Affordable wireless earbuds offer excellent value for your money. A lot of these leading earbuds come with impressive features, high-quality sound, and trendy designs that can even match some of the top earbuds available today. In simple terms: you’ll have to give up something for the lower price. This could be fewer ANC options, no ability to connect to multiple devices, a sound quality that’s not as deep or detailed as the top earbuds in our guides, or a battery life that could be improved. Nonetheless, if you’re looking to stick to a tight budget, there are plenty of wireless earbuds available that provide all the necessary features in an affordable and stylish package. 12-Best Wireless Headphones for Working out Under 100
The issue with budget earbuds – to be clear, these are earbuds priced at under $100 / £100 / AU$130 according to our guide – is figuring out which ones offer the best bang for your buck and which are just not worth it. Fortunately, we’ve gone through hundreds of earbuds, so we’re skilled at distinguishing the top-notch, affordable ones from the ones that are a waste of your time. There are great choices available from well-known companies in the high-end audio world, like Sony and Audio-Technica. However, there are also earbuds from emerging tech companies entering the market. To ensure you’re picking the best, we’ve tested all the suggestions below.
1. Sony WF-C700N
In a nutshell, the Sony WF-C700N earbuds are the perfect choice for those on a budget who want a high-quality product. While there are better noise-canceling earbuds available, they are all more expensive than these. However, it’s important to note that the sound quality of these earbuds isn’t on par with the best, but they do offer great noise cancellation and a lively, enjoyable sound. The Sony WF-C700N also stands out with its 360 Reality Audio technology, making it a great option for Tidal users, and it includes Sony’s standard DSEE audio ‘upscaling’ feature, which enhances the sound of even low-quality tracks on Spotify. Additionally, these earbuds have useful multi-point connectivity and adaptive sound control features that are not always found at this level.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Acoustic design: Closed
- Weight: 4.6g per earbud
- Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Drivers: 5mm
- Battery life (on-board): 7.5 hours (buds) 15 hours total (with case) with ANC on
2. JLab Go Air Pop
Given their genuinely affordable pricing, the JLab Go Air Pop are an exceptionally skilled set of earbuds. Yes, there’s the catch – they’re quite good value for money, which is precisely why you’ve landed on this particular review! The sound quality is immediate and dependable, and they also feature basic over-ear volume controls that some more expensive models lack. Each earbud comes with a microphone for handling calls, and you even get access to EQ profiles – simply tap three times on either earpiece to hear a soothing voice say “bass boost”, “balanced”, or “JLab signature”. What you need to understand is that these earbuds defy their low price for their sound quality too, offering a delightful listening experience that’s hard to find at this price. Of course, they might not sound as good as others, but you’ll have to shell out a lot more for that.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Acoustic design: Closed
- Weight: 3.7g per earpiece
- Frequency response: 20HZ-20kHZ
- Drivers: 6mm drivers
- Battery life (on-board): 32 in total (8 hours from buds)
3. EarFun Air Pro 3
The EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds might not stand out visually, but they’re an excellent choice for anyone looking for versatile earbuds. They offer a solid nine hours of battery life, with an extra 36 hours from the case. Plus, they support multipoint pairing and include some advanced features that could make them even more appealing in the future, such as compatibility with the highly anticipated Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. The ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) in the EarFun Air Pro 3 might not match the top noise-cancelling earbuds available, but they’re priced lower than many of their competitors and still provide sufficient noise reduction for concentration at work and blocking out most background noises during travel.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Acoustic design: Closed
- Weight: 52g
- Frequency response: Not listed
- Drivers: Not listed
- Battery life: ANC off: 9 hours (buds) 36 hours (case); ANC on: 7 hours (buds) 37 hours (case)
4. Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW
At SoundGuys, we strive to thoroughly evaluate as many audio products as possible, yet we acknowledge our limitations as mere mortals. Although it’s nearly unattainable to test every audio product globally, we make it a point to research as many options as possible when direct testing isn’t feasible. Luckily, with our “best headphones under $100 list,” we had the opportunity to directly assess each of the top selections, enabling us to share our honest feedback in both the overviews and the detailed reviews. A product earns a spot on our list of top-rated best-wired headphones under $100 if we genuinely believe it stands out as one of the best in its category.
Is there 100% noise cancelling?
In our increasingly noisy world, the pursuit of uninterrupted, immersive audio experiences has become a holy grail for many music enthusiasts, audiophiles, and those seeking to maximize productivity and focus. The promise of 100% noise cancellation has intrigued and captivated consumers, as the ability to completely block out external sounds can truly transform how we engage with our auditory environments.
However, the reality is that achieving 100% noise cancellation, where all external sounds are eliminated, is an elusive and highly complex challenge. The human auditory system is remarkably sophisticated, capable of detecting a wide range of frequencies and sound pressures, making it an incredibly difficult task to create a technological solution that can perfectly cancel out all unwanted noise.
This limitation is primarily due to the inherent complexities of how sound waves interact and propagate in real-world environments. Ambient noise can come from a variety of sources, each with its own unique characteristics and frequencies, making it virtually impossible for a single noise cancellation system to effectively neutralize all of them simultaneously.
That said, the advancements in noise-cancelling technology over the years have been truly remarkable. Modern active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones and earbuds are capable of providing exceptional levels of noise reduction, dramatically improving the user’s ability to focus, concentrate, and immerse themselves in their audio content.
These advanced ANC systems work by using built-in microphones to detect ambient sounds and then generating an “anti-noise” signal that is designed to cancel out the unwanted frequencies. While they may not achieve 100% noise cancellation, the best-in-class products can effectively reduce a significant portion of external sounds, creating a more peaceful and immersive listening experience.
It’s important to note that the effectiveness of noise cancellation can also be influenced by factors such as the fit and seal of the headphones or earbuds, the specific noise characteristics in the environment, and the user’s individual sensitivity to sound. Proper selection and use of the appropriate noise-cancelling technology can make a substantial difference in the level of noise reduction achieved.
While the pursuit of true 100% noise cancellation may remain an ongoing challenge, the continued advancements in audio engineering and the availability of highly effective noise-cancelling solutions have transformed how we experience and interact with sound in our daily lives. By embracing the latest noise-cancelling technologies, we can enjoy a more focused, productive, and immersive auditory experience, even in the midst of our increasingly noisy world. 12-Best Wireless Headphones for Working out Under 100