9 Best Tried and True Japanese Neckband Earphones in 2022 (Sony, Pioneer, and More)
There are a lot of neckband earphones out there on the market, everything from big name manufacturers like Sony and Bose to more affordable entry-level products. Choosing the one that's right for you could prove difficult.
Well luckily, our editors searched Japanese e-commerce sites like Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping for the 9 most popular neckband earphones out there. Then we put them to the test! We also included a buying guide to help you choose the best neckband earphones for you.
We tested each product for the following 5 criteria.
- How easy are they to use?
- Are they comfortable?
- Do they sound good?
- Is there a lag when watching videos?
- Does the noise leak out and bother other people?
So, which one will stand out above the rest? Use this article as a reference to help you make your purchase.
Quick List - Top Japanese Neckband Earphones
SONY
Noise-Canceling Earphones with Amazing Sound Quality
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
How to Choose Japanese Neckband Earphones
Before deciding on which neckband earphones are right for you, we would like you to consider the following four points.
Choose Based on Level of Comfort
First, let's examine 4 different points to look out for when considering the level of comfort and stability of your neckband earphones.
Choose a Thinner Neckband for Reduced Pressure
In order to reduce the pressure you feel around your neck, try and choose one with a thinner band. Doing so will reduce the amount of surface area on the neck being covered by the band and make you feel more comfortable when using them.
Purchase One with Adjustable Cords
A cord that's too long could end up hitting you in the face. To avoid that, check to see if the cord is adjustable before purchasing.
For those products that don't have adjustable cords, try them on once to see if the length of the cord will become a problem. You can also use the information in our rankings to help you.
Check to See if the Earphones are Magnetized
To get the most from neckband headphones and the merits they can provide, choose ones whose ear pieces are magnetized for a comfortable feel even when you're not using them. These will stick right to each other once you take them out of your ears and let them dangle in front of you.
This will also prevent the ear pieces from dangling and banging into each other when not in use.
Increase Your Level of Comfort with Different-Sized Ear Pieces
Most, if not all, neckband earphones come with earplug-like ear pieces that fit right inside the ear. Choosing the size that's right for you will help in preventing them from unnecessarily falling out of your ears.
In order to make finding the right size ear piece that fits your ear easier, choose a product with more choices. And if you find that none of them fit all that well, you could always buy separate ones on your own.
Find One with at Least Five Hours of Battery Life
We recommend purchasing earphones with at least a 5-hour battery life. This way you won't run the risk of running out of battery halfway through your day.
Neckband earphones are famous for having a long battery life with an average of about 10 hours. For those of you focused on battery life, choose neckband earphones that can be used for at least that long.
Check the Codec for Sound Quality and Sound Delay
There are a lot of elements to consider when trying to know whether or not your earphones have good sound quality or not and is almost impossible to tell just by a glance. But one thing you could do is look at the codec.
This tells you the method of sound transmission, so if you choose one that supports one of higher quality, you can reduce the amount of sound delay you'll experience. If you choose SSC for iPhones and aptX for Androids, you'll be able to enjoy better sounding music with less delay.
One point you'll need to watch out for is whether the codec's transmitting device (smartphones, etc.) and receiving device (earphones, etc.) are compatible. So, before purchasing your neckband earphones, check not only the earphones themselves but also your smartphone to see if it supports the proper codec!
Check for Functions That Match Your Lifestyle
Here are some convenient functions common to most neckband earphones. Choose the ones that best fit your life and style!
Vibration Function to Alert You to Incoming Calls, Emails or Texts
With some neckband earphones, you can turn your phone off as well as set your notifications to vibrate.
If those of you who receive a lot of calls or emails for work have this function available, you'll be able to get them more easily. And if you ever receive a call when listening to music, you'll be able to switch over in the push of a button.
Immerse Yourself in Music with Noise Canceling
A lot of high-end models come with noise-canceling capabilities. This means that you'll be able to drown out the sounds of the outside world when concentrating at work or when you really want to get into the groove when on a train or airplane.
It is possible to purchase earphones equipped with noise-cancelling capabilities for under $50.00, so don't think this is solely a function of the more expensive, higher-end models.
Functions to Keep You Aware of Your Surroundings
There are also earphones with a function that will actually allow you to listen in to what's going on around you. With these, you'll be able to stay alert at work as well as listen for important announcements on trains or in other areas.
When speaking while using your earphones, your own voice will reverberate so try not to speak in too loud a voice.
Cases to Prevent Damage
Some larger models may be more difficult to carry around and even store in your bag. Struggling to get them in or applying to much force could damage your earphones very easily.
To avoid any unnecessary damage or breakage, choose ones made of a soft silicon or that come with a case.
9 Best Japanese Neckband Earphones Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SONY h.ear in 2 Wireless｜WIH700B | | Your Number One Best Buy for Neckband Earphones! | |
2 | SONY Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones｜WI-1000XM2 | | Noise-Canceling Earphones with Amazing Sound Quality | |
3 | JVC Wireless Stereo Headset｜HA-FX33XBT-Z | | Great Neckband Earphones for Bass Lovers | |
4 | JPRiDE 5-Tone Earphones｜412 | | Customize Your Sound with These Secure-Fitting Earphones | |
5 | SONY Wireless In-Ear Headphones｜WI-C310 | | Good Audio That's Easy on Your Wallet | |
6 | Colel Bluetooth Earphones | | Comfortable Earphones for Great Bass and Sound | |
7 | Pioneer In-Ear Wireless Headphones｜SE-C7BT | | Strong Bass but Muffled Sound Overall | |
8 | SONY SBH82D | | You Can Hear Outside Sounds, but People Can Also Hear Your Music | |
9 | bikuto Bluetooth Earphones｜C3 | | Good for Sports, but Not for Music |
SONYh.ear in 2 Wireless ｜ WIH700B
Your Number One Best Buy for Neckband Earphones!
Here we have SONY's h.ear in 2 Wireless neckband earphones, with a high-resolution sound generator that give you a beautiful sound from bass to soprano. And with 5 different colors to choose from, you can enjoy coordinating your earphones to match your fashion sense.
These earphones ranked high in all categories but particularly high in sound quality, sound delay and comfort.
The sound and tone from the headphones was beautiful in all ranges. The bass was a little bit too strong, but since the rhythm could be felt, the sound won't tire you out. There was little to no sound delay, meaning you can watch movies with ease.
Our editors found that even though the earphones were easy to take out there is no worry about them falling out of your ears while using them. The neckband was also said to be comfortable and stable.
SONYNoise Canceling Wireless Headphones ｜ WI-1000XM2
Noise-Canceling Earphones with Amazing Sound Quality
Here we have another pair of neckband earphones from Sony with great sound and tone as well as noise-canceling capabilities.
These earphones were rated highly for their sound quality and even though the lower ranges are a bit strong, the sound is amazingly clear, giving it that top-level quality.
However, the remote control connected to the neckband is a bit on the heavy side. Therefore, we recommend these earphones for those who enjoy sitting down and listening to music rather than when walking around outside and the like.
JVCWireless Stereo Headset ｜ HA-FX33XBT-Z
Great Neckband Earphones for Bass Lovers
With an extremely deep sound, these JVC neckband earphones are great for listening to more forceful and intense music.
When testing them, we found the low tones to be extremely remarkable. But even so, they didn't rate too highly simply because they're not for everyone and their preferences towards music. However, they're easy to use and fit comfortably, so if you like bass, go for these.
JPRiDE5-Tone Earphones ｜ 412
Customize Your Sound with These Secure-Fitting Earphones
A great feature of these earphones is that you can switch between 5 different tones. With just a single product, you can enjoy a number of different kinds of music adjusted to your liking.
Their sound quality rated only a little bit above average. The sound of drums was a bit tinny and not too strong at all, and the lower tones were a little muffled overall. Although, mid to high level tones were clear, letting us hear the vocals beautifully.
The comfort was good and the ear hooks gave them stability, landing a high score in this category.
We recommend these earphones for those of you not too picky about sound quality and who have sometimes had trouble with past earphones falling out.
SONYWireless In-Ear Headphones ｜ WI-C310
Good Audio That's Easy on Your Wallet
Here we have another pair of neckband earphones from Sony, but this time for under $50.00! Comfort and sound quality earned perfect scores in our tests, making these earphones a great buy for the price without sacrificing quality.
But there's a bit of a sound lag when watching videos, and we weren't too keen on the lack of smoothness when pairing with our device. The time it took from putting them on to actually getting to listen to music was quite long, and to be honest, a bit irritating.
These earphones are perfect if you're looking for good audio without breaking the bank.
ColelBluetooth Earphones
Comfortable Earphones for Great Bass and Sound
These earphones have a long playback and a high water resistance level, so you'll have no problems using them in the rain or when you sweat during exercise.
Although the maker appealed to its ease of use, it didn't rate that high in that category, and we weren't satisfied with them in general.
We recommend using these earphones only for listening to music rather than for watching movies. Higher tones weren't all too great, but we felt the lower tones could be heard rather comfortably, making it an overall decent product.
PioneerIn-Ear Wireless Headphones ｜ SE-C7BT
Strong Bass but Muffled Sound Overall
Here we have earphones from an audio maker we know and trust: Pioneer. However, what stood out in our examination was their subpar sound quality. The sound was rather muffled and the bass was too strong, making it easy to get tired when listening for an extended period of time.
While moving around, the remote control on the neckband kept hitting our collarbones which, to say the least, left a less than desired impression.
The notifications being sent to your smartphone and read automatically is a great feature to have. If you like big bass and want that feature, they're okay for watching movies.
You Can Hear Outside Sounds, but People Can Also Hear Your Music
Here we have yet another pair of neckband earphones from Sony. With these earphones, you'll be able to enjoy your music while still being able hear what's going on around you.
The sound overall is rather muffled, but you'll be able to hear the bass quite well if you just turn up the volume. However, increasing the volume too much could bother the people around you.
They're recommended for those of you who like to listen to music in the comfort of your own home as well as when running or jogging.
bikutoBluetooth Earphones ｜ C3
Good for Sports, but Not for Music
Here we have neckband earphones from bikuto with a high resistance to water, making them great for using while playing sports.
These earphones didn't score well at all in the ease of use and sound quality categories. It's almost as if they weren't designed with listening to music in mind. The sound of the music is muffled and the vocals sound like they are somewhere far off in the distance.
How We Tested the Products
We purchased the top 9 best-selling Japanese neckband earphones from Japanese websites like Amazon and Rakuten and put them to the test!
We tested each product for the following 5 criteria.
①： Ease of Use
②： Comfort
③： Sound Quality
④： Sound Delay
⑤： Sound Leakage
For this examination, we used an iPhone X.
Test ① Ease of Use
In our ease of use test, we established a number of criteria and tested to see how they applied to each set of earphones. Here's a list of the things we rated them on.
- Pairing smoothness
- Whether they come with magnets
- Whether or not you can adjust cord length
- The amount and quality of extra ear pieces
- The material of the neckband
During our investigation, we found no set at all that scored perfectly for each and every criterion, so it's important to decide your sound priorities before buying.
Test ② Comfort
For the comfort examination, three of our editors inserted each set of earphones into their ears then proceeded to tilt their heads from side to side, jump around, and even shake their heads violently to see if the earphones would come loose and fall out.
The Band Fit Bothered Us More Than Earphones Falling out
Since the neckband supports the earphones well, we didn't have any real worries about them falling out at all. That being the case, each set of earphones scored quite well in this category.
However, during the jump test, we found a number of the products' neckbands would bounce up and down, hitting our collarbones. These specific earphones are not recommended for running and jogging or for people who constantly find themselves running down stairs on an everyday basis.
Test ③ Sound Quality
For the sound quality test, we played the popular song Pretender by Official HIGE DANdism.
Using the battery life of each set of earphones as the background for the test, we were looking to see if using the earphones over a long period of time would get tiresome instead of looking for whether or not they had a crisp sound.
We also tested to see if the sound was clean, whether or not the high pitches were tinny and whether or not the low pitches (bass) were too stressed.
Choosing a Reliable Manufacturer is Better Than Worrying about Codecs
More than half of all the earphones scored over a 4.0 in terms of sound quality. Even the low-ranking SBC codec had a good sound so we noticed that it was more about the maker and their ability to produce a good sound that affected the outcome of the ranking more than anything.
So, if you're all about getting the best sound quality possible from your neckband earphones, go with a trusted brand like Sony.
Test ④ Sound Delay
For the sound delay test, we watched both a comedy show, which wouldn't be affected too much even if there were a delay, as well as a dance performance, to determine what sort of delay in sound existed when it came to watching videos.
Only Two Products Failed, Including a High Ranking Codec
Only a couple of the earphones we tested turned out to have a horrible sound delay. One had a SBC codec, and the other actually had AAC.
You'll be able to avoid having significant sound delay if you choose a product that doesn't use SBC, but we also found out that not all AAC codec using earphones have low sound delay.
Test ⑤ Sound Leakage
In the sound leakage test, one of our editors listened to music at a level of seven out of 16 on their device while another editor sat one desk away and listened in.
If You Listen to it at a Reasonable Volume, There's No Issue
None of the earphones we tested were found to leak any sound whatsoever. You can rest assured that no one will be bothered by your music as long as you listen to it at a reasonable volume.
However, if you raise the volume too high, you'll run the risk of bothering others. We recommend listening at a lower volume in crowded places, such as on the train.
The Merits and Demerits of Owning Neckband Earphones
Neckband earphones are just one kind of Bluetooth earphones. These particular ones wrap around your neck and you use the attached ear pieces to listen to music or watch videos.
A demerit of using neckband earphones is that the hard material of the band may prove uncomfortable around your neck. Also, you may find them hard to store or carry around with you.
A merit of using them is that the band itself is much more stable than just the cord of simple earphones. Also, the battery life of neckband earphones is much longer than other Bluetooth earphones.
Here are More Great Products for Audiophiles!
This time we introduced a number of neckband earphones, but here are more gadgets you might be interested in!
Top 5 Japanese Neckband Earphones
No. 1: SONY｜h.ear in 2 Wireless｜WIH700B
No. 2: SONY｜Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones｜WI-1000XM2
No. 3: JVC｜Wireless Stereo Headset｜HA-FX33XBT-Z
No. 4: JPRiDE｜5-Tone Earphones｜412
No. 5: SONY｜Wireless In-Ear Headphones｜WI-C310
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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