I'm An Audiophile, And These Are The Only Cheap Earbuds You Should Consider Right Now

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Earfun Air Pro 4+ earbuds are disposable from Amazon for $99.
• These earbuds sound truthful overmuch amended than nan value would indicate.
• Make judge to get a bully seal truthful you tin admit nan bass.

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Over nan past fewer years, I've recovered Earfun has released immoderate of nan champion inexpensive earbuds connected nan market, and nan company's latest brace earnestly impressed me.

If you've ever purchased earbuds for little than $100, you cognize it tin beryllium a mixed bag. I've tested sub-$100 earbuds that sounded level pinch zero dynamics and a wholly absent soundstage, and I've tested immoderate that radiance erstwhile customized by nan accompanying app. 

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It's a uncommon juncture that I trial a brace of earbuds that waste for little than $100 that make my eyes want to popular retired of their sockets and my ears to bask successful nan value of nan sound, but that's precisely what nan Earfun Air Pro 4+ earbuds did.

My experience

As soon arsenic I unboxed nan Air Pro 4+ earbuds, I connected them to my Pixel 9 Pro and fired up Spotify. Scrolling done my Runlist (the playlist I perceive to erstwhile exercising), I stopped astatine Rush's "La Villa Strangiato," which happens to beryllium 1 of my all-time favourite songs. I cannot moreover statesman to enumerate really galore times I've listened to this since nan early 80s, but suffice it to say, it's been a lot.

When I deed play, Alex Lifeson's awesome intro kicked in, and immediately, I was taken aback by nan clarity of nan earbuds. It was almost arsenic if I was listening to nan opus for nan first time. The highs were remarkably crisp, and nan lows were move and rich. 

But what really deed maine was nan soundstage, which was acold wider than immoderate sub-$100 earbud I've ever heard. Geddy, Alex, and Neil were spaced acold capable isolated that I could easy discern each statement and hit without having to try. 

After Rush's superb instrumental, Concrete Blonde's "Caroline" greeted my ears to further show disconnected nan scope of nan earbuds' range. The opus came to life pinch a move sound befitting nan musicians. What was really astonishing astir nan opus was really good Johnette Napolitano's bass stood out. 

Also: These $70 wireless earbuds are my go-to proposal for audiophiles connected a budget

In lesser earbuds, you'll announcement nan bass, but its extent and volition are often lost. Not truthful pinch nan Air Pro 4+. I could perceive nan subtle nuances that make Napolitano's Fender Telecaster bass guidelines out. Additionally, her rich, unsocial sound sounded glorious.

I continued done my playlist, hoping to find conscionable 1 opus that didn't travel to life pinch nan Air Pro 4+ earbuds, and aft playing done complete 20 songs, I came up empty. From Devin Townsend's "Kingdom" to Purity Ring's "The Long Night," everything was beautiful. "The Long Night" was particularly beautiful because it showcased Megan James' sweet-sounding sound successful a caller and alluring way.

While I would ne'er explanation nan Air Pro 4+ earbuds arsenic audiophile quality, I would surely explanation them "musicophile" earbuds. In different words, if you emotion euphony but aren't concerned pinch shelling retired a week's net for a brace of earbuds that your telephone can't perchance return advantage of, these are conscionable astir nan champion you tin find nether $100.

ZDNET's buying advice

If you emotion euphony and you want to perceive it arsenic it should beryllium heard, nan Earfun Air Pro 4+ are your champion bet. Don't skip retired connected these if you see yourself a person of music, particularly for conscionable $99.

Earfun Air Pro 4+ tech specs

• Drivers - Balanced Armature and 10mm dynamic), Hi-Res Audio Certification
• Chipset - Qualcomm QCC3091
• Bluetooth - 6.0, supports multipoint connection
• Codecs- aptX Lossless, aptX adaptive, LDAC, LC3, SBC, AAC
• Noise Cancellation - Adaptive Hybrid ANC
• Microphones - 6 microphones pinch AI for sound simplification (cVc 8.0)
• Battery Life - Up to 12 hours (ANC off), 8 hours (ANC on) full Playtime up to 54 hours pinch charging lawsuit (ANC off)
• Wireless Charging - Yes
• Water Resistance - IPX5
• Other Features - Low latency gaming mode, Auracast™ broadcast, Google Fast Pair, in-ear detection
• Weight 54g for nan earbuds and case