Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones: Smart ANC mode for drummers!
4,3 / 5,0 | 
Music instrument manufacturers trying their hands at consumer products isn’t new. Whether it’s Marshall, Orange, or Fender – putting an iconic logo on Bluetooth speaker or a pair of headphones for all non-musicians to proudly wear is just too enticing. The new Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones are a similar endeavor. However, the famed cymbal maker has also included a feature specifically targeted at its core audience – drummers.
Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones: More than your average consumer cans?
Few cymbal brands are as highly regarded as Zildjian is. But the Turkish drum brand is making bold moves this year, quite outside its usual territory. First, they introduced their first e-drum kit – a premium instrument at a premium price. And now come the Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones.
What’s inside these cans? 40-millimeter dynamic drivers, separate EQ settings for each side through the dedicated app, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity if you use them wirelessly. Zildjian promises a solid 45 hours of battery life when you listen to music wirelessly with ANC activated. Through its app, you can also create custom EQ curves.
The over-ears offer a 15-meter range, have built-in SBC and AAC audio codecs, and can be charged through a USB-C connection. A 1.8-meter (6 ft.) audio cable is included if you want to use the headphones through a wired connection.
Two levels of ANC: Standard and Half
Speaking of active noise-canceling, Zildjian has added a second mode that is specifically targeted at drummers besides the standard mode – a drum transparency mode, so to speak. The so-called “half” mode supposedly lets the sounds of a drum kit through but blocks all other noises. The drum sounds are still lowered by as much as 50 percent.
You can also use ANC when wearing the Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones wired. That way, you can even enjoy its benefits in recording situations. Because, as with all Bluetooth headphones, using these cans wirelessly does not work without a hefty latency, 180 milliseconds in this case. This would not make a difference if you just want to jam along with your favorite tracks on Spotify or YouTube. However, if monitoring comes into play, meaning you also need to hear your own playing in your headphones, this amount of latency would make it unusable. Luckily, ANC also works with the Alchem-E’s wired.
The very classy-looking headphones are available in three color variants: Black, Midnight, and Sandstorm. In addition to the cans, a soft silicone carry case, the aforementioned audio cable, a 3.5mm-to-6.3mm adapter, and a USB-C cable to charge the headphones are included.
How much do the Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones cost?
Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones are available at Thomann* for $368.00 / £333.00 / €398.00
More on Zildjian’s new headphones
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One response to “Zildjian Alchem-E Headphones: Smart ANC mode for drummers!”
I just received my Zildjian Alchem-e headphones and I was blown away by the quality, style and most importantly, sound of this product. The crystal clear sound is customizable for each listeners ear. They are the cleanest I have ever heard. I am now a believer in this product and give them an A+ rating.