Affordable sound without limits: TOP 5 overhead Bluetooth headphones under 100 USD

The products of the Dutch company Philips are of premium quality. Headphones SHB 4405 is an affordable model for those who are tired of wires.

The design is simple, no frills. One could call it universal, but not everyone will like the glossy plastic bowls. The ear pads are quite massive, there is very little space left for the ear, for some it may cause discomfort during prolonged use. The plastic headband looks too thin and flimsy, but is actually quite flexible and adjustable to a comfortable length. But still, it is better not to exploit it intensively. Headphones are very light, weighing only 90 g and almost not felt on the head. The swivel cups make it comfortable to wear around the neck.

Pairing with the sound source takes place using Bluetooth 4.1 technology. The model connects quickly and works at a distance of up to 10 metres without interference.

Recharges with the included MicroUSB cable and runs on a full charge for up to 9 hours.

Headphones are fully controlled in talk mode and listening to music: you can cancel a call, hold it, switch between calls / tracks, from talking to music and vice versa. Voice prompts will help you navigate at first.

You shouldn’t expect miracles from the microphone, it works for a C grade, you won’t be able to talk qualitatively in the noise of the street, it’s better to choose a quiet place.

32 mm neodymium drivers are responsible for the sound of the headphones, giving frequencies in the range of 9 – 22000 Hz. Bass and highs are quite legible and juicy, but the middle is overwhelmed. In general, you should not expect something outstanding from the sound stage. But, if an audio chip is installed in the smartphone, it will be richer and louder.

Philips SHB 4405 is an affordable solution for about 40 USD for those who are just discovering high-quality wireless sound.

Sven is known for making affordable peripherals and good quality music equipment. Headphones AP-B570MV — another confirmation of this.

The model looks strictly, solidly and attractively. The ear pads made of goatzham and the headband, which is soft inside, are made of very high quality. The bowls fold but do not rotate. It would have been nice to have a case included, but it's not. All buttons and connectors are located on the edges of the bowls, access to them is convenient. The outer side of the headphones is made of glossy plastic, it will attract someone, on the contrary, someone will not like it, but in fairness, it’s worth saying that the plastic is solid, does not creak, although it is easily soiled.

In addition to wireless connection, the model works from a complete audio cable one and a half metres long with a mini-Jack connector. It is very convenient if the battery runs out, but you want to listen to music. However to be discharged, the headphones need as much as 25 hours. Such battery life pleases.

But there are questions about the sound. It is voluminous, bass lovers will like it, as there are plenty of them, but those who want to hear a detailed wide stage will have to conjure with an equalizer.

On the contrary, there are no complaints about the microphone. If you talk in a quiet room, the interlocutor will not even understand that you are in hands free mode.

Sven AP-B570MV are nice headphones at a nice price (about 40 USD). An excellent choice for active youth and gamers.

T2 Plus is a very interesting headphone model from the Chinese manufacturer Bluedio, which we could not ignore because of their incredibly powerful functionality at a stunningly low cost. Moreover, it all started with Bluedio T2 . And in order to consolidate the success of the first model, the company released an updated version, which turned out to be even more functional and ... cheaper!

No. There is no trick here. Headphones are really super, and so cheap, because they are sold below cost. The reason is that Bluedio operates under the wing of the most powerful Chinese search engine Baidu, which can afford such costs.

The design of the model is catchy and stands out from the competition. Headphones are offered in 4 colour options: black, red, white and blue. The bowls fold inward. The ear pads are soft, do not press. Everything is assembled soundly and looks pretty reliable.

Than the inventive Chinese did not equip the T2 Plus. The headphones have a built-in radio with an antenna, a player launched from a card reader, Bluetooth 4.1 and a connector for a complete audio cable. Moreover, you can connect this cable to other headphones and listen to music for two.

In terms of battery life, the model goes far ahead of all competitors and non-competitors too. 45 hours of operation on a single battery charge is simply a record time for wireless headphones. In addition, they can be listened to via cable and charged at the same time.

Rumor has it that engineers from Beats Audio worked on the sound of T2 Plus. When you start listening to headphones, there is almost no doubt about it. Not only are there 57 mm drivers here, but in terms of sound quality they will outdo most models by an order of magnitude more expensive.

The sound stage is not bad over the entire range of supported frequencies from 20 to 20,000 Hz. The basses are powerful, though not too accentuated, the middle is clearly audible throughout the entire amplitude, the highs do not cut the ear even at the maximum volume, which is more than enough — 110 dB. But, nevertheless, let's be objective: waiting for musical miracles from 16-ohm headphones for 35 USD is a waste of time.

Although even in the niche up to 50 USD, Bluedio T2 Plus is unlikely to have competitors.

JBL is the guru of mobile sound, and its portable speakers prove it 100%. Whether the manufacturer is doing so well with headphones, let's find out on the example of the T450BT model.

Headphones are compact, in a strict design, look soundly. In addition to black, you can choose white and blue. The bowls rotate in two planes. By the way, they are absolutely symmetrical and it is extremely difficult to determine where the right speaker is and where the left one is. This can be done using the control buttons. They are on the right bowl. The headband extends 35mm on each side, so there is enough headroom for any head size, and the fit is snug enough, even for sports like jogging, cycling, fitness.

Since the model is low-cost, it is made entirely of plastic, and the ear pads are covered with thin leatherette, which seems to peel off quite quickly, especially with active use.

Pair the T450BT with a sound source very quickly. But they do not support multipoint and they also do not work through an audio cable, only via Bluetooth. The battery life of 11 hours, claimed by the manufacturer, is somewhat overestimated. Actually, at half the volume, they may work that much, but at a volume of 80% they will not last more than 8 hours. But it's nice that the remaining battery charge is displayed on the screen of the connected device, you can always recharge on time.

We will talk about the sound purely subjectively, since many reviews of the T450BT are very praised in this regard. Let's take the liberty of criticizing a little. I didn’t like the overly intrusive and not clear enough bass, the blockage in highs and the excess of mids. Equalizer, of course, the situation can be improved, but the sediment from the first impression remains.

In general, fans of the brand are unlikely to be disappointed in the T450BT, but they did not meet our expectations very well. After all, the same time-tested Philips SHB3060 for the same amount both look and sound more interesting.

Pioneer products are Japanese quality and have been leaders in the global audio equipment market for decades. In 2018, the company celebrates its 80th anniversary. With which we congratulate her.

The SE-MJ553BT wireless earphones look too low-cost-friendly at first glance, especially in black. White and red are a little more fun. A thin headband, small bowls, an abundance of plastic do not inspire confidence at first until you start using the model. It turns out that the nondescript-looking design easily withstands careless handling, light bumps and even falls. The bowls fold and rotate for easy transportation, although the model does not come with a case.

Headphones do not support cable connection, but via Bluetooth simultaneously to 9 devices is easy. The volume and rewind buttons are somewhat poorly placed — too close to each other. When you adjust the volume level, you can accidentally switch the track. SE-MJ553BT cope well with tasks in headset mode, the interlocutor will hear you legibly, although not without characteristic noises.

The headphones claim battery life up to 15 hours in active mode, which is however but a full charge cycle takes about 4 hours, during which the headphones cannot be used.

As for the sound, it is quite tolerable here over the entire range of 10 – 22000 Hz, although you should not expect the breadth and transparency of the scene from it. The bass is just right, the middle ones too, with a small blockage in the highs, there is some “creakiness”. But here, as they say, equalization to the rescue. Separately, we note the nod to the users of "apple" devices, the headphones support the AAC codec.

In general, if you wish, of course, in this price range (100 USD) SE-MJ553BT you can find worthy competitors, especially among wired and combined models, but "after all, this is Pioneer, it cannot be bad a priori."