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Monoprice BT 205 Review | 93 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£45
  • Avg. price in US: ~$60
  • Form factor: over-ear
  • Connectivity: wireless
  • Battery life: 8 hours
  • Active noise cancellation (ANC): no

Monoprice BT 205 review. Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among headphones and if it is worth buying.

4.3

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.

Score components:

80.0%

4.3

Technical Score

20.0%

?

User score

Poor
4.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

4.2

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

7.1

Design

8.0%

5.7

Connectivity

6.0%

4.2

Battery

4.0%

4.9

Calls & Controls

Poor
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 7.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    35.0%

    9.0

    Audio latency

    25.0%

    10

    Low-latency game mode

    20.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    12.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    8.0%

    1.0

    Battery life

  • 3.0
    Travel

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Active noise cancellation (ANC)

    24.0%

    1.0

    Battery life

    18.0%

    4.9

    Weight

    16.0%

    10

    Multipoint support

    14.0%

    0.0

    Ambient sound mode

  • 4.8
    Calls

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    24.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

    18.0%

    10

    Multipoint support

    16.0%

    1.0

    Battery life

    14.0%

    1.0

    Companion app

  • 3.8
    Workout

    Score components:

    28.0%

    4.9

    Weight

    24.0%

    1.0

    Water resistance

    20.0%

    4.0

    IP rating

    16.0%

    1.0

    Battery life

    12.0%

    10

    Can be used as a headset

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Monoprice BT-205 is a lightweight, foldable over-ear headphone featuring 40mm drivers and a standard frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz with a 32-ohm impedance. Main characteristics include Bluetooth 5 connectivity with AAC and SBC codec support, a built-in microphone for calls, and on-ear controls for volume and track navigation. One of its standout pros is its versatility, as it includes a microSD card slot for standalone MP3 playback and a 3.5mm jack for wired use. However, cons include a relatively short battery life of up to 8 hours on a single charge and the lack of active noise cancellation (ANC), relying instead on passive sound isolation.

Technical Specifications of Monoprice BT 205

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

?

Sound

20.0%

?

Features

10.0%

?

Design

8.0%

?

Connectivity

6.0%

?

Battery

4.0%

?

Calls & Controls

4.3
Monoprice BT 205 has a technical score of 4.32 points, which is lower than that of 80.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters: When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
Monoprice BT 205 has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 72.7% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.3

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.0
Monoprice BT 205 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6 points, which is lower than 82.8% of products in this category.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
What it is: Reduces background noise using active technology
When it matters: When blocking office, travel, or aircraft noise is a priority.

Importance: HIGH

no
Monoprice BT 205 does not support active noise cancellation. 27.4% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
What it is: Type of speaker driver technology used
When it matters: When the underlying sound character and driver technology matter to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

dynamic
Driver size
What it is: Diameter of the speaker driver unit
When it matters: When you want extra hardware context behind how the headphones may handle bass weight, scale, or overall presentation.

Importance: MEDIUM

40 mm
Monoprice BT 205 uses a driver size of 40 mm, larger driver size than 28.2% of headphones and equal to 53.6% of headphones.
Number of drivers
What it is: Total number of speaker drivers per earcup
When it matters: When multi-driver designs are part of your buying criteria.

Importance: LOW

1
Monoprice BT 205 uses 1 drivers, equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=10 Hz

20 Hz
Monoprice BT 205 reaches a lowest frequency of 20 Hz, higher lowest frequency than 50.6% of headphones and equal to 47.5% of headphones.
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Noise-canceling microphone
What it is: Built-in microphone reduces background noise during calls
When it matters: When you take calls in busy spaces and want your voice to stay clearer.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Monoprice BT 205 does not support a noise-canceling microphone. 45.6% of headphones support noise-canceling microphones.
Can be used as a headset
What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.
When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Monoprice BT 205 is headset-ready, 84.7% is not. 15.3% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
What it is: Total number of built-in microphones
When it matters: When call pickup quality and beamforming support matter to you.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2

1
Monoprice BT 205 has 1 microphones, more microphones than 25.9% of headphones and equal to 52.2% of headphones.
Boom microphone
What it is: Includes detachable boom microphone for voice clarity
When it matters: When you need stronger voice clarity for gaming, streaming, or work calls.

Importance: LOW

no
Monoprice BT 205 does not include a boom microphone. 15.6% of headphones have a boom microphone.
Microphone SNR
What it is: Signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone
When it matters: When call clarity matters and you want your voice picked up more cleanly instead of buried in background hiss.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >80 dB

?
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Connectivity
What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)
When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.

Importance: HIGH

wireless
Monoprice BT 205 supports wireless connectivity, more flexible connectivity than 52.6% of headphones and equal to 47.4% of headphones.
supports both wireless and wired connectivity.
Bluetooth version
What it is: Version of Bluetooth technology supported
When it matters: When wireless stability, efficiency, and feature support matter more than treating Bluetooth as a box-check spec.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5.0

5.0
Monoprice BT 205 uses Bluetooth version 5.0, newer Bluetooth version than 70.9% of headphones and equal to 13% of headphones.
Maximum Bluetooth range
What it is: Maximum wireless operating distance from source device
When it matters: When you move around rooms and want fewer dropouts from your source device.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=10 m

10 m
Monoprice BT 205 offers a Bluetooth range of 10 m, higher Bluetooth range than 2.6% of headphones and equal to 79.9% of headphones.
Audio latency
What it is: Delay between audio and video in wireless mode
When it matters: When you watch video or play games and need sound to stay in sync.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <60 ms

?
Multipoint support
What it is: Supports simultaneous connections to multiple devices
When it matters: When you switch often between a phone and a laptop during the day.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
Monoprice BT 205 supports multipoint. 35% of headphones support multipoint.
Show more
Ambient sound mode
What it is: Allows external sounds to pass through for awareness
When it matters: When you need to stay aware of traffic, voices, or announcements.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
EQ support
What it is: Allows customization of sound profile via equalizer
When it matters: When the stock tuning is not enough and you want to shape bass, mids, or treble to match your taste.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Monoprice BT 205 does not support EQ customization. 23.3% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
What it is: Dedicated mobile app for customization and updates
When it matters: When software customization, updates, and extra controls matter.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Monoprice BT 205 does not work with a companion app. 44.4% of headphones support companion apps.
Adjustable ANC levels
What it is: Allows adjustment of noise cancellation intensity levels
When it matters: When you move between quiet rooms, offices, streets, and public transport and do not want one ANC setting for every situation.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=4

N/A
Voice assistant support
What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

Importance: LOW

yes
Monoprice BT 205 supports voice assistants. 39.2% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
What it is: Playback time on a single charge
When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >45 hours

8 hours
Monoprice BT 205 offers battery life of 8 hours, lower battery life than 93.8% of headphones and equal to 3.9% of headphones.
Battery life with ANC
What it is: Playback time with active noise cancellation enabled
When it matters: When you plan to keep noise cancellation on for most of the day.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >40 hours

N/A
Charging time
What it is: Time required for a full battery charge
When it matters: When you often need the headphones ready again after short breaks.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=2 hours

2 hours
Monoprice BT 205 needs 2 hours to charge, lower charging time than 48.5% of headphones and equal to 39.1% of headphones.
Quick charge
What it is: Provides quick playback time with short charging period
When it matters: When a short top-up needs to deliver useful playback before you leave.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Monoprice BT 205 does not support quick charging. 69.1% of headphones support quick charge.
Battery capacity
What it is: Total energy storage of the internal battery
When it matters: When you are estimating how much battery headroom the design may have before relying only on the official runtime claim.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=720 mAh

300 mAh
Monoprice BT 205 has a battery capacity of 300 mAh, lower battery capacity than 84% of headphones and equal to 6.3% of headphones.
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Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Monoprice
Form factor
What it is: Overall design type of the headphones (over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, etc.)
When it matters: When comfort, portability, and isolation depend on the overall headphone style.

Importance: HIGH

over-ear
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the headphones
When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <150 g

230 g
Monoprice BT 205 weighs 230 g, heavier than 53.5% of headphones and equal to 1.2% of headphones.
Acoustic design
What it is: Type of acoustic design (open-back, closed-back, semi-open)
When it matters: When you need the right balance of isolation, leakage, and soundstage.

Importance: HIGH

closed-back
Clamp force
What it is: Amount of clamping pressure applied to the head
When it matters: When comfort and fit security matter during long sessions.

Importance: MEDIUM

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Monoprice BT 205 vs the average headphone

  • More flexible connectivity
    Monoprice BT 205 offers more flexible connectivity than the average headphone (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
    supports both wireless and wired connectivity.
    What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)
    When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.

    Importance: HIGH

    Monoprice BT 205 offers more flexible connectivity than the average headphone (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.wireless vs wired
  • On-device controls
    Monoprice BT 205 includes on-device controls, the average headphone does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.
    What it is: Physical controls available directly on headphones
    When it matters: When you need playback, volume, or call controls to be easy to reach without pulling out your phone.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Monoprice BT 205 includes on-device controls, the average headphone does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.
  • Foldable design
    Monoprice BT 205 has a foldable design, the average headphone does not. 61% of headphones are foldable.
    What it is: Earcups or headband can fold for compact storage
    When it matters: When you travel often and want easier storage in a bag.

    Importance: LOW

    Monoprice BT 205 has a foldable design, the average headphone does not. 61% of headphones are foldable.
  • Rechargeable battery
    Monoprice BT 205 has a rechargeable battery, the average headphone does not. 47.9% of headphones have a rechargeable battery.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones rely on an internal rechargeable battery instead of replaceable disposable cells.
    When it matters: When you expect regular wireless use and want charging convenience instead of buying and replacing disposable batteries.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Monoprice BT 205 has a rechargeable battery, the average headphone does not. 47.9% of headphones have a rechargeable battery.
  • Foldable design
    Monoprice BT 205 has a foldable design, the average headphone does not. 61% of headphones are foldable.
  • Rechargeable battery
    Monoprice BT 205 has a rechargeable battery, the average headphone does not. 47.9% of headphones have a rechargeable battery.
  • More flexible connectivity
    Monoprice BT 205 offers more flexible connectivity than the average headphone (wireless vs wired). The average headphones support wired connectivity.
  • On-device controls
    Monoprice BT 205 includes on-device controls, the average headphone does not. 46.8% of headphones support on-device controls.

Total
Design
Battery
Connectivity
Calls & Controls
  • No travel bag
    Monoprice BT 205 does not include a travel bag, the average headphone does. 65.2% of headphones include a travel bag.
  • 5.5% higher weight
    Monoprice BT 205 is heavier than the average headphone (230 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
  • 3.7 % higher distortion
    Monoprice BT 205 has a higher total harmonic distortion than the average headphone (4 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
  • 9 dB/mW lower sensitivity
    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower sensitivity than the average headphone (93 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
  • 2 Hz weaker bass extension
    Monoprice BT 205 has a higher lowest frequency than the average headphone (20 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
  • No neodymium magnet
    Monoprice BT 205 does not use neodymium magnets, the average headphone does. 77.4% of headphones use neodymium magnets.
  • 22 hours shorter battery life
    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower battery life than the average headphone (8 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.
  • 50% lower battery capacity
    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower battery capacity than the average headphone (300 mAh vs 600 mAh). The average headphones have a battery capacity of 600 mAh.
  • 3.7 % higher distortion
    Monoprice BT 205 has a higher total harmonic distortion than the average headphone (4 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    What it is: Percentage of harmonic distortion in audio output
    When it matters: When cleaner sound reproduction matters at louder volumes.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: <=1%

    Monoprice BT 205 has a higher total harmonic distortion than the average headphone (4 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.4 % vs 0.3 %
  • 9 dB/mW lower sensitivity
    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower sensitivity than the average headphone (93 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    What it is: Sound pressure output level per unit of input power
    When it matters: When you plan to use weaker sources like phones, handhelds, or entry-level dongles and still want enough volume.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=106 dB/mW

    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower sensitivity than the average headphone (93 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.93 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • 22 hours shorter battery life
    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower battery life than the average headphone (8 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.
    What it is: Playback time on a single charge
    When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >45 hours

    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower battery life than the average headphone (8 hours vs 30 hours). The average headphones offer battery life of 30 hours.8 hours vs 30 hours
  • 2 Hz weaker bass extension
    Monoprice BT 205 has a higher lowest frequency than the average headphone (20 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
    When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <=10 Hz

    Monoprice BT 205 has a higher lowest frequency than the average headphone (20 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.20 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 50% lower battery capacity
    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower battery capacity than the average headphone (300 mAh vs 600 mAh). The average headphones have a battery capacity of 600 mAh.
    What it is: Total energy storage of the internal battery
    When it matters: When you are estimating how much battery headroom the design may have before relying only on the official runtime claim.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=720 mAh

    Monoprice BT 205 has a lower battery capacity than the average headphone (300 mAh vs 600 mAh). The average headphones have a battery capacity of 600 mAh.300 mAh vs 600 mAh
  • 4.65x less popular
    Monoprice BT 205 is less popular than the average headphone (1.00 vs 4.646).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
    When it matters: When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
    Monoprice BT 205 is less popular than the average headphone (1.00 vs 4.646).1 vs 4.65
  • No travel bag
    Monoprice BT 205 does not include a travel bag, the average headphone does. 65.2% of headphones include a travel bag.
    What it is: Comes with a protective carrying case or pouch
    When it matters: When protection in transit matters right out of the box.

    Importance: LOW

    Monoprice BT 205 does not include a travel bag, the average headphone does. 65.2% of headphones include a travel bag.
  • 11.8% worse value for money
    Monoprice BT 205 has worse value for money than the average headphone (6.03 vs 6.736).
    What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
    When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
    Monoprice BT 205 has worse value for money than the average headphone (6.03 vs 6.736).6.03 vs 6.74
Total
Overall
Design
Sound
Battery

Graphic comparison of Monoprice BT 205 and

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about Monoprice BT 205?

  • Affordable price point offering good value for money
  • Lightweight and foldable design for easy portability
  • Comfortable fit for most users with soft, plush padding on the headband and earcups
  • Includes a microSD card slot for standalone MP3 playback
  • Dual connectivity options (Bluetooth 5.0 and detachable 3.5mm wired cable)
  • Clear, natural sound reproduction across the frequency spectrum for its class

What customers dislike about Monoprice BT 205?

  • Bluetooth connection can be unreliable or choppy, especially when the battery is low
  • Relatively short battery life (rated at approximately 8 hours)
  • Lack of active noise cancellation (ANC); relies solely on passive isolation
  • Poor long-term durability with reports of plastic components and faux leather breaking or separating
  • Fit may be uncomfortable for users with larger heads or ears due to limited headband adjustment
  • Microphone quality is mediocre and may struggle in noisy environments

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