Blue Satellite: A New Benchmark for Wireless Headphones?

One of the year’s best surprises for me were Blue’s planar magnetic headphones, the Ellas. Before testing that pair of cans, the only reference I had for Blue was in regard to the company’s varied, and excellent, line of microphones. A favorite among YouTubers and podcasters, products like the Blue Yeti have come to be a staple of our modern culture, in which everyone has a voice because everyone has a microphone.
With its audio endeavors, Blue is taking a slightly different approach with the same ultimate goal: to make the best product possible. The big difference here is that its headphones don’t skimp on price, as evidenced by the Ellas, which retail for $700 and now the company’s first wireless option, the Satellites, which stack up against the most premium names in the business with a listed price of $399.99.
Unlike the Ellas, there was no chance of the Satellites taking me by surprise. Because of the sublime experience their sibling provided earlier this year, I had high expectations for what these could bring to the wireless audio shuffle.
So, did they deliver?
Given the quality of Blue’s premier headphones, the Ellas, it should come as no surprise that the hardware of its wireless offering is excellent. Though not made of the same premium materials, the construction is plastic with a smattering of aluminum mixed in to jazz things up, the Satellites feel durable and well made. In fact, they feel far more solid than their top noise cancelling competitors, Sony’s MDR-1000X and Bose’s QC35s. Those latter cans tend to sacrifice rigid construction for flexibility and comfort, which makes them stellar for longer listening sessions but flimsier overall. It’s a trade-off, and consumers have to decide for themselves which side of the line they fall on.
It’s clear which side these fall on, having a sturdier build but less comfort. They are not, by any means, uncomfortable, but they don’t reach the same level offered by Sony and Bose. Thanks to their plush earcups and generously padded headband, I was able to wear the Satellites for several hours at a time with minimal discomfort. They are a touch heavier than I like, however, and squeeze your head considerably, leading to fatigue after long periods of use. Blue does say they are tight at first by design, to help ensure a proper seal and aid in noise cancelling and will ease up over time.
After several days of use, I adjusted in large part to both the weight and tightness. There were a few headaches at first, but once the headphones broke in, it became far easier to use them for long listening sessions or while watching videos. I imagine they would only get better with time, and the tightness issue would dissipate, but there is nothing to be done about the weight. You may adjust, or they may always feel too heavy. If I had the choice, the Satellites would not be my first pick for a cross country or international flight. In a short spell, maxing out around four hours, they will serve you well. Anything beyond that is a complete guess, based on how well the design suits your head shape.
Speaking of design, these share a similar aesthetic to the rest of the Blue’s headphone lineup with a heavy industrial inspiration. For my taste, they are not the most attractive cans on the market. The oval shape of the earcups along with the way the headband curls around the top and then attaches in the middle make them look rather goofy. They are big and chunky as well, which means it’s not going to be the coolest looking gadget atop your head.
I’ve never loved the design ideas of Blue’s headphones, but still enjoyed using them because the overall product they put forth is good enough to balance out any shortcomings they have visually, and it’s the same here. It may be different for you. You may look at these cans and think they are striking and work both as a piece of technology and fashion, as products are so often tasked with doing these days. I do not.
One thing I do love about the hardware of the Satellites is how portable they are. They are both foldable and have rotating earcups, allowing users to fit them into their bags in a bevy of ways. A curious thing, however, is the carrying case that comes with. It is a lovely case with a wonderful woven exterior that feels like it could handle a beating and a little pouch inside to hold all the various cables. It is also enormous. The case takes zero advantage of the wonderful, foldable frame, instead forcing you to encase them fully extended. It’s an absolute head scratcher of a design choice. Now users have to choose if they want to keep their nice, $400 headphones secure and protected or if they want to have space in their bag for anything else. A small nuisance, to be sure, but one that could use reconsidering.
Blue has always put sound above everything with their products; it was evident with the Ellas and it’s evident with the Satellites as well. In a planar magnetic, audiophile quality piece of kit like the former, having every bit of technology packed into those cans working in service of the sound is not only fine, it’s admirable. Wireless headphones, however, are just as much a piece of gadgetry as they are audio equipment. They are expected to come with a handful of technological flourishes, whether that be improved noise cancelling, better Bluetooth range, onboard controls or what have you.