Quite a few of the very affordable pairs of headphones on this list have pleasantly surprised us one way or another. Sound quality is perfectly acceptable, if somewhat on the blunt and tubby side - but, to be honest, if you want a pair of in-ear headphones you can treat as disposable, two pairs of these will treat you far better than a single pair of Apple EarPods.

Read more about the condition New: A brand-new, unused, unopened and undamaged item in original retail packaging (where packaging is applicable). Weighing only 3g for one earphone, as well as the semi-in-ear design could eliminate any obclusion or discomfort. Since I mostly use this style of headphone for convenience when I'm doing other things they're effectively equivalent -- if I care about sound quality I sit in a quiet spot and wear big over-the-head cans.

You might also be interested in our WIRED Recommends guides to the best headphones and noise-cancelling headphones. Simon Lucas is a freelance technology journalist and consultant, with particular emphasis on the audio/video aspects of home entertainment. Great sound doesn't have to come at an enormous cost, as thousands of satisfied users have expressed that these Jxrev wireless earbuds meet every need — for less. These top-selling Bluetooth earbuds offer stunning Hi-Fi sound and the convenience of noise-cancellation so you hear everything clear as a bell.

But for some reason they say ‘wireless’ on each arm (like having a pair of trainers that say ‘trainers’ down each side) and the padding of the headband is so mean it’s almost like an instrument of torture. Detail levels are high, bass is hefty but well controlled, voices are filled with character, the soundstage is well laid out and spacious… it’s like listening to proper earbuds. You might more ordinarily associate Sony with more expensive and more lavish wireless headphones than this - but the world of consumer electronics is a broad church. On top of this, battery life is decent, the earbuds (which feature responsive touch-controls) are comfortable and the charging case looks and feels good.

Reviewers rave about the "immersive stereo sound," and you'll get up to five hours of listening on a single charge.

Those headphones with wireless Bluetooth connectivity were linked to an Apple iPhone X and/or a Sony Xperia 5 smartphone - this way we’re able to check out SBC and AAC performance, as well as finding out if any of our wireless contenders are being shy about aptX or even aptX HD capability. If the item comes direct from a manufacturer, it may be delivered in non-retail packaging, such as a plain or unprinted box or plastic bag. The top of the frequency range is thin and zizzy, and the midrange has edges as serrated as a bread-knife. Bass sounds are little more than a rumour here, a sort of sonic absence where one might ordinarily expect to find low-frequency information.Playtime and Portable Charging Case: Bluetooth earphones get 8 hours playtime from a single charge and compact charging case can provide extra 3 charges, so that the total playtime reaches around 35 hours. A slight negative, the battery status is reported to the phone as a single value, not a value per side, and the case battery status is not available other than through it's build-in LED -- doesn't bother me much, to be honest.