Small, light, and yet powerful sound is what the wireless and, if desired, squeaky-colorful on-ear headphones Teufel Supreme On want to be. Whether these promises really come true in the end and what the devil has up his sleeve, clarifies our test.
Technical data
| Headphone type | On-Ear (closed) |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Maximum operating range | 25m (without obstacle) |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours |
| Weight | 177g (without cable) |
| Driver | 40 mm, with neodymium magnet |
| Frequency range | 10-20,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 26 ohms |
| Connections | USB Type-C; 3.5mm jack |
| Scope of delivery | Teufel Supreme On; carrying case; USB-A to USB-C cable; jack cable; quick start guide |
| Color options | Night Black, Sand White, Moon Gray, Space Blue, Ivy Green, Pale Gold |
| Price | € 140.90 * |
Scope of delivery
The fact that the Berlin-based audio professionals at Teufel really do give a damn about the environment in terms of packaging is something they have proven many times in the past. The Teufel Supreme On on-ear headphones also come in a plain cardboard box that has been reduced to the essentials and is only slightly larger than the headphones themselves.
When opening the box for the first time, the eye inevitably wanders directly to the headphones, which are additionally packed and rest on another cardboard pedestal. Below that, Teufel packs the other accessories of the scope of delivery, namely a quick-start guide, a microfiber carrying case including a drawstring and two cables.
A 100 cm USB-A to USB-C cable for charging, as well as a fabric-covered 3.5 mm dual jack cable with a length of 120 cm, which comes in the color scheme of the headphones. Teufel is very colorful with the Supreme On and offers a total of six variants (Night Black, Sand White, Moon Gray, Space Blue, Ivy Green and Pale Gold).
Design and workmanship
Once we’ve peeled the Supreme On out of its case, then, we can take a closer look at the headphones. First impression: lightweight, it is. And small. And brightly colored – at least our blue model. At first glance, the Teufel Supreme On looks like a cheap pair of 30 euro headphones from China, but – as we would like to point out here – appearances are deceptive.
At first glance, the small and slim design immediately catches the eye. The headphones reach a maximum total length of 18 centimeters with the folded earpiece, and the ear cups themselves have a diameter of about 6.7 cm. But that’s all that’s needed, since these aren’t over-ear headphones that sit above the ears, but rather on-ears that sit on top of the ears.
The devils are even smaller thanks to the clever folding mechanism, which allows the ear cups to be folded completely inwards – but they cannot be swivelled or rotated. Nevertheless, they can even fit in small pockets and measure 11.5 x 10.5 cm (length x width) when closed.
At the same time, the Supreme On have a lush leatherette padding, both on the inside of the ear cups and on the headband. The latter is covered with flexible fabric on the outside and printed with the manufacturer’s logo on the leather inside, as well as with hexagonal honeycombs at irregular intervals, which makes for a modern look. The ear cups, on the other hand, rely on a soft memory foam filling that ensures a comfortable fit.
The size adjustment is done with the help of an aluminum band including 11 grids. The design on the left side is rounded off by the power button, which also serves as a pairing button, the USB-C port for charging, and the jack. On the inside of the right ear cup, on the other hand, Teufel installs an easy-to-grip control button that can be moved in four directions (up, down, left and right) and is responsible for music and telephony control. The outside of the left ear cup is also NFC-enabled, allowing for even faster pairing.
As cheap as the Teufel Supreme On may seem at first: in terms of build quality, the headphones more than live up to the rather high price tag. They leave a very high-quality impression despite the low weight, and the metal hinges in particular hold the headphones in position very well. However, a rattling noise can be heard during quick movements, which is due to the lightweight construction (177 g), but is not noticeable in a negative way.
Wearing comfort
The wearing comfort of the Teufel Supreme On turns out similarly positive, and this despite the fact that I am truly not a fan of on-ear headphones. Thanks to the soft and thick memory foam, the headphones rest comfortably on the ears even over hours. Fortunately, an unpleasant feeling of pressure does not arise even during continuous use.
The fit is firm and secure at the same time, and nothing slips even when moving quickly – this is often a problem with on-ear headphones, but not with Teufel. Due to the material, however, the headphones are relatively susceptible to sweat.
Features and battery life
The headphones radio in Bluetooth mode with version 5.0, which ensures a stable connection. The range also turns out surprisingly high. Thus, we could easily move almost 20 meters away from the audio source during the test without any interference or sound dropouts. Within a building, the Supreme On can also maintain the connection over several floors – that is rare. Pairing works flawlessly and in seconds thanks to NFC.
Alternatively, the on-ears can also be used in combination with the jack cable, which allows for use with analog sources. The inline remote with an integrated microphone is used here, but it only has a single button and can therefore handle fewer commands than the media control on the ear cup.
In practice, the wear detection also proves to be useful, which actually works very precisely and quickly. When we take the headphones off, playback is automatically paused or resumed when we put the devils back on our ears.
A nice gimmick is also the “ShareMe” function, thanks to which the signal is sent wirelessly and lip-synced to a second compatible pair of Teufel headphones so that we can enjoy music together or follow our favorite series. In addition, the headphones have voice recognition, which is used to start the respective voice assistant (Siri or Google Assistant) without pressing a button.
There are also positive things to report about the battery life. According to the manufacturer, the built-in lithium-ion battery lasts up to 30 hours. We couldn’t quite reach this value in the endurance test. At least at medium volume, the battery life is just under 25 hours. The Supreme On runs out of steam about 3-4 hours earlier at about 80 percent, but it is still a very good rate. Thanks to USB-C, the battery is also ready for an hour of music playback again in just 15 minutes on the power.
Operation
The Supreme On are exceptionally not operated via touch control, but mainly with the help of the joystick on the inside of the right ear cup. This can be pressed, as well as moved in four directions – this works flawlessly in practice and is also extremely practical, since absolutely all functions can be found in the same place and the operating concept is quickly internalized.
Pressing the button once starts or pauses playback or accepts calls, a double press activates the voice assistant. Pressing up or down increases or decreases the volume, pressing right once jumps to the next track (left to the previous one). If you keep the left or right button pressed, you can also fast-forward or rewind within a song. Teufel definitely collects plus points here, because hardly any other headphones offer a similarly intuitive, effortless and precise operating concept.
Audio quality and microphone
Teufel consistently dispenses with active noise cancellation (ANC) on the Supreme On, which is a shame. The passive attenuation is, due to the shape, okay, but allows the majority of background noise to pass through unhindered. Unfortunately, the headphones are only suitable for undisturbed music listening on the go to a limited extent.
However, the sound is positive. It is very warm and harmonious, which is typical for Teufel, and has a lot of pressure in the low-frequency segment. Basses are reproduced strongly and precisely without coming to the fore.
The midrange also has a solid foundation and delivers voices and instruments voluminously and in detail, but it could be a bit finer in terms of bass resolution. The same goes for the trebles, which are also reproduced well and relatively neutrally, but can’t quite stand out as well as we like from the bass.
Thus, it quickly becomes clear that the Teufel Supreme On are primarily trimmed for a well-rounded listening pleasure that provides a really coherent sound across genres. Especially in the electro and pop area, the little devil plays to its strengths, although fans of heavy metal guitar music are also very well served.
It is noteworthy that despite the small size, Teufel has accommodated dynamic linear HD drivers with a diameter of 40 mm, which in combination with an impedance of 26 ohms achieve a really good volume. In terms of frequency response, a range of 10 – 20000 Hz is mapped – that’s enough to meet modern demands. However, it is too little for audiophile users. Then again, we like the fact that Qualcomm’s high-resolution aptX codec is used in addition to the SBC and AAC codecs, which of course additionally benefits the audio quality.
Microphone quality
In terms of the microphone, the Teufel Supreme On unfortunately falls off sharply and only ranks at a mediocre level. This applies both in wireless operation and in combination with inline remote control and microphone.
The user’s own voice is reproduced relatively clearly, but there is a lack of dynamics. Unfortunately, the built-in microphone also reproduces ambient noise relatively loudly. Unfortunately, the promised crystal-clear quality, which is supposed to be achieved via Qualcomm’s built-in noise and echo cancellation technology cVc, is hardly noticeable in practice.
App connection
On the outer packaging of the Teufel Supreme On is emblazoned – at least on our test device – a huge, red sticker that refers to the manufacturer’s homepage. There you will find the information that the headphones can also be used with the Teufel Headphones app, which is available for free on iOS and Android.
The app is clearly structured and tidy, but also focused on the essentials. Once you have set the color of your own model in the app (what for?), the home screen informs you about the current battery status, provides access to the equalizer and starts the ShareMe function.
In the settings, Smart Pause (the wear detection) can be deactivated if desired, and you can also set an automatic shutdown timer, deactivate the voice assistant or take a look at the digital quick start guide.
The most exciting feature, however, is the equalizer, which can be used to further fine-tune the Teufel’s sound. There are various presets to choose from, including a neutral mode or options for different genres, more bass, clearer trebles or a special podcast mode with a focus on voices. In addition, a completely individual preset can be created and saved directly to the headphones.
The app has a clear and understandable design, but it only offers rudimentary functions. In addition, the EQ settings can’t even begin to match the level of detail offered, for example, by the app on the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ (our review).
Conclusion
The lack of an ANC function of the Teufel Supreme On hurts a lot due to the rather high price. The mediocre sound quality of the microphone is also sour, even half as expensive headphones get it much better.
But that’s it for the points of criticism, because Teufel otherwise delivers a really strong pair of on-ear headphones, which earns plus points especially in terms of the quite neutral and dynamic sound image. The same applies to the excellent wearing comfort and the outstanding build quality, which is especially remarkable in view of the low weight.
The joystick control is both intuitive and precise, and it is simply fun to use. Ultimately, however, it is primarily the rich sound that provides enjoyment regardless of the genre. In combination with smart features like NFC and ShareMe and the really good battery life, the Teufel Supreme On offers buyers a lot for a fair price. At least, if you like the design of an on-ear headphone.
Teufel Supreme On
Workmanship
Comfort
Sound quality
Recording quality
Features
Value for money
88/100
High-quality manufactured and lightweight headphones that score with very good wearing comfort, as well as rich sound and exciting features.
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