How different is the sound quality and performance? Why earbud pricing is so wide
Earphones are sold in a wide range of price ranges. It is often thought that the higher the price, the better the sound quality, but how much does it actually matter? We will also introduce recommended products from popular manufacturers, so please refer to them when choosing earphones.
[Related article] Useful for choosing earphones! Features and recommended models by manufacturer
Why is the price range of earphones so wide?
Earphone prices vary considerably depending on the product. Looking at the top 100 best-selling products on Amazon, there are products ranging from 999 yen to 29,000 yen. That's a price difference of nearly 30 times.
Earphones have different types and features for each product, such as wired earphones, wireless earphones, high-resolution earphones, and noise canceling earphones. The price range varies because of the variety.
What is the price range for Bluetooth earphones?
In the case of Bluetooth earphones that connect wirelessly, there is a wide range of lineups from low-priced products under 1000 yen, but most of them are priced around 2500 to 3000 yen.
Will the price range go up for true wireless earphones?
There are a few complete wireless earphones around 1000 yen. The number increases when the price is slightly below 3000 yen. Looking at the products in the top 100 Amazon rankings, all those that cost more than 10,000 yen are completely wireless earphones, so it seems that the overall price range has risen.
Reasons why there is a price difference between wired and wireless earphones
The main reason for the difference in price between different types of earphones is the difference in structure. In the case of wireless earphones, a Bluetooth mechanism is incorporated and a battery is installed, so manufacturing costs are inevitably higher than wired earphones.
Relationship between earphone price range and sound quality
Earphones in the high price range have two or three drivers, which are the heart of the sound, and metal parts at key points. It often costs a lot to improve sound quality, such as using . In addition, there are many high-end earphones that are particular about materials. Earphones with a high price range have a good reason.
How is the sound quality of cheap earphones?
Some people have their own preferences when it comes to sound, so expensive earphones won't always satisfy you. I mentioned earlier that the main reason for the difference in price range is the structure, but there are also earphones that have a simple structure that keep the price down while maintaining excellent sound quality. Apart from those who want to thoroughly stick to sound quality, it would be good to look for a product that has a good balance between price and performance.
It's true that more expensive earphones tend to have better sound quality, but the way they sound is also a matter of preference. It is also important to choose according to your taste, such as flat earphones that produce natural sound from high to low frequencies, or earphones that emphasize the low frequency range.
Sony/BOSE/Beats by Dr.Dre...Recommended earphones from popular manufacturers
Lastly, we will introduce recommended products from popular earphone manufacturers. This time I chose from a wide price range.
[Price range: ~3,000 yen] Sony's wired earphones with a wide variety of colors at an affordable price
The wired earphone "MDR-EX155" is a product with high cost performance. It is sold at the Sony store for 2,178 yen (tax included), but it uses a 9mm driver unit equipped with a high magnetic force neodymium magnet of 400kJ/m3, and you can enjoy well-balanced sound quality. There are 10 color variations, so you can enjoy coordinating with your outfit.
[Reference] Sony official website product detail page
[Price range: ~15,000 yen] Goes great with the iPhone! Beats (Beats by Dr. Dre) wireless earphone
Beats by Dr. Dre is an Apple company, so it is compatible with iPhone and other Apple devices. The "BeatsX" introduced this time are neckband type wireless earphones and are sold at the Apple official store for 9800 yen (excluding tax). The battery lasts for about 8 hours, and it can be used for about 2 hours with about 5 minutes of charging, so I would like to recommend it to people who don't want to be away from music even for a moment.
[Reference] Beats by Dr. Dre official website product detail page
Features and recommended models of Beats earphones that are loved by famous artists for their design and high sound quality
[Price range: ~20,000 yen] Sony's completely wireless earphone with high cost performance
"WF-XB700" is sold at Sony store for 16,500 yen (tax included). A product of the "EXTRA BASS" series, featuring powerful deep bass. It has drip-proof performance equivalent to IPX4 (waterproof standard). Equipped with a battery that lasts 9 hours with the main unit alone, it also supports quick charging that can be played for 60 minutes with 10 minutes of charging.
[Reference] Sony official website product detail page
[Price range: ~20,000 yen] BOSE sports type wireless earphone
BOSE "SoundSport wireless headphones" are sports type earphones with a drip-proof design. It is designed to maintain a stable fit even during intense movements. The selling price on the BOSE official website is 19,800 yen (including tax). Recommended for those who do not want to compromise on sound quality even when playing sports.
[Reference] BOSE official website product detail page
[Price range: ~30,000 yen] Equipped with noise canceling! Sony's completely wireless earphones recommended for sports
The "WF-SP800N" is a completely wireless earphone sold at the Sony store for 26,400 yen (including tax). It has waterproof and dustproof performance (equivalent to JIS protection class IP55), and is resistant to sweat and sudden rain during sports. It also has a noise canceling function, so you can enjoy music without worrying about the surrounding noise.
When you want to pay attention to the surrounding sounds, such as when running or using it outdoors, you can switch to the external sound capture mode.
[Reference] Sony official website product detail page
Sony's waterproof and dustproof wireless earphone "WF-SP800N" with noise canceling function and ideal for sports
Sony's earphones can also be operated with an app
Sony's earphones, like the "WF-SP800N," are compatible with an app called "Headphones Connect." This means that you can operate the settings of compatible earphones on your smartphone. For example, you can turn noise canceling on/off, change the level of how external sounds are captured, and customize the surround effects and equalizer built into the earphones.
Since the functions that can be used vary depending on the earphone, please check Sony's official website for details on compatible models and possible operations.
[Reference] Headphones Connect (Sony)
[Price range: ~40,000 yen] Sony's wired earphone that faithfully reproduces the original sound
The "XBA-N3" is a high-end wired earphone. An HD hybrid driver system that combines a compact, high-sensitivity 9mm dynamic driver unit with an LCP diaphragm, a balanced armature driver unit, and a proprietary sound space control. It enables an ideal reproduction balance from high to mid-low range. The cable is detachable and can be replaced to pursue even higher sound quality. The selling price at the Sony store is 38,368 yen (including tax), but these earphones are worth it.
[Reference] Sony official website product detail page
* Data is based on editorial research as of late July 2020. *Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the content. * Please use and operate the product at your own risk. *Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. in the United States.
Sentence / Cat Reset
