Reviewing the Best Headphones Under $200

In today’s post, we will be reviewing the best headphones under $200, catering specifically to those of you who are in search of high-quality sound and comfort at an affordable price. So sit back, relax, and let us guide you through the top contenders in the realm of budget-friendly headphones.

What Are The Best Headphones Under $200?

Feature	Sennheiser HD 599	Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7	Philips SHP9500	Sennheiser HD 280PRO	Soundcore Space Q45	Skullcandy Crusher	Koss Porta Pro	JBL Live 460NC Wireless	Sony WH-1000XM3
Open/Closed Back	Open	Closed	Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Open	Closed	Closed
Sound Quality	Hi-Res Audio	Hi-Res Audio	High-Fidelity	Accurate Sound	Hi-Res Audio	Enhanced Bass	Dynamic	Hi-Res Audio	Hi-Res Audio
Impedance	50 ohms	36 ohms	32 ohms	64 ohms	32 ohms	32 ohms	60 ohms	32 ohms	47 ohms
Frequency Response	12 Hz – 38.5 kHz	5 Hz – 40 kHz	12 Hz – 35 kHz	8 Hz – 25 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz	15 Hz – 25 kHz	20 Hz – 20 kHz	4 Hz – 40 kHz
Weight	8.8 oz (250 g)	9.3 oz (265 g)	11.6 oz (330 g)	7.8 oz (220 g)	11 oz (312 g)	9.6 oz (272 g)	2.9 oz (82 g)	9.6 oz (272 g)	9 oz (255 g)
Noise Cancellation	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Wireless Connectivity	No	No	No	No	Yes (Bluetooth 5.0)	Yes (Bluetooth 4.1)	No	Yes (Bluetooth 5.0)	Yes (Bluetooth 4.2)
Battery Life	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	20 hours	40 hours	N/A	29 hours	30 hours
Price	Mid-range	Mid-range	Affordable	Affordable	Mid-range	Affordable	Affordable	Affordable	High-end

Please note that prices may vary depending on the retailer and location.

Sennheiser HD 599 Headphones

The Sennheiser HD 599 headphones are a popular choice for those looking for high-quality headphones under $200. Here are some aspects of the headphones that make them a top pick:

Sound Quality

The Sennheiser HD 599 headphones offer near-audiophile levels of sound quality, with impressively refined and natural sound. They have a warm, well-balanced sound profile, with vocals and lead instruments that sound present and clear. The headphones are also smooth and easy to listen to, with good detail and depth resulting in a musical and natural sound.

Comfort

The Sennheiser HD 599 headphones offer exceptional wearing comfort thanks to the large ear cups and soft replaceable ear pads. They are very soft and great even if you live in a warm environment. The headphones also have soft, padded headbands and earcups.

Design

The Sennheiser HD 599 headphones feature an open-back over-ear design, which delivers impressively natural spatial performance. They have a contemporary design with soft, padded headbands and ear cups. The headphones come in an ivory/brown color scheme, which some reviewers find a bit ugly. Fortunately, the HD 599 SE black color scheme is available and is considered to be better-looking.

Features

The Sennheiser HD 599 headphones have a removable cable, which is a convenient feature. They also come with a 10′ cable with a 1/4″ (6.3mm) plug for your home stereo and a 51″ cable with a 3.5mm straight plug for your portables.

Pros and Cons of Sennheiser HD 599

Pros

• Lightweight and comfortable German design
• Dynamic and detailed audio
• Durable
• Exceptional wearing comfort thanks to the large ear cups and soft replaceable ear pads
• Smooth and easy to listen to, with good detail and depth resulting in a musical and natural sound
• Sounds are natural and transparent, the soundstage is truly exceptional
• Channel separation is good too, as you can identify instruments in any medley
• The bass is good and tight, and HD 599 is ideal for critical listening
• Comes with a removable cable, which is a convenient feature
• Good cables with high-quality connectors

Cons

• A lot of sounds escape by design, with no noise isolation
• No physical volume control, so users don’t have the option to adjust the volume on the device
• Some reviewers find the ivory/brown color scheme a bit ugly

Overall, the Sennheiser HD 599 headphones are a great choice for those looking for high-quality headphones under $200. They offer exceptional sound quality, comfort, and design, and have convenient features such as a removable cable.

Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7

The Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 headphones are a popular choice for those looking for high-quality headphones under $200. The ATH-MSR7 headphones have a sleek design and great-sounding audio, making them a clear winner for anyone that doesn’t mind spending a little more for better quality. They are a complete, relatively affordable way to take a dip in Hi-Res audio.

The headphones have great build quality, beautifully detailed sound, and exceptional wearing comfort thanks to the large ear cups and soft replaceable ear pads. They are lightweight and comfortable with a flexible swivel. However, they have some cons, such as poor frequency response, weak lower midrange and bass, and no noise isolation.

Pros and Cons of Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7

Pros

• Great build quality
• Beautiful detailed sound
• Detachable cable (3 included)
• Easy to drive
• Clear and undistorted mid-range response
• Good separation of images
• Good channel separation
• Exceptional wearing comfort thanks to the large ear cups and soft replaceable ear pads
• Lightweight and comfortable German design
• Flexible swivel

Cons

• Poor frequency response
• Bright treble and upper midrange
• Weak lower midrange and bass
• Not very comfortable
• No physical volume control
• A lot of sounds escape by design, with no noise isolation

Overall, the Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 headphones are a great choice for those looking for high-quality headphones under $200. They offer great sound quality, comfort, and design, and have convenient features such as a detachable cable.

Philips SHP9500

The Philips SHP9500 headphones are a popular choice for those looking for high-quality headphones at an affordable price.

The SHP9500 is known for its exceptional comfort, especially when used in a cool environment. The headband padding is lovely and provides a comfortable fit.

It offers crisp, balanced sound with fantastic detail, clarity, openness, decay, separation, and excellent soundstage. The headphones have a very neutral sound profile that reproduces vocals and instruments clearly.

The build quality of the SHP9500 is considered to be good. We appreciate the well-padded and adjustable headband, as well as the large ear cups.

The SHP9500 is often regarded as a great value for the price. It offers amazing sound and build quality at an affordable price.

While the SHP9500 has received positive reviews, it’s important to note that these headphones have an open-back design, which means they don’t block out background noise and leak audio, even at moderate volumes. This makes them less suitable for office use or situations where noise isolation is desired.

Additionally, since they are audiophile headphones, they lack a built-in microphone, making them unsuitable for taking calls or participating in online meetings. However, the comfortable fit of the SHP9500 makes them suitable for long hours of use at your desk.

Pros and Cons of Philips SHP9500

Pros

• Amazing sound quality at an affordable price
• Good build quality
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Replaceable cord
• Balanced soundstage
• Very versatile set of headphones

Cons

• Not suitable for office use due to open-back design
• No noise isolation
• Leaks audio, even at moderate volumes
• No built-in microphone
• Weak bass

Overall, the Philips SHP9500 headphones offer amazing sound quality at an affordable price, good build quality, and a comfortable fit. They are lightweight and versatile, making them suitable for long hours of use. However, they have some cons, such as no noise isolation, leaked audio, and no built-in microphone, making them less suitable for office use or taking calls. Additionally, some users find the bass to be weak.

If you’re looking for a similar headphone with a sleeker design and less audio leakage, you may want to consider the Philips SHP9600 headphones. They offer a more extended bass and a little extra boom and punch in the bass range that some users may prefer.

Sennheiser HD 280PRO Review

The Sennheiser HD 280PRO headphones are a popular choice for those looking for high-quality headphones for professional studio use.

They are exceedingly comfortable and a great option for mixing or tracking long recording sessions. However, they have some cons, such as dull sound quality and lightweight bass, making them underwhelming for casual listening. Additionally, they lack noise isolation, which may not be suitable for some users.

Pros and Cons of Sennheiser HD 280PRO

Pros

• Professional monitoring headphones with extremely robust construction
• Good build quality
• Exceedingly comfortable
• Accurate frequency response with a few minor deviations
• Tight seal over the ears
• A great option for mixing or tracking for long recording sessions
• Accurate midrange and treble reproduction

Cons

• Dull sound quality
• Underwhelming for casual listening
• Lightweight on bass
• No noise isolation

Overall, the Sennheiser HD 280PRO headphones are a great choice for those looking for professional monitoring headphones with accurate frequency response and a tight seal over the ears.

If you’re looking for a similar headphone with better sound quality and more bass, you may want to consider the Sennheiser HD 599 headphones. They offer an amazing bass quality that will give you quite an immersive listening experience.

Soundcore Space Q45

The Soundcore Space Q45 headphones are a popular choice for those looking for high-quality headphones with active noise cancellation at an affordable price.

They have a comfortable fit, excellent app support, reliable button controls, and outstanding battery life. They also support Hi-Res Audio. However, they have some cons, such as uneven high-end response, poor digital assistant and wind reduction during calls, and no noise isolation. Additionally, they are lightweight on bass and have a large design that might not be for everyone.

Pros and Cons of Soundcore Space Q45

Pros

• Great value for the price
• Solid audio quality with EQ
• Good, custom ANC performance
• Comfortable fit
• Excellent app support
• Reliable button controls
• Outstanding battery life
• Hi-Res Audio support

Cons

• Uneven high-end response
• Poor digital assistant and wind reduction during calls
• The large design might not be for everyone
• No noise isolation
• Lightweight on bass

Overall, the Soundcore Space Q45 headphones offer great value for the price, solid audio quality with EQ, and good, custom ANC performance.

If you’re looking for a similar headphone with better noise isolation, you may want to consider the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. They offer excellent noise isolation and sound quality, making them a great choice for those who want to block out background noise while listening to music.

Skullcandy Crusher

The Skullcandy Crusher headphones are a popular choice for those looking for headphones with an emphasis on bass.

They have a unique haptic bass slider design that allows users to adjust the bass levels to their liking. The headphones have good build quality, decent sound quality with the bass slider off, and an immersive bass experience with the slider on. They also have a comfortable fit and good battery life. However, they have some cons, such as poor noise isolation, uneven high-end response, and no noise cancellation. Additionally, the bass-heavy sound profile may not be suitable for all users.

Pros and Cons of Skullcandy Crusher

Pros

• Unique haptic bass slider design
• Good build quality
• Decent sound quality with bass slider off
• Immersive bass experience with a slider on
• Comfortable fit
• Good battery life
• Companion app with EQ presets and Personal Sound feature

Cons

• Poor noise isolation
• The bass-heavy sound profile may not be suitable for all users
• Uneven high-end response
• No noise cancellation

Overall, the Skullcandy Crusher headphones are a great choice for those looking for headphones with an emphasis on bass.

If you’re looking for a similar headphone with better noise isolation, you may want to consider the Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones. They have a similar design to the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless 2016 but with better noise isolation and a Personal Sound feature that optimizes sound levels based on your hearing.

Koss Porta Pro

The Koss Porta Pro headphones are a popular choice for those looking for affordable headphones with good sound quality.

They have a unique bass-heavy sound signature that some users may appreciate. However, they have some cons, such as middling build quality, uneven high-end response, and no noise isolation. Additionally, they may not be suitable for other uses due to their flimsy build and lack of features.

Pros and Cons of Koss Porta Pro

Pros

• Affordable price
• Lightweight and portable
• Comfortable fit
• Good sound quality for the price
• Unique bass-heavy sound signature
• Good for critical listening

Cons

• Middling build quality
• Uneven high-end response
• No noise isolation
• Flimsy and lacking in features

Overall, the Koss Porta Pro headphones offer good sound quality for an affordable price, a lightweight and portable design, and a comfortable fit.

If you’re looking for a similar headphone with better build quality and more features, you may want to consider the Koss Porta Pro Wireless headphones. They offer a similar sound signature to the Koss Porta Pro but with better build quality and wireless connectivity.

JBL Live 460NC Wireless

The JBL Live 460NC Wireless headphones are a popular choice for those looking for affordable headphones with active noise cancellation.

They have good sound quality with a bass emphasis, good noise-canceling performance, and good battery life. They also have a companion app with EQ presets and multi-device pairing. However, they have some cons, such as uneven high-end response, no noise isolation, flimsy build quality, and poor passive soundstage.

Pros and Cons of JBL Live 460NC Wireless

Pros

• Affordable price
• Lightweight and portable
• Comfortable fit
• Good sound quality with bass emphasis
• Good noise-canceling performance
• Good battery life
• Companion app with EQ presets and multi-device pairing

Cons

• Uneven high-end response
• No noise isolation
• Flimsy build quality
• Poor passive soundstage

Overall, the JBL Live 460NC Wireless headphones offer good value for the price, a lightweight and portable design, and a comfortable fit.

If you’re looking for a similar headphone with better build quality and more features, you may want to consider the JBL Live 660NC Wireless headphones. They offer a similar sound signature to the JBL Live 460NC Wireless but with better build quality, more features, and better noise isolation.

Sony WH-1000XM3

The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones are a popular choice for those looking for high-quality wireless headphones with active noise cancellation.

The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones offer excellent noise-canceling performance, good sound quality with customizable EQ, a comfortable fit, and sturdy build quality. They also have a companion app with many features and good battery life. However, they have some cons, such as an expensive price, no water resistance, finicky touch controls, and no multi-device pairing.

Pros and Cons of Sony WH-1000XM3

Pros

• Excellent noise-cancelling performance
• Good sound quality with customizable EQ
• Comfortable fit
• Good battery life
• Companion app with many features
• Sturdy build quality

Cons

• Expensive price
• No water resistance
• Touch controls can be finicky
• No multi-device pairing

If you’re looking for a similar headphone with better touch controls and multi-device pairing, you may want to consider the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. They offer a similar sound signature to the Sony WH-1000XM3 but with better touch controls and multi-device pairing.

Conclusion

Remember that the best headphones for you will depend on your personal preferences and intended use. Consider factors such as sound quality, noise isolation, comfort, and features such as wireless connectivity and noise cancellation when making your decision.

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