A hundred bucks for headphones is a gray-area. You’re not buying cheap beats, yet you’re also not getting high-end sound blasters (and you’re not even in the same arena as Sennhiser’s $55,000 Orpheus headphones). That said, just because you’re not spending over a Benjamin doesn’t mean you can’t get quality headphones. Whether you’re looking for over-ear or in-ear, noise-canceling, high-fidelity or wireless, there are affordable headphones out there. Here’s a good place to start.
INK’D Wireless by Skullcandy
Weighing just 24 grams, these are an affordable audio travel companion. $40
CX 300-II Precision Enhanced Bass Earbuds by Sennheiser
Offering enhanced bass at under $50, these are great cheap beats. $35
ATH-ANC23 by Audio-Technica
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better pair of in-ear, active noise-canceling buds under $100.
$45
Hi-Fi Over-the-Ear Headphones by Monoprice
High-fidelity headphones that have 40mm neodymium drivers, creating lucid highs and mids, along with a powerful bass. $70
BackBeat Fit by Plantronics
Waterproof with wrap-around frames, these sport headphones have on-ear controls so you don’t have to pull out your iPhone mid-workout. $85
PS 202 NC by Phiaton
Another superb ANC in-ear bud option. Simple, compact and elegantly designed. $89
Striker Pro P1 by Polk Audio
PC gamers know: sound is everything. $80
MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones by Sony
These premium studio quality headphones are great for high-fidelity listening. $98
Prestige Series SR80e Headphones by Grado
Grado’s famed headphones, providing extra bass and minimum distortion, for under a hundo. $99
SoundSport by Bose
An affordable and sweat-proof alternative to Bose’s Q20 Acoustic Noise Canceling headphones. $99
