In this list of the 13 best headphones under $50, we want to show you that getting great-sounding headphones on a budget is easier than ever. While it's true that there are also a lot of cheap headphones out there you want to avoid, there are also some excellent options.
They offer tremendous value and can compete with far more expensive models without damaging effects on your wallet. In this buyer's guide, I want to list only products I would consider if I spent under $50 in 2024.
Editors Choice (in Each Category)
13 Best Headphones Under $50 2024
Why We Like It
The recently refreshed iJoy Hypnotic stands out as one of the best product updates in the headphone space. iJoy got lucky and was popular with the original model (which is why you already see so many positive reviews on Amazon - *hint… they were reviews for the old model that wasn’t great but was cheap.). The new model, however, is perfect, features rich, and packs a punch at under $50 RRP.
The battery life in our testing was excellently used with Bluetooth 5.0. They delivered 33 hours of playback at 50% volume, close to their claimed 35 hours. I found the sound fun and punchy, with bass that extended well and a hint of warmth that made them versatile enough to sound good with many musical genres.
The ANC isn’t as strong as the Sony WH-1000XM5, but that’s to be expected as they are ten times the price. The Hypnotic is good enough to reduce background noise and make traveling less stressful.
My favorite thing about this headphone, though, is the aesthetic redesign. It is a sleek-looking modern design that sits nicely on the head without looking comically oversized—a solid choice for our test winner.
Verdict: It’s unbelievable how good cheap headphones have gotten at the iJoy hypnotic are the most advanced in 2024.
Why We Like It
We discovered the budget brilliance that is the Superlux HD681 Evo a few years ago. Since then, they have been one of the most highly recommended headphones for people looking for audiophile sound without the horrendous expense.
The Evo is incredible value for money and, in my opinion, the best-sounding headphone on this list. Detailed and balanced with an insane amount of space and soundstage for a sub $50 headphone
They are insanely comfy, come with two pad options (Pleather and Velour) and have a decent build quality.
The cables are replaceable with aftermarket options, and if you look around online audio forums, you will find extensive opportunities for modifying Superlux headphones to your needs.
Verdict: A great neutral and open-sounding headphone that is perfect for music production and gaming.
Why We Like It:
The small size and great sound make the Porta Pro by Koss the winner of the best portable headphones under $50. It is a true darling of the audiophile world, with the sound being praised and these headphones being used regularly by Hifi enthusiasts with ridiculously .
The Koss Porta Pro is a legendary headphone and one of the only sub-$ $200 headphones to feature on our list of the best audiophile headphones. They have been around for over 30 years, yet they still manage to be one of the best-selling headphones on the planet.
Compact form factor and next-to-indestructible design are one thing, but the sound is the star. You get a lovely, balanced sound with lots of detail and a crisp clarity you don't get from earphones under $50.
If you are feeling adventurous, many mods for the Koss can elevate them to an even higher level for little to no extra cost.
The retro style is also a top reason that these headphones sell well. Instantly recognizable for those in the know, they look like anything else on the market.
Verdict: The best audiophile headphone under $50. The sound is remarkable and seriously something to be considered if sound quality is your priority.
Why We Like It:
The M20x is the little brother of the massively popular ATH-M50x. So much of the DNA of the more expensive model spills into this budget headphone that they are pretty hard to beat as a set of all-rounders.
Build quality is exceptional for this price, and the sound is clean and tight with a good solid punch to the low end. They are designed to be used primarily as a set of budget studio monitors, and as such, they are made to last.
Style-wise, these are on point, and while they are pretty big, the low profile design means they are suitable for portable use at a push.
However, I recommend you buy these headphones if you want to get into music production or podcasting and don’t want to spend a lot of money on headphones. These do the job and do it well.
Verdict: A great studio headphone for less than $50
5. Anker Soundcore Life Q20
Why We Like It:
The Soundcore by Anker Life Q20 sits just tantalizingly out with the $50 budget we set for this list, but we have included it because you can regularly find them renewed on Amazon or with a small discount that aligns them with our target.
With that, you get one of the best budget headphones under $100, and it’s from a trusted brand name like Anker.
The headphones are feature-packed with the latest technology, such as ANC, Bluetooth 5.0, Bass Up enhancement, 40 hours of battery life, and quick charging via USB-C.
The sound is really good and the best-performing wireless model on our test regarding fidelity. I liked that it displayed good clarity and balance as standard but could also enhance the low end via the Bass Up technology developed by Anker. This makes it a versatile headphone and great for commuting.
However, those looking to be compatible with the Anker Soundcore App will have to spend a little more than $50 to get the Soundcore Life Q30 because the software does not yet support the Q20 headphone.
Verdict: These headphones are worth stretching your budget for.
Why We Like It:
If you are just looking for inexpensive headphones that sound good and you won't be devastated if they get damaged, we recommend the Monoprice 8323. It’s a solid little headphone that does a lot right and very little wrong when considering its low price..
There's nothing remarkable about the build or the sound quality, but considering they cost just half the budget we set for this article, they start to look pretty tasty.
I recommend these if you work with your headphones or want a beater set to have lying around as a backup. It is inexpensive but still perfectly useable and beats out anything else at its price.
Verdict: No frills design but great value as a workhorse or backup headphone.
The biggest surprise of 2024 is the arrival of the Jlab Studio Pro to our list. You don’t need to go for the crazy tropical print above (there are standard black, blue, and gray options, too), but these are my favorite and perfect for going away this summer.
Battery life is a very generous 50 hours, so you could get away with charging once a week with moderate listening, and when you do come to charge you can do so via USB-C.
They are very comfortable headphones thanks partly to the lightweight construction and the ample foam earpads that cushion the points of contact. The construction is well done; they look fantastic and are unlike anything else on the market.
Top points to Jlab for being creative, and despite the omission of ANC on the headphones, it’s still one to consider this year.
Verdict: Funky, stylish and outstanding battery life.
Why We Like It
While the 840 will not win any prizes for the best-looking headphones on our list, they sound so good they are worthy of attention.
These would make a great set of headphones for the office due to the closed-back design offering above-average isolation from external noise. They are very well made, and the comfort also won us over, thanks to the generous padding.
The sound is smooth and refreshingly crisp; the H840 offers more than most headphones in pushing forward the clarity of the midrange and extending into the top notes. This makes them very clear and accurate-sounding headphones for the price. One that is devoid of too much additional coloration of the sound.
Verdict: Another simple headphone with uncolored sound.
9. JBL Quantum 100 - Best Cheap Gaming Headset
Why We Like It:
They are the only gaming headset on our list of best headphones under $50 and are excellent value for money. If you don't have much money for gaming, spending less on headphones and more on your computer and peripherals will give you a better experience. With the Quantum 100, you aren't missing out on much other than materials and design.
This headset does the basics well with clear and flat sound and a built-in mic that sounded pretty decent. We also found they were very comfortable to wear over long sessions due to the large, well-padded earpads.
Verdict: Right now, this is the best gaming headset you can buy under $50
Why We Like It:
Usually, I wouldn't go for a set of fashionable headphones. I always prioritize sound first and then styling, so what about finding something that looks good and doesn't cost the world?
The Skullcandy Riff in that burgundy color fits the bill for me (there are lots of colorways to choose from). I liked the simple, clean lines and warm yet fun sound signature.
You get 12 hours of playback from a single charge, and despite being all plastic, they feel remarkably well put together.
The only thing we didn't like during the testing process was the Bluetooth standard is a bit behind the competition at 4.2 when the others are already well past 5.0.
Verdict: Really funky design and good build quality
Why We Like It:
The Samson SR850 is one of the first headphones I ever reviewed, and today, they still stand the test of time for budget audiophiles.
The beautifully clear and detailed sound they are competitors to the Superlux headphones adorned this list's top.
They are open back, so the sound is also spacious, and you can do a few simple mods to tune them to your taste.
Studio monitor styling is excellent and super comfortable to wear throughout a long listening session.
Samson SR850 Review
Verdict: Amazing sound that can get even better with the simple 2p modification.
Why We Like It:
These Monoprice headphones are big full-size cans designed for travel. The big size has one huge advantage in the huge driver lurking inside.
The BT 300ANC works well for various musical genres but comes into its own on EDM and other electronic styles with big bass.
It’s an unashamed budget bass monster of a headphone, but enough sparkle exists in the top notes to keep pace and blend the sound.
They also have noise-canceling tech and quick control buttons built-in.
Verdict: A simple clean aesthetic but with good noise cancelation.
Why We Like It
The Sennheiser HD206 design has been around for years and is an entry-level staple headphone to the Sennheiser Brand. This is another headphone that is designed as a workhorse. It’s meant to be a cheap option for students, musicians, and studios who put a lot of wear and tear on their headphones.
The sound is flat and neutral, and the comfort is acceptable. There is also a running joke that when the world ends, all that will be left is co*ckroaches and Sennheiser HD206 so I guess that's a testament to their long-term durability.
Verdict: A favorite among audiophiles that can be picked up in brick and mortar stores like best buy.
Cheap Headphones Buyers Guide
WHAT TO LOOK FOR?
As I mentioned above, there are many options for headphones in the sub $50 category. It seems to be the price that most people are comfortable with paying, but that doesn't mean they should settle for whatever is cheap. Price at this market point does not reflect the sound or build quality.
Some headphone manufacturers can sell their headphones cheaply because of the economies of scale. For example, Sony and JVC move many headphones in this price range, so production costs are less because of the competition due to large batch orders at the factories.
On the other hand, small companies that grow through word of mouth and have no marketing budget that raises the price can also be competitive.
It's tough to ignore the rise of the Chinese HiFi market and talk about this a lot here at Audiophile On. In the past decade, generic brand Chinese companies have moved from producing low-quality tat to some outstanding value audio products such as headphones, earphones, and DAPs (Digital Audio Players).
With low production and design costs in China, they have become a real threat to the big brand audio companies and can offer cheap headphones that compete with those many times their price.
AVOID BUYING CHEAP HEADPHONES PURELY FOR FASHION
The biggest mistake I see when buying cheap headphones is purchasing the one that looks the best. I agree this is important as the style of the headphones can match your style. There is, after all, a reason why the Beats headphones come in so many different colors.
However, if these are something you will use daily, there are three other areas to consider when purchasing new headphones.
Comfort, Build Quality, and Sound Quality. At under $50, you will have to make sacrifices in each area, but it tends to work out best in the long run if you consider what you want from your headphones regarding performance and how you are most likely to use them.
YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED TO SHOP FOR KNOWN BRANDS
As mentioned above, one of the most amazing things in audio advancement over the past few years is what's known as the "ChiFi" revolution (Chinese Hifi). Before, if you wanted quality, you would look for brands such as Sony, Bose, JVC, etc. Things have changed, and many companies have come out of China offering bang for your buck. Budget headphones are better than ever.
These Chinese companies offer incredible-sounding headphones at prices we could only dream of just a few years ago. Therefore, people in the know who are immersed in the audiophile headphone world have hunted high and low to find the best options for you under $50.
Sometimes, a sub $50 headphone from a relatively unknown company can sound better than a set of $200+ headphones from established brand names.
OVER-EAR HEADPHONES VS ON-EAR HEADPHONES
We will cover both on-ear and over-ear headphones for under $50 in this category. The reason to choose one over the other comes down to user preference. For example, if you want to use your headphones exclusively at home or in the office, you may be better with the added comfort of over-ear full-size headphones. However, if you travel a lot or are limited in space, you may prefer the more compact design of an on-ear headphone.
We have found that both headphones' styles can sound very good during our testing over the past few years. As a result, we would generally advise you to once again look at how you intend to use your headphones and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Advantages of Over-ear Headphones
Usually more comfortable with less pressure on the outer ear
The larger size means the ability to house more significant drivers
Tend to isolate better from environmental noise
Advantages of On-Ear Headphones
Usually more compact
Lighter due to less material used in construction
Less susceptible to the build-up of heat around the ears.
