The 7 Best Budget And Cheap Headphones – Winter 2023 Reviews

In an ecosystem where audiophile headphones can cost thousands of dollars, good headphones under $100 are rare. As a result, budget-level audiophile headphones tend to be a bit higher in price than their casual-use counterparts. That said, if you don’t mind shelling out a bit more, the Philips SHP9500 are more expensive than other picks on this list but are low-cost in the context of the audiophile market. They have an open-back design that lets background noise from your environment mix with your audio to create a more immersive soundstage. In comparison, closed-back headphones, like the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x, make audio sound more closed-off and closer to your head.

These over-ears have a very low impedance, so you can get the most out of their sound without needing a powerful amp. They also have a very neutral sound profile, with extra high-bass for added warmth that suits folk and jazz music. The rest of the range is well-balanced, but like most open-back headphones, there isn’t much rumbly low-bass to the mix. That said, while they’re great for listening to high-res audio, they aren’t designed for any other purpose and don’t perform well when used as casual headphones. Their open-back design means they leak a lot of audio, so your co-workers will hear whatever you’re listening to. They also don’t isolate you from much background noise, so you’ll hear all the noise from a crowded subway car.