# Earbuds with good sound quality

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/tech/earbuds/sound-quality/
Category: Tech > Wireless earbuds. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 252 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Aug 2021 to Oct 2026.

**Question:** Which earbuds have good sound quality?

**Short answer:** Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) has the best record for sound: 33 of 35 shoppers who judged it called it clear and full. That first-generation pair isn't sold new on Amazon anymore, which makes Bose QuietComfort Earbuds the best pick on Amazon at 21 of 25. JLab Go Air Sport has the weakest record here at 21 of 34.

**What stands out:** Good sound and good noise cancelling tend to show up together. The first two pairs are the ones reviewers credit with good noise cancelling, in 30% and 43% of their reviews, and it barely comes up for the other five.

## Ranking (shoppers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Sounds good | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) | 33 of 35 | 94% | no |
| 2 | Bose QuietComfort Earbuds | 21 of 25 | 84% | yes |
| 3 | JLab Go Air Pop | 30 of 37 | 81% | yes |
| 4 | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | 19 of 23 | 83% | yes |
| 5 | JLab Go Air | 26 of 35 | 74% | yes |
| 6 | Apple AirPods 4 | 22 of 31 | 71% | yes |
| 7 | JLab Go Air Sport | 21 of 34 | 62% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation)

Sound praise turns up in 85% of reviews, and just 2 of 35 shoppers who judged it called it weak. Keep in mind these reviews are for the first generation, which you won't find new on Amazon.

- Praised for: Good noise cancelling (30%), Comfortable (15%), Stay in (13%)
- Complaints: Fall out (8%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 2. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

21 of 25 said these sound good, and 43% praise the noise cancelling too. The bigger worry is the link to your phone: 46% of reviews report connection issues. Bose's own site comes in at 9 of 10, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Good noise cancelling (43%), Comfortable (18%), Good battery (7%)
- Complaints: Connection issues (46%), Stopped working (21%), Uncomfortable (7%)
- Reports counted: 28

### 3. JLab Go Air Pop

More shoppers judged the sound of these than of any other pair here, and 30 of 37 liked what they heard. 38% call them good value, while 20% found the sound weak.

- Praised for: Good value (38%), Good battery (28%), Comfortable (13%)
- Complaints: Battery problems (8%), Uncomfortable (8%), Connection issues (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 4. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

An open-ear pair that rests outside the ear canal, and the sound held up for 19 of 23 shoppers. 54% call them comfortable, but 25% mention connection issues.

- Praised for: Comfortable (54%), Stay in (29%), Good battery (13%)
- Complaints: Connection issues (25%), Battery problems (17%), Bad mic (13%)
- Reports counted: 24

### 5. JLab Go Air

Weak sound comes up in 25% of reviews for the original Go Air, though 26 of 35 were happy with it. 25% call them good value.

- Praised for: Good value (25%), Good battery (15%), Comfortable (10%)
- Complaints: Fall out (15%), Stopped working (8%), Battery problems (5%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 6. Apple AirPods 4

These trail the first-generation Pro on sound at 22 of 31. 22% of reviews call the sound weak, and 12% complain about the mic.

- Praised for: Comfortable (18%), Good battery (10%), Good noise cancelling (5%)
- Complaints: Fall out (23%), Bad mic (13%), Weak noise cancelling (8%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 7. JLab Go Air Sport

Shoppers like how these feel, with 28% calling them comfortable. Sound is where they fall short: 32% of reviews call it weak, and 21 of 34 is the weakest record here.

- Praised for: Comfortable (28%), Good value (25%), Stay in (23%)
- Complaints: Connection issues (10%), Uncomfortable (8%), Stopped working (8%)
- Reports counted: 40

## Questions

**Which earbuds have good sound quality?**

Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) has the best record at 33 of 35, but it's no longer sold new on Amazon. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (21 of 25) and JLab Go Air Pop (30 of 37) come next.

**Do AirPods 4 sound as good as AirPods Pro?**

Not in these reviews. 22 of 31 shoppers liked the sound of Apple AirPods 4, against 33 of 35 for Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation). The Pro reviewed here is the first generation, so these counts don't cover newer AirPods Pro.

**Do JLab earbuds sound good?**

JLab Go Air Pop does for 30 of 37 shoppers. JLab Go Air (26 of 35) and JLab Go Air Sport (21 of 34) are further back, with weak sound raised in 25% and 32% of their reviews.

**Do open-ear earbuds sound good?**

The open-ear pair here does: 19 of 23 liked the sound of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, close to Bose QuietComfort Earbuds at 21 of 25. That's one pair, so it doesn't speak for every open-ear design.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/