Although our expectations aren't exactly high for true wireless earbuds under $30, at the very least we want decent, consistent sound quality. Unfortunately, we can't say this is true for JVC's $24.95 HA-A3T earphones due to an open design that makes it difficult to get consistent stereo imaging. Competing models under $50, including the exercise-friendly Tribit FlyBuds 3 ($35.99) and even JVC’s HA-A9T ($49.95) are simply better choices for your money.

Decent Fit and Responsive Controls

Available in black or white, the stem-style HA-A3T earpieces fit securely enough despite their open design. Sound performance is another issue entirely, though. Because they sit outside the ear canal, it's difficult to get a consistent ear-to-ear stereo image and a suitable amount of bass. This was true of open-style earbuds 15 years ago and it remains the case now.

Regardless, 11mm neodymium dynamic drivers deliver a frequency response of 20Hz to 20KHz, with an impedance of 16 ohms. The earphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.1 and support just the SBC codec, not AAC or AptX.

A capacitive touch panel sits above the stem on each earpiece. A single tap on either earbud controls playback and calls. Double and triple taps on the left earpiece lower or raise the volume, while the same gestures on the right earbud move you back or forward one track. Long presses on either activate your phone's voice assistant. It’s a little more common for gestures (such as double taps) to control a specific aspect (such as the volume), but this control layout works well and the buttons are very responsive.

An IPX4 rating means the earpieces can withstand light splashes or mists from any direction, but you can't submerge them or rinse them off under a faucet. Yes, this rating is a bit modest, but we have little room for complaint at this price. That said, the aforementioned Tribit Flybuds 3 boast a far more impressive IPX7 rating.

The charging case's attractive semi-matte material makes it easy to grip (in contrast with the glossy earbuds) and sports an etched JVC logo. The front panel houses status LEDs, while the back has a USB-C port for the included USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable.

JVC estimates that the earphones can last roughly 7.5 hours on a charge and that the case can provide another 15 hours of battery life. Those are decent claims for the price, but your results will vary based on your typical listening volume levels.

We don't necessarily expect an app at this price, but the lack of means you won't be able to tweak the sound via an EQ or customize the control layout.

An Open Design Overshadows Strong Drivers

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the drivers deliver impressive bass depth in light of their price, but nothing can save them from their basic design flaw. It's very difficult to position each earpiece so that it sits exactly the same way in each ear. It’s certainly possible for the earbuds to feel secure at varying angles, but that invariably leads to an unbalanced audio presentation. Furthermore, there’s no trick to getting it right—you have to start from square one each time you put them in—and the act of adjusting them is likely to trigger accidental control presses. All that aside, if you do manage to achieve a perfectly consistent ear-to-ear fit, the sound signature is a pleasant surprise. We noted robust bass and relatively defined highs in this listening test.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the sound signature, but again, the inconsistent imaging makes it almost impossible to get a completely transparent picture. In ideal scenarios, the drums sound almost thunderous and the highs sound crisp, but other times we struggled to even get one earpiece to sound as loud as the other.

On the hip-hop track “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives enough high-mid presence for its attack to retain its punch, while the sub-bass synth hits come across with some nice depth. Yet again, however, the uneven ear-to-ear imaging makes it difficult to fully enjoy the drivers' capabilities.

Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, have a bright presence if you can get an optimal fit. The higher-register brass, strings, and vocals remain in the spotlight here, while the lower-register instrumentation provides some appropriate anchoring.

The mic array sounds average at best. We could understand every word from a test recording on our iPhone, but the signal was a bit quiet and Bluetooth artifacts took over in spots. Calls shouldn't be an issue over a reliable signal, though the mics aren't likely to save you from a weak connection.

Cheap, But Cumbersome

The ideal customer for the JVC HA-A3T earphones is someone with a lot of patience and who doesn’t mind a lopsided sound signature. The open-ear design is a shame because, at times, these earbuds produce surprisingly good audio. Ultimately, you don't have to look hard to find other low-cost true wireless earbuds that offer superior value, including the aforementioned JVC HA-A9T and Tribit FlyBuds 3. We also like the JLab Go Air ($29.99) and the Skullcandy Dime ($24.99), because they too seal off the ear canal and sound better as a result. The bottom line is that unless you expressly prefer an open design, you have superior options even in this budget segment.