Noise Master Buds Max Review: Bose Audio At Rs 9,999

Indian audio-maker Noise has officially entered the premium over-ear headphone segment with its debut model, the Master Buds Max. This launch is significant, as it follows the company's recent announcement of a deep product collaboration with audio giant Bose. The Noise Master Buds Max is one of the first things to come out of this partnership, which comes loaded with Bose-tuned audio and advanced active noise cancellation. It enters the market at an introductory price of Rs 9,999, after which the headphones will be priced at Rs 11,999, a crowded space where established names like Sony, JBL, Boat and Sennheiser already have strong offerings.Now, for those unfamiliar with the form factor, let's quickly explain: Over-ear headphones, also called

circumaural, feature large earcups designed to completely envelop your ears. This creates a seal, offering excellent passive noise isolation even before the ANC is turned on, leading to a more immersive audio experience.On paper, the Noise-Bose collaboration sounds exciting. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks with the Master Buds Max and there's only one question that matters: are they worth the Rs 9,999 price? Keep reading our detailed review as we help you answer that.Design And ComfortWe got our hands on the Silver variant and right out of the box, the Master Buds Max look sleek and modern. The design flaunts Noise’s signature vinyl disc motif on the earcups, complemented by a subtle light bar that shows pairing and charging status.The earcups feature a vinyl disc-inspired design with a soft glow bar indicating charging or pairing. The right earcup houses all the buttons, including power, volume, and ANC toggles, while the earcups rotate smoothly for comfort.

Built mostly from plastic, they weigh just 262g, which keeps them light during long sessions. The ear cushions are soft and breathable, though I felt they might wear out over time due to their softness. The headphones can fold flat, and you get a microfiber pouch in the box (though I’d have preferred a hard case).Comfort-wise, the Master Buds Max do their job well. I wore them for around five hours straight at work and while binge-watching Bads Of Bollywood, and they didn’t cause discomfort or ear fatigue. I still prefer earbuds for long streaming sessions, but for music or work, these felt solid. The IPX4 rating also ensures they can handle a bit of sweat or light rain.

Audio ExperienceLet’s get into the sound, the part everyone’s curious about. The Noise Master Buds Max are powered by 40mm dynamic drivers and tuned using Sound by Bose technology, which adds that warm, detailed touch Bose is known for. You also get LHDC 5.0 codec support, which allows for high-quality, low-latency audio if your device supports it.I paired the headphones with my Nothing Phone 3, which supports LHDC 5.0 and tried out a bunch of tracks, from bass-heavy Punjabi bangers like Gutt by Arjan Dhillon and Drippy by Sidhu Moose Wala, to softer melodies like Symmetry by Ed Sheeran and Like That by Future & Kendrick Lamar.

The sound was clean, detailed, and immersive. The soundstage felt wide, giving instruments room to breathe. The bass is present and warm, but not overpowering, so don’t expect the kind of chest-thumping low-end that Sony’s Extra Bass lineup delivers. Still, the balance here works well, the vocals remain crisp and highs are not harsh even at higher volumes.

Noise also added Spatial Audio support (accessible via the Noise Audio app) that enhances the sense of depth and immersion, though it lacks head-tracking, it still adds a nice 3D feel when watching movies or live performances.Dialogue clarity was excellent while streaming Netflix shows and I didn’t notice distortion even at max volume. So yeah, while audiophiles might crave deeper sub-bass, most users will love how balanced and refined these sound.Active Noise Cancellation And Transparency ModeNow, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) part. Noise claims it can block sounds up to 40dB and that it has been tested across 61 frequency points, outperforming competitors by up to 85%. In real-world use, the ANC works quite well for everyday environments. It comes with four modes- ANC On, ANC Off, Adaptive and Transparency. In ANC mode, I could barely hear the chatter in my workspace or the hum of my ceiling fan. In the gym, however, loud music did creep in faintly even at max ANC. There’s a slight ear pressure effect when turning ANC on, but it fades away after a few minutes. The Adaptive mode smartly adjusts the noise cancellation level depending on your surroundings, and it works impressively well. Transparency mode lets ambient sound pass through clearly, perfect when you need to chat with someone without removing the headphones. Overall, the ANC is functional and quite effective for its price.

Battery Life And App ExperienceBattery life is another strong point here. The company claims up to 60 hours of playback (ANC off) and around 48 hours (ANC on). In my testing, with ANC always on and 4 hours of daily usage, they comfortably lasted 10 days ,which is impressive.

Charging is via USB Type-C and a quick 10-minute charge gives around 10 hours of playback. I managed to get about 50% battery in just 35 minutes, enough for nearly a week’s worth of casual use.The Noise Audio App is clean and responsive, showing battery percentage upfront and letting you toggle between ANC, Transparency, and EQ modes easily. Dual-device pairing worked smoothly, switching between my MacBook and iPhone during meetings was instant.

VerdictThe Noise Master Buds Max mark a strong debut in the over-ear headphone space for Noise. With Bose-tuned audio, impressive battery life, solid ANC and a comfortable design, these headphones tick most of the right boxes at Rs 9,999. Sure, the bass could’ve been punchier, and the absence of a hard case is a minor miss, but overall, these are easily among the best over-ear headphones you can buy under Rs 10,000 right now, especially if you want something stylish, balanced and long-lasting.