Best budget over ear headphones

Sure, true wireless earbuds are all the rage but don’t count out the age-old reliability of over-ear headphones just yet. If you think premium sound and comfort are beyond your budget, think again. We’ve scoured the market to bring you the best budget over-ear headphones that won’t leave your wallet crying.

Why is the AKG K371 the best budget over-ear headphones?

Folks looking to get some straightforward, good-sounding headphones ought to check out the AKG K371. These over-ear headphones have a nice frequency response that doesn’t exaggerate anything much and lends itself to most listeners. The size and weight of 255g are slim enough and not heavy. Plus, you can flip up the ear cups.

Plus, the pressure is gentle enough with memory foam ear pads to accommodate people with glasses. In the package, AKG includes three different interchangeable cables, which ought to carry you through for quite some time. Isolation is pretty average for headphones without active noise canceling (ANC), but for budget headphones that just playback your music well, it’s a good pick.

For the best sound quality, check out the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro

When it comes to audio, few companies are trusted as much as Sennheiser, so it’s no surprise its product ended up on the best over-ear headphones under $100 list. Sennheiser has decades of experience making some of the best headphones in the world. While the HD 280 Pro doesn’t sound as good as some of those upper-end models, it also doesn’t cost as much as a car, so I think it’s a fair trade. Regardless, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro has dense padding all around the headband and ear cups, which makes them great for long listening sessions, and has an attenuation of up to 32 dB.

It also folds easily at the hinges for easy transport and has a frequency response of 8Hz-25kHz, which means it can reproduce sounds even lower than the human ear can hear. Plus, the cable is replaceable, so should it happen to break at some point in the future, you can just replace the cable instead of needing to buy a whole new pair of headphones. Basically, despite being marketed as studio-style headphones, there’s more low-end volume that lines up with consumer headphones.

If you’re a creator, you want the Sony MDR-7506

Then you have something like the Sony MDR-7506 headphones, which is arguably one of the best headphones under $100 period when it comes to anything to do with creating. You’ll find these headphones everywhere, from TV production studios to recording booths, and it doesn’t seem like that’s going to change anytime soon.

The lightweight plastic build is fairly comfortable, and it folds to a fraction of its size, making it easy to transport. Plus, the long coiled cable means you’re free to move around somewhat without pulling equipment off the table with you. It doesn’t give too much emphasis to any one area of the frequency response, which means that you get one of the cleanest looks at your raw audio as you edit in the business.

The EarFun Wave Pro are the best for travel or commuting

The EarFun Wave Pro headphones stand out as a top pick for budget-conscious consumers looking for on-ear headphones with solid features without breaking the bank. Priced at $79.99, these headphones deliver a commendable blend of performance and convenience, making them ideal for travelers and commuters alike. With an exceptional battery life that lasts up to 52 hours with ANC enabled and the ability to function both wired and wirelessly, they cater well to long journeys and diverse user preferences.

Although the design is fairly nondescript with a basic black plastic construction, the headphones are lightweight and come with a sturdy hardcover case that enhances their portability. The inclusion of ANC is a notable feature for headphones at this price point, effectively reducing low-frequency noises like airplane engines by about 75%. However, the sound quality is average, suitable for casual listening but not for audio enthusiasts seeking high-fidelity sound. They support Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, offering high bit-rate streaming which is rare for budget models, though they lack features like touch controls and water resistance.

Overall, the EarFun Wave Pro headphones are recommended for anyone needing affordable, feature-packed headphones primarily for travel or daily commute. They provide good comfort, effective noise cancelation, and practical connectivity options, though they fall short on sound quality and premium features.

Get the most for your money with the Anker Soundcore Life Q20

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headset is a prime example of high value for a low price. It made some of the best budget over-ear headphones because it features a comfortable fit and straightforward functionality. Its battery reaches 51 hours and 50 minutes on a single charge, and it uses a somewhat outdated micro-USB port.

Audio is transmitted either with a headphone jack or Bluetooth using AAC and SBC codecs. There’s no app, and your controls are buttons on the ear cups, which keeps things simple. Best of all, though, are the 40mm drivers that, when paired with pretty decent active noise canceling, deliver an enjoyable listening experience. It’s certainly cheap, but it doesn’t lack much, except some luxuries like multipoint.

Pay a bit more for the better Anker Souncore Life Q30

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 is another strong contender in the best budget over-ear headphones category, offering robust active noise cancelation (ANC) across low and mid-frequencies, a battery life exceeding 46 hours with fast-charging capabilities, and a comfortable fit. It also uses the more modern USB-C charging port.

This extended playtime, coupled with the convenience of fast charging—where a mere 5-minute charge delivers 4 hours of playback—makes the Life Q30 exceptionally suitable for users with active lifestyles or those who dislike frequent recharging. While the headphones do have some drawbacks, such as the lack of touch controls and water resistance, these are minor when considering the overall value offered.

The Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO is a good budget enthusiast companion

Not particularly well suited to a commute, the Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO is staunchly in the at-home use department. It uses a semi-open back design, which keeps your ears cool while donning the velour ear pads. Its frequency response reflects a more studio-style sound as well, so bass heads be advised.

For the money, the DT 880 PRO is a great pick for the right user. Nobody here will suggest you take it with you on the bus, for example.

The best over-ear headphones under $100: Notable mentions

• AKG K240 Studio ($56 at Amazon): This set of open backs rolls off the bass and scarcely isolates at all, but it’s a great budget set for mixing audio on a budget.
• Anker Soundcore Life Q20 ($59 at Amazon): This is the headset to get if you want barebones, no-nonsense active noise canceling (ANC) on a budget.
• Anker Soundcore Life Life Q35 ($99.99 at Amazon): The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 may not be the most premium headset, but it is worthwhile for someone looking for incredible battery life, travel features, and immense customization without breaking the bank.
• Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($149 at Amazon): Replete with features like ANC, Bluetooth LDAC, AAC, SBC, multipoint, and an app with equalizer, this wired or wireless set of cans doesn’t feel cheap.
• Audio Technica ATH-M30x ($79 at Amazon): These cans provide a relatively neutral sound, ideal for the budget-conscious bedroom producer or upgrade to the nicer feeling, Audio-Technica ATH-M40x ($99 at Amazon).
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 ($198 at Amazon): Combining Bluetooth with an optional wired connection, this set of over-ears is similar to the renowned Audio-Technica ATH-M50x but with added flexibility.
• Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX ((costing $199 at Drop)): Pushing the threshold of “budget” the collaboration seeks to achieve the sound of the venerable (and pricier) Sennheiser HD 650. In that way, it is budget by comparison.
• Sennheiser HD 350BT ($86 at Amazon): You get aptX Low Latency and AAC support, Bluetooth 5.0, and USB-C charging, and of course a wired connection too.
• Sennheiser HD 560S ($207 at Amazon): A rock solid set of headphones that supply a nice sound and a comfortable fit worthy of consideration if you’re sticking around home because it’ll leak sound.

What you should know about over-ear headphones

People like all sorts of personal audio devices, but over-ears are the mainstay of high-performing headphones. There are many reasons for this, but it mostly boils down to the fact that it’s easier to make them, from the guts to the padding. If you want the most bang for your buck, it’ll come from any of the best budget over-ear headphones.

What are over-ears anyway?

If you’ve been searching our site looking for headphones, you may have noticed that we tend to talk about the different kinds of headphones separately. The most common that you’re probably familiar with are earbuds like the ones that come with your smartphone. Then there are Bluetooth earbuds, true wireless earbuds, on-ears, and finally over-ears.

To answer the question posed at the top of this section, over-ears are simply headphones that completely encapsulate your ears. The ear cups usually have a small indent in the padding for your ears to rest comfortably in. On-ears, on the other hand, don’t completely cover your ears and, therefore, have slightly worse isolation in most cases.

Why is isolation so important?

Isolation is arguably the single greatest factor that impacts how you perceive music. If there’s a lot going on around you, your brain has a hard time picking out some of the frequencies that lie within the range of the outside noise. For example, if you’re on an airplane the low rumble or the jets will effectively draw the attention of your brain away from that smooth bass line you’re trying so hard to listen to. It’s how humans evolved to hear: we notice the loudest sounds above all else. The more you can separate yourself from the noises around you, the better your music will sound.

An added benefit of good isolation (and noise cancelation) is that you won’t be so tempted to increase the volume beyond what’s safe for your hearing in order to drown the environmental sounds out.

What’s a Bluetooth codec?

Bluetooth has come a long way since it was first introduced as an alternative to wired listening. It still isn’t a perfect replacement for a reliable audio cable, but the advancement of the Bluetooth codec—how data is packaged and sent between two different devices over Bluetooth—has helped things a lot.

An easy way to think of it is like languages that Bluetooth devices speak. If they speak the same codec (or language), then more data can be transferred more efficiently. If not, they default back to the most basic codec, which is SBC (or, in keeping with our analogy, hand gestures). It’s not as efficient, but SBC is universal, so everything can at least fall back on it.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

We test every product that comes our way by way of recording objective measurements and using everything in a typical environment. While audio is a measurable science, we don’t neglect the importance of personal preference. Some people may really enjoy a bass-heavy sound, while others may be forever in search of their platonic ideal headset.

Here at SoundGuys, we try to account for every need and preference when collating the best lists. While our site does operate via affiliate links, none of our writers benefit from awarding one product over the other.

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