![]() ![]() ![]() Plus, nothing says “I’m busy” like a cable hanging from your ears (which is partly why I suspect they’ve become popular on what Teen Vogue calls “ hot girl walks”). TikTok creators like them for their portable in-line directional microphones that require zero setup. Wired earbuds don’t need to be charged, they sound better for the money, they’re more environmentally friendly, and they usually last longer. Wired headphones are as timeless and uncomplicated as your favorite sweater. I’m not alone in my affection- wired earbuds are cool again. But I deeply resent the need to fish out that 3.5 mm–to–Lightning adapter because I still love my wired headphones, too. ![]() Don’t get me wrong-my wireless Bluetooth earbuds, with their breezy untethered liberation, will always have a place in my heart for jogging, working, and puttering about the house. The treble was detailed but could also become somewhat strident when we listened to poorly recorded music or pushed the volume too high.When Apple ditched the headphone jack on its iPhones in 2016, I was annoyed. As for the sound quality, in our tests the KC2 pair offered a relatively balanced sonic presentation with above-average clarity for the price, but we were not as sold on the low-end response, which was not especially defined and lost some of its impact when we raised the volume. The braided cable, which terminates at an L-shaped 3.5 mm plug, is detachable plus, the manufacturer offers a Bluetooth cable/dongle to turn these earbuds into wireless in-ear monitors if you prefer that type of setup. Though the supplied ear tips are adequate, you might have to experiment with third-party foam tips to get a perfect seal. The earbud weight is manageable, and the shape makes it comfortable to wear, even for long walks. The aluminum-alloy earpieces are well machined, with no plastic to be found, and the design incorporates two balanced armatures and two dynamic drivers into each earpiece. The affordable BQEYZ KC2 set is surprisingly well made for earbuds that usually cost only $60. If you’d like more perspective, Wirecutter senior staff writer Brent Butterworth previously wrote about the Satsuma earbuds at length for SoundStage. If Campfire offered a sonic option between the Satsuma set and the more bass-intense Honeydew pair, we would surely make it a pick here. ![]() The Satsuma’s 3D-printed earbud chassis also fit us well: The earbuds are lightweight without feeling flimsy and are shaped in an ergonomic fashion that slips effortlessly into place in the ears. It wasn’t until a tuba bleated or a bassline kicked in that we really noticed the lack of low end to buttress the overall tuning. Strings, voices, and acoustic instruments really shone. (We like a more Harman-curve style of sound, with more bass presence than the Satsuma provides.) Although we would’ve preferred more low-end support, we thought that the amount of delicacy, detail, and clarity in the upper ranges of this pair’s sound was delightful. If you prefer a sound profile that puts detailed, delicate high frequencies in the foreground: Take a look at the Campfire Audio Satsuma, which is set to the type of flat-response “audiophile” tuning that isn’t our favorite but is preferred by many headphone enthusiasts. Sometimes a pair of tips with a different material or shape that better suits your anatomy can make all the difference. If you find that the included tip options are uncomfortable, try replacement tips before spending the money on new earbuds. We look for earbuds that come with a variety of tip sizes to help ensure a good fit. Not only does the fit affect the comfort of your earbuds, but it also can affect how they sound.
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