If you’re the kind of person who hates listening to music from tinny laptop speakers or just can’t take dealing with other people’s earbuds, it might be time to invest in a nice pair of headphones. But how do you know which ones are worth the money? Well, it all depends on what you plan to use them for and what type of sound you prefer.
The good news is that there are plenty of great-sounding models out there that fit into almost any budget! Check out this list of the 10 best headphones under $200 to see if one of these suits your needs.
Table of Contents
- 10 Amazing Headphones Under $200 for 2021
- Sony MDR-7506 On-Ear Professional Headphones
- Audio Technica ATH-M50x
- Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open Back
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohms
- Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth Wireless Over-Ear Headphone
- V-MODA Crossfade LP2 Over-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone
- Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
- AKG K702 Reference Class Stereo Headphone
- Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2 Over-Ear Headphone
- Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 (Over-Ear / On-Ear / In-Ear)
- Conclusion
10 Amazing Headphones Under $200 for 2021
Headphones are an essential piece of technology in the modern world, as they allow you to listen to your favorite music and podcasts without bothering those around you, especially during long commutes and flights. While the most expensive headphones offer the best audio quality, there are plenty of good options under $200 that can still provide you with an enjoyable listening experience.
Here are 10 of the best headphones under $200 that have received positive reviews from users and critics alike.
Sony MDR-7506 On-Ear Professional Headphones
Comfort, sound quality, durability, and affordable pricing are what you get with these headphones. Capable of transforming the most mundane of sounds into pleasurable ones, these on-ear headphones are best suited for studio work or casual listening in a controlled environment. The 45mm driver units deliver rich and powerful low end while also rendering highs in a bright manner that makes them suitable for tracking drums and synthesizers in tandem. The only weakness we found was their lack of depth when it came to 3D stereo reproduction – but they were never designed for such purposes anyway!
On a personal note, I’ve been using a pair of MDR-7506s on every single one of my projects from school up till now (at work) – yes, I do use other pairs from time to time but still always go back to my trusty MDRs. In essence, don’t be deceived by their looks – even though these are far more basic than premium models like the Sennheiser HD series, they still provide professional standard audio performance at bargain headphone prices!
Honestly, if these aren’t enough for your needs, then nothing will be :). Pro tip: If you want to get more out of your audio productions, then take some time away from whatever genre of music you’re working on and spend some quality hours with classical music recordings instead. This is an easy way to improve your mixdowns immensely without having to read through entire books dedicated solely towards mixing audio ;).
Audio Technica ATH-M50x
The ATH-M50x’s powerful bass and punchy highs make these headphones great for listening to hip-hop, electronic music, and anything else with a solid low end. The velour ear cups provide excellent sound isolation as well as an additional level of comfort. You also get a detachable cable and adjustable, pivoting ear cups—perfect for DJs who need to hear what’s going on around them at all times. The M50x’s closed-back design helps with blocking out external noise and reducing leakage, which is useful when you’re using these in quiet environments like recording studios or libraries. Plus, they just look cool with their understated style!
This model comes in black or white. Further boasting superior aesthetics, build quality, and audio performance over similarly priced models, Audio Technica has made an outstanding value pick that will please fans of darker genres. Overall, the Audio Technica ATH-M50x are some of our highest-rated headphones under $200. They combine professional audio specs with excellent comfort and durable design, making them ideal for long sessions or intense practicing. Their collapsible yet sturdy frame makes traveling super easy, so you can easily use them both at home and on tour/on stage, where large circumaural may be impractical due to limited space.
So if you want to experience superior quality at a fraction of a price tag compared to competitors, then check out Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphones today!
Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open Back
These open-back headphones are perfect for audiophiles. The HD 598 SRs produce clear, clean sound with excellent detail and bass response. They’re also comfortable—the velour earpads feel nice on your ears—and have a lightweight design that makes them easy to wear for long periods. I also love that these headphones have a detachable cable, so if one ever goes wrong, you can just swap it out without having to buy a whole new pair of headphones. Plus, you get a beautiful carrying case to keep your headphones safe when you’re not using them.
Further, these headphones have a flat frequency response range, meaning there won’t be any distortion issues when recording vocals or instruments. However, this doesn’t mean that the HD 598 SR isn’t suitable for those looking for high fidelity. With its 40 mm drivers, the HD 598 SR delivers crisp mids and treble, allowing users to enjoy everything from rock to jazz. If you’re serious about quality audio, then you need to check out Sennheiser’s headphones.
While they may be pricier than other brands on our list, their focus on quality is worth it. There are few brands in the headphone industry as trusted as Sennheiser. And honestly, I would put them at number one if they weren’t so expensive! But don’t let their price tag scare you off—Sennheiser is an investment worth making because they do things differently than most headphone brands. From using only the most premium of components to superior handcrafted precision, Sennheiser sets itself apart by providing some of the best products on the market today.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohms
These headphones are incredibly comfortable for long-term wear. They’re made for monitoring, so they have a good, flat sound quality with accurate bass, mids, and highs. The DT 770 Pros are one of the best sets you can buy for under $200. They’re made in Germany by Beyerdynamic, which has been producing audio equipment since 1924.
The DT 770s use large-aperture drivers that deliver an excellent frequency response, plus they’re closed-back to block out ambient noise while you’re listening to music or mixing tracks at home or in a studio setting. If you want fantastic audio without spending hundreds of dollars, these should be your first choice.
Skullcandy Hesh 2 Bluetooth Wireless Over-Ear Headphone
If you don’t have a huge budget but still want a premium experience, Skullcandy’s Hesh 2 Bluetooth Wireless Over-Ear Headphone is a great choice. It features a comfortable design with an aluminum frame and padded leather ear cups. The sound quality is impressive given its low price point, and it delivers strong bass performance. Aesthetically, it looks like it belongs in a DJ booth or an aircraft cockpit. The Hesh 2 also has above-average noise cancellation, making it great for commuting to work or school.
At full charge, you get up to 20 hours of continuous playback, which is pretty good for headphones of any type and especially good when compared to others on this list that offer more than 12 hours of playback on a single charge. With one-touch controls on each side of the left earcup, you can raise or lower volume and skip between tracks.
Pairing devices is easy through NFC (near field communication) and Bluetooth technology that includes aptX codec support. You can use aptX when streaming over Bluetooth if your smartphone supports it. If not, no worries; regular SBC will be used instead; there’s no noticeable audio lag due to either method (though some audiophiles might disagree). Overall, Skullcandy offers solid headphones with an impressive audio performance at an affordable price.
V-MODA Crossfade LP2 Over-Ear Noise-Isolating Metal Headphone
When it comes to rock, pop, or hip-hop, these cans are king. You’ll love listening to all your favorite tunes with headphones engineered for distortion-free listening. They’re also sturdy enough to withstand life on the go without worrying about bumps and scratches getting you down.
Each earpiece has a rotating mechanism that makes them foldable as well as adjustable for optimal comfort. The mic is super useful, making it easy to answer calls from virtually any device. If you can handle splurging a little bit more than usual, these guys have amazing sound quality that will truly enhance your musical experience.
Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
These are, for all intents and purposes, what you’d expect from a pair of headphones in their price range – excellent sound quality, sturdy construction, and super easy to use. They may not have anything particularly special to recommend them above other comparable headphones—but that’s also their biggest appeal.
The P5 series two over-ear headphones are excellent all-around performers that will satisfy both casual listeners and audiophiles alike. If you want a lot of bang for your buck, these headphones deliver—without sacrificing quality. While they don’t provide as much noise cancellation as their pricier counterparts, they’re really good at it nonetheless. In addition to being great audio equipment overall, they’re well-designed and attractive enough that they can be used as regular cans instead of just when traveling or commuting.
AKG K702 Reference Class Stereo Headphone
Designed with comfort in mind, The P5 Series 2s aren’t overly bulky and come with interchangeable foam and silicon tips. So you can use them for hours on end without feeling too fatigued. Add to that their solid sound, which has enough detail and power, makes them a great option for listening to music or movies at home.
The only real downside is that they don’t come with a carrying case – something we feel should be included for headphones of this price. But if you can live without it, these are some of our favorite headphones under $200 right now.
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2 Over-Ear Headphone
If you’re looking for high-quality sound, look no further than Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2 Over-Ear Headphone. The built-in microphone offers convenience for answering calls on your smartphone and allows you to make changes to your music settings right from your phone.
The Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2 Over-Ear Headphone is incredibly comfortable, even after long hours of use. You won’t have any issues listening to these headphones at home or traveling with them on a plane. These headphones come in four different colors: black gloss, brown matte finish, white gloss, and blue matt finish. These headphones can be purchased through Amazon for $189 USD.
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 (Over-Ear / On-Ear / In-Ear)
Earbuds have made a huge comeback over recent years, but for some people, nothing beats a good pair of over-ear headphones. If you’re looking for noise-canceling (which isn’t in all cases), then Sennheiser is probably your best bet. Their Momentum series offers clean sound reproduction and well-thought-out designs. For example, their over-ear model comes with removable ear pads so you can customize its fit to fit your preferences—if they’re slightly too loose, no problem! Simply pop on the additional pads to keep everything tight.
This set runs $195 more than their entry-level offering but considering it looks almost identical to their $350 PXC 450 model, we feel it’s worth it. The quality difference between them is very minor when considering most users will be wearing these primarily in an office environment rather than while traveling or jogging—the extra few hundred dollars are likely worth it here. Other features include a 20Hz–20kHz frequency response range and iOS phone control.
Whether you’re listening to music from your computer at work or from your smartphone at home, these look pretty darn stylish with any setup. They also get great reviews across Amazon, which is always nice!
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope that you will find these headphones to be not only comfortable but also durable. That’s why I took time to analyze each of them for build quality, appearance, comfort, and functionality. The best part is that all of these headphones are under $200. So no matter what your budget looks like, you can afford to take home a pair today! I wish you happy listening!