Koss KPH30i -$30
Outsanding value for the price. Very strong mids and highs, and the bass is way better than it should be — not emphasized, but when a song has bass, these Koss headphones deliver. There’s a very satisfying mix of detail and soundstage in such a small headphone.
Panasonic Ergo-Fit – $8
For under $10, you can expect too much but these are surprising decent. They are on par with the earbuds Apple gives you with every phone.
Koss KSC-75 – $18
The sound is very, very impressive for its price range and form factor. The bass is punchy and has impressive extension for being such a seal-less and light fit. Probably the biggest compliment I can give these headphones is that I am critiquing them as if they cost above $100. There’s a saying in Korea that Koss is made by aliens because of how good they sound for the price.
Koss Porta Pro – $30
The sound of the Porta Pro is otherworldly, considering its tiny size and affordable price. Bass is powerful and punchy, but it doesn’t bleed into the mids. The mids are nice, smooth, and natural, with no hint of harshness or artificial grain. The highs are rolled off, but still detailed enough to hear, providing a rather relaxed, easy-listening type of sound that you could listen to for hours without fatigue.
Samson SR850 – $45
Incredibly solid pair of headphones for great price. Very comfortable and these things are just flat out fun to listen too. They’re definitely bass heavy, but to my ear, bass doesn’t sound boomy, muddled, or cartoonishly exaggerated. Bass also never seems to overshadow vocals or anything else in a song.
AKG K240 – $67
The sound is objectively quite good. Mid and highs have good detail, the highs can be fatiguing if you listen for too long. The bass is present but not overpowering and can be lacking if you don’t provide proper amplification. Their ability to work decently well for general listening AND critical listening is really remarkable.
Philips SHP9500 – $75
These headphones punch way above their price point. Most comfortable pair of headphones you’ll ever try, never too tight on your head and stay comfortably unless you move too much.- Accurate if your genre is heavy on mid’s or high’s (classical, pop, rock, alternative, etc). Sound stage is fine for use with video games, classical music.
Grado SR80e – $99
CLEAR is the operative word here. The sound from these headphones is strikingly clear. Vocals are extremely realistic. Guitar tones are unmatched, drum sound is very spacial. Soundstage makes you very present in the audio. Tight response everywhere. Sounds good plugged into anything. Classic design.
Sony MDR-7506 -$94
In extensive blind listening tests conducted by a major international audio firm this Sony model has ranked as one of the very top models at any price with respect to accurate sound reproduction. There are very few headphones which have survived three decades and still remain as the main workhorse for many sound professionals around the world.
Sennheiser HD280PRO – $99
There is a reason that this model of headphones has been seen as a real gem, among both pro & casual users for so many years. Sound quality is near-perfect, build quality is great, and unlike almost all modern electronics they are designed for long-term use (including repair).These ‘phones are comfortable (enabling hours of use at a time) & provide excellent sound isolation.
