BZINK H89

The BZINK H89 is a stupidly cheap wired IEM that sounds better than it has any right to for podcasts and casual listening. Sound quality is a standout at the 75th percentile, but the mic and call quality are weak. If you need a no-frills backup pair or something for school, grab the 2-pack and call it a day.

The 11mm PET polymer diaphragm does the heavy lifting here. Sound quality sits at the 75th percentile in our database, which is honestly impressive for something this cheap. Vocals come through clear and the soundstage is wider than you'd expect. But the mic is a weak spot at the 40th percentile, and calls score a rough 24.1 out of 100. If you're buying these for phone calls, temper your expectations. The 20Ω impedance means they're easy to drive from any phone or laptop, no amp needed.

Stacked against the Soundcore P31i or Baseus Bass BP1 Pro, the H89 loses on features like wireless connectivity and ANC. But those cost more. The Sony WI-C100 has better brand pedigree and tuning, but again, more money. The JLab GO POP ANC and SoundPEATS C30 are closer in spirit, but the H89's wired simplicity means no battery anxiety and no Bluetooth pairing headaches. You're trading convenience for reliability and price.

At USD 10 to USD 19 depending on the listing, this is impulse buy territory. The 2-pack listing is the smart move if you lose earbuds like socks in a dryer. Compared to the EUR 35 price in Europe, the US pricing is clearly the better deal. For a wired IEM with a mic that handles podcasts and casual listening fine, it's hard to complain about the cost. Just don't expect flagship sound.

The BZINK H89 is a wired in-ear monitor that costs about as much as a fast food combo. It's got an 11mm dynamic driver, a built-in mic, and a 3.5mm plug that works with basically anything that still has a headphone jack. For the price, it's a perfectly fine beater pair of earbuds.

But let's be real. This is a budget IEM with budget IEM problems. The sound is decent for podcasts and casual listening, but the highs get scratchy and the bass is hit or miss depending on who you ask. Still, with a 4.4 star rating from 346 reviews, most people seem happy with what they got.

If you need accurate sound for music production or live monitoring, skip these. The highs are rolled off and the bass is inconsistent, which makes them a poor choice for critical listening. Also skip if call quality matters, the mic scores 24.1 out of 100 for calls and that's just not good enough for daily conference calls.

If you need a cheap pair of wired earbuds for school, work, or as a backup pair in your bag, the H89 does the job. Podcast listeners and students will get the most out of it. Musicians looking for accurate monitoring should look elsewhere, the highs just aren't there. But for everyone else, it's a low-risk purchase that mostly delivers.