Life A1

I'm not really someone who can speak to as new price since I tend to be happy with buds in Open Box, Used - Like New, or Refurb'd condition. I feel like I get a lot more for my sound dollar. That said, I am able to comment on sound and fit/comfort. I find the Sony WF-1000XM5s to have excellent sound, but their fit and long-term comfort let me down. I find the WF-1000XM4s much more comfortable and their sound is very good in its own right. I've owned many other Technics earbuds, but never the AZ100s. I recall their sound as being good to very good, with very good noise cancelling. Fit and long-term comfort were very good across the board. The controls were also solid. I moved on from them because I always thought the midrange was a touch veiled and they were not the last word in dynamics. I only own the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, but I find their sound and noise cancellation excellent overall. Long-term comfort is good for me, but I feel the fit could be a touch more secure. The Ultras are less interesting to me because I don't really like earbuds in the mic boom form factor. I've only owned the Sennheiser Accentum earbuds. They aren't bad, but I found the fit a bit odd. I feel like it's possible to get better sound for similar money. The Technics EAH-AZ40s would be a huge upgrade. I should like the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro for their compact form factor, but I feel the fit and long-term comfort should be better than good or very good. Sound is good but nothing spectacular. The multipoint connectivity between my phone and laptop could also be more seamless. I feel like my Sony WF-C700Ns have flawless multipoint and at least 90% of the sound + noise-cancelling for a lot less money. I've never owned the Liberty 4, but if you're on a tight budget the Anker Soundcore Space A40s are tough to beat. Very good sound, NC, fit, and long-term comfort. If you are on a super tight budget and can live with passive isolation the Soundcore Life A1s are worth a listen. I own a ton of Jabra Elites over the years, including the 75ts, 4s in Black and Blue, 5s (currently missing), and 7s. I tend to find them cheap on eBay. I find their sound and NC good to very good. I like their tiny form factor, which makes the long-term fit and comfort excellent for me. This makes the Jabra Elites my favorite workout buds. My 75ts have held up to years of runs and workouts in all manner of conditions. Because of this, I'm bummed Jabra are leaving the earbud segment. In conclusion, I need to declutter and sell off my ridiculously large collection of earbuds!

Soundcore A1. IPX7 Solid fit. Good bass. Cheap. They don't have noise cancelling tho..

I've found a small amount of sweat causes my soundcore to break. I'm interested the third pair in 6 months

I've just got my new A1s in my ears and you're right they're good. Better than the X10 and x20 maybe. I'll test them on my LSR tomorrow to see how I get on

I'd go with the anker soundcore life A1 or tozo T10, both under 40$ solid build good bass and reliable battery life. Great value for everyday use.

I like the Anker LifeA1. Sound quality is decent and the various tips & ear wings make it possible to get a great fit. I like the programmable buttons so i can create a 30s skip with a press (for podcast ads).

Yeah! At under \~$40 (ideally < $30) you can get earbuds that sound a bit better than the SoundPEATS Free2 Classic and support AAC or aptX. Look at budget picks like SoundPEATS T2/T3, Anker Soundcore Life A1/A2, or TOZO T6/T10. They’re usually comfy and land better codecs for the money. About dot-style vs stemmed: the difference isn’t performance, it’s fit and comfort. Dot/bean buds are shorter in your ear and some people find them less likely to poke or fall out, while stemmed ones stick out more but can house bigger mics/antennas. It’s really about what feels secure for your ears, not a universal “one shape stays in better.” If you tell me whether you’re on iPhone or Android, I can tailor a specific pick with the best codec for your device. Before buyng, check th sound profile on [audiotones.co](http://audiotones.co)

I’d recommend the Anker Sound core Life A1 they’re cheap, stay secure during workouts, sound great and have solid battery life. Also worth checking out the JLab Go Air for a lightweight, sweat resistant option.

I’d suggest the Anker Sound core P25i cheap, secure fit, sweat resistant and great sound for workouts. The JLab Go Air are another solid low cost option worth checking out.