When I'm buying headphones for either myself or someone I love, there are a few things I look for. Solid ANC. Long battery life. Excellent sound quality. Exceptional comfort. These features are absolutely non-negotiable. If the headphones don't sound good, or can't isolate sound well, or they die quickly, I want nothing to do with them.
I take a similar approach when I'm reviewing headphones and earbuds for work. Recently, I tested a set of cans that costs less than $50 and it convinced me that you should always spend more on headphones if you can. Just because something is cheap doesn't mean you have to buy it — take a look at the Tribit QuietPlus 81, as an example.
The QuietPlus 81 caught my eye last week, sitting on our testing shelf, the box with the words "ULTRA LONG BATT, SMOOTH TALKING" staring right at me. So I picked them up to review them. These headphones boast 110 hours of battery life, decent ANC, and a comfortable, foldable design, all for less than $50. So what's the problem? Well, let me take you through it — and present you with a strong case as to why you should always spend more on headphones.
You don't want to start disliking your favorite artists, do you?
Whether you're a casual listener or an audiophile, sound quality is one thing that should never be compromised on. After all, we all love appreciating our favorite musicians for their art, right? Personally, I don't want to use a set of cans that makes me dislike Pink Floyd or Twenty One Pilots. The Tribit QuietPlus 81 are fitted with 40mm drivers which, according to Tribit, deliver enhanced bass response.
I don't agree with this. In my testing, I found the bass sounded muddy and lost all nuance, especially in tracks like ‘Longview’ by Green Day and ‘Casualty' by Linkin Park. Percussion instruments, like drums, struggle when listened to through the QuietPlus 81 too. Snare hits sound shrill and unpleasant, overzealous almost.
The best part of the QuietPlus 81? The vocals, probably, which sound fairly decent and clear, in tracks that don't feature multiple instruments. For pop songs or acoustic tracks, the headphones are fine, but for everything else, I'd recommend other cans, such as the JLab JBuds Lux ANC or the 1More SonoFlow SE. Though they're pricier than the QuietPlus 81, they're well-worth the extra spend as they feature a well-balanced, rounder sound profile.
Premium build quality goes a long way
When you buy headphones (or any tech, really) one of the most important things to consider is the build quality. While not true for all cans, budget headphones usually don't utilize top-notch materials — that's why they're cheap! The Tribit QuietPlus 81 are made of ABS plastic which feels too plasticky for my liking. They squeak a bit, especially when you're folding and unfolding them, which makes me question just how long they'll actually last.
It's also worth noting that when there's no music playing through the QuietPlus 81, there's a static noise that makes it sound like you're underwater. I'm not entirely sure why this is, but it could be related to the poor build quality. Tribit doesn't specify the waterproof rating either, so I wouldn't recommend using these cans when it's raining heavily or while you're dripping sweat at the gym.
An area they do last a long time, though? Battery life. "ULTRA LONG BATT" in bold, all-caps is written on the product box, and Tribit isn't lying. The QuietPlus 81 are rated for a whopping 110 hours (with ANC off) or 70 hours (with ANC on). Even after six hours of using the headphones, I still had 100% battery, which is amazing. It's even longer than the pricier Marshall Monitor III, a premium pair of headphones that can last 100 hours between charges.
What are my options, then?
Okay, so you don't want to buy the Tribit QuietPlus 81 but you also don't want to spend hundreds on a competent set of cans, so what are your options? Lucky for you, there are a few! And though the following aren't as cheap as the QuietPlus 81, I believe it's worth spending the extra dollars on them as they offer better build quality, better sound, and better value for money.
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- ‘These headphones boast 110 hours of battery life — but fail to make up for the poor sound’: Tribit QuietPlus 81 review
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