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MEElectronics HT-21 headphones review: Balanced sound for a bargain

You may be fooled by their featherweight design, but the MEElectronics HT-21s earn our recommendation for their ample soundstage, subtle aesthetic, and portable convenience.

Justin Yu Associate Editor / Reviews - Printers and peripherals
Justin Yu covered headphones and peripherals for CNET.
Justin Yu
2 min read
Watch this: MEElectronics HT-21

If you're upgrading your headphones and don't want to spend a lot, the MEElectronics HT-21 over ear headphones are a competent balance of comfort and quality. Best of all, they'll only set you back $50.

Visually, the HT-21s don't stand out from other brands that favor loud colors and trendy prints. Instead, they're simply designed with an all-black exterior and black faux-leather earpads to withstand the test of time without making a fashion statement.

The thick plastic lining the silver metal headband also gives the HT-21s extra durability, and they're comfortable to wear for several hours thanks to the pleather-lined headband.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Other features we also like include a 4-foot rubber cable that extends from the left earpad so you can easily fold them up and wrap the cord for storage. You also get a unique 3.5mm hybrid plug that sits at a 45-degree angle, giving you the sturdiness of an L-plug with the universal fit of a straight one.

The HT-21s aren't great for noise isolation despite their closed-back design, but for $40 we can't complain. The sound signature has a natural sense that you'll definitely notice if you're still using the stock earbuds that came with your music player, but don't expect monstrous bass out of them; these present a slightly brighter soundstage that exposes more mid and treble levels.

On the other hand, if bass is your main priority, we recommend these headphones' competitors in the same price range: the Sennheiser PX 100-IIi or the Koss PortaPros.

Check out our full review of the MEElectronics HT-21 portable headphones.