If you’re looking for affordable, high-quality headphones with noise cancellation, the Monoprice 110010 headphones deserve your consideration. Based on our testing, this article will investigate everything you need to know about these headphones by examining their design, sound quality, features, and performance.
Monoprice offers electronics and accessories at budget-friendly prices without compromising quality. The 110010 headphones continue this trend, delivering well-balanced sound and effective noise cancellation in an attractive package for just over $100.
Whether you want headphones for travel, work, gaming, or everyday use, keep reading to find out if the 110010s are suitable for your needs and budget. Let’s start with an overview of the key specs and what you get in the box.
Design and Build Quality
The Monoprice 110010 headphones have a simple yet elegant design. The headband and ear cups are durable plastic with soft padding to distribute pressure comfortably around the ears. The ear cups swivel to lay flat, making the headphones compact enough to store in the included carrying case.
At just under half a pound, the 110010s feel lightweight and are suitable for extended listening sessions. The headband has flex but doesn’t feel flimsy, while the plastic construction keeps the weight down without compromising stability. Monoprice focused on practicality and comfort with these headphones rather than flashy aesthetics.
Regarding controls, the left ear cup houses a single button for powering the active noise cancellation on or off. Volume, track navigation, and call management are handled via the in-line remote on the detachable cable. The controls are simple to use but could benefit from more tactile feedback.
The included carrying case protects the headphones from scratches and bumps when traveling. It’s made of hard EVA foam with a zipper closure to keep the headphones secure. A 1/8-inch audio cable, airplane adapter, AAA battery, and user manual round out what’s in the box.
While not as premium as more expensive brands, the Monoprice 110010 headphones feel well-built for the price. The plastic body shows no obvious weak points, and our testing found the headphones durable enough for everyday use. Monoprice nails the fundamentals of fit, finish, and portability at this budget level.
Comfort and Fit
The Monoprice 110010 headphones are comfortable enough for extended listening sessions thanks to the lightweight design and soft ear pads. The clamping force from the flexible headband is just right – not too tight or loose—and the ear cups swivel to fit comfortably over ears of different shapes and sizes.
One minor downside is that the ear pads could be larger enough to envelop the ears fully. Some listeners may find their ears touching the inner plastic after prolonged use. But most will find a comfortable seal can be achieved. The headband’s padding could also be thicker for all-day comfort.
The closed-back design helps create passive noise isolation. And when active noise cancellation kicks in via the onboard microphone, outside sounds are reduced even further for a more immersive listening experience. The tight seal around the ears prevents sound from leaking out, so you can listen at moderate volumes without disturbing others.
The Monoprice 110010 headphones balance comfort, fit, and isolation well for the price point. Any minor shortcomings are easy to overlook, given how well they perform for casual daily use. Most users will find these headphones comfortable enough to enjoy for hours.
Sound Quality
Where the Monoprice 110010 headphones shine is sound quality, for under $100, these headphones deliver remarkably balanced audio across different genres of music.
Bass: The bass is punchy and well-extended without being overpowering. It adds welcome depth and texture to music without bleeding into the mids. Bass lovers may want even more low-end emphasis, but the bass hits an excellent middle ground for most genres.
Mids: Vocals and instruments come through the mids with clarity and presence. Male and female vocals sound natural and detailed. Guitars, pianos, and other mid-range instruments have a smooth, linear response.
Highs: The highs are crisp and airy without sounding harsh or sibilant. Cymbals, high-hats, and other high-frequency elements are reproduced faithfully. Even at high volumes, there’s no listening fatigue from exaggerated treble.
Soundstage: While less comprehensive or three-dimensional than open-back designs, costing far more, the Monoprice 110010s do a fine job localizing instruments across the spectrum. You won’t understand sounds from all around, but separation and imaging are perfect for a closed-back pair in this price class.
Overall, the sound signature skews toward neutral, making these headphones a great all-rounder for multiple music genres and media. They don’t emphasize any part of the frequency range at the expense of others. Bass-heavy music like EDM gets an enjoyable low-end boost thanks to the well-extended lows. Acoustic, classical, and other genres benefit from the clarity in the mids and highs.
Gamers will appreciate the precision that helps locate enemy players. And the soundstage, while not the largest, is more than adequate for competitive multiplayer. Whether you want to enjoy music, movies, games, or more, the Monoprice 110010s deliver high-quality audio that belies their affordable price.
Active Noise Cancellation
One of the standout features of the Monoprice 110010 headphones is active noise cancellation (ANC). Using dual microphones and digital signal processing, ANC monitors ambient sound and generates an inverse waveform to cancel out low-frequency noises like engine hums, air conditioning systems, etc.
The implementation here is quite effective. With ANC engaged, background noises are reduced noticeably without negatively impacting sound quality. Plane, train, and bus engines, traffic sounds, and chatter are diminished to a whisper. This allows you to listen at lower volumes while still being able to hear your audio.
ANC is different from premium brands but gets the job done well for a budget option. According to our tests, it’s most effective on consistent low-frequency sounds below 1kHz and reduces them by up to 15dB. Higher frequencies see less attenuation, so voices aren’t silenced completely. But overall, ANC makes these headphones a great choice for noisy commutes and environments.
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Battery Life and Connectivity
The Monoprice 110010 headphones are wired headphones with optional Bluetooth connectivity via a separate adapter (sold separately). As wired headphones, they can be driven directly from any audio source without recharge.
When using the ANC feature, battery life from the included AAA battery is around 30 hours. This is enough juice to get through long transcontinental flights or days of continuous use between charges. And if the battery dies, ANC switches off while audio playback continues via the wired connection.
Monoprice sells a Bluetooth adapter cable for wireless connectivity that plugs into the headphones’ standard 3.5mm audio jack. Pairing is simple, and audio streams over Bluetooth 4.1 with good range and minimal latency. This adds wireless freedom and the convenience of taking calls hands-free.
Of course, going wireless requires charging the Bluetooth adapter periodically via USB. Battery life here is rated around 15 hours per charge with ANC enabled. So, for extended use cases, the wired connection remains the most practical option. But Bluetooth expands the functionality nicely for on-the-go wireless convenience.
Value and Versatility
At well under $100, it’s easier to find a more versatile and well-rounded pair of headphones than the Monoprice 110010. They can be used wired or wirelessly via Bluetooth, have effective active noise cancellation, and deliver excellent audio quality across various media.
Whether you want a reliable set of headphones for the office, travel, workouts, or gaming, the 110010s fit the bill perfectly. Their lightweight yet durable design promotes comfort during long listening sessions. And with battery life in the 30-hour range, you won’t have to worry about constant charging on the go.
Compared to competing brands at this price point, the 110010s offer a more balanced sound signature and noticeably better noise cancellation. Build quality also exceeds expectations, given the low cost. Add the optional Bluetooth functionality via the adapter cable, and these headphones become even more helpful.
For under $100, it’s hard to imagine a more complete package than what Monoprice delivers with the 110010 headphones. Their versatility across applications and quality in critical areas like sound, design, and features make them easy to recommend unreservedly to anyone looking for an affordable pair daily.
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Conclusion
In summary, the Monoprice 110010 headphones are a tremendous value at their low price point. They offer well-balanced, detailed sound, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable, durable design. Battery life is excellent, and optional Bluetooth expands their use cases.
While not perfect and lacking some premium features of pricier competitors, the 110010s excel where it counts most – audio quality, performance, and versatility. They serve as a do-it-all set of cans for casual listening, commuting, gaming, workouts, or travel.
