You can get wireless earbuds from every shop these days, at every price point and in every colour. The cheapest ones cost ten euros and sound like it. The most expensive ones cost three hundred and sound like – well, maybe two-hundred-euro earbuds. The truth is, the under-€150 bracket is where all the action is right now. That's where the best deals live.
We sell earbuds and we'll openly admit it. We want your money. But because we're small and can't afford to lose customers by lying, here's an honest look at what you get for under €150 – and why we think the NL25 is the best buy in that price range.
What do you actually get for under €150?
The price bracket is packed with options. Here are the ones that matter:
- Samsung Galaxy Buds FE (~€100): Samsung's budget model. Decent enough sound, ANC works okay-ish. Integrates nicely with Samsung phones, but the experience on other devices is mediocre. Repairability: zero. When the battery dies, the earbuds go in the bin.
- JBL Tune Beam (~€80): Affordable and bass-heavy. If you like your bass steamrolling everything else into oblivion, these are your pick. ANC exists, but barely.
- Nothing Ear (a) (~€100): Trendy design, transparent case. Sound is surprisingly good for the price. ANC works. But repairability is the same as everyone else's: non-existent.
- Sony WF-C700N (~€100): Sony's budget model. ANC is good in typical Sony fashion – possibly the best in its class. Sound is clean but a bit flat. The model number is so memorable you'll have to Google it every single time.
- Valco NL25 (~€99): Our own. Tuned by Jasse, ANC included, and above all: a repairable design. But more on that in a moment.
Why Valco NL25?
The NL25 doesn't win every category. That would be lying, and we don't lie – except to the taxman (joke, taxman, joke).
Where the NL25 wins:
- Sound quality. Jasse Kesti, whose ears are insured (the amount is classified information), tuned the NL25's sound. In practice, this means a wide soundstage, details that actually come through, and bass that doesn't turn to mush. A lot of hundred-euro earbuds sound like the music is coming from the bottom of a bucket. The NL25 doesn't.
- Repairability. This is the big one. When the battery starts giving up in two years – and it will, in every pair of wireless earbuds – you can send your NL25 to us in Kajaani for servicing. Jasse or someone else pops a new battery in. Samsung, Sony and the rest? Bin. Buy new ones. This is a wallet issue and an environmental issue, but we can't be bothered to preach about it.
- Price. Under a hundred euros. For that you get earbuds that compete with the €150 class. The difference goes to the Death Star construction fund. We're currently at 0.00003 percent.
- Finnishness. Do you know who Sony's CEO is? How about JBL's? Didn't think so. Our CEO Henri drives an Alfa Romeo that breaks down more often than our customers' earbuds. You can email him directly. Try doing that with Samsung.
Who should pick something else?
Let's be honest.
- If ANC is your number one priority, the Sony WF-C700N might be the better choice. Sony's noise cancellation tech is excellent, and even their budget model does it well. The NL25's ANC is good, but not quite on Sony's level.
- If you have a Samsung phone and live in the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Buds FE integrates seamlessly. Seamless switching, Find My support and all that. The NL25 works with all devices but doesn't offer the same ecosystem integration.
- If you want head-turning design, the Nothing Ear (a) is a beautiful object. The NL25 is deliberately understated. We don't pay for design, we pay for sound.
Summary
| | NL25 | Sony WF-C700N | Galaxy Buds FE | Nothing Ear (a) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound quality | Best in class | Good, slightly flat | Good | Good |
| ANC | Good | Excellent | Decent | Good |
| Repairability | Yes | No | No | No |
| Price | ~€99 | ~€100 | ~€100 | ~€100 |
If you want the best sound and earbuds that last longer than one battery cycle, the NL25 is the obvious choice. If ANC is your absolute priority, Sony is a strong contender. Every other reason tips the scales toward the NL25.
Every NL25 sold takes us one step closer to a functioning Death Star and gets Henri that Ferrari. The Alfa Romeo clearly won't last much longer. Cheers for your money.
