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The best Budget Headphones? It’s a question we get asked a lot. And in the current situation, cheap listening gear is perfect, right? Read on if you want a cheap pair of headphones or earbuds that sound great and are made well. No longer do you have to pay a lot for a pair of cans that sound great. There are a lot of inexpensive options worth looking into these days. It can cost a lot to look for good headphones.
Because of how manufacturers market their top models, it’s easy to think that premium features like active noise cancellation, balanced sound, and all-day comfort can only come at a high price. You may be used to seeing bare-bones, no-frills products at this price, but manufacturers have been steadily improving the quality of their cheap products. We’ve tried out a lot of headphones, and here are the ones we think are the best for the money.
Best Budget Headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Headphone
Features
The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is the ATH-forgotten M50x’s little brother or sister, but don’t count it out just yet. The ATH-M40x is made to be useful, and it costs less than $100 USD. This pair of Audio-Technica headphones will satisfy the hi-fi needs of anyone, from a fan to a professional.
Most people can wear the headband without any problems, but those with bigger heads may need to stretch it out by hand first. There is enough padding on the headband and ear cups to let you listen for hours without getting tired.
Pros
- Sound quality
- Durable build
- Verstile frequency response
- Value
Cons
- Bulky
- Ear pads heat up
- Just okay isolation
JBL Tune 510BT Headphones
Features
The JBL Tune 510BT is designed to be small and easy to carry around. Even though these Bluetooth on-ear headphones aren’t perfect, they do their job well and aren’t too expensive. Most people who want something cheap and easy to use will like these headphones because of how simple they are.
The Tune 510BT can be carried like other portable wireless headphones because it can fold into itself. If not for the big JBL logo on each ear cup, this headset would have a simple design with thin padding and few controls. It may not be the most comfortable design, but it works for shorter listening sessions.
Pros
- Long continuous battery life.
- Easy-to-use control scheme.
Cons
- Bad noise isolation capability.
AKG Pro Audio K371 Headphones
Features
The AKG K371 used to cost $179 USD, but you can find it for as little as $109 USD. Even though it’s still pricey, you get a lot of sound for your money. The sound quality is great and is very close to what we expect from consumer audio products. The K371 sounds like most modern headphones because the midrange isn’t emphasised as much as it could be.
You might not like how the treble range has a lot of peaks and valleys, but this is typical of higher-end consumer headsets. We’ve seen the same thing happen with Sennheiser headphones. If you want to hear your surroundings and pump up the crowd while DJing, you can flip up one of the headphones.
Pros
- Very well-balanced and neutral sound profile.
- Fairly premium old-school style.
- Articulating ear cups
Cons
- Very unstable and prone to falling off.
- Poor noise isolation.
Jabra Elite 45h Headphone
Features
Check out the Jabra Elite 45h if you just want a pair of wireless headphones that won’t break the bank. This pair of bassy headphones has a pretty high-end look, which might surprise you given that it costs less than $100 USD.
This shouldn’t be your first choice if you want to use it at the gym because it’s more for work and commuting. Even though the headset doesn’t have an official IP rating, it comes with a two-year warranty that protects it from rain and dust.
Sony WH-CH510 Headphone
Features
When you look at the Sony WH-CH510, it’s hard to believe that wireless on-ear headphones can be this cheap. Even more so when you consider that it has good sound, a USB-C port, and can run for 35 hours on a single charge. If you’re looking for headphones at this price, you probably already know you’ll have to give up a few things.
Sony has made some sacrifices with the WH-CH510 headphones, but most of them aren’t too big of a deal. The lack of an analogue input is similar to how most modern smartphones no longer have a 3.5mm port, and the lightweight, plastic construction makes them easier to carry and more comfortable to wear.
Pros
- Sound quality great for the price
- Battery life
- Price
Cons
- Cheap overall look and feel.
JBL TUNE 750BTNC Headphone
Features
JBL is a well-known brand of headphones and Bluetooth speakers, which is a good thing. Customers know they can count on the brand, and they know what to expect from it: decent sound quality for a decent price. That’s what we found with the JBL Live 650BTNC last year, and the JBL Tune 750BTNC are now ready to take their place.
It is a better set of over-ear headphones than the 650BTNCs. It has a lot of great features and a good price. The JBL Tune 750BTNC looks good, sounds good, and feels good. During our tests, we found that they worked well and were simple to use. Best of all, they fit well, so you can listen to them for a long time.
Pros
- Comfortable design
- Good sound quality
- Strong active noise cancelation
Cons
- No waterproofing
- Average battery life
FAQs
Can cheap headphones last long?
Low-quality headphones usually last less than a year. The average lifespan of these models is about a year, or two or three years if you’re lucky. A new pair of middle-range models can be bought for less than $100.
Are budget headphones worth it?
Cheap headphones, like other cheap audio equipment, are known to sound bad, work poorly, and break easily. Many times, expensive audio gear is well-made but oversold. Depending on how you use your headphones, low mid-range (for consumers) or high mid-range (for professionals) are often the best price ranges.
Are JBL a good brand?
Overall, JBL makes headphones that are full of features and usually sound good because they tend to follow the Harman curve. But their design and fit aren’t always the most comfortable, and even though they’re cheap, they’re made of plastic and can feel a little cheap.
Which is the No 1 earphone under 500?
The Boult Audio BassBuds X1 is one of the best earphones you can get for less than 500 rupees. The earbuds only cost Rs 299, have built-in controls, a microphone, an IPX5 rating for water resistance, and work with voice assistants!