Best Headphones Under $500 in 2024

What are the best headphones under $500? This is a tough question to answer, as it really depends on what you are looking for. If you want good sound quality without any ambient noise, then you’re going to need an expensive pair of noise-canceling headphones.

And if you don’t care about sound quality and just want something that’s affordable, there are many affordable options for headphones that will suit your needs.

So without further ado, let’s review the headphones under 500 dollars.

Table of Contents

Buying Guide

There are a few things you should look for when choosing headphones under $500.

Sound Quality:

If you’re looking for the best sound quality, then an audiophile-grade set of cans will be your best bet. The problem is that audiophile-grade headphones are usually rather expensive, and while the best headphones under $500 will sound good, they won’t sound like audiophile grade.

Weight:

The weight of a headphone is important too because it determines how comfortable it is to wear  and whether or not you’ll want to carry it around with you constantly. Thankfully, many of the $500 headphones we’ll talk about below are very light and won’t weigh down your neck.

Type:

The type of headphones you choose is entirely up to you. If you want something that isolates you from the outside world as much as possible, then a pair of noise-canceling headphones would be a good choice.

5 Best Headphones Under $500 In 2024 (Open Back & Closed Back)

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1. AKG Pro Audio K553 MKII Over-Ear, Closed-Back, Foldable Studio Headphones,Black

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The AKG Pro Audio K553 MKII is like the K550 with a few improvements, including better ear pads for long-term comfort. The headphones also fold up to make them easier to bring along in your backpack or laptop bag. They’re designed to withstand high levels of audio pressure and are resistant to moisture, dust, and other elements that can ruin your music. The mic picks up sound perfectly.

Pros:

  • The K553 MKII are studio quality headphones. They are great for music, gaming, and watching movies.
  • The sound is smooth and clear with powerful lows. The bass is also very impressive without being too overwhelming.
  • The sound and build quality of these headphones is definitely worth the price you’re paying.

Cons:

  • The folding mechanism for the headphones isn’t very sturdy and the plastic frame clips you might break.

2. GRADO SR80e Prestige Series Wired Open Back Stereo Headphones

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The Grado SR80e are one of the best headphones under $500. They’ve got a lightweight, low-resistance voice coil that delivers detailed, accurate sound that audiophiles will love. The headphones also feature an open back design that allows ambient noise to seep into the minds to create a more realistic listening experience.

Pros:

  • The open back design of these headphones means you’ll hear ambient noise, which makes for a more realistic listening experience.
  • The sound is crisp and clear with a deep bass response.
  • The headphones fold up and bring pretty well.

Cons:

  • The plastic around the headband feels cheap and flimsy.

3. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Open-Air Headphone 50mm Drivers- Black

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The Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR are some of the best headphones under $500. They offer fantastic sound quality and an amazing open-air feel that helps you hear every last bit of ambience in your music. The gaming headphones also feature a noise cancelling mic that cuts out ambient noise and is great for Skype calls and phone calls.

Pros:

  • The headphones provide crisp and clear sound.
  • The open-air design blocks out ambient noise for an immersive listening experience.
  • The headphones fold up pretty easily so you can fit them in your carry-on. They also fold flat on their own when you need to pack them away.

Cons:

  • The plastic used to hold the back of the headband feels flimsy and might break during normal wear. This doesn’t affect the sound quality, though. It just feels like it could break at any time.

4. Sennheiser HD 600 Open Dynamic Hi-Fi Professional Stereo Headphones (Black)

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The Sennheiser HD 600 are some of the best headphones under $500. They’re open-air and feature an unbelievable amount of detail and clarity. The headphones also deliver a very smooth sound that doesn’t get distorted at high volume levels.

Pros:

  • The sound is very easy to listen to. There isn’t much noise isolation, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for something like that.
  • The headphones are very lightweight and easy to carry around.
  • They also fold flat when you don’t need them. They take up very little space in transit, which is good because they’re not very portable.

Cons:

  • They aren’t very easy to wear for extended periods of time because they don’t actually fit on your head. The headphones are meant to be worn over the ears, but they’re not designed to give you any stability.

5. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 — Over Ear, Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Built-In Microphone for Clear Calls & Alexa Voice Control, Black

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These Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones are ideal for students are some of the best headphones under $500. The noise cancellation is fantastic and makes it possible to focus on your music without having to listen to a lot of ambient noise.

Pros:

  • The sound is clear with a strong bass response and a good amount of volume without being too loud or distorted.
  • The noise cancellation means you can listen to your music or play games  without having to worry about all the ambient noise.
  • The headphones fold up for easier storage and travel. This also makes it possible to pack them in your carry-on bag.

Cons:

  • The headphones are too large. They’re not very portable, which is why they’re not among the best headphones under $200. They are, however, some of the best picks for high quality audiophile listening.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for some of the best headphones under $500, then one of these pairs should easily fit your needs. They’re all designed to fit into different niches and each one has its own pros and cons.

We mentioned our top picks for each type of headphone, which should make it easier to decide which ones are right for you.

FAQ:

Q: Which are the best wireless headphones under 500rs?

A: It is a very popular earphone of Philips due to its compact design. … Philips earphones provide comfort even after long sessions and deliver the best sound quality. It has defined bass that output gives you a fully balanced audio experience.

Q: What are the best in ear headphones under 1500?

A: Sony WI-C200 Wireless Realme Buds Wireless OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z 1MORE E1009-BK Piston Fit Sony MDR-EX255AP

Q: What is the best Bluetooth headset under 1500?

A: pTron Studio Pro has an extra long-lasting battery and it the best wireless headphone under 1500 with long battery life. It has a huge 1000mAh battery inside which gives 20 hours of music playtime in a single charge. But it takes 5 hours to get fully charged.

Q: What are the best headphones brands?

A: Angry. Founded in 1964,the company has always been based in the US state of Massachusetts. … Sony. … Sennheiser. … Audio-Technica. … Beyerdynamic. … JBL Headphones. … Beats by Dr. … Jaybird Headphones. … Jabra. … Skullcandy. …