{
  "id": 15162529,
  "title": "I would never spend over $300 on wireless earbuds — here's why (most of) you shouldn't either",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/i-would-never-spend-over-300-on-wireless-earbuds-heres-why-most-of",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-17T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/audio/earbuds/i-would-never-spend-over-usd300-on-wireless-earbuds-heres-why-most-of-you-shouldnt-either"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I am an audio reviewer, and I have been using my AirPods Pro 2 for over three years now. Despite being four years old, they still provide sound quality that is among the best in the industry. The bass is well-rounded and controlled, the mids are melodic and vibrant, and the treble is clear and bright without being tinny. Bose literally invented active noise cancellation (ANC), and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2nd Gen) deliver industry-leading ANC.\n\nHowever, I firmly believe that no one should spend more than $300 on Bluetooth earbuds. The most impressive ANC earbuds are the Apple AirPods Pro 3, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2nd Gen), Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, and Sony WF-1000XM6. While all other earbuds perform at least acceptably, none come even close to the top-tier brands. Bose earbuds are, in fact, the best in the market.\n\nI understand that sound quality is subjective, and some people prefer bass or neutral tuning. However, for the majority of users, the sound quality of $300+ earbuds does not justify the price. My recommendation is for people to invest in affordable and reliable earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2, and reserve their higher-end earbuds for specialized use cases.",
  "summary": "I've reviewed so many earbuds and headphones that I've lost count. But here's why you don't need to spend over $300 on Bluetooth earbuds for 10/10 performance.",
  "key_points": [
    "I am an audio reviewer with over three years of AirPods Pro 2 experience",
    "Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2nd Gen) offer industry-leading ANC",
    "Recommend affordable earbuds like AirPods Pro 2 for most users"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}