I tried a sub-$50 pair of ANC headphones can you really get quality at such
a low price?

Date:
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Description:
I spent a week testing the Tribit QuietPlus 81 headphones, and although
theyre exceptionally cheap, they dont necessarily offer great value.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Recently, I spent a week trying out the Tribit QuietPlus 81. These headphones
which come equipped with active noise cancelling are some of the cheapest over-ears Ive ever tested. They have a list price below $50 / 50 and, according to Tribit, deliver excellent bass, as well as a comfortable fit and crystal clear calls.

How accurate is this exactly? Well, Ill get to that. But this all got me thinking: is it really possible to get good quality headphones at such a low price? In a world where costs are high and flagship cans from the major players Apple, Bose, Sony, Sennheiser come in excess of $400 / 400, headphones that supposedly offer so much for so little are more tempting than ever. But can you really get good sound quality, ergonomics and features for less than $50 / 50? Heres what I think after testing the Tribit QuietPlus 81
. Article continues below You may like Tribit QuietPlus 81 review: cheap ANC headphones with a few too many flaws I tested two pair of cheap headphones worth buying here's how to choose OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: budget headphones that sound much better than you'd expect Today's best Tribit QuietPlus 81 deals 39.99 33.99 View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices You get what you give (Image credit: Future) The Tribit QuietPlus 81 get a fair few things right. For instance, theyre not using a ton of fancy tech or processing power, and in turn, come with a very healthy battery life indeed.

Remarkably, these headphones can supply up to 110 hours of playtime. Yes, you read that correctly. Sure, its just 70 hours with ANC on, which is a fair
jump down, but thats still 3.5x longer than you can expect from the new Apple Airpods Max 2 , for instance. And that 110 hours maximum is better than a lot of budget rivals or at least in-line with competitors like the Earfun Tune Pro .

The QuietPlus 81 are also foldable, making them convenient for on-the-go use just throw them in your bag and youre ready to go. In addition, they have a fairly extensive set of EQ options, and have a game mode for lower-latency audio. Pretty neat stuff, right?

But unfortunately, thats where the good times stop rolling. Let me be clear: these headphones do not sound good. Not only was I disappointed by their
muddy and lethargic bass, but they simply lacked the clarity and attention to detail that some budget rivals offer. Get daily insight, inspiration and
deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Even with a custom EQ set up, Electronic tracks sounded bloated and half-hearted, treble lacked vibrancy and control in House tunes, and vocals lacked detail and clarity with more acoustic genres.

Another thing worth noting is that although ANC features within the QuietPlus 81's feature set, its not that effective. If I was working in the office, it was still pretty easy to hear conversations around me, even with music volume set to 70%. On walks, the sound of passing traffic was still prominent as well. These cans will dampen surrounding sounds for sure, but Ive experienced better ANC from budget competitors.

I wasnt expecting anything miraculous from a pair of $50 / 50 headphones. However, these were underwhelming even within the budget space in some key areas chiefly audio performance and ANC quality. Pair this with
underwhelming call clarity, a fairly uncomfortable fit, plus a messy
companion app, and the Tribit QuietPlus 81 dont feel as if theyre worth the expenditure no matter how humble. What to read next The best cheap headphones, all tested by our reviewers The best headphones you can buy
today, all tested by our experts Soundpeats Cove Pro review: a fantastic feature set and comfortable build make these the cheap headphones to beat
Just a little more (Image credit: Future) So, can you get great headphones
for less than $50 / 50? Well, oftentimes the answer is no. But fear notI have some good news.

Yes, if youre willing to spend ever-so-slightly more, you can still get a fantastic set of cans without breaking the bank. Allow me to introduce you to the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 .

These headphones initially released at $89 / 99, but you can grab them for even less in 2026. A quick search through Amazon , and Im seeing these go for around $70 / 80. And even though theyre slightly pricier than the Tribit alternative, they actually offer way more bang for your buck.

First of all, we consider the Sonoflow Pro to be the best noise cancelling headphones in the budget category. For such a small price, their noise-crushing capabilities are hard to believe wed even place them in a similar bracket to the far pricier Sony WH-1000XM4 and Cambridge Audio P100
SE .

But theres more. The 1More Sonoflow Pro also provide spectacular sound quality, with full-sounding, rich mids, impactful and hard-hitting bass, and expressive treble. You can use them wired or wirelessly, and can even
activate higher-res Bluetooth listening with the LDAC codec, resulting in surprisingly detailed audio.

Pile on a pleasant over-ear feel, a sleek design, and similarly strong
battery life (up to 100 hours with ANC off, and 65 hours with it on), and youre looking at a spectacular pair of budget headphones.

Ultimately, this just goes to show that, in many cases, spending just a
little bit more can make a genuinely huge difference. And even if a sub-$50 pair of cans may not give you everything you need, that doesnt mean you have to sacrifice your life savings for serious quality. Today's best 1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51 deals 69.97 View 89.99 View Low Stock 89.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices The best noise cancelling headphones for all budgets Our top picks, based on
real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best noise cancelling headphones 1. Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6 2. Best mid-range: Bose QuietComfort Headphones 3. Best under $100/100: 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 4. Best under $60/50: Soundcore Q30 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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