Tested: The Best Headphones You Can Buy Under $100

Headphones have come an incredibly long way over the last decade. Advancements in wireless technology, active noise-canceling, and battery life have made these once-elite features markedly more common. The strides made in the overall tone and quality of drivers and other components have also given way to the increasingly crisp, rich, and clear sound being made available at an increasingly accessible price. The combined result is you can now get your hands on an objectively high-quality, feature-heavy pair of headphones without spending over a bill. So, to help guide you on your purchase, we’ve built out this guide to and hands-on review of the best headphones under $100.

Selection & Testing

While there are plenty of ultra-budget $10 and $15 headphones on the market, we set out to uncover the best that are available for below the $100 mark, which meant only including the actual very best at this price point. That meant primarily limiting our search to over-ear pairs priced at, around, or just below $100. We also made an effort to only include headphones that offer the features of pricier, more premium headphones — such as multi-point connectivity, active noise cancelation, and so on. Additionally, we also scrutinized areas such as range, battery life, driver size and specs, and material selection. And, because wireless headphones have increasingly become the standard, we primarily only focused on wire-free pairs. 

Viewing our selections through this lens, we then proceeded to generate a shortlist of candidates that we suspected representing some of the latest and greatest on the market. From there, we proceeded to get our hands on each pair in order to put them to the test and discover how each pair actually feels, sounds, and performs. Using each pair would also clue us into their overall comfort, how accurate their claimed battery life is, how effective their ANC is, and how their microphones sounded to others when taking calls or Zoom-style meetings when working from home. To get a sense of how each pair on our shortlist performed across all of these areas, we used each one for a two-week period for taking calls at work, when walking the dog, etc. 

Because it really takes a trained ear to really hear and judge sound quality, we also called in some help from an audio engineer with over three decades of experience in the industry (and a resume that includes working with everyone from Cyprus Hill to J Dilla). This friend of HICONSUMPTION would spend several hours with each pair as well, giving us his thoughts on the overall audio quality each one offered. Once armed with the information from our hands-on testing phase and the intel from our industry expert, we then were able to shorten our original shortlist, narrowing it down to a final list of what we found to be the best headphones on the market for below $100. 

JBL Tune 670NC

Best Value Pick: Whether you’re in the market for a modern Bluetooth boombox, a sound bar, or a pair of headphones, JBL’s catalog is always worth a look, as the company offers quality audio products at a reasonable price — with its more budget-friendly models often benefitting from features and tech that have trickled down from JBL’s more premium pairs. And such is the case with the ultra-popular JBL Tune 670NC. 

The Good

Winner of a prestigious Red Dot Design award, JBL’s Tune 670NC features a pair of 32mm dynamic drivers and JBL Pure Bass Sound. This may seem like a marketing gimmick, but after testing them (and having them tested by an audio engineer) I can confidently say that these are easily the most bass-heavy cans I tested — and by a pretty substantial margin. The 670NC also boasts connectivity to the JBL Headphones app which includes an adjustable EQ, allowing you to mess around with the parameters of their sound. 

Another part of what makes this pair so special is its ridiculous number of features. On top of adaptive noise canceling, you also get TalkThru and Ambient Aware modes, which allow you to hear voices and background noises respectively. It doesn’t end there as they also feature an onboard microphone, a Smart Audio & Video feature, hands-free calling with voice aware, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with multi-point pairing, which allows the headphones to be paired to two devices at once. 

Even though they’re a bit smaller than the larger over-ear models I tested, this on-ear pair still offers some really impressive battery life. Requiring two hours fo achieve a full charge, the 670NC’s battery offers 44 hours of playback time with ANC turned on, or a whopping 70 hours of life sans ANC. Again, for a pair costing under $100, this is pretty impressive. 

Supplementary Strengths

The effectiveness of the ANC was also another major highlight, and its various modes worked exactly as intended. Because I mainly listen to instrumentals and hip hop, I really enjoyed the ultra-bass-rich sound afforded bh the 670NC. And, while its a small detail, I do like that this pair can be purchased in multiple color options. And, even though this pair only has a single microphone, call quality was still pretty clear. 

With the super rich bass, they also make a great alternative to pricier pairs from Beats. There’s also no question as to whether or not this pair offers some of the best value on the market, as it has this huge number of features while being able to be snagged for as little as $70 to $80. Not unlike the Audio Tecnica or Soundcore pairs, the 670NC packs a wealth of features normally reserved for much pricier pairs. I was also surprised by just how comfortable this pair is, plus its folding design also allows it to break down to a super compact form. They’re also quite a bit lighter than every other pair I tested, weighing in at just 6.1oz. 

The Not So Good

My issues with this pair were few and far between, though there were a few minor downsides. While some may appreciate the super bass-heavy sound these headphones provide, this won’t be the case for everyone. My bigger gripe was with the way this pair felt. Despite all of its cutting-edge tech and features, I found the actual construction to feel pretty cheap and plasticky, which is a little strange as they held up really well during my testing period and appear to actually be fairly durable. 

Verdict: If you’re after an affordable pair of on-ear ANC headphones that provide some of the richest base available on a sub-$100 pair, the JBL Tune 670NC is the obvious choice. 

Grado Labs SR60x

Best Wired Pick: In 1953, Brooklyn-based master watchmaker Joseph Grado pivoted away from horology in order to focus on making audio equipment. Now famous the world over for its cartridges and open-back headphones, Grado Labs continues to operate out of Brooklyn and is still owned and operated by the latest generation of the Grado family. When most people hear the Grado Labs name, their mind instantly goes to ultra-premium, ultra-dynamic studio-grade headphones. And it’s for this reason that it’s so surprising that the eminent American audio brand actually makes a pair of headphones for under the $100 mark.

The Good

Assembled entirely by hand in Brooklyn, the headphones are crafted around a polycarbonate housing with a vinyl headband with S cushions. The headphones also come tethered to a sheathed four-conductor cable housing a super annealed copper wire. Both the headband and cable have recently been redesigned for the latest iteration of this Prestige X model.  

While they don’t employ Grado’s signature use of wood, the material selection of the SR60x is pretty fantastic. The polycarbonate outer portion of the cans have an unmistakably retro-inspired aesthetic that really resonates with me — plus this design has been brought to life in an amalgamation of metal, vinyl, polycarbonate, and synthetic vegan leather. Because they’re crafted entirely by hand using premium materials, it’s in no way surprising that the SR60x featured what was unequivocally the best build quality out of all the pairs I tested. 

Despite being on-ear and not having huge ear-cups with memory foam padding, I think the SR60x may have been the most comfortable pair I tested — and if not it’s not far off. I’m not exactly sure what they tip the scales at, but I can say with confidence that this pair is extremely lightweight — which no doubt plays a massive role in it being so damn comfortable, even when worn all day. 

Supplementary Strengths

Essentially, unless you’re an audiophile on a budget or plan on using these headphones for music production, we’d recommend steering clear of the he SR60x. With that said, if you do fall into either of these aforementioned camps, we’d urge you not to consider any other sub-$100 pair, as nothing on the market comes even remotely close to the SR60x for under a bill. And, lastly, while its overall audio quality is pretty great, its frequency range does have a few fairly narrow, pronounced peaks which can be annoying depending on what you’re listening to or mixing. 

From Grado’s Prestige X Series, the SR60x this pair’s secret sauce is no doubt its actual audio quality itself. Armed with Grado’s fourth-generation drivers, these cans have 44mm dynamic items that benefit from a host of tweaks including using a more powerful magnetic circuit and a reconfigured diaphragm. Generally, the audio quality is just fantastic — and not just for the price. And, while they may not be wireless or have ANC tech, I’d still argue this pair offers some pretty terrific value. 

The Not So Good

The SR60x has more than its fair share of strengths, though it’s also got some pretty major issues that aren’t shared by the other models on this list. First off, this pair isn’t wireless, nor does it have ANC tech. It also has an open-back design, which may be great when using these cans at your desk, but won’t be so good for commuting (or being anywhere in pubic or work that’s crowded). They also don’t have microphones built in so they can’t be used for taking calls or Zoom/Skye-style meetings. And, while this pair does come with an 1/8th” to 1/4” adapter, you’d have to get your own dongle or 1/8” to USB-C if you want to use these headphones with your smartphone or tablet. 

Verdict: Made by a third-generation family-owned business headquartered out of Brooklyn, the Grado Labs’ SR60x may not have ANC or even be wireless, though this open-back pair blows practically everything else on the market out of the water when it comes to audio quality. 

Audio Technica ATH-S300BT

Most Versatile Pick: If you pop your head into a handful of recording studios, you’ll frequently find that Audio Technica’s headphones are being used, as they simply offer excellent, well-balanced sound at a fair price. And the Japanese brand’s ATH-S300BT not only maintains this signature trait, but it also rolls it in with a host of cutting-edge features that result in what’s undoubtedly one of the best sub-$100 pairs of headphones in existence. 

The Good

Sporting an over-ear design, these headphones feature advanced digital hybrid noise-cancelling technology. Made from plastic and leather, this pair’s digital hybrid ANC also includes a cutting-edge Hear-through function that lets ambient sounds and human voices through while blocking out everything else. Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity affords this pair with a 33-foot range, but more importantly this pair has multi-point connectivity, so they could be paired with both my phone and laptop at the same time — which I really enjoyed as I prefer playing music through my phone. 

They’re also armed with 60 hours of music playback with ANC activated — or a whopping 90 hours without ANC. Not only does this mean they have the most potent battery of every model on this list, but it also gives these headphones class-leading battery life. What’s more, only 3 minutes of charging gains an additional 2.5 hours of playback time which I found to be incredibly handy. On the days I forgot to plug them in, I could simply give them a quick charge and then hop on calls or listen to music or a podcast while walking the dog. 

This pair’s 40mm dynamic drivers also provide a ridiculously well-balanced listening experience that’s not too bass-heavy. This is also one of very few pairs that lends itself to both work and EDC use, while also making for a great pair of studio, mixing, or DJ headphones. A built-in microphone array helps the ANC do its thing while also letting you take calls. They even have a low-latency mode for gaming. This also makes this pair easily one of the most versatile sub-$100 options currently out there. They also ship with an included 3.9-foot cable with an in-line mic.

Supplementary Strengths 

In terms of comfort, they scored towards the middle of the pack, which honestly had more to do with several of the other pairs I tested being ridiculously comfortable, as the ATH-S300BT never made my ears or head sore, even when worn for hours at a time. I also found the flat-folding design made it much easier to transport these headphones in my bag to and from work. 

The earcups also feature physical controls to adjust volume and music playback or take calls. There’s also a button that grants access to Siri and Google Assistant. The earcups are also complemented via a distinctive terrazzo marbled pattern on the housings which definitely adds a few style points without being overly loud. And, though they’re largely made from plastic, they don’t have a cheap feel to them. Considering its laundry list of cutting-edge features, I’d also argue this pair unquestionably offers some of the best value across the entire sub-$100 headphone space. 

The Not So Good

While I was generally really impressed with Audio Technica’s ATH-S300BT, my testing did reveal one major Achilles heel, and that’s the sound quality from the microphones. Whenever taking calls with this pair or using them for Zoom meetings, I was frequently told my colleagues couldn’t hear me and that it sounded like  I was several feet from the mic (despite them being only inches from my face). This is a major downside, though it’s not an issue if you don’t plan on using them for work. It’s also crucial to mention that this one shortcoming is massively outweighed by everything else this pair has going for it. 

Verdict: Characterized by their immense value and versatility, the Audio Technica ATH-S300BT is a modern pair of ANC headphones that comes loaded with a host of features normally reserved for pairs costing several times as much. 

JLab Studio Pro ANC Wireless

Editor’s Pick: Originally founded in Arizona in 2005, JLab Audio would spend the first few years in business largely flying under the radar of the larger audio community and market. In 2012, however, the company relocated to Southern California, hugely ramping up its operations, allowing it to soon become a dominant force in the budget-friendly, value-laden audio space. And, quite frankly, with pairs like the brand’s $100 Studio Pro ANC Wireless headphones, it’s not hard to see why. 

The Good

Equipped with hybrid passive and active noise cancelation technology, these headphones are crafted from a combination of faux leather, plastic, and metal. The material selection and build quality on display are much more typical for $200 and $300 pairs, so saying I was impressed by these areas would be a pretty huge understatement. Even the plastic elements these headphones don’t have a cheap and plasticky feel. In fact, every part of these headphones feel legitimately premium — which is something that definitely can’t be said for some pairs I tested. I was initially worried about this pair’s somewhat thin gauge of the alloy wire construction, though it’s surprisingly rugged — to the point where I couldn’t bend it with my hands if I wanted to. 

The headphones utilize the brand’s Form-Fit earcups. Both the ear cups and the headband are stuffed with JLab’s own proprietary Cloud Foam — basically their own take on memory foam that’s been custom-formulated for headphones. The underside of the headband has also been decorated in a really cool stitch pattern — a subtle touch but one I thoroughly appreciated. The folding design is cool and allows these headphones to be broken down into a pretty compact form which makes them great for both travel and use as EDC cans — plus they ship with a little cloth carrying case. 

Sound comes from a pair of 40mm dynamic neodymium drivers. Overall, the pair’s audio quality is pretty decent — at least for the price. Sure, it’s a tad muddy and tinny at times, but it’s not overly bass-rich and is fairly dynamic and balanced overall. There’s also connectivity to an in-app EQ that allows this pair’s sound parameters to be adjusted —albiet only within a certain range. 

Supplementary Strengths 

This pair features a 600mAh lithium polymer rechargeable battery offering 43+ hours of playback time or 45+ without ANC activated. The company’s claimed battery life specs checked out too, and in most cases actually exceeded the number JLab cited — though never by more than an hour or two. It’s also cool that using ANC only knocks 2 hours off this pair’s battery ife. 

On top of its admittedly stellar comfort and surprisingly premium build quality, this pair’s real saving grace is undoubtedly its top-notch noise cancelation. Even in particularly noisy environments — like downtown Los Angeles — the ANC did a terrific job of blocking out the sounds of the outside world. While they don’t quite measure up to Anker’s Soundcore Space One in terms of ANC performance, they should still be considered if you’re trying to get your hands on a fairly premium pair of ANC headphones without having to pay a premium price. 

With Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, you get single-connection pairing with 30 feet or range — a spec I found accurate based on my testing. Value is definitely another major selling point for these headphones, as they offer terrific bang-for-your-buck. What’s more, It’s also very much worth noting that JLab sells wired pairs of this model and non-ANC pairs for $40. 

The Not So Good

There were a few things I didn’t love about JLab’s Studio Pro ANC wireless headphones. As touched on above, its overall audio quality isn’t bad for the price, but still leaves a little to be desired — at least compared other sub-$100 pairs on this list. Likewise, compared to every other model I tested, these JLabs are hugely lacking in battery life with just 45+ hours (or 43+ with ANC activated) — versus the JBL’s 70 hours and Audio Technica’s 90 hours.

Verdict: With stellar build quality, impressive levels of comfort, and some super effective ANC, the JLab Studio Pro ANC Wireless headphones were practically a shoe-in on this guide and should definitely be considered if you’re shopping for a pair of sub-$100 cans. 

Anker Soundcore Space One

Best Overall Pick: If the Anker Soundcore Space One was featured on The Price Is Right, it’s one of those products that would trip almost everyone up, as its audio quality and list of features would suggest a pair costing at least $300  despite the fact it MSRPs at just below the $100 mark. And, with so many noteworthy features and some truly top-notch audio quality, the Space One isn’t just one of the best sub-$100 pairs out there, I’d argue it’s THE best pair, period, full stop. 

The Good

At the heart of this pair is a set of custom-tuned 40mm dynamic drivers, though the Space One also has LDAC support which offers three-times more detail than standard Bluetooth codecs. Add all this up and you’ve got what’s not only the best-sounding sub-$100 pair we tested, but it’s also one of the only Hi-Res audio pairs at this price point. 

That’s not all though, as this pair also benefits from the use of Soundcore’s HearID tech, which plays sounds, has you answer questions, and develops a profile of your exact hearing in order to optimize audio for your ears. There’s absolutely zero question whatsoever that this pair has what is easily the best audio quality of any sub-$100 pair currently out there. It’s one of, if not the only one with true Hi-Res sound.

Brimming with features normally only found on much pricer and more premium cans, the Space One comes loaded with a five-level transparency mode and they feature an upgraded noise canceling structure. Collectively, between the structure, passive ANC, and adaptive ANC, the Space One can ultimately reduce background noise by up to 98%. TCO-certified, this pair also offers what’s unequivocally the best active noise cancelation of any $100 pair on the market. I even compared it to several $300 and $500 pairs we have at the office and I found its ANC capabilities to be just as good — if not even better in some cases.

Supplementary Strengths

I normally leave one ear cup off when walking my dog and listening to music as I want to be able to hear my surroundings a bit, however, with the Space One, its transparency mode is so effective that I felt comfortable wearing both earcups over my ears without feeling vulnerable. I also found this pair to be ridiculously comfortable — even when worn all day. 

The headphones feature a folding design with 8° floating axis arms, allowing them to fold up for travel. Battery life is good but not great, with 40 hours with ANC and 55 without. It also has multi-point connectivity allowing it to be paired with two devices at once which I always massively appreciate. The Space One also boasts an array of multiple onboard microphones that provide some crystal clear call quality. 

The Not So Good

While I was really impressed with Soundcore’s Space One headphones, there was one aspect that bothered me. While they look great, their plastic elements feel cheap and, well, plasticky — opposed to the polycarbonate found on pairs like the Grado Labs SR60x. Having said that, they don’t feel as cheap as the JBL 670NC, and they still appear to be plenty durable. More importantly, this one minor flaw is massively outweighed by everything else the Space One has going for it — which is a ton!

Verdict: The Soundcore Space One is a thoroughly cutting-edge pair of ANC headphones with true Hi-Res audio and a laundry list of features typically reserved for headphone costing $300 to $500 (if not more). If you’re on a budget and still want a great pair of ANC headphones, I’d say save yourself the time and just buy these. 

Sub-$100 Headphones Comparison Chart

What To Expect From Sub-$100 Headphones 

A hundred dollars provides an enormous number of worthwhile headphone options, and while there are obviously some models that are out of reach at this price point, you can snag practically any style of headphones for this amount, whether you’re looking for an ultra-clear pair of over-ear studio monitors, true wireless set, Bluetooth sports headphones, or a classic wired pair. Many of today’s most coveted features, such as the latest Bluetooth connectivity, extended battery life, and app pairing, can all be found for under a single Benjamin. Getting headphones that can do it all in this range (noise cancelling, good sound, long battery) can be a challenge, but there’s no shortage of quality picks that can get the job done well. However, don’t expect aptX or AAC support, premium materials, or a variety of noise-cancelling modes in this range.

What To Consider When Shopping

There are dozens of areas that you could take into account when shopping, though the reality is there are really only eight main areas you need to focus on — each of which we’ll be breaking down directly below. 

Fit: For our guide, we’ve stuck with over-ear and on-ear headphones – if you’re looking for some cheap yet high-quality earbuds, our best earbuds under $100 guide has you covered. Over-ear headphones are the most comfortable for extended wear, and on-ear headphones are usually smaller and built for travel.

Materials: The materials used to make any product play a pretty major role in its overall quality and durability, and headphones are no different in this regard. As such, we recommend reviewing the materials used for a pair of headphones’ head band, ear cups, frame, and so on. 

Driver Size & Specs: As the component that actually produces the headphones’ sound, driver type, size, and material are all of paramount performance — as is its performance specs such as volume and frequency range. 

Onboard Mics: While these were once reserved exclusively for super premium headphones, the vast majority of headphones and earbuds now days come outfitted with an array of onboard microphones for taking calls — and in some cases, for ANC. Consequently, you’ll definitely want to look into the number and type of microphones a pair of headphones is armed with. 

Connection: We’ve included a pair of wired headphones in this guide because they offer better sound quality for a lower price, and some prefer the convenience of not having to worry about a battery. They’re also the standard for any serious recording or listening, so keep that in mind when choosing. The rest of our picks are Bluetooth or Bluetooth hybrids that allow you to switch between wired and wireless.

Connectivity & Range: It’s also crucial to look into whether a pair of sub-$100 headphones offers multi-point connectivity —i.e. the ability to pair with multiple devices at once. You’ll also want to check on what generation of Bluetooth it’s using, and how much range it offers. 

Noise Cancellation: It’s not unheard of for headphones under $100 to have noise cancellation, but it may be difficult to find a pair that has both ANC and modern features we expect from premium options. While ANC may be harder to come by in this price range, most models offer passive noise isolation, which can still be helpful.

Battery Life: Headphones in this range regularly meet (and surpass) the ~30-hour standard that more expensive options provide. If you’re traveling, a pair with at least 20 hours of battery is best.

Water Resistance: Water resistance is typically more common in earbuds, as they’re better designed for working where the feature is needed most, but over-ear/on-ear headphones may come with it as well. 

Honorable Mentions 

No matter what the price point or genre, if you look at any headphones buyer’s guides on this website, you’ll start noticing a pattern of a few brands that very seldom fail to be represented on these lists, and one of those outfits in undoubtedly Sennheiser. The German brand has existed for more than 70 years and has developed a slew of proprietary equipment in its time. And with these proprietary elements already having appeared on prior elite models, with the R&D money already spent, Sennheiser routinely offers models that repurpose these high-quality proprietary components in more accessibly-priced offerings such as the HD 350BT. Using Bluetooth 5.0, AAC, and aptX tech, the Sennheiser HD 350BT packs a compact and potent Lithium-ion polymer battery that gives users as much as 30 hours of music playback time on a single charge, and offers Siri and Google Assistant connectivity.

So, while the Shure SRH440A may not have active noise cancelation and may not be wireless, however, if you’re simply after a stellar pair of studio or DJ headphones, the SRH440A is legitimately pretty hard to beat. For less-than-a-bill you get a closed-back over-ear pair with a circumaural design, a padded headband and ear-cups, and ultra-crisp, middle-of-the-road sound quality thanks to a pair of 40mm dynamic neodymium drivers. For another $50, you can also get Shure’s even better SRH840A model which are a pretty major step though still punch well above their weight. 

Sony WH-CH520 is a modern pair of Bluetooth headphones built for all-day use and seamless calls in a manageable size. With just three minutes of charging, the WH-CH520Bs give you 1.5 hours of extra listening time on top of the original 50 hours, and it comes with buttons to control music and calls without having to get your phone out. Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine provides crisp sound, and you can tweak the EQ settings through Sony’s app. These headphones are lightweight with soft ear pads and an adjustable headband, making them a great budget travel option if you can forego noise cancelling. Between the voice controls, app connectivity, and portable design, these are a great pick for just eighty bucks.

Despite their incredibly accessible price and the fact that numerous decades have passed since their initial release, the AKG K240 Studio headphones have become something of the gold standard in the recording studio realm. Just like Technics’ SL1200 turntable with most professional DJ setups, the K240 studio headphones can be found in most recording studios, as the semi-open-back item delivers remarkably crisp and clear sound, making it perfect for monitoring recording or playback. On top of a sound-isolating ear-cushion design, the K240 MK II’s tremendous sound quality is largely owed to its primary components: advanced 30 mm XXL transducers that benefit from patented Varimotion diaphragms. The only real downside to this product is the lack of wireless connectivity, though it more than makes up for it with its sound.

The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Now that you’ve got the perfect pair of cans, head on over to our guide to the best portable speakers for high-end sound that you can share on-the-go.