Here we’ve carefully combed through our collection to come up with a list of the best audiophile headphones under $500.
We know that everyone listens differently, and depending on your budget, listening style, and music preferences, there’s bound to be a pair that’s perfect for you.
Best Audiophile Headphones Under $500
1. Sennheiser HD 560 S Headphones
Sennheiser’s sound is detailed, analytical, and rich. The 560 S is a great choice. The open design and angled ear cups position the drivers outside the ears, pointing inwards.
These elements combine to create an incredibly wide soundstage and excellent imaging, giving your music the fresh air it needs.
Sennheiser has equipped the headphones with new 120Ω transducers with a special polymer blend in the membrane.
The drivers themselves are extremely efficient and can be used with any device without an external power supply.
The HD 560 S also has excellent bass extension, delivering a solid and responsive bass for an open headphone in this price range. It is particularly suitable for classical, rock, and R&B genres.
The moderate holding power and large ear cups make it almost fatigue-free to wear.
We recommend using the Black Dragon headphone cable with Sennheiser to enhance the bass response and add excellent detail, warmth, and musicality.
The Sennheiser HD560 S is the best sounding product in Sennheiser’s best price range.
2. Grado SR80x Headphones
The SR80X is the OG. The original. The legendary headphone that started it all. The first pair was made in 1991 and is still in production today, making it Grado’s longest-running headphone.
The SR80 now features the X-series drivers, a fourth-generation design that features more powerful magnetic circuitry, more efficient drivers, and a host of other improvements. Grado’s signature fit and comfort are classics.
They haven’t changed much over the years, because they don’t need to. They sound great across virtually any genre, from rock and alternative to jazz and classical.
But one thing’s for sure: these headphones are known for their vibrant and fun sound signature.
Grado’s Prestige series headphones are known for their incredible detail. If you want even more clarity and tighter low-end, we recommend pairing them with the Silver Dragon headphone cable.
Cable-integrated headphones like Grado are easy to replace. The SR80X sounds great while still being affordable.
3. Beyerdynamic DT880
Beyerdynamic’s long-standing DT880 has long been a staple in studios around the world. Other headphones tout the title of studio monitor or reference headphone, but are not.
The problem with advertising these headphones as reference headphones is that their sound signature is the exact opposite.
The boosted bass, pushed-back midrange, and somewhat exaggerated treble response do not support that sentiment at all, and are hardly the most ideal studio option for mixing/mastering and reference work.
On the other hand, the DT880 is also marketed as a studio headphone, and it really fits the look of a studio headphone very well.
The bass rolls off a bit, but not too thin. In fact, it’s mostly a flat-sounding line, and it does a pretty good job of presenting a clear and textured sound, while still maintaining a nice slam.
The midrange is pretty flat, with no real coloration or emphasis in any particular frequency range.
There’s a bit of rolloff after about 1kHz, but there’s a bit of resonance in the presence region (3kHz), which is enough to not detract from the liveliness.
As mentioned earlier, the only issue is the 6kHz peak, which can be a bit jarring at times. After that, it’s smooth sailing, and there’s no sibilance in the all-important 9-10kHz range.
4. Audeze Maxwell Headphones
If you’re a gamer looking to enjoy the best closed-back planar magnetic sound for under $500, look no further and buy these headphones.
At $299, Audeze’s Maxwell headphones are the little brother of my favorite gaming headphone, the Mobius. I’ll talk about the Mobius in a moment.
The Penrose uses Audeze’s excellent sounding 90mm planar magnetic drivers and comes in two configurations, one for PlayStation and one for Xbox.
The best part is that it’s great for music listening too. As befitting its big brother, it sounds great on all types of music, especially rock and classical.
The Maxwell connects to your console via a USB wireless dongle, transmitting 2.4GHz low-latency, high-resolution audio wirelessly from your console to your headphones.
You can also connect to your PC or mobile device using Bluetooth 5.3, or you can connect wired via a single-input 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Maxwell comes with a detachable boom mic that sounds great, and there are controls on the earcup for mute and individual volume, and mic levels.
It’s comfortable with ample padding, and the build quality is top-notch for a gaming set.
5. Grado SR225x Headphones
Meet Grado’s SR225X for a reasonable $225. They look similar to the SR80X, but don’t confuse them. The SR225 offers a richer texture and richer tone than the SR80, thanks to the new F-cushioned earcups.
I really like the sound. Despite Grado’s signature clarity and range, the SR225X is a commanding performer in most genres I listen to.
All headphones using the X-series drivers are handcrafted at Grado’s headquarters in Brooklyn, and are truly works of art.
And the fact that they’re still making things the way they used to be is important. The SR225X stands out with a redesigned cable and a new headband with better cushioning and more durable wire.
The SR225x is are great headphone for those who love fun and energetic sound, bringing their favorite music closer to them. They are particularly great for rock, alternative, jazz, and blues genres.
6. AKG K702
All of these headphones have their flaws, but after listening to the K702 quite a bit recently, I’ve decided that the overall tuning (the K702) is worth it over the slightly better resolution (the 400se).
To my eyes, these two headphones look very similar, but the 400se (and indeed many HIFIMAN headphones) have a midrange issue that I’ve mentioned many times over the years, and it still bothers me to some degree.
K702? When I’m not listening to the product demos you sent me, the 702 is my go-to, and I listen to it 95% of the time. The 400se and my original HD600 don’t get used nearly as much.
The 702 has been a studio staple for a long time, but it’s also a great headphone for casual listening. In my opinion, it is also the headphone that best expresses the diffuse field.
If you are a more old-fashioned person like me who likes quiet music such as jazz, classical, acoustic, and folk, these headphones are perfect for you.
It is even better with a glass of scotch, caviar, and a navy blue turtleneck. If you want to listen to old records and tease others, get one right now!
7. Grado SR325x Headphones
The SR325x upgrades to a full metal housing with the same drivers and design as the other models in the Prestige series.
The metal adds precision to the sound, improving imaging and overall soundstage compared to the two Grado headphones mentioned above.
The increased weight of the cups surprisingly doesn’t hurt the overall fit.
Grado’s design adds ample padding on the top and sides and provides enough retention to ensure that the headphones are still comfortable and secure.
The improvement in sound quality from the 225 to the 325 is noticeable and justifies the price difference between the two.
Likewise, the SR series is a great fit for rock, alternative, jazz, and blues music.