The Best Headphones for Under $100

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4,558-word post, approx 10 min. read

Updates:

• 12/29/19. Replaced the Audio Technica ATH M40x with the Creative Aurvana Live! The CAL is a more balanced headphone and also more comfortable. The M40x, while a good headphone, is outclassed by the more focused, less metallic sound of the CAL. There are also no mid-bass issues on the CAL. The 40x tends to be a bit “bump happy” around 100 – 200Hz.
• 9/16/19. Had replaced the 850 with the 240 on the main page in June, but forgot to update this article to reflect that.
• 3/30/19: Replaced the Sennheiser HD558 with the Samson SR850. Reason being that the 558 is no longer budget and was discontinued. It’s going for roughly $200 as of this update. The 850 is also a phenomenal value and seemed like an easy decision given how much I’ve recommended it lately. It’s a perfect Gaming headphone as well and has a fantastic Soundstage. The SR80e was also replaced with the 60e because after demoing both again, I found no audible differences between the 2. The 60e is a true under $100 headphone also while the 80e toes the line at around $99 most of the time.
• 2/27/19: The SHP9500 had been discontinued, but it looks like New Egg just brought it back too. Check out the price!
• 1/18/19: The Sennheiser HD558 is not worth buying anymore at its current price. I would suggest checking eBay or just purchasing the new and improved HD559 if you were to go that route. I wouldn’t pay over $100 for the 558 if you can help it, and definitely not $200 or over.
• 7/30/18: The SHP9500 has been discontinued, and I’m really annoyed by it. Basically, Philips got rid of their best selling headphone which is in very high demand. How does that make any sense at all? There’s nothing for under $100 that even came close in terms of an open back, and the headphone itself is worth much more than the original asking price of roughly $50 to $70. I had gotten mine on New Egg awhile back for around $54. Anyways, I’m still going to keep this article intact as the headphone may come back as a new iteration sometime down the road (hopefully). Update: It has!
  
• 6/4/20. Replaced the V6 with the 7506 as the V6 was discontinued by Sony after 35 years! R.I.P. Sony MDR V6 (1985-2020).
• 5/20/21. Replaced the 9500 with the 30i, dethroning top Budget King for 3 years.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the article!!

Hey there friend, and Welcome aboard!!

Before we get into the Best Headphones for Under $100, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..

You’ve come to the right place!!

The Best Headphones for Under $100

What I will bring you in this article

1. Introduction
2. Criteria
3. The Players
4. Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Introduction

There are a lot of great headphones out there under $100, and a lot of them manage to compete with headphones way outside of their price range.

In fact, you may not really need to upgrade beyond this point, as the law of diminishing returns starts to set in fairly quickly.

What this basically means is that as you spend more and more, you’re getting a smaller and smaller improvement in overall quality.

One notable exception above $1000 is the Focal Utopia. This is the best headphone I’ve personally ever heard and is about as complete of a package as you’ll ever find. Learn more: Focal Utopia Review!

That said..

You’ll notice that at around the $300 mark, the sound has gotten better but it’s not night and day in my opinion. Most budget headphones that are considered “good” will get you most of the way to a more expensive sound, regardless of what any audiophile snob tells you. Once you start getting up over $600, the changes become more and more subtle, and different factors come into play like tube amps, expensive Amp/DAC combos, and the like.

I’m not saying that more expensive headphones aren’t always worth the price, but I’ve had experience with some really high-end setups, and the sound, while very good, may not warrant you mortgaging away your life savings. Lol.

Thankfully, we’re not about blowing money out of our a**es here at Home Studio Basics. So let’s get into the criteria for what makes a good budget headphone before I really go off on a tangent. 😛

Criteria

What makes a headphone under $100 good? Heck, what makes it “The best?”

Glad you asked.

I believe it’s a combination of a few things:

Sound Quality, Build, Comfort, Imaging, Clarity/Detail, and Balance.

These things are paramount, but at the same time no headphone is perfect and we must be willing to accept that.

For this article, we’ll assign a grade to each of these categories so as to give you a better idea of what you’re potentially in for before you decide to purchase one.

That said, I’ve narrowed down this list to what I like to call “The Budget Kings”, and I’ll link a separate, more in-depth review for each headphone in question.

The Players

Budget King #1

The Koss KPH30i

The SHP9500 held the top spot for 3 years, but it’s time for a new sheriff in town. Enter the KPH30i. Once you take a listen to these babies, you’ll understand why I had to unseat the 9500. They sound perfect. There’s nothing I would change about the sound signature. It was tough to place them above the 9500 only because they aren’t nearly as comfortable as my beloved 9500’s. I do think the sound of a headphone slightly edges its comfort factor, but it is close.

Let’s take a look at the 30i.

• Comfort: C. This is really the only glaring issue with the headphone, as it will start to dig fairly quickly. Do a pad replacement or a barrel roll like Slippy.
• Build: A. I haven’t had any issues but will update as I continue to use it. It’s light and plasticky but feels fine in your hand. For $30, there isn’t much to complain about. It feels about like you’d expect.
• Sound: A++. This is a perfect sound. It’s astounding to me and frankly scary how a headphone this good can be so cheap. You’d be hard-pressed to find much better even in higher-tiered categories. The hype surrounding the 30i is most certainly justified and it’s a snap purchase without thinking twice.
• Imaging: A. Great imaging and placement of sounds. I never feel closed in or claustrophobic when I listen to these. Another testament to how good Koss headphones are.
• Clarity/Detail: A+. Even despite its somewhat darker treble, the clarity and detail here are both unreal, especially at the price point. Again, how can a headphone of this caliber be so dirt cheap?
• Balance: A. The treble is somewhat dark-ish, but I really don’t take exception to it. You wanna dock a couple of points off? Okay, fine. Go ahead. It’s still not going to unseat it from the top spot. This is a headphone you could listen to for literally hours and hours without a single hint of musical fatigue.

Budget King #2

Philips SHP9500

I’ve discussed and debated this headphone ad nausea with many folks, and I’m sure the discussion is far from over.

I believe it to be the total package for under $100 but sound-wise it is outshined by the 30i. Let’s quickly run down the 9500.

• Comfort: A+. While it does tend to slide around on your head at times, this is one buddy that you will not have to adjust 99% of the time. It sits on your head like air and has a non-threatening clamp force to go with that. The earpads are made of fabric and are a bit awkward at first, but you get used to it once you forget the fact that they’re even on your head.
• Build: A+. This headphone is roughly $50, but functions like one in the $200 range, easily. It boasts a bit of metal on the headband adjustment and is made mostly of a rugged plastic that doesn’t feel cheap in the slightest. The cable is detachable, and it’s the perfect length.
• Sound: A. Not perfect, but close. The bass does roll off more so than an HD600, and the treble can be a tad bright/metallic at times. That said, these are minor issues in my estimation and the overall sound is phenomenal. I have a good preset in iTunes for EQ’ing the treble down a tad and bringing up the bass a bit, and it makes them sound even better. If you were interested in the most in-depth comparison: Philips SHP9500 vs. Sennheiser HD600.
• Imaging: A. Not sure why people are saying these don’t have a great Soundstage or aren’t great for Gaming, because it simply isn’t true. What is Soundstage? This is an out of your head feeling if I’ve ever heard one. I was playing Fallout 4 and the in-game knocks made me think that someone was at my door! So I got up to answer it and no one was there 🙁 Lol. I got played (no pun intended).
• Clarity/Detail: A+. Perhaps the best quality of the 9500, this headphone reveals detail on a level that is equal to the HD600, without question. Some people have been arguing that with me lately, but I’ve dedicated an entire 4,000+ word post to this (and will be frequently adding more test tracks) which can be found here: Philips SHP9500 vs. Sennheiser HD600.
• Balance: A-. The bass is a bit rolled off which will be problematic for some, and the treble does have a certain metallic hue, but these things are relatively minor and can be EQ’d if need be.

My Video Review

Please don’t forget to leave a thumbs up, comment, and subscribe to my growing channel!! I would appreciate any support. 🙂

So this is my top overall pick, and for good reason. It does almost everything right, at a ridiculously low price if you can get it on New Egg.

LEARN MORE IN MY OFFICIAL PHILIPS SHP9500 REVIEW!!

Budget King #3

Sony MDR-7506

It was difficult to place this one third, but I had to because of those ridiculously flaky ear pads and the propensity for the non-detachable chord to become tangled. Other than that, this headphone should have a place in every engineer’s cabinet.

Let’s find out why.

• Comfort: A. Again, not perfect, but very good. Considering this is kind of a cross between a Supra-Aural (On-ear), and Circumaural (Around ear), the comfort level is surprisingly good and I can wear them for quite a while without having to adjust. The clamping force is just right and feels snug and compact on my melon. The only thing about these is that they may hurt your ears after a long session, but that’s to be expected. Take a break man!
• Build: A-. The build of this puppy is quite solid, save for the flaky ear pads. The faux leather on these is fine at first, but after about a year or two of heavy use, they will start to flake and peel, and it’s one of the most irritating issues on the planet as far as headphones are concerned. Luckily they are replaceable, however. The chord is also not detachable, and Sony has opted not to update this at all since the mid-’80s. I suppose it’s not that big of a deal, but the coiled chord will tangle after a while, and while not a deal-breaker, it is annoying.
• Sound: A. Like the 9500, the 7506 isn’t without its issues (although minor). The treble does tend to get hot at times, but overall the sound signature is extremely balanced and perfect for mixing/reference. In fact, these are my go-to headphones for mixing down tracks as they have the perfect amount of bass. Not too much where you have to under compensate, and not too little where you have to overcompensate. The mid-range is fantastic, and the sound as a whole is extremely crisp and clean. A real winner!
• Imaging: A. I mean yeah, this is a closed-back headphone, but the imaging is sensational. The Soundstage isn’t wide or anything, but instrument placement, separation, and clarity are all outrageously good, especially for a budget headphone. This baby resembles something in the $200 range easily, and that’s why I endorse it so heavily. Its price to performance ratio is simply astounding.
  
• Clarity/Detail: A+. As discussed above, it’s marvelous. A guy named Markolav who is a nice dude that I discuss headphones with bought a pair of V6’s (the 7506’s older brother) upon my recommendation and loves them. He said he noticed stuff going on that he never did before, and that the clarity can sometimes almost be annoying! Haha. That’s how good these are. They reveal things that you previously thought were insignificant, and they do it in a way that for me is extremely enjoyable. 
  
• Balance: A-. While extremely balanced for the most part, the treble has a bit of unnecessary sizzle at times and will get “hot” with certain tracks. That said, it is a reference headphone so that’s to be somewhat expected; you tend to need that extra sparkle to discern what’s going on better.

My Video Review

Originally I had the V6 here, but it has been discontinued. Still, the sound of the 7506 and V6 is roughly the same. Please don’t forget to leave a thumbs up, comment, and subscribe to my growing channel!! I would appreciate any support. 🙂

LEARN MORE IN MY OFFICIAL SONY MDR V6 REVIEW!!

Interested in the 7506?

OFFICIAL REVIEW HERE!!

Budget King #4

Creative Aurvana Live!

This headphone really impressed me upon demo thanks to my good friend Luke Wagoner. It sounds really balanced for a closed headphone in this price range, with an overall smooth, warm response with plenty of detail still. Let’s take a look.

• Comfort: A/A-. I found myself being able to wear this one for quite a long time with minimal to no discomfort. It helps that it’s extremely light, with a nice clamp pressure and cups that are just large enough to envelop my ears. If you have smaller ears you’re golden. Large Ross Perot sized Auricles may have some trouble. Hey tuck those things in, will ya?! XD
• Build: B/B+. Solid build for the most part. They do feel a tad flimsy, but not as if they’re going to actually break. The cups rotate a bit inwards to get a good fit, and the headband adjustments have some metal in there which is nice. The cups are made of what looks like protein leather, and there’s also some padding on the headband. Overall very good for the price you’re paying.
• Sound: A. These are incredible for the price as a purely casual, fun-sounding headphone with plenty of detail to boot. They work well with nearly all genres and have a crisp character that is immensely enjoyable. The treble, like most budget type headphones, can get just a smidgen sibilant/metallic at times, but it’s relatively minor and not over the top. Definitely not as metallic sounding as the 40x, which is why it replaced that headphone in large part. What does Sibilant mean? The mid-bass here is also not as elevated, which causes the overall sound of the headphone to be nearly perfect in my mind.
  
• Imaging: A. For a closed-back headphone, these provide great imaging, separation, and detail (a running theme in this article). The soundstage is also a bit better/wider than the 40x. In actuality, these will probably surprise you with regard to how well they do with providing a clear and distinct image. They do sometimes give you an out of your head feeling, so don’t write them off just yet pal. Just be aware that you’re not going to be buying these for the purpose of Soundstage. It’s still a closed-back headphone with a sound that’s mostly in your head, but I’m loving the open character these sometimes give off regardless.
  
• Clarity/Detail: A+. The clarity and detail are on point. Timbre and resolution are really, really good for a headphone in this price range as well. It’s a detailed and lively sound without being too much if that makes sense. Some headphones tend to overemphasize the treble and/or mid-range. The CAL avoids these issues while still providing some forwardness around 1k that’s done rather tastefully. 
  
• Balance: A. Parlaying off of what was said above, the CAL somehow manages to sound balanced and lively at the same time. While the mid-range is slightly boosted, the overall sound is really mellow and warm but still doesn’t come off as boring. The treble can sometimes, sometimes sound a bit artificial, but this is the exception and not the rule.

My Video Review

Please don’t forget to leave a thumbs up, comment, and subscribe to my growing channel!! I would appreciate any support. 🙂

LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM IN MY OFFICIAL CREATIVE AURVANA LIVE! REVIEW

Budget King #5

The AKG K240

The AKG K240 has been around for longer than I’ve been alive. Imagine that! The sound of this headphone is so good that it has somehow remained relevant for over 30 years. Quite an impressive feat to say the least, especially in the currently over-saturated headphone market.

TheK240 works because it has a fantastic mid-range, wide-open Soundstage, remarkable clarity and detail, and an overall incredibly revealing character. The bass is textured and articulate but rolls off considerably. This is something to keep in mind if you like more bass with your audiophile meal. It’s simply not going to keep up at times, but for the most part, works pretty well and sounds incredibly accurate and precise. You’re going to start to hear every individual note which makes for a smiling good time! 🙂

Let’s get into specifics.

• Comfort: B-/C+. Not perfect, but it gets the job done for the most part. The pads are rather shallow and your ears are going to be touching the cloth covering the driver, but the headphone is super light and sort of disappears when it’s on. The hammock style adjustment contributes to its overall good (but not great) score. You will be adjusting these fairly frequently as the driver starts to dig into your ear lobes.
  
• Build: B+. Even as cheap as it feels and is (materials being mostly light plastic) I haven’t had any issues with this headphone since I got it. It’s lightweight but it’s strangely deceptive in that it doesn’t really feel like it’s going to break. It is creaky for sure, but I’m never really worried about dropping it if you can believe that. Still, the K240 is just about the lightest headphone you’ll ever come in contact with. It is something to keep in mind regardless.
  
• Sound: A-. This is going to be a remarkably balanced sound with a great mid-range, rolled off treble, and quite a bit of bass roll-off. Details emerge in all directions, which is something that will really come in handy for FPS shooters in particular. In sitting down to compare the 850 and 240, I kept getting this sense that the sound was happening outside of the headphones and to the left. This is something common in audiophile cans with good Soundstage; you’re always going to have this uneasy feeling that there’s some weird conversation or noise is happening outside of your head. It’s subtle but adds to the overall experience by creating a sense of depth and width.
  
• Imaging: A+. Of course, the Imaging on the K240 is rather pristine (like Claire from the Breakfast Club). Haha. Lol. Not much more to say. The soundstage is extremely good, as instruments are given quite ample room to breathe. You’ll be able to individually discern exactly what each one is doing with almost laser-like precision. It allows you to hone in on whatever the heck you want to hone in on, to be sure. This is perhaps what I love most about good sound; it allows me to really dissect the track and everything it has to offer. The K240 affords me this privilege beautifully.
  
• Clarity/Detail: A+. Expect to hear everything and then some. The K240 is a detail monster, but it does so in a pleasant way. This is definitely the type of headphones you’ll want to dissect music with, as it provides an open signature that’s ultra revealing. Because of that, you’re able to hear everything going on in a pretty honest and straightforward way.
  
• Balance: A. This is where the 240 shines, as the treble is relaxed and somewhat rolled off, with good bass texture and a super flat mid-range. The mids rise around 5k and then taper off moving into the treble. You’d think perhaps a darker treble would be less revealing; not so. The 240 portrays this area beautifully. Older soul, motown/oldies, and Rock music in particular sound wonderful with these. It’s natural and detailed without being cold or lifeless.
  

My Video Review & Comparison to the 850

The K240 did end up replacing the 850 for Budget King #4. Find out why!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM IN MY OFFICIAL AKG K240 REVIEW!!

Budget King #6

Status Audio CB-1

This was a newer addition to my collection, and it earns a spot on the list because the Soundstage is one of the best I’ve heard from a closed-back in any price category. The overall sound is very good as well, with some glaring drawbacks but an overall legitimate sound.

Let’s get into the details.

• Comfort: A.  The comfort on these puppies is rather good, although they kind of make you look like a gigantic nerd (picture coming soon). The clamping force is light and inviting, and the padding is soft and supple protein leather. Overall I love the way these feel. They aren’t really fatiguing, and the ear cups leave some room for your ears to fit inside. They are also deep enough to keep your ears away from the drivers, which might explain in part why the Soundstage is above average for a closed back.
  
• Build: A-/B+. Think of these as a poor man’s M50x. They are all plastic except for the gold rings on the ear cups and fold like an M40/50x as well. The interesting thing about them also is that they come with an almost identical 1/4″ adapter to the original M50! (More on that in the video review). I give them a B+ because they’re a bit flimsy and seem like they could break down with extended wear.
  
• Sound: A-/B+. I would say the main drawbacks here are a somewhat sucked out mid-range and a bit of bass bloat/fuzziness/clamminess/stuffiness, or something along those lines. I mean you kind of don’t notice it on its own, but when compared to a crisper bass like the V6 it becomes apparent.
  
• Imaging: A+. Perhaps the best feature of the CB-1, these have a Soundstage that recalls some of the best open backs that I’ve heard. If not for some other drawbacks in the sound category, these would be closer to the top and in fact may trump everything because of Imaging alone. That said, the sound overall is a bit clammy which nets them a #5 spot on the list.
  
• Clarity/Detail: A+. I have to say impeccable. In listening to the same beats mixed on the V6, I can actually hear more micro details and imperfections in the sample itself, which is truly astounding to me. It’s hard to explain, but the CB 1 reveals more going on than meets the eye. For this I’m also tempted to rank them at the top.
  
• Balance: B+. The sucked out mid-range in certain areas will become apparent to you after extended listening, and for that, I cannot award them any higher than a B+. The bass is on the neutral-ish side but definitely doesn’t sound “too lean” which is nice. The treble has some nice detail as well and doesn’t come across as too bright. That said, it’s also lower on this list because it gives off a metallic/fuzzy type of vibe like the 40x at times.
  

My Video Review

Please don’t forget to leave a thumbs up, comment, and subscribe to my growing channel!! I would appreciate any support. 🙂

LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM IN MY OFFICIAL STATUS AUDIO CB 1 REVIEW!!

Final Word

Well, that was quite a mouthful today! Expect this article to be updated, tweaked, or even added to as I gain more experience in the craft and with more and more headphones.

That said, these options are what you should be really honing in on as far as budget is concerned. They all perform very well and some even rival much more expensive headphones.

My motto is.. well I don’t have a motto. Lol. But I wish people would stop trying to over complicate things and just understand that a headphone like the V6 is about as quintessential a headphone as you’ll ever find. There’s no magic secret or formula to it. It’s been around since the ’80s and will likely be around for decades to come.

That said…

For my open back option:

SEE THE PHILIPS SHP9500 FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!

Closed-back:

SEE THE SONY MDR V6 FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!

These are my top two recommendations, and make a great one-two punch if you need both an open and closed headphone. They compliment each other quite nicely actually.

I’ve rambled enough.

Well, my friend, that’s about it for today!! I hope you got something out of this article on the best headphones for under $100, and now have a better idea of the overall picture.

Which of these strikes YOUR fancy? Let me know!

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to leave them below or Contact me! I very much look forward to speaking with you..

All the best and God bless,

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

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