ZDNET’s key findings

• The QCY H3 headphones are available on Amazon for $40 at the time of writing.
• You will hardly find a headphone at this price that sounds better.
• The H3 headphones do not come with a 1/4-inch adapter for wired connection and the sound is not nearly as good with ANC turned off.

When I get headphones to review from companies I’ve never heard of, I immediately doubt whether they can measure up. I love it when I’m wrong, especially when a pair of headphones are dirt cheap.

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This was the case when I QCY H3 headphones.

Also: I gave these $79 headphones a second chance and they surprised me in the best way

When I opened the box, I thought, “Okay, these don’t look bad, but how good can a $40 pair of headphones sound?” The answer to that question is “very good.”

The specifications

• 40mm membrane driver with a frequency range up to 40 kHz (no information at the lower end)
• Sensitivity – 99 dB
• Bluetooth 5.4 with a range of up to 15 meters
• Audio latency – 68 milliseconds
• Hi-Res Audio (requires a device that supports this feature)
• Hybrid Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) to reduce ambient noise by 90%
• Wired and wireless connectivity
• Multipoint connectivity for up to two devices
• Controller Type – Button
• Weight: 9.2 ounces
• Battery – 60 hours playtime with ANC off

My experience

For my usual test, I plugged the H3 headphones into my Pixel 8 Pro, opened Spotify, and turned up Rush’s album “Signals.”

My immediate reaction was, “No way.” I didn’t install the QCY app to customize the sound. I prefer to hear what the manufacturer intended when reading reviews. The sound these inexpensive headphones produce is rich. While these cans aren’t studio quality, the sound doesn’t seem overly processed. Sure, you can detect some alteration, but the overall mix is ​​smooth and spacious.

Also: I test dozens of headphones a year, and these might be the best under $100

On “Signals,” Geddy Lee’s bass was so present I felt like I could pluck the strings of his Rickenbacker, and Neil Peart’s cymbals were clear and crisp. Alex Lifeson’s guitar sounds great (he’s my favorite guitarist).

As for soundstage (the ability to close your eyes and imagine where each instrumentalist or singer is), the H3s tend to be more narrow, so that most of the sound seems to be right in front of you. There is some separation, but it’s not nearly as pronounced as on more expensive devices. That’s to be expected in a headphone that costs less than $50, and I can certainly forgive the H3s, because the sound is still stunning.

I decided to switch genres and listen to “Are You Really Okay?” by Sleep Token. The sound was just smooth enough to give the song an extra dimension. Right at the start of the chorus, there’s a rumble that you can’t hear with earplugs, and that’s exactly what the song needs. When the drums kick in, you get the right kick without the sound being intrusive. This song always draws me in – and with the H3s, that pull is even stronger.

Also: I’m an audiophile, and these $150 headphones fooled me

Next came one of my favorite choral pieces, “The Road Home” by Stephen Paulus. The harmonious breathing of the singers between phrases makes me smile. This song is a good way to test headphones and their ability to separate voices. The H3s did a great job.

I decided to listen to some Van Halen (because I’ve always appreciated how well their albums are mastered). I chose “Poundcake” and “Spanked” from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. The H3s did a great job of handling the highs and lows of both songs for a pair of $43 headphones (and Van Halen are known for their songs having a specific EQ curve that includes a lot of lows, not much mids, and a ton of highs).

As for the ANC, I can’t imagine listening to these headphones without it. The ANC is great at blocking noise, and the off and passthrough modes significantly degrade the sound quality.

The only criticisms I can make are that the 3.5mm cable should have come with a ¼” adapter, as most phones don’t even have a headphone jack and most stereo receivers are ¼”. I would have loved to hook these up to my stereo and listen to my record player through it, but I couldn’t find an adapter in my mountain of audio cables and plugs. Remember: buy one.

Buying advice from ZDNET

Seriously, if you want a pair of comfortable headphones that deliver sound well above their price, you could do much worse than the QCY-H3 Headphones. Even without an app to adjust the equalizer, these headphones bring your music to life with a fine balance of lows, mids, and highs. These headphones may not be audiophile-grade, but you’d think they came from a company like Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, Dennon, or Sennheiser—and that’s high praise.