Earbuds

Those earbuds are awesome. They have phenomenal sound quality, in fact the best sound quality out of all true wireless earbuds I ever tried (bose qc ultra ii, sony 1000xm5, samsung galaxy buds 3 pro, airpods pro 2, devialet gemini ii). Upgraded to these from the Sony WF-1000XM5. The anc is not as good as Sony but it atill pretty good. They are also super comfortable, and are good for gaming as they have low latency (compared to the XM5). Battery life is also insane. Overall would really recommend those earbuds especially to audiophiles who are looking for a pair of non-wired earbuds.

I spent ages researching earbuds to the point of paralysis by analysis, before finally settling on the Technics EAH-AZ100's. I've had them for two days now, and honestly I'm regretting the purchase massively. The sounds out the box is mediocre, I've adjusted the EQ to be better but I'm still not satisfied. I followed the apps guidance and used every size of earbud, they told me that "L" was the best for ANC, yet I feel I can still hear everything? Fit is uncomfortable after even 30 mins regardless of the size I choose. I thought I was crazy, but I used my wife's Bose QC gen 1's and they're phenomenal. The fit is much more comfortable, ANC is top tier and the sound out the box is great. Time to grovel with the shop and see about getting a swap for the Bose QC Gen2's I think!

imo comfort should be prioritized esp if you're wearing them for long work hours yk. like ANC quality can vary a lottt between brands and even between models of the same brand so it's worth checking reviews specifically for how well it actually works in rl situations vs just sounding good on paper. sony m5 is a great pick for ANC honestly, soundcore liberty 4 pro is also rlly decent and a bit easier on the wallet lol. bose qc ultra is up there too but imo it depends on your budget. also comfort-wise the fit matters way more than ppl think, like if the tips aren't sitting right the ANC isn't gonna perform well either, yk. linking [a blog here](https://medium.com/@sal75/the-sound-of-someone-elses-workout-ruined-mine-and-the-gym-earbuds-that-helped-36b805d9bd4e?postPublishedType=initial) that goes into all that stuff, def worth a quick read before deciding.

Just got my Buds 4 pro from bestbuy today to replace my Buds 3 pro. I've had the B3P almost since launch so I think I have a fair opinion. Trying the B4P for the first time, it's really surprising that the ambient is so different when compared to the B3P. To be honest, it sounds worse, noticeably so. First off, the white noise is louder and more prominent on the B4P. Maybe I'm extremely picky, but I think it's definitely worth noting. Hopefully this can be fixed in a future software update though. Second, the ambient mode just sounds more muffled. It can still be considered "ambient mode", but the B3P sounds a lot clearer. It's as if the B4P are being slightly dampened. I'll give credit where it's due and say that the ANC is definitely improved, but I think the sound quality isn't as big of a jump as people are thinking. You still receive the same base as the B3P, but the vocals are lighter and quieter in contrast to supporting/background sounds. With 0 EQ changes on either pair, the B3P takes the cake easily for me. Honestly, I feel you could tweak the EQ on either device to make it sound like other based on your preference. Overall, I'm a little disappointed with the new launch. The ambient mode issue and the lack of vocal punch is really stinging. Out of the two issues stated, at least the latter can be changed through EQ, and besides, EQ expectations are more subjective than anything. The ambient mode problem on the other hand cannot be excused, and I'm surprised I haven't seen anything about it (maybe I am just really picky haha...). If you have the B3P and are considering upgrading, do yourself a favour and don't. The improvement isn't worth the price tag, especially now that they've removed trade-ins. TLDR: B4P have better ANC, but have lighter vocals and the ambient has more white noise and is less clear than the B3P. If you're considering upgrading from the B3P, don't bother. Feel free to ask me any questions and I'll try my best to respond. This is my first post using Reddit so hopefully it's not terrible :)

So the Buds4 Pro came out almost a month ago, and at the time of announcement, I wasn't really thinking about upgrading. I had acquired the Buds3 Pro in the beginning of 2025 and I honestly didn't have much complaints about it. Throughout my Buds3 Pro ownership, I honestly didn't have many problems with the earbuds. Sure, early on, it was annoying placing the buds in the case due to the way they went in, however I got used to it very quickly. Same goes for the charging problem, I'd always apply a quick slight pressure on the buds to make sure they were connected properly with the pins, so that rarely gave me any problems either. I did also end up losing the charging case at one point so getting a pre owned one through eBay wasn't an issue either. My main problem with the Buds3 Pro actually came from the left earbud. It would just not stay in properly. I tried different silicone bud shape that were provided by Samsung, and also tried forcing the earbuds into my left ear at times so they could stay. Nothing truly ultimately worked, which was quite frustrating considering the right buds fit perfectly. (I've always struggled to find earbuds that just fit me perfectly in both ears).I actually ended up starting to lose them a little less and branched out to over-ear headphones, and while they were very good, carrying them around outside was starting to become a hassle. Hence, a few days, when I saw that I could get a the Buds4 Pro at 50% off, I was immediately tempted. I did some research, read reviews and watched a few videos to understand the differences etc. I then pulled the trigger and got them. Off the rip, they definitely look more refined than its predecessor. Sound quality is also noticeably better as well. I do prefer the old case however the new one doesn't bother me that much. The best thing though is the fit, the slight changes made to the design of the buds have worked wonders for me. The 4s fit in my ear pretty much perfectly, especially on the left ear. Went to the gym and they didn't fall out or anything. I did subconsciously try to push the Buds4 Pro back in my left ear again and again due to the habit that I built with the 3s, however they never needed to pushed back in. So overall, for me personally, the upgrade was well worth it. I do wish the Buds3 Pro fitted me better because they are really good earphones regardless (and so that I could take benefit of the 2 year warranty I got with it). Interested to hear the more reviews come in!

A week ago i posted about the terrible for my OnePlus buds 4 have asking for solutions and no one replied, I'll assume good intentions and that no one had any. Anyway I found a brilliant solution yesterday. just a small piece of BluTack wrapped around on the inside of the silicon tip made the fit way better and snug. It is basically mouldable ear tips know and it didn't even change the aesthetics and the bus still fit inside the case without any issue. Try it if you have the same problem and thank me later. It is not perfect but significantly better, I used to squeeze the buds so many times into my ear just to get it to sit without moving, no just one normal squeeze will create a sealed fit.

I’ve spent the last few days putting the new **Sony WF-1000XM6** up against my **Technics EAH-AZ100** to see how they actually compare in daily use. Having used the previous generations (the AZ80 and XM5), along with a variety of other flagships and mid-tier buds, I have a pretty clear idea of what I’m looking for in terms of sound, fit, and ANC. While these are just my personal findings, I thought it would be worth sharing a direct breakdown for anyone currently trying to decide between them. I'll keep this straight to the point and rank them based on the categories that matter to me. # ANC & Transparency **Sony XM6** * **ANC:** 9/10 * **Transparency:** 8/10 **Technics AZ100** * **ANC:** 8.5/10 * **Transparency:** 7.5/10 **ANC:** I can’t give Sony a 10 here. To get that "market-leading" silence, you're still forced to use their proprietary foam tips, which I find uncomfortable. I can get the Technics to nearly 95% of Sony’s performance by swapping to **Foamax** or **Comply** tips while maintaining much better comfort. The XM6 fits me better than the XM5, but they are still big and ugly IMO. **Transparency:** The Technics is technically more "transparent," but the **white noise** is just too much. Sony handles the noise floor much better and feels more refined. That said, both are still a step down from the natural feel of **AirPods**, **Galaxy Buds**, or **Pixel Buds**. # Sound Quality **Sound Quality** **Sony XM6** * **Score:** 8.5/10 **Technics AZ100** * **Score:** 9/10 Sony has definitely moved toward a more natural tuning compared to the XM5. They sound great out of the box, but the **Technics still takes the win for me due to the wider soundstage**. I just feel more "space" in the music with the AZ100 which i personally prefer * *Note:* The Sony "Find My EQ" feature was a total letdown for me—it just didn't work well at all. (could be a firmware bug and not something i would take a mark away from sony for given that the default eq is great - with technics i have to switch eq) # Call Quality **Technics AZ100** * **Score:** 9/10 **Sony XM6** * **Score:** 8/10 The Technics win here, especially after the most recent update. * **Quiet Rooms:** Sony actually sounds better/more natural when it's quiet. * **Noisy Environments:** Once you add background noise, Technics' new **Voice AI** is amazing. It makes your voice sound slightly less natural, but it almost entirely deletes the background noise. * **Customization Win:** On the Technics, you can actually toggle that voice suppression via the touch controls—perfect for switching it off in quiet rooms. I expect Sony to improve via firmware, but right now, they aren't there yet. # Controls **Technics AZ100** * **Score:** 9.5/10 **Sony XM6** * **Score:** 8.5/10 Huge props to Sony for finally allowing custom controls—it’s a massive improvement. However, **Technics is still the king of customization**. * Technics gives you way more utility during actual calls and allows you to toggle specific features (like the Voice AI) directly from the buds. Sony is catching up, but Technics still offers more "pro" depth. Given the current discounts, the **Technics are much better value**. Sony has built a bud that *almost* matches Technics on sound and calls while leading on ANC, but the price tag is steep. If you only care about top-tier ANC, you might as well grab the **Bose QC Ultra Gen 2** or the **AirPods Pro** . (the xm6 anc is still not as good as the bose or apple IMHO) The XM6 isn't a big enough leap over the XM5 to justify the launch price right now. Once the price drops and the firmware matures, they’ll be worth a look—provided you can get past the design. (Seriously, they aren't lookers).

I received these yesterday and I will be selling them on. I have purchased a lot of earbuds and have tested nearly all of the major brands but have struggled to find a perfect pair for me. I'm an android user and have a Samsung galaxy phone which does really preclude me from using airpods pro. I did buy a pair of Airpods pro 2 which I liked but the battery wasn't great and the feature that make it great for apple users are not existent on android. I like the Transparency mode and ANC but ultimately moved them on. I tried the APP3 which for me had better battery life but I found them too uncomfortable and ANC was not 2x better, I also noticed a hiss when transparency mode was on and as I like to sleep with earbuds I found they stick out a bit more that the APP2 so had to sell them on. I have tried the AZ100 which I liked very much but they are too big for my very small ears So yesterday I tried the Nothing ear 3 for the first time... Garbage, that's all I can say about them. The ANC does practically nothing but change the sound signature, the battery is very short and the transparency is just ok. The only thing I did like is the super mic, but this is 2025 and I make about 5 calls a year. I like the design but sadly I had to send them back.

After buying and trying a few different earbuds, like the Technics AZ100, Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5, Pixel Buds Pro 2, SoundPeats H3, AirPods Pro 3, Bose QC Ultra Gen 2, Sony XM5... I can say that i finally found the best earbuds for me... I'm just a regular guy, who likes earbuds, use it in the gym, outside sports, and commuting, I'm no audiophile. i like to see YouTubers earbuds reviews from El Jefe Reviews, Picky Audio, Aaron Loud....etc Things that i prioritize: ANC, Multipoint with automatic Takeover, Transparency and Sound Quality... The XM6 ticks all the boxes for me, i bought them for 190€, used ones, but in excellent condition... I use a Pixel 8 Pro, LDAC on, and i like to listen with volume around 68%... ANC is God Tier, together with the Airpods pro 3 and Bose QC gen 2... only headphones like the WH-1000 XM6 and the Bose are better... I use the stock eartips, L size, perfect fit for me, they are very comfortable, can use them for hours, new design and weight helps a lot... if you need or prefer silicone eartips I recommend the Azla Sednaearfit Max Standard, for a little more comfort, but it comes with a 10% +- worse ANC... Transparency is very good, especially if you are comparing it with XM5, it is almost at the airpods pro 3 level, but the Airpods are still number 1.... The sound is brilliant, in love Japanese sound quality, they are the top notch... They are the best sounding earbuds i have, under 300€, together with the Technics AZ100 and SoundPeats H3. The default sound is good, but with a good EQ you can improve it and luckily there is a 10 band EQ... Ldac On i recommend this EQ: \+1, +2, +2, +2, +3, +3, +3, +3, +2, +2 Microphone for phone calls is really good, under all conditions, wind, street noise... etc the people can understand my voice very clearly and they don't listen to noise or wind, great call quality... Multipoint with automatic takeover works perfectly Battery life around 8h with ANC and LDAC, volume between 60% to 68% Phone app is very good, full of extras, IPX4, ambient sound, quick attention, battery care...etc Hope you enjoy this small review... Any doubts, just let me know in the comments....

I’ve spent the past week testing the Technics AZ100, and more recently started trying out the Buds Pro 4. I really wanted to love the Buds Pro 4, and I do think they’ll be great for a lot of people, just unfortunately not for me. My biggest issue is the fit. This style of earbud just doesn’t stay secure in my ears. The left one keeps falling out no matter which eartip I try, or it sits loosely enough that I’m constantly adjusting it. I was especially looking forward to the Buds because I have a Samsung Z Fold 7, so they would integrate nicely into my ecosystem. At this point, I think I’ll be sticking with the Technics. They have a couple of advantages that matter more to me: 1. Multipoint connectivity – I can stay connected to both my work laptop and my phone at the same time without constantly switching or reconnecting during Teams calls or when moving between podcasts and music. 2. Fit and comfort – The stock eartips were a little uncomfortable at first, but I swapped them for Comply memory foam tips and now they feel amazing. They stay secure and don’t move at all, and I can wear them for long periods without any ear pain. Let me know if you have any questions—happy to answer!

Those earbuds are awesome. They have phenomenal sound quality, in fact the best sound quality out of all true wireless earbuds I ever tried (bose qc ultra ii, sony 1000xm5, samsung galaxy buds 3 pro, airpods pro 2, devialet gemini ii). Upgraded to these from the Sony WF-1000XM5. The anc is not as good as Sony but it atill pretty good. They are also super comfortable, and are good for gaming as they have low latency (compared to the XM5). Battery life is also insane. Overall would really recommend those earbuds especially to audiophiles who are looking for a pair of non-wired earbuds.

It’s been a long time coming. I researched HiFi audio for years while dabbling with Vanatoo speakers, and AirPods. Those were my only frame of reference in the higher/mid end audio gear. Before those I just used whatever I had over the years. I had a pair of Beats a long time ago and didn’t like them at all. I’ve had a few gaming headsets that sounded pretty bad, and the old wired Apple earbuds that used to come with iPhones back in the day. But never anything like this. My Vanatoo speakers sound great but they’re not headphones. The moment I put on the Edition XV I was unquestionably blown away. I’m running them through a Topping E2X2 audio interface and they sound phenomenal 👌. I’m already wondering if they could sound better through a stand alone DAC/Amp like the Topping DX5 II. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I have been using the Sony XM6 for over a week now and coming from long time owner of AirPods Pro 2 & 3, Bose QC Ultra 1/2, and AZ100, I have some thoughts to share with those that are on the fence. Coming from long time owner of AirPods Pro 2 & 3, Bose QC Ultra 1/2, and AZ100. First of all, ANC: My usual use for ANC is during commuting, where the XM6 is good but not as good as APP3 and Bose QCU 2, XM6 doesn't block out higher pitch noise as good (Just a little bit behind) as the other 2 (Example: Female singing, Gym Treadmill whining noise, Train screeching etc etc). That's where I thought it's a tier behind those 2, but when I use it in cafes or office scenario, it outperforms every other earbuds. Low to mid noises are cancelled out completely, where you can't even hear people talking where APP3 you can still hear some slight chattering in the mids. So example if you are listening to a live band, APP3 you can hear people singing with piano/guitar, XM6 you can only hear hi hats and nothing else, and Bose are like middle of those 2. AZ100 is more of a second tier where it usually only blocks out lower mids and you can hear some of the higher pitch noise or people talking, but its still good enough (Not good enough for me where train in my place is over 95-100db loud!) For Scale- APP3 9.5/10 XM6 9.8/10 Bose QCU 2 9/10 AZ100 7/10 Transparency mode: This is where APP excel at, 10/10 no doubt, but I do think premium earbuds nowadays are not too far off, all Bose, Sony and Technics have very good transparency mode! I can give like 9.5/10 for 3 of them. Fit This is where everyone will be different. APP3 is the most comfortable to me, but also it doesn't stay in my ear long ( I have oily ears, and can only last 30 mins before it starts to slip out) and The other bean like shape is more friendly to my ears. AZ100 has to be the most secure buds for my ears but ears do still feel pain after an hour or two of use. Bose has the most balance with their wing tip where give you right comfort and secure its position tightly. For XM6 it is slightly special for its shape, since its thicker than all the others, it will stick out of your ears a lot and almost fully depending on the tips to secure its position, but its not uncomfortable, you still feel its presence, just the position will be very different from other earbuds. sound Quality: This is where I think Sony wins by miles against Bose and APP. They added a new pressure release vent (sort of) that sacrifices ANC on higher frequency, but the sound stage feels wider, where you dont feel like listening through earbuds and slightly outside of your head (On the standard listening mode) where on AZ100 still a bit cramped inside. AZ100 sounded more V shape with boosted bass and energetic treble which most of the people should be fond of, and Sony is very balance (like flat water). Bose is....only bass. APP has Okay sound quality but it does give you proper Spatial Audio support. Overall, I think XM6 is quite a good choice for those that wants to have earbuds that can do T0 ANC and T0 Music Quality, just more expensive than all the other competition. Feel free to ask me anything! Extra Note: XM6 seems to take 0.5 sec to activate/calculate for Ambient/Noise cancelling compare to other buds which are almost instant. Does anyone has similar experience?

I’m trying to upgrade my earbuds for my iPhone, but I’m honestly struggling to figure out which ones are actually worth it. There are so many choices now, and every review says something different. What I really want is a pair that connects seamlessly, sounds great, and doesn’t cut out or feel uncomfortable after a while. Battery life and call quality matter too, since I use them for work and daily walks. Some options I keep seeing around are: * AirPods Pro (2nd gen) * Beats Fit Pro * Sony LinkBuds

Picked up a pair with dead batteries recently. Sony wants you to bin them or pay nearly as much as a new pair to service them. Decided to have a go myself. These are not fun to open. The shells are glued down properly and the internals are packed tighter than they have any right to be for something this small. Heat, patience, and a very thin pick - same approach as a smartwatch, just less forgiving. One wrong move and you're into the driver or the antenna flex. The batteries are held in with adhesive rather than soldered, which is actually the easy part once you're in. The hard part is getting there without wrecking the shell or slicing a cable. New cells are cheap - the labour is where people give up. Took me a while but both earbuds are back to full capacity, ANC working perfectly, case charging fine. Worth it? If you know what you're doing or know someone who does - absolutely. These sound too good to throw away over a £6 battery. Happy to answer questions on the process. 🎧

So I've been using the Sony WF1000XM4 for 3 years, and bought 3 already because the battery is shit.... So I decided not to pay Sony for a earbud ever again. I hope I can get some real good suggestions, so if you can take sometime and recommend "your best" audio earbuds to me, I'd appreciate it. I've looked into Noble, Final, Byerdanamic, Sennhaiser, B&O even Marshall..... But I don't have a choice yet. And BTW I listen to MP3 nore often so yes sorry to the pros I listen to crappy audios haahah

I bought some truthear Hexa and after a week I'm disappointed the sound is not that impressive (even coming from Sony WF 1000xm5) so these are my main complaints The cable it may seem obvious and not a problem but it's annoying when I don't have a pocket or when I'm on my bike it's just getting in the way and I can't charge while listening ( I know I can buy something for that and have one more cable ) Can't control my music without having to take my phone it's annoying for someone who's used to just tap to change music and tap more to increase the sound and I just don't like to take my phone every time I don't hear a thing even with no sound I'm barely hearing a thing it's a huge downside because every time someone's trying to talk to me I have to take off my earbuds but if I do it without taking my phone to stop the music I will lose a bit I don't know if I'm just too exigent but man I really hesitating yeah the sound is good but not that good to erase all of that so what do you think ? Am I just an asshole ?

I picked up the Hifiman Arya Stealths and a Zen V2 Signature stack! I've been a huge fan of audio equipment my whole life but never jumped in on my own setup. Previously, my only audio experience was with TWS earbuds, best being WF-1000XM5. I'm seriously so happy that I have to share with someone!! Here are the things I've done so far. I want to maximize their potential, so please give advice as needed: -ZMF pads (Bought the Aryas used; came with them) -Set Windows audio device to highest quality -EQ'd to Oratory's settings using APO -Turned off XSpace/HFM on amp -Set digital output volumes to max and DAC knob to max -Made a Tidal account :)

I’m a bit confused and would like someone to help me out understand, I have been using the AirPods Pro 3 as my daily drivers for 7 months now, and when I got the hd600 (2 days ago) I wasnt very impressed and not for the reasons you might think. Everything audio wise about these headphones is better than the AirPods Pro 3. The bass: I love the bass on these, there is more than enough bass for me and I have zero complaints about the bass (I hate heavy bass) and they are not even NEARLY bass light for me, and they are better than the app3 in the bass The mids: I love the vocals on these I don’t think the mids are too forward or shouty at all and the vocalists dont produce that sharp s sound when singing The treble: I think the treble on these is perfect as well, a little more and it would be too bright and annoying for me, a little less and it wouldn’t be bright enough. I love the treble on these. So overall I do appreciate the sound signature and have no complaints about it. My complaint is, and it might be weird, is that it doesn’t sound THAT different from the app3, I think I have untrained ears (especially since this is my first audiophile headphones ever) but they really do sound similar to the app3 for me just overall a little better on the spectrum of the entire sound signature. Again don’t get me wrong, I stopped using my app3 for listening to music for the hd600, but I just think the difference is not that huge at all and for some reason they sound really similar to my ears. Am I doing something wrong? I’m driving them directly from my m4 MacBook Air and they get so loud I have enough headroom, I’m using Spotify and I disabled Spotify’s EQ and sound normalization, I’m very new to the macbook so I’m not sure if there are settings in the MacBook that should be changed. Maybe it was just my expectations? Or my untrained ears? Ive been listening to them for 2 days now.

Got my hands on AirPods Pro 3 about a week ago. After using them daily for commutes, work calls, and music, wanted to share some thoughts. \*\*The Good:\*\*                                                                                           * ANC is noticeably better than Pro 2. Office chatter and train noise basically gone        * Adaptive Audio is the sleeper feature automatically; blends ANC and Transparency based on environment                                           * Battery finally lasts my full workday (7 hours vs 6)                                                  * IP55 rating makes me less paranoid about rain                                                          \*\*The Meh:\*\*                                                                                            * $279 price tag is hard to swallow                                                                     *  Still no lossless audio over Bluetooth                                                                *  Case scratches within days For those who upgraded from Pro 2, do you feel the same way? Curious if the ANC difference is as noticeable for others.

Every now and often people ask for the "best" earbuds on here. There isn't a single best pair, BUT there are definitely some earbuds which you could consider the best value. I'm a huge sound enthusiast myself, so I decided to make a no-bullshit tier list with details about each. Oh also, I wrote this entirely myself! No SlopGPT used or anything. I've tried a lot of those over the years, so this post is mostly my personal opinion!! Also note that this tier list is based on **VALUE** aka bang for the buck. **S Tier - best bang for the buck** **$199** \- [**Apple AirPods Pro 3**](https://share.google/M4NYDyJeuc2CjPOJG) are [literally the best noise cancelling earbuds ever measured](https://www.soundguys.com/the-airpods-pro-3-has-best-anc-147343/). If you don't have an iPhone, you'll miss out on a lot of their features, so keep that in mind. **$79** \- [**OnePlus Buds 4**](https://share.google/eVSrJ4pwwmGxS5br4) \- doesn't do anything amazing but does everything VERY well, which is honestly more useful day-to-day. **$75** \- The [**EarFun Air Pro 4+**](https://share.google/plHh78ctB20DRxvFF) are a VERY solid option for just $75. Long battery and sounds like something twice the price. Probably the most loved earbuds on this sub and for a reason lol. **$49** \- [**CMF Buds Pro 2**](https://share.google/EG0B6h4oOR4XLuUBv) \- there's a little dial on the case that controls volume and ANC and it's way more useful than it sounds. Great bass, good price, fun to use. **A Tier - easy to recommend** **$249** \- The [**Technics EAH-AZ100**](https://share.google/5xJaux4lXXdvnLLXI) are one of the best sounding earbuds i've come across, and the 10+ hour battery wipes the floor with every other flagship. if you care about music more than anything else, just get these. **$79** \- [**Soundcore Liberty 4 NC**](https://share.google/gMbeEXjVlxasgTDtD) \- the noise cancelling on these is insane for the price. They often go on sales so you can get them for even cheaper. **$77** \- [**Nothing Ear (2024)**](https://share.google/0JX0FdfvdyynGn2O0) \- sounds really clean and detailed if you're into that - it's not very bass-heavy though. **$30** \- JBL Vibe Beam - cheap, works, doesn't try to be anything it's not. Grab these if you just need something wireless and don't care about EQ or features. **B Tier - good, but kinda expensive** **$298** \- Sony WF-1000XM6 - the best do-everything earbuds if you're on Android - premium sound and tons of settings to mess with. They're quite expensive though. **$249** \- [**Beats Powerbeats Pro 2**](https://share.google/NnjB10OAAz6BykNI5) \- one of the best premium choices for any kind of sports or working out. Sound doesn't match price, but they won't fall off your ears. A cheaper alternative is the Soundcore Aerofit. **C Tier - situational** **$249** \- [**Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4**](https://share.google/69iiXAlygixqP6fs7) \- those have some Sennheiser-specific problems if I remember correctly, only worth it if you actually notice the difference between good and great audio. **$299** \- [**Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)**](https://share.google/7hRhlFIRyikymhRnF) \- 6 hours of battery at this price is rough, and the sound is very bass-heavy which isn't for everyone. \--- I'm mostly using the Technics nowadays though. I got used to them and they kinda work for everything. What do you guys use?

Had a busy Black Friday week where i went through some of the most recommended earbuds on this sub reddit. These are numbered below in the order i got them: 1. Nothing Ear (a) 2. Soundcore Liberty 4 Nc 3. Earfun Airpro 4 4. Denon Perl Pro 5. Nothung Ear 2024 After trying all of them for a week, this is my order of preference: 1. Nothing Ear (a) 2. Denon Perl Pro 3. Nothing Ear 4. Soundcore Liberty 4 Nc 5. Earfun Airpro 4 For some context, i listen to primarily EDM and Pop, and good bass was a requirement. I also take the tube a lot so decent noise cancellation was also part of the criteria. So lets go down to the merits and cons of each of the above: 1. Nothing Ear(a): grest bass out of the box, but the highs were subdued and the soundstage felt cramped. But then i played around with the EQ a bit and they sound amazing now. Nothing else comea even close to reproducing the soul shaking thump i crave from my music. NC is pretty decent and adequate for my usecase. They also have a nice design, and feel premium. 2. Soundcore Liberty 4 NC: They sound very bright and i would have probably kept them for the value for money aspect if I hadnt heard the Nothing Ear first. The bass is nowhere as good but everything else is marginally better. Excpet the app ofcouse. The app felt like a malware compared to Nothing's clean design 3. Earfun Airpro 4: Its decent and for the price, i can understand the allure. But it did everything worse, less bass than Nothing, not as nice sounding as the Soundcore. And again the app was even worse than Earfun 4. Denon Perl Pro: It was a tough choice between this and Nothing Ear (a) but made easy by the terrible app. It would take almost a minute to connect to the server. The sound itself is very detailed and I could hear instruments i never knew existed in a song. In fact this became a problem at times when the actual vocals would get lost and everything else going on in the background. Also it lost on the sub bass compared to the Nothing, which is half the price. 5. Nothing Ear 2024: These sounded almost the same as the cheaper (a), inspite of the cermaic drivers and sound personalisation. The app has more equaliser settings but I could not justify the higher price tag. In conclusion, the Nothing Ear (a) was the best sound per pound option and unmatched lower end performance. Hope this helps!

Buying New Earbuds As My CMF Buds' Left Bud Gives Terrible Battery Backup (10-20 Mins) and Right Bud (Around 1½hr). (Budget Is Tight Around \~1000INR, Looking for VFM Earbuds) Confused Between These Options: Realme T110: ₹1149 (Black-Yellow Color, Which i Like The Least) Soundcore R50i VI: ₹1099 Realme T200: \~₹1600 (Would Be Too Expensive For Me) Realme T200x: ₹1349 Boat Airdopes 141 Elite ANC: ₹1299 For Me, ANC is Just a Good To Have Feature. I don't Use It Regularly. So ANC is Not a MUST-HAVE Feature For Me, But Still if it has, then It's Good, If Not, Still It's Good). (I don't Need Dual Pairing too) And I'm Gonna Use Earbuds Just for a Yr Minimum... Sweet Spot Would Be 1½ Yr, Not More Than That. My Usage will Be Listening to Songs (Mostly Pop) Outdoor for an Hr... And Watching Long Study Lectures Daily (Around 4 Hours Non Stop) My Devices With Which I Use My Earbuds: Phone: OPPO F15 (Running On Android 11) Laptop: HP 14s LTE (2020, Running On Windows 11)

Spent some time with the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max (£200). The FreeBuds Pro 5 have been my call-quality benchmark for ages and I didn't think anything would top them — these have. **Full review:** [https://audranx.com/reviews/soundcore-liberty-5-pro-max-review](https://audranx.com/reviews/soundcore-liberty-5-pro-max-review) **What stood out for me** * **Calls genuinely beat the FreeBuds Pro 5.** 8 mics + 2 VPUs + AI large model, and unlike most spec-sheet flexes the hardware is actually doing something. Tested in noisy real-world calls and simulated coffee shops, shopping centres, industrial sites. Background gone, voice clean. No noise-gating or self-voice cancellation issues like the JBL Tour Pro 3. * **3-device multipoint, configurable.** Rare at £200. You choose auto-switch or manual-pause behaviour. Trade-off: LDAC only works with 2-device, not 3. * **Per-mode control schemes** — different gesture layouts for single-bud vs both-buds use. Soundcore never gets credit for this. * **Transparency mode passes the beanie test** — no fabric rustle through the mics. Most buds fail this and low white noise hiss. * **Wake-word-free voice controls** — say "play/pause/volume up" or toggle ANC with no trigger phrase. More responsive than Samsung's version. * **No-login app, custom case wallpaper.** **Potential issues** V-shaped bass-heavy tuning (EQ tames it but sound purists should look at the Technics AZ100). ANC is just below the Bose/Sony/AirPods Pro 3 tier. Spatial audio implementation is poor. No mute-during-calls. JBL Tour Pro 3 is now cheaper with better sound. If sound is your #1 priority, look elsewhere. For everyone else — especially anyone who takes a lot of calls or needs 3-device multipoint without paying Technics money — these might be the most complete £200 earbuds on the market. Happy to answer questions.

imo comfort should be prioritized esp if you're wearing them for long work hours yk. like ANC quality can vary a lottt between brands and even between models of the same brand so it's worth checking reviews specifically for how well it actually works in rl situations vs just sounding good on paper. sony m5 is a great pick for ANC honestly, soundcore liberty 4 pro is also rlly decent and a bit easier on the wallet lol. bose qc ultra is up there too but imo it depends on your budget. also comfort-wise the fit matters way more than ppl think, like if the tips aren't sitting right the ANC isn't gonna perform well either, yk. linking [a blog here](https://medium.com/@sal75/the-sound-of-someone-elses-workout-ruined-mine-and-the-gym-earbuds-that-helped-36b805d9bd4e?postPublishedType=initial) that goes into all that stuff, def worth a quick read before deciding.

I first got into IEMs when I saw someone wearing them on the bus. I secretly took a picture and used Google Lens to figure out what they were, and that’s how I went down the IEM rabbit hole. After doing some research, I ended up buying the KZ ZSN Pro 2 along with a DAC that has CX31993 and MAX97220 chips. It’s not from JCally (which I now know is more popular), but I went with a BZINK DAC because it looked more premium. At that time, I didn’t really have much knowledge about this stuff. The KZ sounded pretty good for the first couple of days, but then suddenly I heard a weird “boom” sound, and after that they became super bland with almost no bass. Since I consider myself a bass head, I looked around and saw a lot of people recommending the Zero 2 (Blue) for strong bass. So I returned the KZ and got the Zero 2. But here’s the issue: even with the Zero 2, I’m still not getting any bass. I’m using the same BZINK DAC, tried a 5 ohm adapter, and even at full volume there’s barely any bass. My CMF Buds Pro 2 TWS, which cost half as much, actually sound better. I’m using the stock ear tips, and they fit well, so I don’t think it’s a sealing issue. At this point I’m confused-what can I do to make my Zero 2 sound better? (Got the pic from Google - my lights are off and I don't feel like getting up to take a new picture of my IEMs to share. Also, I wasn't able to post in the IEM community format without adding a picture in my post.)

I used to use the realme buds air 3 but one of the buds decided to give up on me and then I found out it was a common issue now looking at my local market I found range of earbuds from realme (which I'm kinda sceptical about as I found it's a common issue in their buds that the left or the right one just stop working randomly as I was looking into the realme buds air 6) CMF from nothing (but found some reviews that say it has an issue with the battery after about 6 to 8 months models like 2a - 2 - pro 2 ) so I was thinking about going with soundcore and in my budget was looking at either the P31i (R60i NC) or the liberty 4 NC as the liberty 4 NC is 46.85 USD and P31i is 39.35 USD (I can get the P31i cheaper but it would be gray market without warranty that I heard that it has some issues as well) so I was leaning towards the liberty 4 NC so was wondering if it's a good choice and definitely open for opinions and suggestions that I might look into if it's available in the local market

Every couple of years, my TWS earbuds battery completely tanks and becomes unusable. I usually buy in the budget/mid range and currently using the CMF Buds. Is it normal to treat budget earbuds as disposable e-waste every 18–24 months, or am I using them wrong? (I don't use that much, around 1 hr daily. I always store them in the case, so they sit at 100%). Do premium earbuds have this same issue, or is it just a budget segment problem? Thanks!

So, I was looking for headphones for about $150-170 for daily use at home. I settled on three models: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, Audio Technica M50XBT2, and Bowers&Wilkins PX7 S2E. The most important aspects for me are sound quality, comfort and reliability. I listen mostly to rock, city pop, edm and a little bit from many other genres. It is important for me to hear each instrument clearly and that the bass is not overpowering. Which of these headphones would be the best for me? Past gear experience: only earbuds (CMF Buds Pro 2 and Denon PerL Pro)

I also find it interesting because when my sony ANC earbuds died this year, I went to shop a replacement and found the market had completely moved to those air pod wireless earbuds. I was a bit skittish about dropping $$$ on a form factor I didn't like so I went looking for decent earbuds that were relatively cheap. Tozo barely merits a mention here but was highly recommended for my use case, so I wound up getting some NC9s. Now, I'm no audiophile, my main use case is listening to audio books, but these have been fantastic. Maybe not quite as good ANC as my old sony ones, but they actually stay in better and I paid $35 vs $225. No brainer.

I have been using TOZO NC2 since 2020 or 2021! I love them! I've lost them a few times though so I have a total of 3 pairs. 🤭 I would misplace my earbuds (case and all) so often that I ended up just buying a 2nd pair of the same ones but in another color. I've had them for years! Last year I somehow misplaced both pair so I upgraded to the newer model NC3 that have the "find my earbud" technology. And of course, I found the older earbuds AFTER ordering another pair so now I'm up to 3 pair 😂 but they're budget friendly, and I love the 3 modes for listening. Normal, Active Noice Cancelling (ANC) and transparent mode. I remember feeling overwhelmed when trying to find some earbuds back during the pandemic because there were so many options and I just decided to try Tozo and it ended up working for me. But I will say, I STILL find myself losing a pair all the time (older model) I've cracked my case to hell but it still works. I should invest in a new case though.

I have never been a fan of earbuds but lately headphones have been making me break out with acne around my ears so looking to switch to earbuds. I heard Tozo ones are good budget earbuds. Out of all the 30$ and under earbuds which ones should I buy?

Just got my Buds 4 pro from bestbuy today to replace my Buds 3 pro. I've had the B3P almost since launch so I think I have a fair opinion. Trying the B4P for the first time, it's really surprising that the ambient is so different when compared to the B3P. To be honest, it sounds worse, noticeably so. First off, the white noise is louder and more prominent on the B4P. Maybe I'm extremely picky, but I think it's definitely worth noting. Hopefully this can be fixed in a future software update though. Second, the ambient mode just sounds more muffled. It can still be considered "ambient mode", but the B3P sounds a lot clearer. It's as if the B4P are being slightly dampened. I'll give credit where it's due and say that the ANC is definitely improved, but I think the sound quality isn't as big of a jump as people are thinking. You still receive the same base as the B3P, but the vocals are lighter and quieter in contrast to supporting/background sounds. With 0 EQ changes on either pair, the B3P takes the cake easily for me. Honestly, I feel you could tweak the EQ on either device to make it sound like other based on your preference. Overall, I'm a little disappointed with the new launch. The ambient mode issue and the lack of vocal punch is really stinging. Out of the two issues stated, at least the latter can be changed through EQ, and besides, EQ expectations are more subjective than anything. The ambient mode problem on the other hand cannot be excused, and I'm surprised I haven't seen anything about it (maybe I am just really picky haha...). If you have the B3P and are considering upgrading, do yourself a favour and don't. The improvement isn't worth the price tag, especially now that they've removed trade-ins. TLDR: B4P have better ANC, but have lighter vocals and the ambient has more white noise and is less clear than the B3P. If you're considering upgrading from the B3P, don't bother. Feel free to ask me any questions and I'll try my best to respond. This is my first post using Reddit so hopefully it's not terrible :)

I consider myself a bit of a wireless headphone/earbud snob. I wouldn't say I'm an audiophile, but I get easily annoyed with products that don't work well. I've owned buds from many mainstream brands like Sony, Beats, Soundcore, Google. Most recently Samsung with their Buds Pro 3 flagship (which I ended up returning, frustrated by their asinine triangular stem design). After about a week, I can say both the OnePlus Buds 4 and my Buds Pro 3 offer a good sound experience. I can't say the Buds 4 sound worse, just different. The Buds 4 have decidedly intense bass, but never overwhelming or muddying. What’s more, I was a bit floored by the Buds 4's ANC and call performance. While the ANC lets in more high-end frequencies than more expensive flagship earbuds, I was particularly impressed by its handling of wind-whoosh, a major pet peeve for me - even with my trusty Galaxy Buds FE, and especially the Buds Pro 3. The Buds 4's algorithm completely eliminates this issue. Similarly, their voice isolation during calls is excellent. I was not expecting these earbuds to so effortlessly resolve these common grievances I have that much more expensive buds seem to struggle with. If you can get these for the $80 I paid, they are exceptional, and punch up against buds from the likes of Samsung and Google that have no business struggling with issues the Buds 4 seem unfettered with. I’m glad the people on this subreddit recommended them!

The biggest issue with the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is the lack of multipoint. **ANC & Transparency Mode** – Both are close, but there's noticeably less white noise with the Huawei. **Call Quality** – Huawei wins here. Your voice comes through clearer and more natural, though background noise suppression is about equal on both. **Sound** – Subjective, but I prefer the sound of the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro (just…). Honestly, it's very close between these two, and which you go with will come down to price and ecosystem. If you're already in the Samsung ecosystem, the Buds 4 Pro might make more sense. One thing that's a little disappointing is that there isn't a huge jump in performance from the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro to the Buds 4 Pro — if you have the 3 Pro, there's no real need to upgrade. The leap from the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 to Pro 5, on the other hand, is more significant, with genuine improvements to ANC and transparency mode. For me personally, I'm keeping the Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 as my primary buds, and really it just comes down to solid multipoint. If the Buds 4 Pro had multipoint, I think they would be my primary earbud — the voice commands and read-aloud notifications are great quality-of-life features. If anyones got any specific questions regarding these let me know

the jabra elite active 7/8s or the beats fit pro. both handle sweat really well (i’m the same, just constant face sweat at the gym) and they actually stay in place. the beats have that little wing that locks them in your ear so they don’t fall out during burpees or whatever. jabra’s more subtle and don’t stick out much. both have decent noise cancelling, but you’ll still hear traffic if you run outside. over ears are def comfy for some, but yeah, too hot and bulky for my taste. i’d also suggest going to review sites like reddit vetted because that helped me decide which ones not to get aka andom no-name brands that promise IPX8 or whatever but die after a month

I’m looking to upgrade my earbuds because I really love strong, punchy bass, but honestly, it’s tough to figure out which ones actually deliver without sacrificing comfort or connectivity. There are so many options out there, and every review seems to recommend something different. What I really want is a pair that sounds great with bass‑heavy music, stays comfortable for long listening sessions, and doesn’t cut out or feel unstable. Good battery life and call quality matter too since I use them for work and daily commutes. Some options I keep seeing around are: * Sony WF‑1000XM5 * Beats Fit Pro * Jabra Elite 7 Active * Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

I am looking to purchase a pair of over the ear headphones for the ANC and sound quality. - primarily for noise cancellation while reading, gaming and sound quality (I like bass) I currently have Jabra Elite 10 gen 2 earbuds, and while they have pretty good anc, I know Bose is a lot better. The problem is I can’t decide between the gen 1 for $300 and the gen 2 for $400? I feel like the usb-c lossless audio would be pretty good for gaming, but I also read that the microphone is disabled with lossless audio wired mode enabled which kind of defeats the purpose for me. I love to read and have young children and would be utilizing the ANC to reduce noise while I’m reading. Which should I get? Gen 1 for $300? Or pay the extra $100 for the gen 2? Keep in mind; I do already have the Jabra Elite 10 gen 2 earbuds which are close to $300 earbuds. Is it even worth getting these at all? Thanks in advance!

Airplane noise is a very specific kind of torture - constant low-frequency engine hum mixed with random crying and announcements. Not all ANC earbuds handle that equally well. Beyond brand hype, the real difference usually comes down to fit, passive isolation, and how the ANC adapts in flight. This is a quick list of the best options for those who don’t want to learn a long buying guide below: # Base on my experience, these are some noise cancelling earbuds worth looking at in 2026: * [Apple AirPods Pro 2 Earbuds](https://astonmet.com/noise-cancelling-earbuds/#Apple_AirPods_Pro_2_Earbuds) * [Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds](https://astonmet.com/noise-cancelling-earbuds/#Sony_WF-1000XM5_Earbuds) * [Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds](https://astonmet.com/noise-cancelling-earbuds/#Bose_QuietComfort_Ultra_Earbuds) * [Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Earbuds](https://astonmet.com/noise-cancelling-earbuds/#Sennheiser_Momentum_True_Wireless_4_Earbuds) * [Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Earbuds](https://astonmet.com/noise-cancelling-earbuds/#Samsung_Galaxy_Buds3_Pro_Earbuds) * [Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 Wireless Earbuds](https://astonmet.com/noise-cancelling-earbuds/#Jabra_Elite_10_Gen_2_Wireless_Earbuds) # 4 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a noise cancelling earbud for travel **-noise cancelling performance and adaptability** Active noise cancelling (ANC) removes background noise, allowing you to immerse yourself in your music with exceptional clarity. Active noise cancellation removes up to twice the background noise, while transparency mode and adaptive audio adjust seamlessly, ensuring you can tune in to your surroundings when needed. Advanced active noise cancellation technology helps you stay focused, immersing you in your favorite tunes while blocking out distractions. Intelligent noise control and conversation awareness automatically lower the volume when you're speaking with someone, making social interactions easier. **-battery life and fast charging technology** Get up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with extended total battery life when using the charging case. Experience up to 32 hours of total battery life, including multiple full charges from the compact charging case. Even with active noise cancelling engaged, you get extended playtime throughout the day. Fast charge technology provides additional hours of playback from just a short charging time, ensuring you are never without your music. **-durability and water resistance** Sweat- and water-resistant designs with IPX4 ratings make these earbuds suitable for unpredictable weather and active travel days. IP54 dust-, sweat-, and water-resistant construction offers durability for various environments. Higher waterproof ratings, such as IP66 or IPX7, provide additional protection against sweat and rain, making them reliable for outdoor activities and movement. Ergonomic designs and secure fits ensure stability and comfort during long trips or active use. **-smart features and user support technology** Personalized spatial audio adapts sound to your unique ear shape, creating an immersive listening environment. Voice isolation keeps calls clear, even in noisy surroundings. Multi-point technology allows seamless switching between two connected devices, improving convenience during travel. Touch controls, voice assistant integration, and automatic pairing enhance ease of use without needing to handle your device frequently. Built-in microphones and advanced Bluetooth technology provide stable connections and reliable call quality wherever you are. The good news is that current top-tier models are already extremely capable for flights - you don’t necessarily need to wait for the next release unless you want the latest features. Prioritize fit, comfort, and reliable ANC over marketing claims

As someone who isn't a hardcore audiophile, I've found the Shokz OpenFit 2+ to be a total game-changer. For me, it's all about being able to hear my surroundings and having something comfortable enough to wear all day, and these absolutely nail it without making me feel like I'm sacrificing good sound. When I put them up against the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, I was really surprised by how well the OpenFit 2+ performed, especially with bass. For an open-ear design, the low-end is really solid and has a nice punch, which is something I find is often missing with this style of earbud. Honestly, for my everyday listening, the bass is a huge feature and easily rivals what I've heard from the Bose. The new case now has wireless charging, which is super convenient. It is a few millimeters bigger than the old OpenFit 2 case to accommodate it, but that's a trade-off I'm happy to make for the convenience of just dropping it on a charger. One of the big new features is Dolby Atmos, and it definitely makes a difference. When I'm listening to music, it really opens up the soundstage and makes everything feel more immersive and atmospheric, like the sound is all around me. I did find that for audiobooks, it's a bit much; the wider sound can be distracting when I just want to focus on the narrator's voice, so I usually turn it off for that. The best part, though, might be how they feel. They're so incredibly lightweight that there are times I've had to actually check if I'm still wearing them. I also love that Shokz gave us both push buttons and touch controls. The physical buttons are perfect for reliably playing, pausing, skipping tracks, or adjusting the volume without any accidental taps. The touch control is still there, too—a simple long press brings up my phone's voice assistant. Call quality has been another standout feature. Everyone I've talked to says my voice comes through incredibly clearly. The earbuds have this AI-powered noise-canceling feature that's just for calls, and it does an amazing job of filtering out background noise so my voice is front and center. I haven't been in a super loud environment to really push it to its limits, but so far, it's been flawless. And finally, the battery life is just ridiculously amazing. I can go for hours and hours on a single charge, and the case holds so much extra power that I've gone days without even thinking about plugging it in. The OpenFit 2+ has become my go-to for everything from workouts to just wearing around the house all day.

Owned a bunch of Bose stuff over the years, QC Ultra Earbuds, QC Earbuds, QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. I bought the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds before and returned them after about three days. I actually liked the sound, but the Bluetooth drops got annoying fast. Could’ve been a bad unit, but I’ve had that same connection problem with a few Bose products before. Ended up buying the Baseus XC1 after seeing an ad, mostly out of curiosity. I like Bose’s tuning, especially the warmer bass, and the XC1 sounded more familiar than I expected for an open-ear clip bud. The connection has also been fine for me so far, which was the part I was more worried about. Not an audiophile take, just casual use. For working or walking around, they’ve been pretty good so far.

Hello! I would like to buy open-ear earbuds, and I would appreciate your advice! I would like to use them in the office (open space), so I would like to not disturb anyone, and I would like for them to be very comfortable! I looked into Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Huawei FreeClip 2, and Shokz OpenDots One, and liked all of them! Do you recommend any of these, or others? Thanks and have a great day!

boat noise firebolt are just companies which import cheap earbuds from China and rebrand them as theirs and then sell in the indian market. That's why I always advice people to spend extra money and buy earbuds from reputed brands like apple,Samsung,OnePlus,realme, OPPO I can 100 percent guarantee they have better sound quality and have better quality control than these cheap Chinese earbuds.

Every day on this sub someone asks "should I get X or Y" and the answers are usually just people recommending whatever they own. So I tried to let the data answer instead. Built a comparison sheet from over 40 headphones and IEMs, full specs, plus sentiment from 90K Reddit comments scored for approval percentage. **The short version: the budget tier is embarrassingly good right now!** The Koss KSC75 at $20 has 85.7% Reddit approval. The Philips SHP9500 at $55 has 76.2%. The HiFiMAN HE400se at $79 gives you a planar magnetic driver, the same technology that costs $5,500 in the Susvara for under $80. A $49 Truthear Zero:RED has the highest approval rating of any IEM in the dataset at 86.7%. Meanwhile the Apple AirPods Max at $450? 59.5% approval. The Sony XM5 at $280? 63.6%. T he ATH-M50x that every "studio headphone" list recommends? 62.5%. Reddit doesn't actually like the headphones that the mainstream keeps pushing. My honest advice based on going through all 40, start under $100. Figure out if you like warm, neutral, or bright. Figure out if you need open-back or closed-back. Then upgrade intentionally. Don't start at $300 because a YouTube review told you to. I'm building this as a [crowdsourced resource](https://modernrelay.com/emilygrace12/headphone-dataset). If there's a headphone this sub keeps recommending that I missed, drop it below and I'll add it.

Back in the days when I lived alone, I pretty much listened to music at home \*all the time\*, through my stereo or later my computer or iPod with speakers. When I ended up having to live with roommates, they'd inevitably get sick of my tastes and I had to use headphones, which was mostly fine, for a while. The day my last pair of original round Apple earbuds died, the music died with them. I couldn't find my other favourites, Maxells, or any other flatheads in stores anymore. Everything was either in-ear earbuds, or earpods shaped, both of which hurt my ears and fell out. Over the ear headphones were only wearable for so long, so I only used them at work or while taking public transit. My car became the main place I still enjoyed music. When phones lost their 3.5mm jacks, things only got worse, because there's no handy string to easily retrieve the fallen buds. Tried a few open ear designs, all of which were tolerable at best, in both sound and comfort. Then recently, at my mother's house, I found an old pair of Apple earphones. She didn't want to let me steal them, so I took a pic and did an image search on AliExpress, found the term "flathead" I'd been looking for all these years. But I also found IEMs. Took a chance and ordered both, then ordered another pair of IEMs on Amazon while waiting for them to come in. After I got the first pair, the Castor bass edition, to fit right, it was as if a gate unlocked and I was finally able to step through and get my music back! Over 10 years, I've been waiting for something that was at least "adequate" in sound, size, and comfort, without being held back by battery life. And for half the cost of my last "adequate" Bluetooth set, I get something that absolutely destroyed everything else I've ever owned. Like in the Wizard of Oz when everything changes from black and white to colour. In the last month, I've probably spent more time listening to music at home than the last 10 years combined. I haven't even touched the flatheads yet even though they've now arrived. Thanks, IEMs, for giving me back a part of my life I'd lost for far too long!

So the Buds4 Pro came out almost a month ago, and at the time of announcement, I wasn't really thinking about upgrading. I had acquired the Buds3 Pro in the beginning of 2025 and I honestly didn't have much complaints about it. Throughout my Buds3 Pro ownership, I honestly didn't have many problems with the earbuds. Sure, early on, it was annoying placing the buds in the case due to the way they went in, however I got used to it very quickly. Same goes for the charging problem, I'd always apply a quick slight pressure on the buds to make sure they were connected properly with the pins, so that rarely gave me any problems either. I did also end up losing the charging case at one point so getting a pre owned one through eBay wasn't an issue either. My main problem with the Buds3 Pro actually came from the left earbud. It would just not stay in properly. I tried different silicone bud shape that were provided by Samsung, and also tried forcing the earbuds into my left ear at times so they could stay. Nothing truly ultimately worked, which was quite frustrating considering the right buds fit perfectly. (I've always struggled to find earbuds that just fit me perfectly in both ears).I actually ended up starting to lose them a little less and branched out to over-ear headphones, and while they were very good, carrying them around outside was starting to become a hassle. Hence, a few days, when I saw that I could get a the Buds4 Pro at 50% off, I was immediately tempted. I did some research, read reviews and watched a few videos to understand the differences etc. I then pulled the trigger and got them. Off the rip, they definitely look more refined than its predecessor. Sound quality is also noticeably better as well. I do prefer the old case however the new one doesn't bother me that much. The best thing though is the fit, the slight changes made to the design of the buds have worked wonders for me. The 4s fit in my ear pretty much perfectly, especially on the left ear. Went to the gym and they didn't fall out or anything. I did subconsciously try to push the Buds4 Pro back in my left ear again and again due to the habit that I built with the 3s, however they never needed to pushed back in. So overall, for me personally, the upgrade was well worth it. I do wish the Buds3 Pro fitted me better because they are really good earphones regardless (and so that I could take benefit of the 2 year warranty I got with it). Interested to hear the more reviews come in!

Finally after reading and watching a lot of reviews, I decided to get the oneplus buds pro 3. Unfortunately, it's worse and below what I've expected. (note: I'm not a sound expert I'm just talking as a normal user) Here are some of the problems I've faced since day one of usage: (my phone is galaxy S22 ultra) Before I start, I didn't choose a Samsung pair mainly for the dual connection between any two devices which the Samsung lacks. Cons: 1- the sound quality is below average, the sound feels muffled and sometimes flat. I've tried all the EQs in the app and still didn't get satisfied with the sound. 2- the microphone quality is average and not too good to be a flagship mic. 3- the fit is bad, I tried all the tips and still the fit is not secured, I don't know of this is a personal issue but I have tried many earbuds before (including the galaxy buds 2 pro) and they were fitting perfectly. 4- the dual connection takes about 5 seconds to switch from the laptop to the phone. 5- the ANC is really not effective, I heard before that these buds are not the best in case of ANC but I didn't expect to be this bad, maybe the fit is the problem (the fit test inside the app keeps saying it's perfect) Pros: To be honest the design, materials and the case of the earbuds are really luxurious and feel expensive (but they attract fingerprints), the connection for one device is fast and reliable, the controls are good, the battery is good too.

I’ve been using the OnePlus Buds 4 for more than half a year. During this time, I’ve had the chance to experience both the positive and negative aspects of the product, which I’ve listed below: **Pros+:** \- Very clear and detailed sound quality \- Works smoothly and reliably with iPhone as well \- Fast automatic connection as soon as I put them in my ears \- Strong volume output, usually no need to turn it up to max \- EQ adjustment options \- Personalized sound profile based on your hearing \- Good noise cancellation, although I don’t use it often \- I especially like the transparency mode, it’s very useful in everyday situations **Cons-:** \- If they are not properly and securely fitted, they can easily fall out of the ear \- The touch controls are quite sensitive, so accidental touches can easily trigger functions **Overall:** I’m very happy that I chose these earbuds. In the under-$100 category, I think they are a very good choice.

Hey everyone, I'm trying to decide between the **OnePlus Buds Pro 3** and the **OnePlus Buds 4**, and I'm a bit confused. In my region (India), I'm seeing prices around: * **Buds 4:** \~$60 * **Buds Pro 3:** \~$110 My budget is around **$120**, so technically I can get either. Right now I'm leaning slightly towards the **Buds Pro 3**, mainly because: * They look **more comfortable and ergonomic** * The **Buds 4 seem to stick out a bit more** * They seem more **premium overall** But **sound quality and comfort is my main priority**, so I wanted to ask people who have actually used them. Some questions: * Which one has **better sound quality overall**? * Is the **instrument separation/clarity** better on the Pro 3? * How does the **bass compare** between the two? * Is the **fit and comfort** actually better on the Pro 3? * Any big differences in **ANC, mic quality, or battery**? If anyone has used **both**, I’d really appreciate your thoughts before I buy. Also, are there any other earbuds around the $100–$120 range that sound better than these two that I should consider? Thanks!

I gave my dad my favorite IEM. Now I need a replacement ($50 budget) A few days ago, I gave my dad my Moondrop Chu 2 because he needed something decent to listen to music with, and honestly… I couldn’t say no. For context, he had been using those super cheap $2 Bavin earphones for the longest time. That was basically his daily driver for years. One day, I let him try my Chu 2 and gave him access to my Apple Music. No joke, he literally went into his room, closed the door, and stayed there just listening to music. 😂 I think it was one of those moments where he realized, “Wait… music can sound like this?” The funny/sad part is that the Chu 2 was actually my favorite IEM and my baseline for a while. I don’t really have a big audio budget, so I mostly stick to cheaper sets and buy slowly. The Chu 2 was the one I always compared everything to. For my ears, it was almost perfect: \- Good bass (present but not overwhelming) \- Good separation \- Nice clarity \- Not fatiguing Now I’m looking for a replacement around $50 or below to become my new “baseline” IEM. I mostly listen to OPM, acoustic, female vocals, pop, and some bass-heavy tracks, but I still want something balanced enough to be an all-rounder. If you loved the Chu 2 and upgraded from it, what would you recommend? So far I’ve been considering things like the Kefine Klean, but I’m open to suggestions.

This is my second and probably final pair of iems. Last year, a friend of mine got me a chu 2 and the sound of that just couldnt really compare to a lot of the bluetooth earbuds i’ve tried. I later found out abt this subreddit and looked at the purchasing rankings and just wanted to get a pair of explorers. I havent had the chance to give it a full review yet as I literally just got it but this is the setup so far: Eartips: Azlya sednaearfit max asmr Iem: Aful Explorer Cable: Nicehck S77 Case: Just from the explorer box I got it second hand at e-earphone osaka nipponbashi(great service and insane selection of everything audio). I wasn’t planning on getting a cable, but since it was second hand, the original cable had a 4.4mm headphone jack and was also broken so i also picked up the cable. Total price of 11,393 yen or around 70 usd. Note that this doesn’t include the eartips as I already had those beforehand.

I just recently got these guys about 2 days back and I’ve really enjoyed them so far ( not with rock however ) and I’m no audio expert but ever since I’ve gotten these I’ve been getting into it. But I feel like these are a bit too “shrill” and just unpalatable when listening to rock songs, where there’s no real warmth. Maybe it has to do with my setup and eq configurations ? But with hip-hop, pop, jazz and other genres excluding metal, heavy metal and rock it performs really really well. In terms of bass it doesn’t sound bloated or blending in with the mids which I can’t help but appreciate, and holy…the vocal presence with these is astounding comparative to my Bluetooth earbuds and headphones, and it was just so shocking, the way I could hear new tiny little sounds of songs I was so familiar with still shocks me. I do however find these fun to listen with and I plan to become a permanent IEM user. I also do plan on getting the aria 2’s irrespective of the “paint chipping” issue. But I am wondering whether keeping my chu 2’s out in the open in a humid environment and sometimes a very cold environment ( as I am always under an air conditioner most of the time ) would negatively effect it in the long run.

I’m really into tech, so when I kept hearing people rave about IEMs and how they "could never go back to wireless," I figured I’d give them a shot. I picked up a budget IEM, the KZ EDX Pro, with memory foam tips for comfort. But after trying it, I hated it. Too much treble, no depth to the sound. I listened to some tracks that people recommended for IEMs, plus my usual stuff, but it just wasn’t it. The IEMs also kept slipping out of my ears since the drivers were bulky, but honestly, that didn’t bother me too much since most earphones never fit me well anyway. So, I just went back to my over-ear headphones and left the IEM sitting unused for months. Eventually, I gave them to a friend (not sure if they even use them). Fast forward a bit, I bought and tried the Nothing Ear 2024 TWS, and I was in heaven. The fit was perfect, and the soundstage was amazing. I started listening to music all the time. But of course, a year later, one earbud died, then the other, just outside the warranty period. Frustrated, I decided I was done with wireless for good and went back to wired. But, I thought, maybe IEMs are worth another shot. I did some research and narrowed it down to the Tangzu Waner SG2 and Moondrop Chu2 DSP. I liked and almost went with the Moondrop May DSP but held back. Ultimately, I went with the Moondrop Chu2 DSP (Type-C) because it had good reviews also I heard tangzu was a bit treble heavy. I liked that in the DSP model of Chu2, it let me customize the EQ through an app and also convert digital to analog (no need for a separate DAC). I even signed up for Apple Music’s lossless tier to get the best audio. But when I tried the Moondrop, I instantly hated it. Even after tweaking the bass and mids, it still felt way too treble-heavy for my taste. I even tried burning them in for a couple of days (even though I’m not sure if that’s really a thing), but it still sounded the same. The fit was better than the KZ, but still not as perfect as the Nothing Ear. So, the next day, I bought a pair of Soundcore Q20i wireless over-ear headphones, and the sound was way better—still not as good as the Nothing Ear, though. The Chu2 Dsp is left in corner grabbing dust but I use it when the battery dies in my headphones during a call or meeting. I’m not a basshead, but I like a balanced sound—not too much treble or bass, just something in the middle (ALMOST like V-profile sound stage and not Flat).I just don’t get how people say they can’t go back to wireless after using IEMs. I even did a test comparing lossless to regular audio using the IEMs and couldn’t tell the difference (I can easily hear the difference between 320Kbps and 256Kbps lossy). As a video editor, audio quality matters, so I always use wired headphones when editing. But for casual listening? I’m still sticking with wireless. UPDATE:- I sold the Chu2DSP. Need recommendation for new IEM or TWS thats similar to Nothing Ear (2024)

So far, I've collected all Nothing earbuds except for the Headphone 1 and the Open ear. Here's my conclusion (base on sound, ANC, call, transparency) after comparing them to products in the same price range: CMF buds 2a vs Soundcore p30i (WINNER) CMF buds2 vs QCY N70 (WINNER) CMF buds pro 2 vs Roseselsa earfree i5 (WINNER) CMF buds 2 plus vs Realme air 7 (DRAW) Nothing ear (a) vs Oneplus buds 4 (WINNER) Nothing ear (3) vs Samsung buds 3 FE (DRAW) Full review on my new channel: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwzD1kT1WWU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwzD1kT1WWU) Plz Subscribe me 😭😭😭 And please let me know what else could be improved in the video. Thank you very much!🥹🥹🥹 Nothing strikes me as a typical tech startup—cool designs, cool ideas, but lacking in real product performance. and I must acknowledge that Nothing must has a professional marketing team. They recognize their products might struggle against dedicated audio brands or other phone manufacturers in terms of hardcore features so their pricing typically lands between two price brackets. They might fall short against products costing just a few dollars more, yet hold their own against cheaper alternatives. Combined with their design excellence, this often positions them as a passable backup option during purchasing decisions, naturally generating significant buzz. But in the end, the success of this strategy hinges on their core capabilities. After all, if a product costs a few dollars more yet delivers significantly better performance, Nothing might remain stuck on people's wishlists indefinitely. I love nothing, I hope they'll eventually create products that are both cool and loved by most users.

I wanted to share my experience with Nothing because apparently their “warranty” is basically meaningless. My Nothing Ear (a) buds are only about 9 months old, and the battery life has tanked- they die in around 70 minutes with ANC off. On top of that, the sound and mic quality have gotten noticeably worse, so I reached out to Nothing support to ask if these kinds of defects are covered under warranty. They responded with a long list of generic troubleshooting steps- update firmware, reset the case, change EQ, try different Bluetooth codecs, etc. ya know, the usual tech support script. I went through all of it anyway, but the issues didn’t improve. They then asked for photos of the buds, the serial number, and my proof of purchase, which I sent. I also told them that the seller (a third-party) wasn’t responding to my messages at all. Their answer? Because the seller isn’t replying, Nothing said they *could* “assist” me — but only by offering a **paid repair**, even though the earbuds are clearly defective and still under warranty. They said that since I can’t go through the reseller, the warranty basically no longer applies and I’d have to pay out of pocket. So basically, if your seller ghosts you, Nothing’s stance is: **“too bad, pay us.”** A warranty that depends entirely on a third party who can just disappear isn’t a real warranty. It’s honestly ridiculous. The buds failed well within the warranty period, and Nothing is doing everything possible to avoid honoring it. **Moral of the story: Nothing’s warranty is garbage. If something goes wrong, expect to be bounced around and then charged for a “repair” on a defective product. I definitely won’t be buying from them again.**

I have been listening to my favorite songs both on my Nothing ear (a) earbuds and 7hz Zero 2 for the past half year and i think i prefer the Nothings. They both sound good after EQ-ing them to PEQDB Diamond.Good,not excellent,not jaw dropping. Do i have to upgrade to a higher-end IEM to experience a bigger sound quality difference in favor for the IEM? Which should be my next stop?I am currently eyeing the Aful Explorer on sale.

Whether it’s wireless headphones or earbuds, mine tend to last under a year at most. I made the mistake of buying into YouTuber sponsorships, and purchased RayCon Everyday, that have broken after 8 months (I am sending them back and will probably use the store credit on some of their chargers). My last pair of headphones were Beats Studio, and while those definitely lasted the longest, the right side just basically fell off completely (they still worked, and I held them together with duct tape; I have a friend who had the same problem). I bring my headphones everywhere, because they help with regulating my anxiety. While that probably did wear them out, i wasn’t bad on them by any means. They always stayed above 10%, were never dropped, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions for wireless headphones that should last a while with everyday use? My budget is around 250 dollars USD, but I’ll go up to 400 or more if it’ll be better in the long run.w Thanks!

I listen to a lot of music. Like typically 8+ hours a day of music. I am currently using Beats Studio buds+ and I love the sound quality. I’ve had them since September and they are already starting to break down and cause issues. Is there any earbuds that have similar (if not better) sound quality that will hold up better? I’d be willing to drop a good amount of money on these if they serve the purpose I need and last so as long as they aren’t like 500+ price isn’t really a factor. Thank you for any suggestions. (I also have relatively small ear canals if that changes anything)

Hello! To make a long story short, I have $200 of rewards money from an insurance program thing and want to spend some of that on earbuds. The options available on the rewards website in this range with ANC are: Sony WF-C700N, Sony WF-C710N(though currently out of stock) Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds+, Skullcandy Rail ANC. The main thing I'm looking for is build quality. I've had really bad luck with (cheaper) wireless headphones and would like to not have to worry about them breaking after a year. I also would like earbuds with good noise cancelling so I can bring them on airplanes and auto races. Any help would be apprciated, thanks!

Bought the oppo enco buds 2 this year in January. It's has definitely seen better days and the sound quality is as good as new. But in recent times the left earbud is giving problems, such as when I'm trying to connect it only the right earbud connects and I have to put it back in the case to pair both of them. Plus when it's time to disconnect I put both earbuds in the case but the left bud still stays connected, and i have to pull it out and put it in again for it to disconnect even when the lid is closed. I cleaned it from inside out where I was able to reach but it made no difference. Plus I'm thinking of getting a new one can y'all suggest me anc earbuds within a budget?

I’ve had my Oppo Find X9 for about two weeks. It ran a bit warm under heavy use initially, but Monday morning it completely lost it. I was just taking casual photos when the phone suddenly got scorching hot, the shutter stopped responding, and the screen went completely black. I had to close the phone, turn it on, and then restart it to get it back working normally. I panicked and sent it to the Oppo service center. They ran diagnostics, stress-tested the camera, found "nothing wrong," and rejected my replacement/repair claim. After getting it back, I did a full factory reset and reinstalled everything manually. The very first time I set up the phone, I used the Oppo Clone Phone app. I’ve heard rumors that phone cloning apps can cause major optimization and heating issues, but can it really cause a flagship to brick-heat like this after two entire weeks of usage? Since the manual setup, it seems fine, but I’m dealing with major buyer's anxiety that I'm stuck with a defective piece. Should I trust this phone? The team agreed to escalate this matter for me if I provided SS of the high battery temperature (through the CPU-Z app). power consumption ratio of camera in an hour was 35% in 4 minutes of active usage and rest in background. The battery decreased from 100% in 9 am to 52% at 2 pm. Good humans of reddit, kindly help increase my reach as it's my first tweet by sharing and retweeting my post: https://x.com/i/status/2064692764403806274

Hello, I have been using **Oppo Enco Buds 2** for over 3 years now and recently lost one earbud. I love how light and well fitting it is. Very comfortable to wear and it sounds awesome. The base is on the lower side and sounds are more on the natural side. Looking back, these buds were well worth the 1700 INR I spent back then. # What I am looking for- 1. Good audio quality with good tuning. 2. Good ANC 3. Comfortable fit 4. Under rk # My options- 1. **Endo Buds 3 Pro+:** I hoped that Oppo continued the lineup with upgraded features but alas that doesn't seem to be the case. The Enco Buds 3 Pro+ look good but seems to lack features compared to other buds in that range. And they seem to have gone through a steep price hike. 2. **OnePlus Buds 3:** This is what I am considering right now. This seems to be the best one overall with good tuning and fit. Has dual drivers. 3. **OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro:** Was not considering this but few reviews say that it sounds better (some speculate that the Oppo team tuned these), has better ANC. # Dilemma- Is it worth it to spend 4k on a good TWS or should I just pair a cheap TWS with wired earphones for my needs?

I’m able to get the technics AZ80 on discount for £135 ($175) but not sure if it’s too outdated now. Are there any earbuds you would recommend over these at that price range? Comfort, sound quality and ANC are my biggest factors when considering earbuds.

I've long held that there is no reason to spend more than $150 on earbuds, given that they are a consumable with limited shelf life. Today I was reminded of this rule, and even when it seems like companies are charging egregious amounts of money for what they offer (Apple, Samsung, B&W, etc), it has never seemed like the ROI on the higher end tier has been worth it. This morning, my Technics AZ80 confirmed my reason for this rule. Admittedly, I did not pay retail for these. I had a set of AZ60M2 that stopped charging, and they sent me the AZ80 as a replacement. Great. They were comfortable, and they had good transparency mode, but I always felt that they didn't get loud enough, the ANC was average, and the battery was mediocre. Lately though, I've felt like the transparency mode has deteriorated, and this morning it was confirmed that my microphone is no longer working, so I cannot use these for phone calls anymore. These buds were $300 brand new, and they've lasted just over a year. Conversely, the Earfun Air Pro 4 that I've had for a year and a half are just started to exhibit the same behaviors (mic still works but transparency mode is being weird), but I spent $60 on them. The blow to replace them is nowhere near what it would be if I were replacing another set of $300 earbuds. My point is this: Why should we spend these high amounts of money for a set of earbuds that are going to experience the same fate as the lower priced ones. Even if I bought the Earfuns 3 times, I would still not be at the retail price of the Technics, or Airpods, or Galaxy buds. I know this is my rule, but I'm having a hard time seeing how spending more money leads to a better experience down the line. Admittedly, I would love to buy a set of earbuds to last me several years like my Galaxy Buds2 Pro have, but I know planned obsolescence is a thing. Am I crazy, or do you share my sentiments? Have any of you had a better experience with more expensive earbuds? Or am I right to stick to my rule and just keep a few earbuds on hand? **Edit:** For context, I currently own : \- Technics AZ80 -$150 (warranty upgrade from AZ60M2) \- Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro - $110 \- CMF Buds Pro 2 -$50 (one of my favorites) \- Earfun Air Pro 4 -$60 (my favorite until the right bud started popping and transparency got weak) \- Jabra Elite 75t - $80 (I'm surprised how well these have held up) \- Tozo Nc20 Pro - $60 (quirky, but not bad. Screen is a gimmick though) \- Baseus BP1 Pro - $25 (good for the price but transparency is weak) Earfun Air Pro 4+ - $75 (These sound great. I wish transparency was better and they're a bit big in the ear) To clarify my question, I'm not asking if I SHOULD spend more. I won't. I'm just asking what your take on the point is. I'm about to pick up the Oneus Buds 4 from Aliexpress for $65, so I have options and backups for my backups. For the price of the Airpods Pro 3, I have 4 different earbuds I can rotate through based on the situation or what Iike best. That was my poorly communicated point.

I have the AZ100... Denon Perl Pro are better than the AZ100 in sound quality and ANC. The AZ100 have better call quality and slightly better battery life... I also have the AZ80, no comparison to the Perl Pro... Perl Pro is my recommendation.