsisalex
05-22-2020 at 09:22 AM.
05-22-2020 at 09:22 AM.
*moved*
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Original Poster
alatsisalex
05-22-2020 at 09:23 AM.
05-22-2020 at 09:23 AM.
Quote from SamS :
Thanks, I wasn't aware of that app. I downloaded it, and deleted the Cortana app. The apps are very similar in functionality.

So, I can press with one finger on the surface (ha!) of either ear cup, and can ask Siri questions, picked up by the headphone mic. I cannot figure out how to get them to listen for "hey Siri". I thought that was only a feature of AirPods with the H1 chip.
The app is only a few weeks old, so I suspect many people haven't switched over yet. I just got the SH2 so I never used the Cortana interface for these.

I have my SH2 on Android and also cannot get the "Hey Google" to work, but I don't think I'd use it anyways cuz I don't wanna annoy my peers.
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JK1982
05-22-2020 at 01:05 PM.
05-22-2020 at 01:05 PM.
Man i heard good things about the second gen. Is the second gen big improvements? 10 hours battery life seems really low for these type of headphones
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Original Poster
alatsisalex
05-22-2020 at 01:09 PM.
05-22-2020 at 01:09 PM.
Quote from JK1982 :
Man i heard good things about the second gen. Is the second gen big improvements? 10 hours battery life seems really low for these type of headphones

I am getting the 20 hours as advertised with the second generation with full noise cancelling half the time and high quality audio on.

In my limited use of the SH1, battery life seemed to be between 13 and 18 hrs with those settings.
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