The Short Version
Wired earbuds under $150 can match premium audio quality by skipping Bluetooth compression, according to Tom's Guide picks across three price tiers.
Bluetooth compresses audio the way a zip file compresses a photo: faster to send, but some detail is gone forever. Wired earbuds skip that step entirely, so you hear what was actually recorded. The good news is you don't need to spend hundreds to get there, with solid options available under $50, $100, and $150.
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Tom's Guide
You don't have to buy the most expensive wired earbuds for audiophile sound — here are my top picks under $50, $100 and $150
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