As I’ve had the chance to get my hands on some truly specular pieces of tech over the years, I always try to humble myself and check out some of the more affordable pieces of tech out there that just about every person can enjoy. Whether that’s a cheap daily driver that gets the job done or simply that piece of tech that you don’t mind tossing in your overnight bag, I always try to approach each product with the mindset of the everyman.

So naturally, when I was approached to check out Monoprice’s Dual Driver Headphone with ANC just in time for the holidays, my answer was yes. So, with a modest price tag and premium bells and whistles to offer, could this possibly be the piece of tech you can have bundled nicely under the tree?

What’s In The Box

When you get your hands on the Dual Driver Headphones, the box doesn’t seem like much at first. Luckily, once you open up, that’s where things get fun. The Dual Driver Headphones come with a USB-C charging cable, of course, but also a sturdy travel case. I wasn’t expecting to see a travel case for it, but was pleasantly surprised.

As someone who’s made the jump from working at home to going back to civilization, I love to keep my tech safe with me on the go. So seeing Monoprice toss an item like a case in with the headphones is a welcomed inclusion in keeping my headphones damage-free.

Specs and Audio Quality

Features:

• Dual Driver Design

• Bluetooth 5

• Multi‑point Pairing

• Hybrid ANC

• Transparency Mode

• Up to 70 Hours Playtime

• Clear Phone Calls

• Comfortable Earpads

• Foldable, Portable Design

I’ve got to say, at first glance, these headphones can sound a bit weak in the bass department, but they make up for it with just how well they manage to make things sound good, for the price. This isn’t an expensive set of headphones, coming in at just $69.99, but they still manage to offer some pretty cool features that make them feel like a premium purchase. The sound is balanced pretty well, if not a bit flat overall. No tin sounds though come from the amps which make the sound signature pleasant.

Users can expect a foldable design that neatly tucks away in the handy dandy case, making storage fantastic. The overall battery usage was great, as I fell asleep with them one evening and awoke to music still being played into my ears, with hours more of usage on the way. They also managed to stand up against my rigorous tossing and turning at night without breaking, which is amazing. I also really liked the inclusion of the transparency mode too. It was helpful to have, though wasn’t perfect, of course.

Feedback

My biggest piece of criticism for these headphones is the fact that the tiny screws that hold the headphones to the foldable part of the headband can slip out. They’re able to slide back into place with ease, but it’s just a construction design choice that detracts from the overall experience with the headphones, especially when they feel structurally sound otherwise.

Conclusion

After having spent much time with the Dual Driver Headphones, I find that my biggest takeaways are that it has a decent audio experience, and a nice carrying case, but the hinges can be finicky. For $69.99, I’d say that these are really a good pair of headphones for your average user like a parent or teen that you may be shopping for. However, if you’re looking for something for someone who needs more from their headphones or is on the pickier side, like me, these are really only a good pair of headphones to have on backup if your daily drivers go out, or you just don’t want something to knock around a bit more than your expensive headphones.