For a pair of headphones under the $ 50 mark, we often find ourselves recommending something like the standard $ 35 Apple earphones. You typically can’t beat the sound quality (build quality up for debate) for the price, but if you want to go Bluetooth, pickings are slim in the under $ 200 category.
If you’re looking for DJ-style, over-ear Bluetooth headphones, your options are even fewer before hitting the $ 250+ price point for a wireless pair of Beats By Dr.Dre.
However, at just $ 39, Tenqa’s Remxd Bluetooth Headphones are clearly not for the pros, but looking at the Bluetooth alternatives from Rocketfish, Sony, and Sennheiser, they definitely impress at a fraction of the competition’s prices. They were also built with iPhone in mind, which means they pack in a mic and controls for handsfree calls, just like Apple’s stock iPhone earphones…
Pros: You’d likely expect less than spectacular build-quality from a $ 40 pair of over-ear headphones. The good news is our favorite part of Tenqa’s headphones is the solid construction–Sony’s over-ear headphones under $ 40 feel flimsy in comparison. They certainly don’t have the plush cushioning of higher-end headphones, but we had no complaints with comfort or fit with extended periods of use. The sound quality is decent– They are comparable to anything else with Bluetooth, mic, and remote at the price point– but they can sound boxy compared to Apple’s high end at times.
For battery life, we had no issues getting the 15 hours listening time before having to recharge (takes 3.5 hours for a full charge). You shouldn’t have an issue getting the 22.5 hours talk time and 180 hours standby time Tenqa advertises.
The headphones include a built-in mic, pause/play buttons, a button to answer calls, on/off switch for Bluetooth, and a volume wheel that also allows you to navigate through songs. There is also a 3.5mm input for the included USB charging cable, and 3.5mm cable (in case you want to go without Bluetooth). As for the built-in mic, you get what you pay for with sound quality. It’s adequate for indoor calls, but you won’t want to rely on these when there is a lot of background noise.
Cons: Unfortunately the sound quality doesn’t quite live up to even Apple’s earphones if you’re after an accurate reproduction of your source audio. While the tone quality of Apple’s earbuds tend to be closer to neutral than not, Tenqa’s cans go the way of Dre’s Beats with boomy, sometimes over-the-top bass. The audio performance starts to show its weaknesses when comparing to Apple’s $ 80 In-Ear Headphones, which also include a built-in remote and mic. Another $ 20 will get you Sony’s $ 99 DR-BT101 Bluetooth headset, a noticeable step up in audio performance.
Don’t expect everything to go smooth with your Mac. These were designed specifically for iPhone, and they don’t always play nice with your Mac even after successfully paired. Tenqa said its complicated getting the headphones to work 100% with all bluetooth drivers, which is a fact of life for most manufacturers.
Should you get them?
For the average, casual listener, the difference in sound quality compared to Apple’s earphones definitely isn’t a deal breaker. Those that don’t mind or prefer the unnatural bass of a pair of Beats by Dre won’t be bothered, but at the end of the day you’re still compromising on sound quality in exchange for bluetooth and solid construction/design at a $ 40 price point. We reviewed Tenqa’s over-ear headphones, but the company also has a wrap-around design with similar specs for $ 25. If Bluetooth is a must, you’re probably not going to find a pair of over-ear headphones at this price that compare to Tenqa’s.
You can grab them on Amazon or through the company’s site here.
9to5Mac
