Short answer: the Sony MDR-ZX110, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #444 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.9/5, at $13; the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 ranks #459, rated 1.6/5, and costs $67.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 481 over-ear headphones, and the Superlux HD 668B, ranked #29 at $49.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
What the Sony MDR-ZX110 does well: Very inexpensive, wired and light at 0.3 lbs (120 g), with 24 ohms and 98 dB/mW so it plays loudly enough from a phone or laptop. Watch for: Sub-bass falls 6 dB below target by 40 Hz and 10 dB by 30 Hz, a 17 dB dip near 11.5 kHz removes air and an 8.6 dB peak near 8.1 kHz adds sibilance, giving a preference score of only 35.
What the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 does well: Active noise cancelling and a claimed 60 hours of battery (40 with ANC on) make it an inexpensive travel and commuting option, and a wired connection is there when the battery runs out. The tradeoff: The response is far from neutral, with a preference score of only 27.7, and the boosted bass spills over vocals and instruments.
Buy the Sony MDR-ZX110. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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Very inexpensive, wired and light at 120 g, with 24 ohms and 98 dB/mW so it plays loudly enough from a phone or laptop.
Amazon $13.00 eBay
Active noise cancelling and a claimed 60 hours of battery (40 with ANC on) make it an inexpensive travel and commuting option, and a wired connection is there when the battery runs out.
Amazon $67.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony MDR-ZX110 | Anker Soundcore Life Q30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.00 | $67.99 |
| Ranked | #444 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #459 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 35 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 28 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.49 dB standard deviation | 4.23 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-10.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0.3 lbs (120 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 16Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 60 hours (40 with ANC on, Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
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