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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• JBL Tune 500 — biggest strength: 32 mm dynamic drivers voiced for JBL Pure Bass, on-ear fit, a tangle-free flat cable and a foldable, lightweight plastic frame you can toss in a bag.
• JBL Tune 500 — biggest trade-off: it's a 3.5 mm headphone with no noise cancelling and a single-button remote, so it needs a headphone jack and won't seal out a noisy commute.
• ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones — biggest strength: a USB-C plug plus over-ear hooks and three sizes of eartips, so the buds stay locked in during running, jogging and gym work.
• ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones — biggest trade-off: earbud-style isolation only, button controls instead of touch, and it lives or dies by whether your device has a USB-C port.
• Who each pick is for: JBL Tune 500 for desk work, calls, travel and anyone with a 3.5 mm jack; ASKUBSKU for phone-first movers with a USB-C port who want buds that don't fall out.
The Tune 500 is the classic shape of wired headphone: an on-ear cup, a 3.5 mm jack, and a cable that runs to a one-button remote and mic. JBL rates the drivers at 32 mm with a 20 Hz–20 kHz frequency range and 32 ohm impedance — that impedance figure matters, because it's the kind of load a phone or laptop headphone output drives easily without extra hardware. The tuning is the point of the product: JBL Pure Bass, the same bass-forward voicing the brand builds its reputation on.
Physically it's built for being carried. The frame is plastic, the weight is listed at 148 g, and it folds, which is why I'd point a commuter or a student at it. The flat cable is designed not to tangle, and the single button handles play/pause, calls and voice assistants — press it and you get Siri or Google Now. Note that noise control is listed as none, so this is not a headphone for drowning out a train. It's for hearing your music clearly in a reasonably quiet room, an office, or on a walk.
Who should skip it? Anyone whose phone has no headphone jack and who doesn't want a dongle. Anyone who wants earbuds that disappear into a pocket. And anyone who needs the buds to survive sprint intervals — an on-ear headphone shifts when you move. If your listening is mostly seated and wired, this is the more natural fit of the two.
This is a very different animal: a wired in-ear earbud that plugs into USB-C and hooks over the top of your ear. The hook is the whole design idea. ASKUBSKU describes them as sport earbuds for running, jogging and gym sessions, and the spec sheet backs that up — ear placement is listed as over ear, the earpiece shape is a hook, and the package includes three sizes of eartips so you can size the seal to your ear canal. A plastic carrying case comes in the box too.
Inside, there's a dynamic driver covering 20 Hz–20,000 Hz, and ASKUBSKU highlights a built-in DAC chip for high-resolution audio with deep bass and clear treble. That's worth understanding: a USB-C headphone is digital at the plug, so the adapter chip inside the earbud is doing the conversion your phone used to do through its headphone jack. The in-ear seal also gives you passive isolation — the listing calls it sound isolation — which is a genuinely different proposition from the Tune 500's open, on-ear fit.
The compatibility list is long and specific: recent iPhone models with USB-C, a wide spread of Samsung Galaxy S, A, Z Fold and Z Flip models, iPad, iPad Air/Pro/Mini, and MacBook 12", Air 13" and Pro 13"/14"/15"/16", plus Pixel. Controls are button-based on the remote. Who should skip it? Anyone with a 3.5 mm-only device — there's no 3.5 mm option here. And anyone who dislikes things inside their ear canal.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for running, jogging and gym work → ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones. Over-ear hooks plus three eartip sizes keep the buds seated.
• Best for noisy environments → ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones. In-ear seal and sound isolation versus the Tune 500's "noise control: none."
• Best for older phones, laptops and anything with a headphone jack → JBL Tune 500. It's a 3.5 mm wired headphone.
• Best for modern phones with no headphone jack → ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones. USB-C plug, no dongle needed.
• Best for packing and travel → JBL Tune 500. Foldable design, flat tangle-free cable and a listed 148 g.
• Best for voice assistants and quick calls → JBL Tune 500. One-button remote with mic and Siri/Google Now activation.
• Best for a personalized in-ear fit → ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones. Comes with three sizes of eartips and a carrying case.
In my opinion, the deciding question isn't sound — it's your port and your posture. If you listen seated, want bass you can feel, and you have a 3.5 mm jack, I'd buy the JBL Tune 500: the foldable frame, flat cable and one-button remote make it the easier everyday headphone. If you run, lift, or your phone is USB-C only, I'd buy the ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones, because hooks and a proper ear seal solve a problem the Tune 500 simply isn't designed for. Buy for the fit you'll actually use, not the spec sheet you admire.
how to wired headphones work
A wired headphone takes an analog or digital signal from your device and drives its drivers directly. The JBL Tune 500 uses a 3.5 mm analog jack into its 32 ohm, 32 mm drivers. The ASKUBSKU uses USB-C, so a built-in DAC chip converts the digital signal before the dynamic driver plays it.
how to use wired headphones with iphone
It depends on the port. Recent iPhone models with USB-C can take the ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones directly, since its compatibility list covers iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series. A 3.5 mm headphone like the JBL Tune 500 needs a jack or an adapter, because the Tune 500 ships as a 3.5 mm wired headphone.
how to fix wired headphones no sound
Start at the connections: reseat the plug, check the remote button isn't stuck, and try another device. On the Tune 500 the jack is 3.5 mm, so a dirty or bent jack is the usual suspect. On the ASKUBSKU, confirm the USB-C port actually carries audio and that the eartip seal isn't the issue.
how to wired headphones (choosing between the two)
Pick by port and fit. Choose the JBL Tune 500 for on-ear bass, a foldable frame and a 3.5 mm jack. Choose the ASKUBSKU USB C Headphones for USB-C devices, over-ear hooks, sound isolation and a running-friendly fit with three eartip sizes.
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