New Video: Cheap Audio Tech from Five Below?

Can $8 earbuds from 2025 compete with $300 tech from 2021?

Author

James White
December 18, 2025

In partnership with

I was Christmas shopping at Five Below recently when I wandered into their electronics section and decided to pick up a couple of cheap audio gadgets to see if they were really the great deals they were made out to be. Today, I’m sharing my review of $8 open-ear earbuds and $10 music-playing sunglasses. One was surprisingly decent, while the other probably isn’t worth buying.

NEW VIDEO ALERT 📽️
Can $8 Audio Actually Compete?

Testing out cheap audio gadgets from Five Below!

I stopped by Five Below and picked up two open-ear audio gadgets to see how much sound quality you can really get for under ten bucks. One was a total miss, but the other actually surprised me more than I expected, especially when I compared it to a much more expensive pair I already own.

I tested both at home and outside, dug into comfort, sound balance, and real-world usability, and even asked the bigger question: when does “good enough” actually make sense?

If you’ve ever been curious about ultra-cheap audio gear, or wondered whether it’s even worth trying open-ear headphones without dropping hundreds of dollars, this one’s worth a watch.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached

If you spend a good amount on Amazon, this card could easily be worth $100s in cash back every year. And — even better — you could get approved extremely fast. If approved, you’ll receive an insanely valuable welcome bonus deposited straight into your Amazon account, ready to use immediately.

You also don’t have to jump through any hoops to get this bonus. No extra work or special spending requirements. Get approved, and it’s yours.

This might be one of the most powerful cash back cards available, especially considering how much most people spend on Amazon each month. It gives you the chance to earn cash back on the purchases you’re already making, turning your routine shopping into something that actually pays you back.

If you shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, this card could help you earn meaningful cash back on every purchase you make. But this offer won’t last forever — and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, this card is as close to a no-brainer as it gets.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached

DEALS 🏷️
Turntable: 35% Off

If you or someone you know is a vinyl collector, or considering taking the plunge, this turntable is currently marked down to the low end of its range at just over $100. Unlike a lot of modern turntables, this allows you to close the lid without half of the record sticking out! There’s also a nice Bluetooth feature so you can listen wirelessly.

Snoop on the Stoop: 41% Off

You’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf, well feast your eyes on Snoop on the Stoop. For fans of Snoop Dogg, this 12” shelf decor is a must-have, even if you pick it up to display next year. The price is nearly half of what it was heading into the holiday season so it’s priced to move.

Pajama Bottoms: 40% Off

This isn’t just a great gift, but it’s also something you can pick up for yourself as we head into winter. This 3-pack is currently 40% off and usually sells for $40. Someone recently asked me for ideas to buy for me, and this is what I suggested!

Household Tip: Stop Cable Tangles with Binder Clips

If you have charging cables constantly sliding off your desk or getting tangled behind it, grab a few binder clips.

Clip one to the edge of your desk, nightstand, or shelf, then thread charging cables through the metal loops. It keeps them from falling to the floor, makes them easy to grab, and costs almost nothing if you already have clips lying around.

ON THIS DATE 🗓️
Pop Tart Maker (2021)

These weren’t exactly Pop Tarts.

Exactly four years ago today I tested out a bizarre appliance that supposedly created pop tarts right at home. The good news is that it worked. The bad news is that the final result barely resembled actual pop tarts. This was already an old product to begin with and I have never seen one since… I wonder why?

SHORT SPOTLIGHT 🎥
Nature’s Wild Berry

In today’s Short Spotlight, we take a look at an interesting product I reviewed a couple years ago, the spinning flower steam releaser. It’s supposed to keep pot lids ajar to release steam, and spins a flower as it does. While it didn’t always work, it was pretty cool when it did! Watch the Short here and let me know what you think!

You can also check out the full review here to see it in its full glory.

We’re heading into the final stretch of the holiday season. I’ll probably release one or two videos in the coming week that were originally made for members, so keep an eye out for those. Until then, I hope you’re having a great holiday season and staying warm out there… unless you’re in Vegas like I am and enjoying highs in the 70s this week!

Until next time,
James