FIIL Key Max review: Great budget ANC headphones under $70

FIIL Key Max can be regarded as a great budget over-ear headphones with Aactive Noise Cancellation, support for Bluetooth + Type-C wired connection, and good sound quality. It is very suitable for friends who don’t want to spend too much money on music equipment.

FIIL Key Max specs and features:

• Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC/AAC/LDAC codec
• 45-80 hours of battery life (AAC+ANC on/off)
• 40mm NdFeB dynamic driver
• Blutooth & Typc-C wired connection
• 48dB ANC Mode & Cinema Mode
• $67 – Check latest price on AliExpress

Appearance Design and Comfort

FIIL Key Max headphones are all black, with a dark grey circular LOGO on the outermost side of the earcup, and a nice sense of hierarchy with the outline of lines. The headbeam can be extended and retracted, and the joint between the earcups and the headbeam can also be rotated and folded, so that the headphone can be stored in a smaller size.

The earcups and headbeam are covered with soft, skin-friendly protein leather, and the interior is filled with memory foam, which has moderate elasticity and softness, ensuring comfort without being too stuffy. The oval earmuff design fits the ears well, so you won’t feel squeezed even if you wear it for a long time, and it is very comfortable to wear.

FIIL Key Max uses the physical button design, and all buttons and interfaces are on the right headphone, including the ANC button, power button, volume button and Type-C port.

Connectivity, App Support and Low-latency Mode

The headphone use Bluetooth 5.4 technology and support SBC, AAC and LDAC codec. The headphone support wired connection mode, which can be connected using the Type-C cable. Also, FIIL Key Max supports multipoint connection, meaning you can connect it to two devices at the same time and switch between them when you receive a call, or when you pause on one device, and play on the other.

FIIL Key Max supports the FIIL+ App for Android and iOS. The app includes displaying the headphone status, sound effect options, cinema mode switch, voice prompt volume, multipoint connection switch, voice assistant switch, low-latency mode switch, and activating the LDAC codec – activating LDAC is a very bad thing because you need to pay extra. The app also allows you to choose ANC settings and sound presets – it looks and operates simple.

The Key Max also has a dedicated low-latency mode you can activate from the Android and iPhone app. This helps to synchronize the sound effects with the action on your screen.

Noise Cancellation Mode and Battery Life

FIIL Key Max has four noise cancellation modes – ANC/Listening/Open/Wind, and the maximum noise cancellation depth can reach 48dB.

In actual use, one key the ANC button to turn on noise cancellation mode. I tested it in the park or on the roadside and it can eliminate most of the noise – the overall noise cancellation effect is still very good.

The listening mode reduces low-frequency noise and highlights the vocal; The wind mode can eliminate some wind noise, but cannot completely filter out the wind noise. The open mode actually turns off ANC, which is not equivalent to the transparency mode – that is, FIIL Key Max does not support transparency mode.

The single battery life is up to 80 hours with ANC mode off, and up to 45 hours with ANC on. The battery life will be further reduced when LDAC is turned on. Plus, it supports fast charging, and you can listen to music for 5 hours after charging for 5 minutes.

Acoustic Architecture and Sound Quality

FIIL Key Max has a built-in 40mm NdFeB dynamic driver, equipped with the bass enhancement tube and dual-damping sound cavity TDDC system. It has also obtained Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless certifications, supports LDAC codec, and can ensure the maximum restoration of sound – the bad thing is that it requires additional payment for activation.

In actual hearing, the default setting has a warmer tone, bright treble, and a very natural overall sound, which is very suitable for listening to pop songs. The bass quantity is sufficient and extended deep; When the volume is turned up to a certain level, the shock is still very strong. The vocals are clear and bright, without burrs, and the bass of the accompaniment is also very thick.

FIIL Key Max also has a very useful feature, which is the cinema mode. It can create a better stereo sense of hearing for us when watching movies – by calculating the audio and re-rendering the sound, the sound heard by the ears is more directional.

I was watching a movie on my phone on the subway, and the sound became noticeably louder after turning on the cinema mode. After careful listening, I found that it was not the increase in volume, but the soundstage that was more open. Therefore, I could hear slightly more details and a stronger sense of direction.

Conclusion

FIIL Key Max is a great budget over-ear headphones with ANC, support for Bluetooth + Type-C wired connection, and good sound quality. Whether it is used for daily commuting, business trips, entertainment, watching movies/videos, or playing games, FIIL Key Max can find its unique highlights.

Check the FIIL Key Max price:

• Check latest price on AliExpress