In-ear headphones are small and handy, making them practical travel companions. But which ones are right for me? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has tested a good half dozen of them.
How did the list come about? Wired in-ear headphones only last a few months for me because either they disappear in the washing machine, get caught somewhere, or my girlfriend’s cats carry them away. Wireless in-ear headphones seemed to me to be the solution to these issues.
By now, I had already had a good half dozen of these headphones on my desk, both privately and professionally. The range goes from very cheap discount headphones to gaming devices to high-end models.
I used the headphones for various purposes: during the trip to the city center, while gaming on my smartphone, or for listening to music in the evening.
What criteria did I use to evaluate them? I evaluated all headphones using the same criteria to ensure comparability between them. I selected the following four criteria.
- Ergonomics: How well do the headphones fit, and do they cause pain after a certain duration of use?
- Sound quality: How well do music, gaming, and more sound?
- Accessories, scope: Is there an app? Are there extra ear cushions included?
- Battery life: When do the devices need to go back into the case for charging?
Ergonomics and sound are very subjective criteria since everyone perceives these things differently. If I find the ergonomics of the headphones terrible, you might discover your favorite in them. Accessories and battery life are still technically measurable.
The supermarket headphones failed to convince me at all
The “True Wireless Bluetooth” headphones from the manufacturer Silvercrest are at the very end of my list. This pair of headphones for about 25 euros combines all the bad characteristics I find off-putting about Bluetooth headphones. The battery life of 1.5 to 2 hours is very tight, and the headphones cause me pain in my ears after a short time.
On top of that, there’s the tinny sound. I would definitely not recommend these headphones. They deserve to be in last place.
A gaming product can only convince me to a limited extent
In fourth place are the true wireless headphones from Razer. While I enjoy gaming with Razer mice, currently with the Basilisk Ultimate, the “Razer Hammerhead” did not convince me.
The headphones offer a bass-heavy sound that is usable for gaming. However, in terms of ergonomics, the devices truly compete with the supermarket headphones – my ears hurt after a very short time, and I am glad when I can wear my personal perfect gaming headset again. Sometimes the devices also become unresponsive and do not stay in the ears. For me, the price of around 70 euros is simply too high.
In terms of construction, haptics, and sound, the Razer product is significantly ahead of the cheap supermarket device. By now, Razer has introduced the 2nd gen of its Hammerhead, which promises at least better ear cushions. These headphones are definitely on my list of future candidates.
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Razer Hammerhead True Wireless - Kabellose Earbuds (In-Ear Ohrhörer, Ultra-niedrige Latenzen,... | Zu Amazon |
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
Cheap headphones for 30 euros surprised me especially with strong battery life
The Mdots from Mpow surprised me positively and rank third on my list.
With the solid scope of delivery, I can easily adjust the ergonomics to my ears. However, they don’t fit perfectly and become unresponsive when I lean my head or bend down.
A highlight for me is especially the good battery life, with which I can easily last a whole day. On average, that’s 4 – 5 hours before they need to recharge in the case. The sound is decent for the price, even though I miss finely tuned highs.
The lack of an app or the absence of equalizer settings or noise cancelling bothers me significantly more here. However, I find the price more than acceptable. Good hardware doesn’t have to be expensive, as evidenced by a gaming headset for 40 euros.
The gaming headphones from EPOS offer fantastic sound but are too expensive
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid rank second on my list.
Sound and construction are excellent, and with the right ear cushions, the headphones fit perfectly. With the included dongle, I can also easily use the headphones on PC or console. This makes the headphones unique as well. And it’s a completely different sound experience compared to gaming with an over-ear gaming headset.
You can also read a comprehensive review of the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid on MeinMMO.
The headphones offer no noise cancellation other than the natural damping of in-ear headphones, and the case is also quite prone to scratches. You especially notice that when you quickly toss your headphones into your jacket pocket. It is equally annoying that the microphone does not work via the dongle. This means I have to connect an external microphone every time for gaming.
With around 150 euros, the EPOS headphones are also the most expensive on my list. And the price is also the determining reason why, despite the great sound, they did not make it to first place.
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
The headphones from Soundcore cost only 70 euros and can completely convince me
The first place on my list goes to the Soundcore Life A2 NC. In terms of sound, the headphones from Soundcore do not reach the EPOS device, but otherwise, everything meets my preferences. For me, the ergonomics are perfect, and I can also listen to music for several hours.
The noise cancelling is excellent, and I flinch every time I take the headphones out on the tram. The good noise cancelling saves my nerves on some days. In the well-designed app, I can not only configure the “noise cancelling” but also try out various equalizers.
Even at the price of around 70 euros, the headphones are impressive, making them the winner for me. If I were to lose my Life A2 NC or they were to break, I would definitely buy them again.
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soundcore Life A2 NC Multi-Modus Geräuschunterdrückung Wireless Earbuds, Kabellose ANC Bluetooth... | Zu Amazon |
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
My conclusion: Winners, losers, and the surprise
Who is my winner? The SoundCore Life A2 NC are my personal winners, and I currently use the headphones almost every day. The ergonomics are excellent, and the noise cancelling is really good.
Who is the loser? Clearly the Silvercrest true wireless headphones. Those 25 euros for me were a poor investment on this list.
Is there a surprise? The Mpow Mdots are my personal surprise. Decent sound and a long battery life for just under 30 euros, and with a lot of accessories, the ergonomics are easily adjustable. The headphones have accompanied me on longer train journeys quite well.
More devices for your ears: Are you looking for the perfect gaming headset for your console or gaming PC besides in-ear headphones? Then check out the extensive buying guide on MeinMMO! Here you will find the best recommendations for gaming headsets:
