- Anthony
Are you looking for a pair of earbuds that are affordable and come with quality sound? Read on to find out more about the product in Monoprice Earbuds Review!
Monoprice has been making economical, audio-quality products for years. In-ear earbuds are an economical alternative to higher-end headphones with a reputation for good quality.
In the following review, Hooke Audio tested Monoprice earbuds from an audiophile’s perspective. Monoprice has been in the in-ear market for a while, and they have a reputation for producing high-quality in-ear buds.
Monoprice Earbuds Pros And Cons
Pros
- Low price
- Great sound quality
- Solid Bluetooth connectivity
- Stable fit
Cons
- Shoddy onboard micro- USb
- 4-hour battery life
- Slow recharging
Monoprice Earbuds Review
Design
Monoprice true wireless review is like words like sleek and ergonomic, but I think the best way to describe these earbuds is small. At only 20mm x 16mm x 15mm, they’re noticeably smaller than the similarly priced JBuds Air, and the plain black exterior doesn’t draw attention to itself.
Monoprice’s rugged design and rigid quality control standards deliver high-quality products at fair prices.
The only texture and color come from a single round button with an LED ring at the center of each earbud. They’re a great example of tech that is made to be worn and used rather than shown off.
The iconic white of Apple AirPods might double as a fashion accessory, but the Monoprice true wireless earbuds won’t.
One of my favorite things about the Monoprice earbuds is their rock-solid Bluetooth connectivity. I’ve used much more expensive earbuds that struggled to stream from my back pocket to my ears but found they couldn’t get a signal through the big slab of a human torso in between.
During my tests, the Monoprice Bluetooth connection was solid not only through my big dumb body, but it kept connected across a busy office or through different floors of my house.
They also paired quickly and efficiently to any android devices I tried on the phone, laptop, and desktop PC.
The carrying case—which sports two magnetic earbuds charging USB C slots and a 500mAh battery—is similarly plain, but it does at least qualify for sleekness. I like the rounded shape and transparent top hatch.
I found the case could fit into a pants pocket, but its shape created an uncomfortable bulge. It is small enough that it took up almost no space in my daily carry bag, though, and that’s where it spent most of its time over my week-long experience.
Whenever I pulled one or both earbuds out of the case, they unfailingly reconnected to the last paired device.
I loved this battery life feature and found that I quickly took it for granted: I’d wear them on the street, snap them into the case when I walked into a shop, then pop them back into my ears when I walked back outside. They seamlessly reconnected in a second or two, and I’d be on my way.
Because these truly wireless earbuds can be used together or separately, they each chime in with various status updates, sometimes overlapping in either ear:
Power: on. Connected. Second device: connected. Left channel. Right Channel. This isn’t a bad thing but can be a little distracting. I found it kind of charming, like climbing into a sci-fi cockpit. Reactor: online. All systems: nominal.
Battery Life And Fit
I was a little worried about how the Monoprice true wireless earbuds would fit. Aside from the stem for the earbud tips, the entire bud is a boxy oval. I was happy to find that this oval housing sat nicely in the bowl of my ear canal and surprised me with how securely they sat.
These Monoprice earphones review to feature a strain-relief clip on each earpiece to help prevent damage to the cord. Three different sized earbuds ensure that These ‘phones will always have the right fit.
They still sounded great while I did the dishes and walked the dogs, and they didn’t budge even when I took them on a two-mile trail run in the woods.
I only had problems with them when I made any bending-forward motion that robbed them of their comfy cavum couch. I could take them on the world’s bounciest treadmill, but they’d probably fall out after a few minutes of scrubbing a bathtub.
Of course, having this kind of stable fit will depend mainly on your ears. The Monoprice true wireless earphones review comes with small, medium, and extensive ear tips options. Medium worked best for me.
In general, the most significant trade-off to be aware of between regular wireless Bluetooth headphones and true wireless earbuds is a reduction in battery life.
Monoprice’s specs show that each earbud comes with a 50mAh battery onboard and a playing time of between two and four hours.
I habitually sit at my desk all day with headphones on, and I found that the Monoprice true wireless earbuds typically lasted for the entire four hours or just a little longer. It’s not enough to get me through a whole workday, but definitely, enough to get me through the morning.
The charging case took about 90 minutes to bring the earbuds from empty to full. This isn’t a long time, but it’s not a quick zap, either.
Sound Quality
The onboard microphone is the only disappointing thing about the Monoprice earbuds’ sound quality. The microphone, embedded into the left earbud, is functional but not fabulous.
Even without the help of cell network distortions, my voice sounds tinny and far away, with occasional static pops. If someone called while I was cleaning up around the house, I could answer and have a short conversation quickly enough.
If I were sitting down to dial into half-hour conference phone calls, though, I’d probably choose a different headset.
The sound output, though, is surprisingly good for earbuds at fair prices. The Monoprice true wireless earbuds put out significant volume across the sound spectrum.
Even an aggressive bass shaker test didn’t reveal any rattling parts—a sign of better build quality than I expected.
I played Let Them Talk by Hugh Laurie and enjoyed the impressively full resonance of the piano across both the lows, highs, and mids.
The only rough spot was the drum backing: on the low end, the bass tones drum sounded a bit thin, and on the high end, the cymbals sounded just a bit too tinny.
When I get new headphones, I always check on my boy, Freddy Mercury, so I played Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and got a total dose of Mercury’s breathy high notes.
The most impressive part of this track was how well the Monoprice true wireless earbuds reproduced the chaos of the song after the guitar solo.
You’ve got singing, random shouts, the guitar is still showing off, there are bells and chimes and a tambourine—all of it came through nice and clear.
Finally, I wanted to stress out the low end of these earbuds some more, so I tried Work Song by Hozier. This song is full of bass-rattling reverb, and the Monoprice earbuds shocked me by reproducing it well.
It seems these truly wireless earbuds struggle with the short punches of bass drums but handle more extended notes better—even meager notes.
Using The Monoprice Earphones
Once the earphones are paired with an iPhone or iPad, using them is simple. Just take one or both earphones out of the case and place them in your ear canal— and you’re ready to go.
You can listen to audio with only one earphone in or both, but taking the earphone out of your ear doesn’t pause playback. The Monoprice earphones go into single earphone mode when one is placed back in the case. With a single earbud being used at a time, you can extend the useful life as one battery is expended while the other earbud charges up.
The earphones are controlled via gestures.
- Single tap – volume up/volume down for right/left ear
- Double-tap – play/pause for either ear
- 2-second hold on left ear – Siri
- 2-second hold on the right ear – toggle ANC
The ANC mode, or Active Noise Cancelling, works at the most basic level of the technology. You’ll be able to hear ambient sound with ANC on, just slightly less than before.
We found it incredibly difficult to tell that active noise cancellation is switched on. The seal from the ear tips provides more sound isolation than whatever the ANC mode seems to be doing. You’d benefit from not using ANC at all and take advantage of the extended battery life.
During use, the earphones never failed to connect and didn’t lag. In addition, the audio was always in sync and never dropped out on one of the truly wireless earbuds.
Other specs
- Bluetooth 5
- 10 mm drivers
- 6 hour playback time
- 24-hour charging case
- USB-C quick charging
- IPx4 sweat resistance
Some relevant posts:
- Audio Technica Earbuds Review 2023: Top Full Guide
- Jlab Earbuds Review 2023: Top Full Guide For You
- Sentry Wireless Earbuds Review 2023: Top Full Guide
FAQs
Are earbuds worth the cost?
They are definitely worth the investment, mainly if your interests include fitness and travel. In recent years, truly wireless earbuds prices have dropped significantly.
Wireless earbuds are more flexible and can be connected to many devices. The latest wireless earbuds offer a great range, memory, and long battery life.
Are earbuds harmful?
Earbuds can be described as a small pair of speakers that you place inside your ears. They are small and valuable devices that can be used at low volumes. However, playing too loud music close to your ears can lead to permanent hearing loss.
Do I need wireless headphones or earbuds?
Earbuds are usually smaller, easier to use, and less expensive than canned ones. On the other hand, headphones often offer the best audio quality and noise cancellation, as well as longer battery life, provided you are willing to spend a little more.
How long does an earbud last on average?
How long should earbuds be good for? Earbuds should last between 3 and 6 months, depending on how frequently they are used. Even though there are no apparent signs of damage, the first sign is loss of sound. These earphones should be broken in by playing pink noise through them for about 24 hours.
Do you always need to keep your earbuds in the case?
Nearly all wireless earbuds have lithium-ion batteries that can stop charging when they are fully charged. The case protects your earbuds against moisture and extreme temperatures.
How to wear monoprice earbuds?
BEST ANSWER: These earbuds are marked left (L) and right (R). Look closely at the outside of the piece that connects the wire to the earpiece. Then be sure the cable is at the top and pointing forward.
Conclusion
Monoprice earbuds are a low-cost way to buy headphones for those on a budget. They have a high rating from customers who have used them, and they have a warranty to cover any defects. Monoprice earbuds are worth a try.
They are affordable and comfortable enough to use for hours. The audio quality is not too shabby either. If you’re looking for good-value headphones that do the job, Monoprice earbuds might be your best bet.
