Why You Can Trust CNET The $23 Bluetooth headphone deal you shouldn't miss is back
Tribit's XFree Go over-ear headphones are 35% off with a coupon code at Amazon. They sound as good as or better than many $150 headphones.
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Tribit's XFree Tune was one of my favorite over-ear budget Bluetooth headphones. Last June, its successor, the XFree, was briefly on sale at launch for a little more than $23. Now that deal has returned, with the headphone selling for $22.74 (before tax) at Amazon when you apply the code IOQEYEVO at checkout. Normally, it sells for $35. The code can be used through March 20 or until supplies run out. Note that if you're having any trouble with the code, you should manually select Tribit Direct from the sellers offering the product.
The XFree Go looks similar to the XFree Tune but has plusher and slightly more comfortable ear pads. Don't expect the comfort level of Bose headphones, but it has improved a little. This model uses the Qualcomm QCC3003 Chipset with Bluetooth 5.0 and is rated for up to 24 hours of battery life (alas, it charges via standard Micro-USB not USB-C). Tribit says a quick-charge feature gives you four hours of playback time from a 10-minute charge.
One small downside is the headphones don't automatically turn off after a set period of time if you lay them down and stop using them. You have to always manually turn them off.
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These are not noise-canceling headphones, but you do get some passive noise isolation from the seal of the ear pads. Tribit sells its QuietPlus noise-canceling headphones for $80 and a new noise-canceling model, the QuietPlus 72 ANC, is due out on June 23.
The XFree Go is fairly well balanced, with decent though not exceptional clarity, and a bit of bass push that makes it tilt warmer, as opposed to brighter. The headphones play well with electronic dance music and hip hop. In terms of sound, don't expect them to have the richer, more textured sound of some of the more premium Bluetooth models from Sony, Bose, Sennheiser and others. But they sound as good or better than many headphones that cost $150 or more.
Read more: Best wireless noise-canceling headphones to buy in 2021 for under $100
I used them to make some calls and they also work pretty well for that, although they don't have a sidetone feature, which would allow you to hear your voice in the headphones while you're making calls so you can modulate your voice accordingly.
The headphones fold up to fit into a decent carrying case. The case is firm, but it's not as firm as the case that came with the original XFree Tune, which is a good thing. When you review a lot of headphones, these are the things you take note of.
First published last year. Updated with new deal details.