While true wireless earbuds are taking off, it’s hard to beat a solid good pair of over-ear headphones. The problem is, all of the best ones with the newest features usually require some pretty deep pockets, but you can still afford some great features while maintaining an upper limit of $100. From Audio-Technica to Sony, we’ve picked out some of the best over-ear headphones for less.
Editor’s note: This list was updated on January 6, 2020, to account for price changes.
Most people should just go with the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
If the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is the internet’s favorite headphones, then the ATH-M40x is the slept-on younger sibling. This headset is less flashy but just as capable; both share a similar design and build, which means the ATH-M40x is plenty comfortable and portable.
Best All-around
The headphones have folding hinges, plush padding to help with comfort and isolation, and a less bass-heavy sound than the ATH-M50x. If you’ve had your eyes on the ATH-M50x (or even the Bluetooth version) but couldn’t justify pulling the trigger on it, then the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x might be right up your alley as a more affordable alternative.
Who are over-ear headphones under $100 for?
People who have a habit of breaking things. We aren’t all capable of handling $500 headphones. It’s okay, we get it. This list is for you.
Anyone looking to save some cash. As much as we love great, premium quality headphones here at SoundGuys, we understand that everyone has different priorities. If you want the best for your money, you can’t go wrong with any of these options.
In some cases, anyone. The Sony MDR-7506 headphones, for example, are a tried and true pair of classic cans that have been around for decades.
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 over-ears.
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 worst isolation in most cases.
Why is isolation so important?
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT has very good isolation, meaning most noise will be blocked out by a combination of your music and the seal on your head. These are some of the best over-ear headphones but cost more than $100.
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 a phenomenon called auditory masking, and it’s how humans evolved to hear. The more you can separate yourself from the noises around you, the better your music will sound.
What’s a codec?
Bluetooth codecs in Android are supported by wireless over-ear headphones.
Bluetooth has come a long way since it was first introduced as an alternative to wired listening. Though it still isn’t a perfect replacement for a reliable audio cable, it’s much better now than in the past. One reason for this is the advancement of the Bluetooth codec, which is how data is packaged and sent between two different devices over Bluetooth.
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). While it’s not as efficient, hand gestures are universal as is SBC. All devices can default back down to it. If you want to learn more, read our great piece explaining everything.
For the best sound quality, check out the Sennheiser HD280 Pro
When it comes to audio, few companies are trusted as much as Sennheiser. They have decades of experience making some of the best headphones in the world. While the HD 280 Pro headphones don’t sound nearly as good as some of those upper end models, they also don’t cost as much as a car so I think it’s a fair trade. Either way, the HD280 Pro has plush padding all around the headband and ear cups which make them great for long listening sessions and have an attenuation of up to 32dB.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Best sound
They also fold easily at the hinges for easy transport and have a frequency response of 8Hz-25kHz, which means they can reproduce sounds even lower than the human ear can hear. Plus, the cable is replaceable so should they 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.
If you’re a creator, you want the Sony MDR-7506
Then you have something like the Sony MDR-7506 headphones, which are 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.
Best for creators
The lightweight plastic build is super comfortable and they fold to a fraction of their size making them easy to transport. Plus, the long coiled cable makes means you’re free to move around somewhat without pulling equipment off the table with you. They don’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.
Cut the wire with the Sennheiser HD 4.40
If you prefer to go wireless, then the headphones you might want to check out are the Sennheiser HD 4.40. They feature a sleek, minimalist design with premium features like aptX support for high-quality streaming. They operate via Bluetooth 4.0, however, so you’re not afforded the same energy efficiency as with Bluetooth 5.0 products.
Sennheiser HD 4.40
Best Bluetooth
The thick padding helps passively block out external noise and the on-board controls make it easy to adjust volume, playback, or take calls all from a few buttons and toggles along the ear cups. The Sennheiser HD 4.40 provides 25 hours of playback on a single charge. Once it’s depleted, you’ll need to recharge via the microUSB charging cable. Yeah, the tech is a little outdated, but performance is great.
Sennheiser is known for producing audio products that sound good, and these don’t disappoint. If you want a wireless headset that performs reliably and is comfortable to wear for hours on end, get this.
Get the most for your money with the Anker Soundcore Vortex
Anker is best known for its portable battery packs, but if you’ve been following us at SoundGuys for a while you know that they also make some pretty great bang for your buck audio gear. The Anker Soundcore Vortex headphones are a prime example of this. These over-ears feature plush memory foam padding that provides both comfort and isolation, and they have a 20-hour battery life which isn’t bad.
Bang for your buck
Best of all though is 40mm drivers that when paired with the aptX high-quality streaming codec, means that you’re getting sound quality better than the price tag might suggest. It still isn’t going to compete with the likes of something like the Sony WH-1000X M3 so don’t get your hopes up, but considering these can usually be found for around $70 it’s really impressive.
Why you should trust us
The ear hooks are easy to shape to the back of your ear for a secure, long-lasting fit.
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 for their platonic ideal headset. Here at SoundGuys, we try and account for every need and preference when collating 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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