A great pair of headphones can seriously elevate your listening experience, but unfortunately a truly awesome pair can run into the thousands of dollars. So what are you supposed to do if you don’t want to spend that kind of cash? If you’re looking for the best headphones under $200, thankfully there are some great options.
There are a few things to consider when buying a new pair of headphones. For starters, you’ll want to think about whether you want over-ear, on-ear, or in-ear headphones. Then, you’ll need to consider whether you want wireless connectivity, or you’re fine with wired. You’ll also need to think about noise cancellation, water-resistance, and so on.
No matter what you’re looking for, here are the best headphones under $200.
Best over-ear headphones under $200
Looking for the best over-ear headphones you can find under $200? The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones are probably the way to go. Sure, the headphones aren’t the prettiest headphones around, but they are some of the best-sounding headphones in their price range. They boast plenty of low-end, a solidly tuned mid range, and excellent clarity and detail.
The headphones are also very comfortable, which is an important consideration to make when you’re looking at over-ear headphones that might be worn for hours on end. It’s safe to say, these headphones are definitely built for home use, but as long as you’re comfortable largely using them at home they’re an excellent option.
Buy the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones here
Best on-ear headphones under $200
Bose is well-known for its noise-cancelling headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones, but it also makes some pretty nice on-ear headphones too — like the Bose SoundLink on-ear headphones.
There are a few things that make these an excellent pair of headphones. For starters, the headphones boast an excellent sound-quality. In classic Bose fashion, there’s plenty of low end, but the mid range and highs are also pretty well-tuned too. Safe to say, these aren’t the most natural headphones around, but if you don’t care too much about natural sound, then they may be a great choice.
There are a few things that the Bose SoundLink on-ear headphones don’t offer — like noise-cancellation — but they’re still a great choice in this price range.
Buy the Bose SoundLink on-ear headphones here
Best in-ear headphones under $200
You can find in-ear headphones pretty much everywhere these days — even bundled in for free with your phone — but it’s rare that in-ear headphones are as nice as the Master & Dynamic ME05 headphones.
For starters, the Master & Dynamic ME05 headphones look great. They’re beautifully-designed with nice use of metal and strong components. On top of that, the headphones sound awesome, especially for in-ear headphones. They feature a deep, powerful low-end, with excellently-tuned midrange, and a solid amount of clarity and detail in the high-end. One of the things we like most about these headphones is the fact that they come with acoustic filters — meaning you can tweak the sound a little to your preference.
Buy the Master & Dynamic ME05 headphones here
Best noise-cancelling headphones under $200
In this price range, headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones are a little out of reach — but thankfully there are still some great options. For example, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC headphones offer excellent sound quality, a high level of comfort, and pretty nicely implemented noise cancellation.
The Sennehsier HD 4.50 BTNC headphones aren’t just great for noise cancellation — they’re excellent headphones in general. They boast 19 hours of battery life, which is pretty good, plus they boast plenty of low-end and a solid amount of clarity in the high-end.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC headphones here
Best sports headphones under $200
Looking for a great pair of headphones to take to the gym? There are dozens of sports-focused headphones in the sub-$200 range that could work great. The best sports headphones under $200, however, in our opinion, are the Jaybird X3 headphones, which are wireless in-ear headphones that should work great for any sports person.
There are plenty of things that make these headphones great for sports. For starters, they’re sweat-proof — meaning that no matter how hard you work out the headphones should come out the other side in decent shape. On top of that, they sound great, offering plenty of low-end for those that need a little boost in their workout, and they’re pretty comfortable for a pair of in-ear headphones designed specifically to stay in your ears during heavy movement.
Buy the Jaybird X3 headphones here
Best true wireless headphones under $200
JLab Audio has been building excellent in-ear headphones over the past few years, and the newest offering, the JLab Audio Epic Air Elite headphones, are no exception to that rule. Not only are the headphones relatively well-designed, but they’re quite comfortable and great at staying in your ears — making them an excellent choice for sports and day-to-day use alike.
Ultimately, of course, the most important thing to consider is how a pair of headphones sound, and the JLab Audio Epic Air Elite headphones sound pretty good, especially for their price range. They offer good bass response, with well-tuned and warm mids, and a detailed and clear high-end.