You don’t have to spend a fortune to get great sound. The best budget headphones to buy in 2021 offer comfort, design, and the deep bass and clear treble you want. Some models feature wireless or Bluetooth connectivity, giving you freedom to move without being tethered to your device. Others feature an open or semi-open design for expansive audio.
In all cases, our top picks make your music sound better than it ever has on the tiny earbuds that came with your phone. Even better, they’re available in a price range that won’t hurt your wallet.
What makes great sounding budget headphones?
The best headphones create deep but not overwhelming bass, lifelike midrange, and clear but not piercing treble. What does that mean? Instruments like drums and bass guitar create low bass notes. Midrange is typically where you’ll find voices. Treble is the high notes, not just piccolos and the high strings on a guitar, but the ringing, atmospheric overtones to all instruments that add a sense of space.
The best inexpensive headphones deliver all these frequencies with high fidelity (hi-fi).
Best budget on-ear headphones
On-ear headphones are smaller and lighter than over-ear headphones. Some listeners find the smaller design more comfortable, as these devices sit entirely on top of your ears. That’s different from a larger, over-the-ear pair of headphones that nestles around and over your ears.
Sony WH-XB700 EXTRA BASS Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones, ()
The Sony WH-XB700 EXTRA BASS Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones claim an impressive 30 hours of battery life in addition to 30mm drivers and neodymium magnets for rich bass and pristine treble. With built-in NFC technology, these wireless headphones are easy to connect to any NFC-capable device. They also support a wired connection with an included 3.5mm analog cable for when you’d rather not use up the battery.
Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, ()
Made by one of the biggest names in the headphone world, the Beats by Dr. Dre Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones feature 40 hours of battery life and Apple’s W1 chip for easy setup and switching between iOS devices. And when you do get low on power, the Fast Fuel feature gives you three hours of battery life after just five minutes of charging. The controls on the earcup let you adjust volume, change tracks, and even activate Apple’s Siri voice assistant, allowing you to get more than just “good sound” out of these cans.
Best budget open and semi-open back headphones
Open and semi-open back headphones allow some of the sound created by the drivers to “leak” out into the world. While not ideal if you’re in a crowd or near a loud TV, this does create a larger, more expansive “soundstage.” The result is more like listening to speakers in a room, and less like listening to headphones.
AKG Acoustics K240 Studio Over-Ear Semi-Open Professional Headphones, ()
The AKG Acoustics K240 Studio Over-Ear Semi-Open Professional Headphones sport a classic design with removable/replaceable cords, a self-adjusting headband for comfort, and big 30mm drivers for full, superior sound quality. The semi-open back design offers big audio and better ventilation so your ears don’t get uncomfortably warm.
Best budget studio monitor headphones
If you’re looking for headphones that deliver professional-level accuracy, check out studio monitors. These typically have a “flatter” audio quality that’s more like what you’d find in a recording studio. While great for listening to music, these headphones are also great for playing back your own audio creations. This way, you’re not mixing based on the idiosyncrasies of lesser headphones.
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Professional Monitor Headphones, ()
For accurate playback of music and more, the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Professional Monitor Headphones feature 40mm drivers and a claimed frequency response of 15 to 22,000 Hz. This headset’s 96 dB sensitivity means they can play it loud as well.
Sennheiser HD 200 PRO Monitoring Headphones, ()
The stylish Sennheiser HD 200 PRO Monitoring Headphones feature noise isolation so you can enjoy your music with minimal outside distractions. All of this comes at a low price point you’ll love. A low-tension headband and soft earcup materials deliver a comfortable fit even over long listening sessions when wearing this set of headphones. They also have that signature build quality that we’ve all come to expect from Sennheiser.
Shure SRH240A Professional Quality Headphones, ()
From the legendary audio brand Shure, the SRH240A Professional Quality Headphones have big, 40mm drivers for high-powered bass and crystal-clear treble. And with a sensitivity of 107 dB per milliwatt, you can play these exceptionally loud, even when connected to portable devices.
Looking for more options? Check out our other gear lists:
6 Best Open-Back Headphones in 2021
