This is a list of the best headphones under $500.
These are the best headphones for people who have no idea what they’re doing and just want to buy something. We don’t care why you want them, but we know you need them, and that’s why we’re here.
1. Bose QuietComfort 25
2. Sennheiser HD 800
3. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT
4. Sony WH-1000XM3
5. Grado SR80e
That’s the question we asked ourselves at the beginning of our research for this article. We wanted to find headphones that offered an incredibly rich sound, a comfortable fit, and a stylish look – all for less than $500. So we decided to do some digging, and after hours upon hours of testing we were able to narrow it down to 4 fantastic pairs of headphones. What follows is a quick summary of what we found.
The first thing we noticed was the quality of the sound. That’s the most important part of any pair of headphones, so we made sure that each one offered crisp highs, booming bass, and clear vocals. The result was a list of four different headphones that each had their own unique sound profile while still being pleasing to listen to overall.
And because comfort is almost as important as quality when it comes to choosing a pair of headphones, we also made sure that every single headphone on our list was comfortable enough for extended listening sessions. But just because they’re comfortable doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot going on under the hood; each pair offers either active noise cancellation or a built-in amplifier (or both!).
We also made sure to include options for those who want something more unique than your
We recently put out a list of the best headphones under $300. And, as you might expect, we got some pretty vocal responses from folks who found the list a bit limiting. “What about models over $300?,” asked one commenter.
Well, that’s a fair point. There are plenty of great headphones available for users who are willing to spend a little extra on them. So, in an effort to make up for our oversight, we’ve decided to release this list of the best headphones under $500.
But before you start reading, there are some things we need to get out of the way. For instance, most people don’t need to spend more than $500 on headphones–no matter how much they think they do. And while this list includes some models that sound better than those that cost far less money, almost none of them come with better features or build quality.
With those caveats in mind, here are our favorite high-end headphones:
I did a lot of reading in the past year and wanted to share what I learned. This is not only for my readers, but also to help me remember what I read. Please let me know if you have any questions.
This post is part of an ongoing series on headphones under $500. We’ve previously covered:
Headphones Under $100
Headphones Under $200
Headphones Under $300
Headphones Under $400
The best headphones under $500 are: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro and Sennheiser HD 600/650. Both headphones are open-back and provide excellent sound quality for their price point. They’re both available for around $300-$400, but you can find them on sale from time to time (e.g., Amazon has them for around $200).
We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing headphones, and we think the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II are the best for most people. They’re very comfortable, they sound great, and their active noise cancellation is among the best in the industry.
The B&W PX are a great-sounding pair of Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation and 22 hours of battery life when used wirelessly. They cost around $400 (£330 or AU$500).
If you want to save some cash, consider the original Bose QuietComfort 35. Wired, they sound identical to the newer models, have really good noise cancellation, and cost less than $350 on Amazon right now.
So you’re looking for studio headphones? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the best studio headphones that we think will be worth your money. These headphones have been broken down into three different categories: Open Back Headphones, Closed Back Headphones, and Headphones for DJs.
If you have any questions about these studio headphones or about anything else, feel free to reach out to us by using our Contact Us page. We’re always happy to help!