Right, let’s get into it. It’s the start of the year, we’re all a bit skint after the Christmas carnage, and the thought of dropping £300 on a pair of Sony or Bose headphones makes my wallet physically weep.
But, because we live in the future, you can now nip onto Amazon and find brands like Tribit promising the earth for the price of a decent pub lunch. Today, we’re looking at the Tribit QuietPlus 81. The box says “ULTRA LONG BATT” and “SMOOTH TALKING.” It’s a bold start, but can they actually deliver, or is it all just marketing fluff?
Good Points:
- Battery life is absolutely legendary.
- Folds up small for travel.
- USB-C fast charging (finally!).
- App support for EQ tweaking.
Bad Points:
- Sound is a bit muddy out of the box.
- Can feel a bit tight on the head after an hour.
- ANC is “okay,” not “wow.”
- App is a bit clunky.
- Travel case not included.
Build and Design: Not Quite a Ferrari
First impressions? They aren’t half bad to look at. They’ve gone for a rounded, minimalist vibe that doesn’t scream “I cost fifty quid” from across the street. They fold up proper-like, too, which is a godsend when you’re trying to shove them into a bag that’s already full of chargers and half-eaten packets of Crisps.
Build-wise, it’s plastic. Obviously. But it’s that decent, “won’t snap if I look at it funny” kind of plastic. There’s a bit of weight to them (about 283g), which gives them a reassuringly solid feel, though they do lack that premium “thunk” you get with the big boys.
Comfort: The “Head Vice” Factor
Now, Tribit talks a big game about “protein leather” and “memory foam.” In reality? They’re… okay. If you’ve got a normal-sized noggin, you’ll be fine for an hour or two. However, I found the clamping force a bit eager—like a friendly but overly firm handshake from a relative you haven’t seen in years.
If you wear glasses (like I do when I’m trying to look intelligent), you might find they start pressing into the side of your head after a while. And if you’ve got “grabby mitts” for ears, the cups might feel a tad on the small side. They aren’t uncomfortable, per se, but you’ll definitely know you’re wearing them.
Sound: Bass for Days (Maybe Too Many Days)
Right, the bit you actually care about. How do they sound?
Out of the box, these things are bass-heavy. Like, “vibrating your fillings out” heavy. If you’re into your dance music or heavy hip-hop, you’re going to have a whale of a time. The 40mm drivers really want to show off.
However, for everything else, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The mids and highs feel like they’re fighting for air through a thick woolly jumper. It’s “muddy,” as the audiophiles would say. I tried listening to some acoustic tracks, and it felt like the singer was performing from the back of a damp van.
The Saving Grace: The App.
You’ve got to download the Tribit app. Once you’re in there, you can mess with the EQ. I spent a good twenty minutes fiddling with the “6 EQ Modes” and managed to brighten things up. It won’t turn them into Sennheisers, but it makes them perfectly listenable for the commute.
Silence Please: The ANC
The “Quiet” in QuietPlus comes from the Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling. They claim to block out 45dB. In the real world (i.e., me sitting in a noisy coffee shop with a bloke shouting into his phone next to me), they do a “decent” job.
They’re great at killing the low-frequency hum of a bus engine or an office air-con unit. But if someone starts typing loudly or a baby starts having a meltdown, you’re still going to hear it. It’s more of a “polite request for quiet” than total silence.
Battery: The Real Winner
Here is where Tribit absolutely smashes it. They claim 110 hours of playtime with ANC off. One hundred and ten. That is mental. Even with ANC on, you get 70 hours.
I’ve been using these for a week—commuting, working, ignoring the wife—and I still haven’t had to plug them in. If you’re the kind of person who constantly forgets to charge your gear, these are your new best friends. Plus, 10 minutes of charging gives you 5 hours of juice. That’s proper impressive.
Verdict
Look, let’s be honest. For £49 / $49, you aren’t getting a studio-grade masterpiece. The sound is a bit thick, the fit is a bit tight, and the ANC won’t win any awards.
But! You get a battery that lasts until the heat death of the universe, a solid build, and sound that—once you’ve poked the app a bit—is perfectly fine for the gym or the train. If you’re “bit skint” but need some cans that just work without costing a month’s rent, the Tribit QuietPlus 81 are a solid, honest choice.