Are you looking for a great but low-budget pair of headphones that won’t wipe out your monthly allowance? Thankfully, there are numerous sub-$200 headphones that you can choose from. At first, you may not find it easy to justify the investment; but later, you’ll keep enjoying the result for years to come. To save you the stress of searching endlessly, we’ve compiled a list of the best over ear headphones under $200.
Though most companies sell their flagship headphones for prices above $300, there are still cheaper and good pairs that sell for less. There are many headphones that you can get for prices below $200. These products also feature Bluetooth over-ears, active noise canceling (ANC), wireless in-ears, dedicated companion apps with EQ adjustments, and IPX ratings for water resistance.
This list consists of over ear headphones with great design, excellent audio, and other qualities that give you value for money. After testing different pairs of headphones, we’ve compiled below our suggestions of the best over ear headphones under $200 available on the market.
Best over ear headphones under 200 in 2021:
1. Razer Opus Wireless
Razer Opus Wireless comes atop our list of the tried and trusted best headphones under $200 with an over-ear design. They give you value for money with their impressive performance and audio quality that is comparable to their more expensive counterparts like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 and WH-1000XM4 Wireless. Their exterior has moderately automatic physical controls and a durable premium design.
Courtesy of their well-sized ear cups and fairly lightweight design, they’re very convenient to wear throughout the day.
Razer Opus has a balanced sound profile with excellent bass and mid accuracy. EDM and hip-hop fans can adjust their bass that lacks in punch and thump through a graphic EQ or presets located in the dedicated Razer Opus app.
Also, these headphones feature a very outstanding ANC system that blocks out any unwanted noise from the high sound of an AC unit to the rumble of a truck engine.
With just a full charge, they can last for several hours of a loud, long commute; hence, a user needn’t worry about charging them over and over again.
However, the absence of multi-device pairing in this device will prevent you from swapping between your phone and computer. Also, they are not the most suitable for calls in noisy environments due to the inability of their microphone to effectively isolate a user’s voice.
Nevertheless, they are a nice pair of headphones with many useful functions, courtesy of their balanced sound profile and amazing ANC specifically at the price point.
2. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is indeed a well-known classic pair of headphones among audiophiles. First of all, let’s look at the unique features of this masterpiece.
ATH-M50x weighs 285 g/10 oz and is foldable. If you are not impressed by this feature, the wide frequency response of 15 Hz – 28 kHz that enables you to hear every detail should meet your expectations.
These headphones have a decent 99 dB sensitivity rate and impedance of 38 Ohm.
Audio-Technica ATH M50x is not wireless headphones, but they are very comfortable to use with a 300 cm/9.8 ft long audio cable. However, since the original wire is detachable, you can replace it with another one of any other length. This feature saves you additional cost because you won’t have to buy a new device whenever the cable gets damaged; only replacing the wire will solve the problem.
These headphones come with a 3.5mm jack. In case you want to connect them to a hi-fi system, it is preferable to use the 1/4 adapter (6.35mm) that comes with the package. They are very secure as they come with a decent carry case that protects them in your backpack.
This pair of over ear headphones for under $200 gives you a wonderful listening experience with an adequately balanced mid-range. You’ll experience a warm, controlled rumble that is sufficient enough without overwhelming you. These cans deliver an incredible bass that is perfect for the electronic genre as well as some bass oriented music. The ATH-M50x has a great soundstage that is suitable for a closed-back headphone.
3. Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
Sometimes, your limited budget may not be able to get you a nice pair of headphones. This situation is often depressing. But Audio-Technica ATH-M40x stands out as a great pair of budget over ear headphones under $200 headset that will meet your needs. This model has some features that are absent in more expensive headsets. ATH-M40x is foldable and portable for a commute. Despite being cheap headphones, they have a 1/4 adapter (6.35mm).
They are also durable, as the closed-back headphones are made wholly of plastic; yet, the build is quite strong. Likewise, they have a detachable audio cable. You are probably aware that the wire problem is a very common fault headphones often encounter. So, you’ve got to buy a new cord of ATH-M40x if the present one gets damaged. This is one of the reasons this product is considered a profitable one.
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x has some great technical features that are excellent for a low-price pair of headphones. They have 98 dB sensitivity— a normal level compared to other premium units. Their frequency response is15 Hz -24 kHz, while most users can recognize the sound when it falls between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. You will probably hear more details of your favorite tracks than what you had heard previously. These headphones are reputed for their nice level of impedance which stands at 35 Ohm. What first caught our attention was the detailed and incredibly pleasant bass. The headsets have no imbalance in mid and lower bass. However, there is sufficient transparency to behold. Also, the stereo separation is remarkably present.
4. SteelSeries Arctis 5
SteelSeries Arctis 5 are perfect for gamers. We ranked this pair of headphones among the best over ear headphones with a mic under $200. A great device from SteelSeries, Arctis 5 has come with a detachable microphone that delivers outstanding audio quality while also blocking background noise. The product is closed back while the strips of LED lighting on the ear cups are elegant. The design of the device is mainly plastic, thereby making the headphones weigh just 355 g/12.5 oz — a lightweight feature.
You can use the special app to build custom sound profiles and set the response of the tone. Use the built-in buttons on the headband to adjust volume, turn the mic on and off, and control other functions. The entire package includes a cable that provides in-line control and is 300 cm/9.8 ft long. With ChatMix Dial, you can create a balance between chat and game audio.
Arctis 5 may not surprise you with its 98 dB rate of sensitivity or 32 Ohm level of impedance. However, this headset has great technical details. The headphones have a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20 kHz which is sufficient for a wonderful gaming experience.
They have fairly angled audio drivers, making the sound projection excellent.
They also produce crisp and balanced audio across numerous platforms. The midrange flows easily, with moderately neat, real performance. They also deliver strong and deep bass. While the microphone emits a nice low end pick up, it is barely nasally clear vocals.
5. Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
Wired headphones constitute the majority of headphones on this list. The reason is that straight-up audio quality gives you value for money with wired headphones that are cheaper to produce than wireless.
However, if you need high-quality wireless ones, there are numerous options to choose from.
The Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 is an excellent choice for headphones under $150, as they come with simple ear controls and extra bass, but are devoid of irrelevant features that will otherwise raise the price of the product unfairly.
Of course, they have active noise canceling, though not as strong as that of Sony WH-1000XM3 discussed earlier.
In conclusion, if your priority is noise canceling and the price is within your budget, you are advised to go for Sony’s products. But if your preference is a pair of wireless headphones under $200 that give you value for money, Plantronics is an excellent choice.