Poll: Best Budget Earphones or Earbuds Under $50 in 2017

scrimshaw on 04/09/2017 - 13:13
Last edited 04/09/2017 - 19:26

Moderators at OzBargain have decided to run yearly polls to decide the best products in popular categories that get asked repeatedly in the forum. Our aim is to have a central thread where users can vote on the items, suggest options and also change their vote throughout the year. The polls will end once the year is over.

Question

What is the best budget earphones (under $50) for the money in 2017?

As per request in the other Headphones under $400 poll, we'll also have a poll for budget earphones :)

Earbuds sit just on the outside of your ear canal, and these are usually a one-size-fits-all affair, so they may not be the most comfortable to wear for some people. Most earbuds lack cushions (such as Apple's classic earbuds) and since they do not completely cover your ear canal they will allow ambient sounds to come through.

In-ear earphones, (or In-ear Monitors) have a protrusion that lets you lock the earphones into your ear canal, allowing for near-complete sound isolation. Materials such as foam, rubber or silicone lets you block sound from the outside while allowing the music you're listening to sound more pronounced and bassy. They'll typically have several exchangeable tips of various sizes to suit differently shaped ears.

Some of the things you need to consider apart from their sound quality:

  • Wired or bluetooth
  • Built in microphones for smartphone usage
  • Active noise or passive noise isolation
  • Water resistance (for sweaty workouts)
  • iPhone or Android compatible controls

So what's your favourite earbuds or earphones for 2017? Make your suggestions below, and be sure to justify why it's the best one for you.

  • Don't see an item that you like in the poll options? Make a (sensible) suggestion and we'll add it to the list.
  • You are allowed to change your vote.

How to Suggest a Poll option? Simply type into the textbox above your Comment box and then submit your comment.

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Poll Options expired

This is part of What Should I Buy poll for 2017. Check out other recommendations from the OzBargain community.
Electrical & Electronics Earphones KZ KZ ED9 Meizu Sony MH1-C What Should I Buy Xiaomi

Comments

  • currentfad on 04/09/2017 - 13:27
    Suggested KZ ZS3

    KZ ZS3 - got it for $11 express shipped from Gearbest. Saw it suggested on here and boy, they are good!

  • idontalwaysnotlie on 04/09/2017 - 13:27
    -2
    Suggested Xiaomi Mi IV Hybrid

    Xiaomi Mi 4 Hybrid - Usually on Ozbargain for under $5, great sound for the price and ok build quality. Usually lasts 6 months to a year, buy two for when that one breaks.

    • Axelstrife on 04/09/2017 - 15:23
      +1

      Link?
      NEVER seen them anywhere even close to under $5

      • scrimshaw on 04/09/2017 - 15:45

        He must be thinking of some other xiaomi hybrid earphone (maybe the youth edition?)

        Mi 4 Hybrid costs $13 USD minimum.

      • idontalwaysnotlie on 04/09/2017 - 16:00

        Yeah sorry, was thinking of the piston ones. Similar but cheaper.
        I have the hybrid ones now and they are ~$20. Still pretty good sound for the price.

  • scrimshaw on 04/09/2017 - 13:31
    +2
    Suggested Meizu EP-51

    I'm going to suggest something a little different, the Meizu EP-51, it's a bluetooth earphone that has 4 hours of battery life and sounds surprisingly good for the money. Costs $40 AUD.

  • Axelstrife on 04/09/2017 - 15:41
    Suggested KZ ED9

    KZ ED9
    $12 arrived 10 days after order made. from here
    Comes with these second pair of screw in filters that removed some of the bass , the ones that come installed produce alot of bass.
    Solid metal construction.

    Only other things i have to compare them to is my old Piston 3 (my pistons 2 one ear is lower volume than the other) and these ed9 sounds better IMO.

    Im no audiophile.

  • donnot on 04/09/2017 - 16:26
    Suggested Sony MH1-C

    Sony MH1C. Can find on eBay for ~$30, e.g. here. No known fakes around, just make sure you get the MH1C and not the standard MH1 which can be found cheaper (unless you want to buy a OMTP to CTIA adapter).

    Great sound signature that works with almost every genre. Have recommended these to just about everyone I know, and are all very happy with the sound quality (unlike some of the popular Chinese IEMs which the signature can be a bit more subjective, even if technically 'better' in some aspects). Can't recommend if you're going to be moving around a lot though, as they don't do the greatest job of staying in your ears and the microphonics (cable->ear noise transfer) are not very good. Android controls and a decent built-in microphone.

    For something cheaper, the KZ ZS3 (or ATR if you have smaller ears). Detachable cable, seems durable, but they are huge. Can also get a Bluetooth upgrade cable for the ZS3's, but do some research as the earlier batch had some documented issues concerning battery life/stability.

  • altomic on 04/09/2017 - 18:29

    I bought some original pistons from banggood for $4 (crazy 30 minute sale) about 6 years ago. been going strong as my office earphones

  • KaTst3R on 04/09/2017 - 18:48

    Cant we vote for 2 options? Wired and bluetooth should be in its own category

    Wired- Xiaomi hybrids
    Bluetooth - Meizu EP51

    • scrimshaw on 04/09/2017 - 19:18

      You can only vote for one, but feel free to change your vote at anytime.

  • PJC on 04/09/2017 - 19:05

    May I suggest each poll option shows a price and link to aid evaluation?

    • scrimshaw on 04/09/2017 - 19:22
      +1

      I can create product tags, which will make it easier for people to simply click on the Related Products on the right hand side and find deals for it.

      As for linkifying the actual poll options or showing price history, that isn't possible without some changes to the back end.

      Prices change and fluctuate all the time, and it's a lot of work updating the prices of every individual car, android, laptop, headphones etc as I have a lot of other polls going at the same time.

      • PJC on 04/09/2017 - 19:23

        Appreciated.

  • scepticpsych on 09/09/2017 - 09:56

    $50 is pretty limiting. Most 'budget' IEMs start at around at least the $100 price point e.g. Shure, Sennheiser, Beats etc. $50 is going to limit it to chinese brands only found on websites like banggood/gearbest etc

  • donnot on 26/09/2017 - 17:08
    Suggested KZ ZSE

    Just got my set of KZ ZSE's. Sound brilliant, especially for ~$8 shipped from eBay (bought from a Malaysian seller here which took 3 weeks for delivery). Very fun to listen to, plenty of bass, dual drivers, and treble is less grainy than the ATR and ZS3's I had prior. Can't recommend to everyone though: with the silicone tips that come with it, I can't manage to get a decent seal (had to use the foam tips that came with my VSD3s/comply). These tips should do the trick (look identical to the ones that I'm using).

  • WinstonWithAY on 02/10/2017 - 21:14
    Suggested KS ZS5

    https://audiobudget.com/product/KZ/ZS5
    https://www.gearbest.com/earbud-headphones/pp_641227.html

    Good pair of earphones for a reasonable price.

  • AlienC on 05/10/2017 - 06:26

    So what's the best one for sub $50 can be even cheaper if possible don't need to much audiophile features just good long battery life and maybe a bit of noise cancellation or minimum noise leakage for public transport etc.

    Needs to be wireless or Bluetooth, not sure if there is a wireless featured one that can connect to your home network and just stream a playlist or control an android device from there if so that would be awesome.

    If it can charge via micro usb that would be awesome as I already have the cabling for that but others is ok as I have a 2 in 1 usb wall charger.

    But yeah something wireless and for the home is optimally beneficial with some support for maybe just Bluetooth public transport quiet features.

    Battery life most important cheers thanks. Not really willing to spend over $100 unless it is mind blowing all will last me more than five years. Budget more set around $15 - $100 ideally around the $40 - $50 bracket.

    Cheers thanks Ozbargain.

    • MattyAu on 05/10/2017 - 10:54

      Meizu EP-51 for wireless

      • AlienC on 05/10/2017 - 11:41

        Cheers thanks I'll check em out.

  • bodosko on 18/10/2017 - 13:18

    Can you guys compare the sound of Meizu EP-51 and Xiaomi Piston 3 ? And what about Apple Earpods compared to Meizu?

  • AlienC on 23/10/2017 - 11:46

    I just bought this https://www.zapals.com/s6-wireless-stereo-bluetooth-earbuds-…

    About a week ago so will see how they perform.

    For $3 I'm not expecting much just that they don't suck and hopefully last more than a few months haha

  • parker2004au on 23/10/2017 - 14:04

    Just going to say I've been using my EP51 for a week now.

    Everything is great except for only being able to have one device paired to it at a time.

    I watch a lot of video guides at work and I was hoping I could just turn off Bluetooth on my phone & have it connect to my work PC and when I want to listen back on my phone then I would just turn off Bluetooth on computer.

    However I have to reset the device and repair each time I want to change devices which gets a bit annoying.

    Still worth it for the price but just a little annoyance.

  • 87percent on 26/10/2017 - 09:31

    has anyone purchased the xiaomi wireless bluetooth headphones and can compare them to the Meizu EP51s?

  • tonyjzx on 30/10/2017 - 17:52

    I bought all the KZ sets in one shot, they are cheap enough.

    They are pretty decent and there's no way you can match it at the price especially from AU B&M but IMO they're nothing special.

    They are very even, balanced without any glaring deficienies etc.

  • NotAnAudiophile on 05/11/2017 - 21:48
    Suggested KZ ZS6

    These are like $40 shipped. Good build quality.

  • yikes on 24/11/2017 - 10:51

    VE Monk Plus
    As someone that dislikes wearing in-ears for any long period of time I found these earbuds the perfect balance of good sound and price at ~$6.

  • usbc activist on 13/12/2017 - 17:17
    Suggested AKG Y20U

    AKG Y20U is a strong contender for good earphones under $50. Excellent fit, AKG quality sound and good sound isolation. Available at HN for $40

  • BRYCELICIOUS on 18/12/2017 - 10:52
    Suggested BlueAnt Pump Mini2

    BlueAnt Pump Mini2 $39 on Catch.com.au ($129 at JBHIFI)

  • [Deactivated] on 01/01/2018 - 10:46

    $48 @ Jb before Xmas

  • parker2004au on 03/01/2018 - 21:53

    Anyone got recommendations for Bluetooth earphones - I have EP51's currently but lost one of the large ear buds.

    I would rather noise isolation/cancellation but for under $50 I can use whatever I can get my hands on.

    I wouldn't mind trying EP52's but they're a bit expensive at the moment.

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