Two hundred euros is that magical line where the big brands' flagships end and the bitterness begins. The Sony WH-1000XM5 costs around three hundred. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra, four. For that money you could almost get a used Alfa Romeo – though based on Henri's experience, that's a worse investment than headphones.
We sell two headphones under two hundred euros. Both of them. At the same time. Without anyone having to sell a kidney.
What do you actually get for under €200?
Roughly speaking, the market looks like this:
- €0–50: Headphones that sound like the music is coming through your neighbour's wall. Noise cancelling is mostly marketing copy.
- €50–100: Perfectly usable. ANC sort of works. Sound quality is ok. They'll fall apart in a year, and nobody will fix them.
- €100–200: This is where things get interesting. Valco's VMK25.2 and NL25 sit right here. Along with a few JBLs and Sony's budget models.
- €200–400: Sony, Bose, Apple. Better ANC, bigger logo, triple the price. Repairability: nope.
Competition is fierce in the sub-€200 bracket, but surprisingly few manufacturers get everything right. JBL's budget models have flat, lifeless sound. Sony's budget headphones have stripped-down ANC. And nobody's headphones can be repaired.
VMK25.2 or NL25 – which one's for you?
The question is simple: do you want big or small?
VMK25.2 (over-ear headphones)
- 55 hours of battery with ANC on. Fifty-five. That's over two full days.
- Bluetooth 5.4, aptX support, 45 mm drivers
- Frequency response tuned by Jasse – super flat, no bass bombardment drowning out everything else
- Replaceable pads, replaceable side panels, repairable construction
- AUX cable included, works wired too
NL25 (true wireless earbuds)
- ANC and transparency mode in earbuds – yes, under two hundred
- Wireless charging for the case
- aptX Adaptive support, Bluetooth 5.4
- Memory foam tips included, designed by Jussi Timonen
- Vincent van Gogh mode: use one earbud at a time, save battery and your other ear
Both are Jasse's handiwork. The man whose ears are insured – we won't tell you the amount, but it would cover Henri's Alfa Romeo repair bills for at least half a year.
Why Valco?
Three reasons, none of which is "innovative synergy":
- Price. Both under €200. Sony's and Bose's flagships cost double or triple. Money left over for beer.
- Repairability. Pads can be swapped. Battery can be replaced. Jasse and the rest of the service team fix the devices in Kajaani. Competitors' headphones fly into the bin after the warranty expires.
- Sound quality. Jasse's tuning doesn't compensate for mediocre hardware by cranking the bass like many competitors do. The frequency response is flat and honest. Music sounds the way it's supposed to sound.
And of course, every purchase funds our Death Star. You're now 0.000001 % closer to galactic domination.
When should you pick something else?
Let's be honest.
- If ANC is absolutely your number one priority, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a hair better in raw noise cancelling performance. It just costs one and a half times as much. And when it breaks, it breaks for good.
- If you want seamless Apple ecosystem integration, the AirPods Max works with an iPhone like a dream. The price is just so high it could fund a small part of our Death Star too.
- If you want a status symbol, the Bose logo is more recognisable. We're not there yet. But you can't listen to music with a logo.
If, on the other hand, you want headphones that last, sound great, don't cost a fortune, and can actually be repaired – well, you already know the answer.
Summary
| | VMK25.2 | NL25 | Sony XM5 | AirPods Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear | True wireless | Over-ear | True wireless |
| ANC | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Battery | 55h | 4.5h (+case) | 30h | 6h (+case) |
| Repairability | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Price | Under €200 | Under €200 | ~€350 | ~€280 |
VMK25.2 is the pick if you want the best sound quality, an insane battery, and the ability to get your headphones repaired years down the line. NL25 is the pick if you want pocket-sized earbuds that still have ANC and proper sound.
Both cost under €200. With the savings you can buy Jasse a coffee – or not, he'll never know.
Thanks for your money. We'll spend it wisely. Or at least we'll spend it.
