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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a lightweight on-ear headphone with a detachable cable and active noise cancellation, choose JVC HAS180; if you need affordable in-ear earbuds with an inline mic, remote volume control and a braided cord for calls on the go, choose Maxell Bass 13.
• JVC HAS180 — biggest strength: On-ear design with active noise cancellation, a detachable cable and a light 3.8 oz build — a genuine over-the-head headphone rather than a pair of buds.
• JVC HAS180 — biggest trade-off: It's on-ear, so it presses against your ears rather than sealing inside them, and the plastic/rubber construction is built for lightness, not heavy-duty abuse.
• Maxell Bass 13 — biggest strength: In-ear fit with soft rubberized tips, a braided 4 ft cord, an inline mic and remote volume control — everything you need for calls and pocket carry.
• Maxell Bass 13 — biggest trade-off: It's a minimalist earbud, so there's no active noise cancellation, and the sound signature leans bass-forward rather than neutral.
• Pick JVC HAS180 if you want one pair of headphones for long desk or couch sessions and you value noise cancellation and a replaceable cable.
• Pick Maxell Bass 13 if you want lightweight earbuds you can wear under a hood, stuff in a pocket and use for phone calls without touching your screen.
The JVC HAS180 is a wired, on-ear headphone in black. The housing is plastic with rubber or thermoplastic elastomer elements, and the earpieces are described as rounded/angular. It's a full-size headphone shape, not a bud: the cups rest on your ears instead of inside them. At 3.8 ounces it's genuinely light for an on-ear model, which matters if you're the type who forgets you're wearing headphones until hour three.
The spec sheet lists active noise cancellation, which is the headline feature here. That alone separates it from most budget wired headphones, which rely purely on passive isolation. It also lists a detachable cable — a small detail with real consequences. If the cable snags on a chair arm and dies, you're replacing a cable, not the whole headphone. That makes the HAS180 a better long-term pick for someone who's rough on cords.
Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a proper over-the-head headphone for work, study or gaming sessions, values active noise cancellation, and wants a cable they can swap out. It's also a sensible pick for adults who prefer an on-ear fit to something jammed into their ear canal.
Who should skip it: If you need a microphone for calls, the sheet doesn't list one. If you want maximum isolation in a noisy office, in-ear buds that seal your canal will usually block more than on-ear cups. And if you want something that disappears into a pocket, this isn't it.
Maxell Bass 13: Who It's For
The Maxell Bass 13 is a different animal entirely. It's an in-ear earbud with a metallic silver finish and silicone construction, rounded tips, and a minimalist style aimed at music and audio. At 22.68 grams, the whole package — buds plus cord — weighs less than the JVC's headband alone. That's the core of the pitch: you barely notice these.
The feature list is refreshingly specific. Dynamic heavy bass, crystal clear highs and mid-level sound, a soft rubberized on-ear design for extended wear, and an inline mic with volume control for taking and making calls. The included accessories are eartips and a braided cord. The braided cord is worth calling out — it resists the tangling and fraying that kills cheap rubber cables, and at 4 feet it's long enough for a phone in your pocket without turning into a trip hazard.
Audio specs line up with the JVC on paper: 32 ohm impedance, dynamic drivers, 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. The extra data point is 100 dB sensitivity, which means these get loud easily from a phone. Maxell also lists sound isolation as the noise-control method — that's passive sealing from the silicone tips, not active cancellation. Don't confuse the two. Passive isolation can be very effective in-ear, but it's a fundamentally different mechanism.
The inline remote is the real differentiator. Volume control and a mic on the cord mean you can answer a call, adjust level and hang up without pulling your phone out. For commuters, delivery drivers, or anyone taking calls while walking, that's a daily-use feature, not a gimmick.
Who should buy it: Commuters, walkers, gym-goers and anyone who takes a lot of calls on the move. It's also the better choice if you wear glasses, a helmet or a hood, since there's no headband to fight with.
Who should skip it: If you dislike things inside your ear canal, in-ears can feel intrusive no matter how soft the tips. If you need active noise cancellation rather than passive isolation, this isn't that product. And if you want a detachable cable, the Maxell's cord is fixed.
• Best for active noise cancellation → JVC HAS180. It's the only one of the two with ANC listed; the Maxell relies on passive sound isolation from its tips.
• Best for phone calls → Maxell Bass 13. The inline mic and remote volume control are built in. No mic is listed for the JVC.
• Best for long listening sessions at a desk → JVC HAS180. On-ear cups and a 3.8 oz frame suit hours of stationary use better than canal-sealing buds.
• Best for portability → Maxell Bass 13. At 22.68 g with a 4 ft braided cord, it folds into a pocket; the JVC is a full headphone.
• Best for cable longevity → JVC HAS180. The detachable cable is replaceable. The Maxell's braided cord is tougher than plain rubber but fixed.
• Best for easy driveability → Tie. Both are 32 ohm with dynamic drivers and a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz range, so either works from a phone or laptop.
• Best for wear with glasses, hats or helmets → Maxell Bass 13. No headband means nothing pressing on your temples or over your ears.
• Best for bass-forward listening on a budget → Both are tuned for bass, but the Maxell is explicitly marketed around heavy bass while the JVC emphasizes bass plus lightweight comfort.
In my opinion, if you're choosing one, pick based on where you'll use it most. For a desk, a dorm room, a home office or long study blocks, I'd buy the JVC HAS180 — active noise cancellation and a detachable cable are the two features that actually change how a headphone lives with you over a year or two. But if your listening happens on sidewalks, buses or between meetings, the Maxell Bass 13 is the smarter purchase: it's lighter, it has a mic, and the inline remote means you never dig for your phone. Two different jobs, two different answers.
FAQ
No. Its noise control is listed as sound isolation, which is passive blocking from the silicone tips. The JVC HAS180 is the one with active noise cancellation on its spec sheet.
The data sheet doesn't list a microphone for the JVC HAS180, and it does list an inline mic for the Maxell Bass 13. If calls are a priority, the Maxell is the one designed for it.
The Maxell Bass 13. It weighs 22.68 g with a 4 ft braided cord and no headband, so it goes in a pocket or bag easily. The JVC HAS180 is a 3.8 oz on-ear headphone, which is light for its class but still a full-size pair. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding.
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