I’m not an audiophile. I have no strong opinions about soundstages or imaging or whatever else people argue about in headphone forums. I listen to music while working. I want it to sound good and I don’t want to think about it.

For three years I used a pair of Sony WH-1000XM3s that I received as a gift. They’re excellent. I know they’re excellent. Then I left them on a train somewhere between Lyon and Paris and I was not willing to spend €350 to replace them.

So I bought the Anker Soundcore Q45 for €89. And here’s the thing.

They’re fine. Actually more than fine.

The ANC is noticeably less good than the Sonys — on a loud train carriage you can still hear the ambient rumble underneath the music. But in an office, at a café, on a quiet flight? Completely adequate.

Sound quality at this price is genuinely impressive. Bass is present without being stupid about it. Mids are clear. I’ve done calls on them and nobody has complained.

Battery life is listed as 50 hours. I charge them once a week.

What I gave up

The Sony XM3 ear padding is in a different class — you forget you’re wearing them. The Q45 pads are acceptable but noticeable. After three or four hours my ears are aware of themselves.

Also the folding mechanism feels plasticky. It works fine but it doesn’t feel like something that will survive five years of daily use. We’ll see.

The actual point

For €89, if I leave these on a train I will be annoyed but not devastated. That is worth something. Maybe worth more than the difference in sound quality.