Best Cheap Headphones: Top 10 Picks For The Audiophile On A Budget

Music is a part of everyone’s life.

That’s just how we’ve been wired.

But some of us are more musically inclined than others and as such, need a good set of headphones as much as we need our smartphones.

Perhaps, you’re more into podcasts and other motivational audios so you’ll still need a great set of headphones to help you feed your mind.

But headphones are funny little things – they easily get lost or damaged.

And that’s why there are times you simply need to get a cheap set of headphones to replace your lost (or forgotten) ones.

Knowing you, I bet you don’t want just any headphones, you want the best.

That’s why you’re in luck, my friend, because today I want to show you 10 of the best cheap headphones you should confidently invest in.

Music to your ears right.

I know.

But before we get to the best headphones you can buy on a budget, let’s take a look at some of the most common types of headphones you will find on your journey.

4 Of The Most Common Headphone Types

Headphones come in different forms and styles. Your choice is largely determined by your personal preference and at times the intended use of the headphones. For example, you can’t use big bulky over-ear headphones during your aerobics workout.

Let’s take a look at those types, shall we?

And I’ll show you the best cheap headphones in those categories.

1

In-Ear Headphones

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In-ear headphones (also known as ear-buds) are the tiny headphones that you stick in your ear cavity. Despite them being compact, they can be quite powerful and feature excellent noise isolation.These are best suited for sporting activities and gym sessions.The biggest advantage of in-ear headphones is that they are ultra-compact and lightweight, making them ideal for commuting with as well.And if you are fashion conscious (aren’t we all?), they are discrete enough not to interfere with your hairstyle, earrings, glasses, and any other accessory you may wear.

2

On-Ear Headphones

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On-ear headphones are the type that sits on top of your outer ears. You can find these at every price range, so if this is your style, keep on reading as I’ll show you some of the best cheap headphones in this category.On-ear headphones are not so good at external noise isolation, making them ideal for those times you’ll still benefit from hearing the outside world, for example, in an office setting.For easy transportation, some on-ear headphones fold up into a more portable form you can easily throw in your bag.The biggest disadvantage of on-ear headphones is the relatively poor noise isolation and the fact that they leak noise to your neighbors.Otherwise, this is a good style of headphones as they give great sound quality.

3

Earcup Headphones

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Earcup headphones, also known as full-size headphones, are so called because they feature earcups that fully enclose your ears and because of their size.Full-size headphones have superior acoustics and noise isolation and usually come with extra features that make them more expensive than other headphone types. Because of the superior noise isolation and large size, this type of headphones is best suited for home use or other places where you don’t need to be aware of the sounds outside.The biggest advantage of earcup headphones is that they offer higher bass and loudness levels than the other types. And the downside is obviously their large footprint which makes them the least portable headphone option. This also makes them interfere with your clothing accessories like hats, earrings, your beloved hairstyle, et al.

4

Wireless Headphones

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As the name suggests, these are headphones that have no cables connecting them to the sound source as they work via Bluetooth, RF, or even WiFi technology.Wireless headphones offer exceptional convenience but at the expense of sound quality due to their file compression process.With wireless headphones, you can stream audio from up to 33 feet away from your device making them convenient for those times you want to be mobile but without your device being a hindrance.Unfortunately though, this type of headphones is heavily reliant on batteries so your audio experience dies with the battery.Wireless headphones also come in many other different forms that time and space won’t permit us to explore.I’m sure you are now rearing to see the great deals you can get as you look for the best cheap headphones for your needs headphones $50.00 and under.Let’s get to it then, shall we?

The Best Cheap Headphones – In-Ear Headphones

If you’ve fallen in love with the convenience and compact nature of in-ear headphones, here are the best budget ones you can get.

1

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Panasonic has been around for probably as long as consumer electronics have been around (talk about ancient). With their experience in the field of consumer electronics, you just have to trust their products as their reputation is built on dependability.The Panasonic ErgoFit RP-TCM125-K is no exception.Despite it being dirt cheap at $$, this is a fabulous set of in-ear headphones.Obviously, at this price, you won’t get award-winning acoustics, but what you do get with this set of headphones are comfort, reliability, and usability. In short, you get a decent set of headphones that will definitely do what you bought them for – provide decent sound.The Panasonic ErgoFit RP-TCM125-K are a pair of ultra-light, ergonomic earbuds that, surprisingly, come with an in-line microphone and remote – crazy right?But that’s not even all.This pair of headphones comes with a cable that is long enough for comfort and silicone eartips big enough to stay put without causing any. Now that’s ergonomics at its best.If you are looking for the best cheap headphones, you won’t get them cheaper than this.

2

Advanced S2000 Stage In-Ear Monitor Earphones

If you’re a gym rat looking for a great set of sweat-proof in-ear headphones, look no further than the Advanced S2000 Stage In-Ear Monitor Earphones.These are a pair of wired earbuds that were designed for musicians, so you can expect nothing but superior sound quality (they even come with a ¼-inch adapter for use with audio interfaces and home stereos).The Advanced S2000 feature ergonomic and robust wires that are designed to run behind your ears so as to keep the headphones in place as you move about rigorously during your workout routines.As for sound, you’ll definitely appreciate the punchy bass that will invigorate you to push yourself beyond your limits.For $$, you can easily replace your previous set of headphones without breaking a sweat. But if you do break a sweat, don’t worry, these headsets are sweat-proof.

3

Shure SE112

When it comes to audio solutions, Shure has become a sure bet for quality, reliability, and ergonomics.If you are looking for exceptional quality in headphones under $$, then the Shure SE112 will definitely deliver.This set of headphones offers clean looks, a comfortable fit, and surprisingly great sound for earphones at this price point. In all honesty, these are probably the best cheap headphones in their category, especially since they feature a pure, open sound signature that easily outclasses competitors.As for durability, that is one of Shure’s strong points. These headphones will last you a long time, if you don’t lose them that is (or if your buddy doesn’t help himself to them).These headphones will only set you back $49.00, a decent price for headphones that deliver sound at this level of clarity.Perhaps you prefer on-ear headphones, no problem. Let’s get to them, shall we?The Best Cheap Headphones – On-Ear HeadphonesReady for your new set of on-ear headphones?Great! Here we go.

4

Marshall Major II

Another heavy hitter in the music accessory industry, Marshall has done it again by producing these great budget-friendly earphones – the Marshall Major II headphones.Before you even sample the awesome sound quality and comfort of these headphones, you’ll definitely be first struck by their aesthetic beauty. Featuring beautiful gold accents, a black vinyl cover, and a neatly coiled cable, these are definitely a set you can proudly and confidently don anywhere.Looks aside, the Marshall Major II feature re-voiced 40mm drivers that afford you impressively powerful sound, especially for a $$ pair of headphones.And once on your ear, the comfort these headphones offer is just amazing, thanks to a soft, malleable headband, quality materials, and earcups with 200-degree folding range.What more can you ask for from a budget set of headphones?

5

JVC Flats

The JVC Flats are another great option when you are looking for the best cheap headphones that sit on your ear.These $$ headphones may be cheap, but they certainly don’t sound cheap. Featuring a lightweight and comfortable design and build, fans of these budget headphones will be glad to know they come in many different colors to suit your style.When it comes to convenience and portability, these headphones fold flat (hence the name) and are easy to carry.Because of the price, they don’t come with a carry case so you may have to fish out your old one or invest in a new case.The Best Cheap Headphones – Full-Sized HeadphonesTrue audiophiles keep a set of these around the house, after all, they do provide the best audio experience of them all.

6

Panasonic RP-HTX7

Another great set of cheap headphones comes in the form of the over-ear Panasonic RP-HTX7 headphones.The Panasonic RP-HTX7s are an affordable set of entry-level over-the-ear headphones that offer impressive fit, comfort, and very good sound quality for budget headphones.One of their strengths is their great passive sound blocking, making them excellent for cubicle work – especially since they also don’t leak much sound.Design-wise, the Panasonic RP-HTX7 feature a cool retro look that comes in multiple colors, so there’s definitely a pair for you – all you have to do is shell out the $$ asking price. I know they are over our $50.00 budget but what is an extra $3 for excellent sound quality?Great options for on-ear headphones, if I may say so myself.Let’s move on to full-sized headphones.

7

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Monitor Headphones

If you don’t believe in miracles, you better become a believer now.Yes, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Monitor Headphones are nothing short of a miracle, seeing that they come at a price below $50.00.Providing excellent studio quality sound that makes them one of the best cheap headphones overall, the Audio Technica ATH-M20x is a pleasant surprise for those looking for headphones for a DJing gig or simply home use at a premium level as they are well able to reproduce accurate audio.Although these may not be able to stand up against other full-size headphones, they do beat them when it comes to price – $$.

8

Sennheiser HD 201

The Sennheiser HD 201 is a great set of over-ear headphones as far as budget headphones are concerned. They have an excellent bass that sets them apart from other cheap headphones but the mid-range and treble are decent at best.When it comes to comfort and fit, they do deserve an award as they are truly designed to make you enjoy your audio experience without feeling any discomfort on your ears.For a $$ pair of headphones, this is definitely a great bargain any day.The Best Cheap Headphones – Let’s Go WirelessReady to go wireless?Let’s take a look at 2 of the best cheap headphones that will afford you that pleasure and convenience.

9

Skullcandy Ink’d

The Skullcandy Ink’d is a lightweight and flexible collar-style Bluetooth headphone that offers you decent sound and an extremely comfortable fit.As for functionality, it takes the game a step higher as it also affords you the ability to make phone calls. The battery life is reasonable too (8 hours on a single 2.5-hour charge), making this one of the best cheap headphones in the wireless category.

10

iFrogz Summit Wireless

The iFrogz Summit Wireless is a lightweight, comfortable set of in-ear Bluetooth sports headphone that adds sweat resistance to their already glowing resume for cheap headphones.With decent sound and a great battery life of up to 10 hours, you can’t get anything better than these for the $$. asking price on these headphones.The Best Cheap Headphones – Music to Your EarsEveryone loves a great bargain.With these budget headphones, you are definitely getting a bargain that will put a spring in your step and a bit of attitude in your soul as you pump your favorite beats. Go ahead, take your pick.

Last update on 2022-03-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API