Whether you’re a gamer, a music lover, or a content creator, you can get a pair of headphones that offer great sound quality, premium construction, and exceptional comfort for under $500.
Here are our top picks that will give you a great audio experience without breaking the bank.
The right headphones for under $500 can make a huge difference in your ability to enjoy an immersive audio experience.
With so many options to choose from, choosing the right headphones for streaming can quickly become overwhelming.
Best Headphones Under $500
1. Meze Audio 99 Classics Headphones
The 99 Classics are my favorite headphones for under $500.
Meze Audio makes some of the best headphones out there, and the sound quality and overall craftsmanship extend from their top-of-the-line flagship-level cans all the way to their entry-level models.
The 99 Classics are a pair I use every day at the office, and for $309, it’s even sweeter to get this level of fidelity. The styling is sexy, and the metal and wood all make for a timeless pair of headphones.
The fit is great. The headphones are lightweight, and the wide headband and moderate clamping force make it easy to adjust for proper positioning.
Just put them on and the headband automatically adjusts to the position you need. The drivers are very efficient on the 99 Classics.
They immerse you in your music with a fun, lively sound, and they provide a close soundstage, but not too close.
The curved earcups really give you enough space and help with imaging. They’ll do justice to any music, no matter the genre.
2. Sennheiser HD 600 Headphones
The Sennheiser HD 600 headphone is also my favorite choice because it delivers powerful bass and resonates throughout your entire eardrums.
Aside from that, they are also popular with people all over the world because of their sleek design, elegant finish, high-quality open mesh earpiece covers, and lightweight design.
The most striking thing about these headphones is their ability to deliver powerful bass that resonates throughout your entire skull while pumping out your favorite songs.
This makes the overall listening experience much more enjoyable while commuting, jogging, or simply listening to music in the comfort of your home.
I personally love these headphones because they are really comfortable to wear and they are lightweight, so they don’t feel heavy when placed directly on your head.
Again, if you like to run or sweat while exercising, you’ll love these headphones because they won’t weigh you down while jogging or running a marathon on the trail.
I had no issues with the audio and thought the music was very loud when playing music with the headphones, but one reviewer had the opposite experience.
He said that the volume was so low that he had to turn it all the way down to 10 to be able to listen at a fairly comfortable level.
He said that he could hear the same level of music on the Bose headphones at level 3, which means his headphones were not loud at all.
It sounds like a defect in the product that could have been fixed if he had contacted the manufacturer and asked for a replacement.
Overall, I think the Sennheiser HD 600 headphones are a good choice because of their high-quality metal mesh ear covers, detachable Kevlar-reinforced copper cable, wired connection, lightweight aluminum design, and the elegantly finished and stylish design of the headphones that just look absolutely stunning.
3. Audio Technica ATH-R70X
Next up I have a new pair of headphones, the $349 R70X from Audio Technica.
A few months ago I reviewed Audio Technica’s flagship ADX 5000, which for me was a great alternative to Sennheiser’s flagship HD800S.
I would say that the R70X has a similar tonal and frequency response to the HD600 series headphones, with a more pronounced midrange and bass, but the treble is a bit warmer, especially around 6Khz, and could use a bit more energy.
I didn’t think the R70X had as much detail or resolution as the HD600 series headphones, but there are some key improvements to the R70X.
The most noticeable is that the R70X seems to have better bass quality. It’s still a bit lacking, but the bass feels tighter and the drivers seem to provide a more satisfying and distinct bounce to the bass.
Then there’s the soundstage, which, like the Sundara, isn’t the most accurate imaging, but it’s a bit more spacious and effective at creating a sense of distance.
4. Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Honestly, there’s not a whole lot of difference between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. But there are a few defining factors. The most important one is the ANC.
They’re not as good as the XM5. In fact, they’re noticeably worse. That’s not to say they’re bad per se, and in fact they’re a significant improvement over the Bose QC45, but there are differences.
The listening experience is pretty similar to the XM5, but the Sony’s much higher bitrate means better sound quality. The Sony’s EQ adjustments in the app offer more customization than the QuietComfort.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra is controlled via a mix of mechanical and electrostatic buttons. Use this information to your advantage. The battery is good for around 28 hours of continuous playback.
There’s also a built-in microphone on the cable that comes with the QuietComfort, which will take care of everything if you need it.
5. Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4
They excel in every way that matters for a great listening experience. In my opinion, even more so than the excellent Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.
Not only are they my favorite wireless headphones in this price range, they actually sell for under $500.
If you’ve used Sennheiser before, you won’t need me to convince you about their superior sound quality. It’s no coincidence that you see live TV reporters wearing Sennheiser headphones for news, sports, and more.
The MOMENTUM 4 headphones deliver the perfect sound reproduction you expect from Sennheiser. Excellent frequency response, deep, warm bass, bright highs, and everything in between.
The previous model, the MOMENTUM 3, had a bit too much bass for my taste, but this is handled well.
Of course, this product provides a soundstage that is good enough to clearly visualize where all the band members are positioned, so the track you are listening to is recorded.
Sennheiser’s ‘Signature Sound’ is an audiophile-inspired sound system that not only delivers great sound, but also great sound the way you want it to sound.
If you are a serious audiophile looking for wireless headphones, these Sennheisers are the ones to go for.
Built-in EQ, sound modes, presets, and ‘Sound Personalization’ features tailor the audio experience to your exact individual preferences.
Adaptive Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology blocks out unwanted background noise, while ‘Transparency Mode’ lets you hear your surroundings when you want to.
Thick, high-quality padding and materials make it easy to achieve a perfect, comfortable fit (if your head isn’t too big), and the battery life is excellent, with up to 60 hours of playback time.
One of the biggest downsides is the middling ANC, which doesn’t offer the same level of noise cancellation as other headphones in this price range.
6. Audeze Maxwell Headphones
If you’re a gamer and want the best closed-back planar magnetic sound under $500, look no further than these.
At $299, Audeze’s Maxwell headphones are the little brother of my favorite gaming headphone, the Mobius. I’ll get to that in a minute.
The Penrose uses Audeze’s excellent-sounding 90mm planar magnetic drivers and comes in two configurations: PlayStation and Xbox.
The best part is that it’s also great for listening to music. As befitting its big brother, it sounds great on everything, 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 the 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. Comfort is excellent, with ample padding and build quality for a gaming set.
7. Sennheiser HD 560S Headphones
We love the Sennheiser sound. It’s detailed, analytical, and expansive. The 560 S is a bargain. It features an open-back design with angled earcups that position the drivers outside your ears, pointing toward your ear canal.
This all combines to create a surprisingly large soundstage and excellent imaging, giving your music a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Sennheiser has incorporated a new 120-ohm transducer that features a special polymer blend in the membrane.
The drivers themselves are so efficient that they’re compatible with all your devices without the need for an external power source.
The HD 560 S also has a great bass extension, delivering a tight and responsive bass for an open-back headphone in this price range.
It’s particularly well-suited for classical, rock, and R&B. Comfort is a 10/10, with adequate clamping force and large ear cups that we found to be very fatigue-free.
We like to pair the Sennheiser with Black Dragon headphone cables to add bass response and balance the excellent detail with a warmer, more musical sound.
The Sennheiser HD560 S is one of the best Sennheiser sounds at one of Sennheiser’s highest-priced levels.
8. GRADO Prestige Series Headphone
GRADO Prestige Series headphone is the best open back headphones thanks to a new speaker design, reconfigured diaphragm, and high-quality engineering specifically designed to maintain audio integrity.
These headphones have an open back design that creates a powerful and high quality audio experience that you can’t get from closed back headphones.
In fact, when you listen to music or audiobooks with these headphones, it feels like you’re experiencing everything in stereo surround sound, which in my opinion is amazing.
These headphones are wired, so they connect via a 3.5mm headphone jack. Some people prefer wireless headphones for convenience, but I’ve always liked wired headphones because I think they provide much better quality sound.
With wireless headphones, the audio often cuts out and there are other issues that I never experienced with wired headphones.
On the other hand, I read one person who was dissatisfied with these headphones, saying that the treble was too loud.
He said that the headset had a tinny sound that was annoying and shrill, ruining the overall listening experience.
It felt like the headphones were broken when they were taken out of the box. I have never heard of anyone else having horrible highs, so I think this is an isolated incident.
In conclusion, I would wholeheartedly recommend these GRADO Prestige headphones as the best open-back headphones.
The audio quality is powerful and amazing. The design is comfortable, and durable, and incorporates synthetic vegan-friendly materials.
Finally, the manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty to customers in the US, so I think they really stand by their product.
9. Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
You won’t get the best listening experience with these headphones. The bass is heavy, the midrange is sometimes too strong, and the highs tend to shine too brightly.
Overall, they sound decent, and the booming bass will appeal to many who aren’t audio experts.
But we’re not here to talk about sound quality. The Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 has something different. No, it’s not about slightly prominent midrange or boosted bass. It’s something a little weirder.
The Crusher ANC 2 has haptic rumble technology. That means that when the bass hits, the headphones literally shake around your head, creating a form of immersive listening. And it’s really fun.
When listening to heavy bass-heavy tracks, you can turn a dial on the earcup to increase the amount of rumble on the headphones.
This is undeniably gimmicky. It gets tiring after a while. But if that’s what you like, it’s perfect.
They also have a pretty respectable 50-hour battery life for this price range.
They’re not for everyone, and in fact, they probably won’t be for many, but if you want more bass immersion or unique headphone technology, the Crushers are for you.
10. HIFIMAN Deva Pro Wireless
In creating these headphones, HIFIMAN introduced a completely new innovation in both the Bluetooth amplifier and the planar magnetic technology, which greatly improved the sound quality and connectivity.
All elements of the sound are well reproduced and distinguished.
There is almost no difference in sound quality when connected via Bluetooth or plugged into the headphone jack. This is quite unusual. The innovation worked.
They are lightweight and comfortable, but I would say that if you are very active, they tend to slide forward.
There is no active noise cancellation, but for the wearer, there is at least a pretty good (but not amazing) sound isolation.
The reason I make this distinction is that if you are listening to music, the people around you will either enjoy what you are listening to or hate it.
If you are going to use them on public transport, you will end up annoying your companions.
Another downside is that the battery life is relatively short compared to all the other products on this list. Plus, you really need to reduce the voice interference…
Thanks, HIFIMAN. But I know when I am away from my device or changing the connection option.
11. Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphone
The Beats Solo3 wireless headphone is a great choice for any audiophile. They offer 40 hours of listening time, are compatible with Android and iOS devices, and can be charged for an additional 3 hours with just a 5-minute charge.
The Beats Solo3 headphones are a great choice because they are not only fully compatible with all Android devices, but also with Apple devices.
In fact, Apple acquired Beats from rapper Dr. Dre and producer Jimmy Iovine for around $2.5 billion a few years ago, which is what made these great headphones so popular.
You’ll also love the fact that these headphones have a really long battery life. If you use them for 6-8 hours a day, like a regular listener, you’ll actually be able to use them for 5 days before needing to charge them again.
If you still need to use them when the battery runs out, just plug them in for 5 minutes and you’ll get another 3 hours of battery life.
What do you think? After 3 hours of battery life, you can still get an extra 5 minutes of power by plugging them in.
While I love the sleek, streamlined design of these headphones, one reviewer didn’t like the fact that the headphones stopped working after a month.
This is definitely a concern, considering these headphones cost around $150 depending on the retailer.
However, Apple is known for doing the right thing for its customers, so if this happens, you can always contact Apple to see if they can provide a replacement.
Overall, the Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones are a great pair of headphones thanks to their powerful Bluetooth connectivity, long battery life, quick battery recharges, comfortable cushioned ear cups, adjustable fit, and streamlined design.
12. AfterShokz Aeropex Bone Conduction Headphone
The AfterShokz Aeropex Bone Conduction takes technological innovation to the next level, delivering premium sound and high-quality audio.
These wireless headphones are lightweight, comfortable, and waterproof, with a single-click multi-function button and eight hours of battery life on a single charge.
One of the most frustrating things about listening to headphones on your smartphone is having to constantly put your phone in and out of your pocket to skip to the next track, pause your music, answer a call, or even use your voice assistant.
But these headphones have a multi-function button that handles all of that.
So you can safely tuck your phone away in your pocket, pocketbook, backpack, or anywhere else without having to dig around for all your favorite features.
The lightweight and comfortable design provides unparalleled comfort that you won’t find in other bone-conduction headphones.
Sometimes these headphones are so tight that they press so hard on your head that you actually feel pain and get a headache.
But when it comes to AfterShokz’s bone-conduction headphones, nothing could be further from the truth.
One thing that’s unfortunate is that one reviewer didn’t like the way the headphones vibrate against your skull.
If they didn’t vibrate, you wouldn’t actually be able to hear the audio, because that’s how bone conduction technology works.
Without the vibration, you’d be standing there and singing along to your favorite song. That’s all you’d hear. So bone conduction headphones might not be for everyone, and that’s probably the moral of the story.
In the end, you’ll love the AfterShokz Aeropex Bone Conduction Headphones for their lightweight and comfortable design, 8-hour battery life, IP67 waterproof rating, clear audio, and always-on multi-function buttons.
Types of headphones
There are three main types of headphones to choose from: over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear. Each type offers its own advantages and disadvantages, and it’s essential that you choose the right type for your needs.
Let’s take a look at these three types of headphones, and explore their design, features, and ideal use cases to help you decide which type is best for you.
Over-Ear Headphones:
Over-ear headphones have large earcups that surround your ears. This design provides excellent noise isolation and helps you focus on the audio, making it a popular choice for gaming and content creation.
Over-ear headphones can also be more comfortable than other types because the earcups distribute the weight of the headphones more evenly across your head.
On-Ear Headphones:
On-ear headphones have smaller earcups that rest on your ears. While they don’t offer as much noise isolation as over-ear headphones, on-ear headphones can still provide a comfortable fit and excellent audio quality.
They’re also smaller and more portable than over-ear headphones, making them a great choice for streaming on the go.
In-Ear Headphones:
In-ear headphones sit on your ears. While they don’t offer the same audio quality as over-ear or on-ear headphones, in-ear headphones are lightweight and portable, making them a great choice for listening to music or streaming content while exercising or traveling.
They’re also a fantastic choice for music streamers.
If you’re looking for immersive audio and noise-canceling, over-ear headphones may be the best option. If you’re looking for portability and convenience, on-ear or in-ear headphones may be a better fit.
As a musician, I prefer in-ear headphones. Ultimately, the right headphones for streaming will depend on your specific needs and budget.
Are expensive headphones always better than cheap options?
Expensive headphones aren’t always better than cheap ones. While some expensive options may offer better sound quality or more features, there are plenty of affordable headphones under $500 that offer great value for your money as same as the above options.
It’s best to read reviews and compare specs to find the pair that best suits your needs and budget. You’re already doing that!