We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-18 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a dirt-simple, budget wired earbud that plugs into any 3.5 mm jack and just works, choose JVC HAF160B; if you need a USB-C earbud built for modern iPhone and other USB-C phones with an inline mic and full remote control, choose Sidpro Earbuds.
• JVC HAF160B — biggest strength: A universal 3.5 mm wired connection, a light 5 g build, and a 16-ohm impedance that's easy for basically any phone or player to drive. Biggest trade-off: No microphone, no inline remote, and the control method is listed as touch with no noise control at all — so it's music-only, and it connects to older-style headphone jacks, not USB-C.
• Sidpro Earbuds — biggest strength: A USB-C connection with a built-in mic, a 3-in-1 push-button remote (play/pause, track skip, call answer/end/reject, volume), and passive noise cancellation. Biggest trade-off: It's USB-C only, so it won't work with a 3.5 mm jack, and it's tuned for USB-C devices like recent iPhones.
• Who the JVC is for: Anyone with a 3.5 mm headphone port who wants a no-fuss, ultra-light backup pair for music and podcasts.
• Who the Sidpro is for: USB-C phone owners who take calls and want inline controls without reaching for the screen.
The JVC HAF160B is the definition of a "keep it simple" wired earbud. It uses a standard 3.5 mm jack, so it works with anything that still has a headphone port — older phones, tablets, laptops, MP3 players, handheld consoles. The spec sheet lists a 16-ohm impedance and a 108 dB sensitivity, which together mean it's easy to drive: you don't need a headphone amp or a special dongle, and most devices will push it to a comfortable volume without straining. The frequency range runs from 15 Hz up to 20,000 Hz with a dynamic driver, so the low end reaches a touch deeper than the standard 20 Hz floor on paper.
Here's where you need to be honest about what it is. There's no microphone listed, so it isn't a calling headset. There's no inline remote — the control method is listed as touch, and noise control is listed as "None." So this is a pure listening tool: music, podcasts, audiobooks, video on a device with a headphone jack. If you want to answer calls, skip tracks without unlocking your phone, or cut down background noise on a train, this isn't the bud for that job.
Buy the JVC HAF160B if your device has a 3.5 mm jack and you want a light, cheap-to-replace spare pair for music and audio. Skip it if you rely on a USB-C phone with no headphone port, or you need a mic and call controls.
Sidpro Earbuds: Who It's For
The Sidpro Earbuds are built for the portless era. They connect over USB-C, which is exactly what modern iPhones (and plenty of Android phones, tablets, and laptops) use. So if you've got a phone with no 3.5 mm jack, this is the kind of earbud that plugs straight in — no adapter needed. The spec sheet notes a built-in Smart DAC chip, which is the piece that lets a digital USB-C port drive analog-style earbuds cleanly.
The feature set is where the Sidpro pulls ahead for everyday phone use. There's a built-in microphone for hands-free calls, and a 3-in-1 push-button remote that handles a lot: press the middle button to play or pause, double-click to go to the previous track, triple-click for the next track, click to answer a call, press again to hang up, and hold for two seconds to reject a call. There's also a dedicated [+] / [-] volume control. That's a genuinely useful amount of control for a wired bud — you can run a whole commute without touching your phone screen.
On sound and fit: it uses a balanced armature driver with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz frequency range, and the design is an ergonomically shaped half-in-ear with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) enclosure in white. The marketing describes it as reducing surrounding noise — the spec sheet frames this as passive noise cancellation, which means the physical seal of the tip is doing the work, not electronics. It's aimed at daily work, study, and sports use.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for modern USB-C phones → Sidpro Earbuds. USB-C connection with a Smart DAC chip built for devices with no headphone jack.
• Best for older 3.5 mm devices → JVC HAF160B. A standard 3.5 mm jack works with phones, players, laptops, and consoles that still have the port.
• Best for calls and hands-free use → Sidpro Earbuds. Built-in mic plus answer/end/reject call controls.
• Best for inline control without the screen → Sidpro Earbuds. Push-button remote for play/pause, track skip, and dedicated volume buttons.
• Best for the lightest possible fit → JVC HAF160B. Just 5 g with rounded in-ear tips and a rubber enclosure.
• Best for taming background noise → Sidpro Earbuds. Passive noise cancellation via the in-ear seal; the JVC lists no noise control at all.
• Best for a pure, no-frills music bud → JVC HAF160B. No mic, no remote, no fuss — just plug in and listen.
• Best for a wider source list (Android, tablets, laptops, handhelds) → Sidpro Earbuds, as long as those devices output over USB-C.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: what port is on your phone? If you're on a USB-C iPhone or Android device, I'd buy the Sidpro Earbuds — the mic, the full remote, and the volume buttons make it the more complete everyday earbud, and the USB-C connection is the one that actually fits your phone. I'd only choose the JVC HAF160B if you specifically need a 3.5 mm bud for an older device or want the lightest, simplest spare pair for music. For most people buying in 2026, the Sidpro is the more useful tool. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing that can tip a close call.
Not universally — it depends on your port. The Sidpro wins on features (mic, inline remote, volume buttons, passive noise cancellation) and USB-C compatibility. The JVC wins on universal 3.5 mm fit and an ultra-light 5 g build. Match the connector to your device first.
No. The Sidpro uses a USB-C connection, so it needs a USB-C port or an adapter. If your device only has a 3.5 mm jack, the JVC HAF160B is the one that plugs in directly.
The Sidpro Earbuds, clearly. They have a built-in microphone and call controls (answer, hang up, reject). The JVC HAF160B has no microphone listed, so it's a listening-only bud.
Start with your phone's connector. USB-C device that you use for calls → Sidpro. Device with a 3.5 mm jack, music only → JVC HAF160B. Then check the current price on Amazon for both and let the value for your specific use case settle it.
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