Best Headphones Under $100
We all need them to get through our workouts, or to make a long commute go by quicker. But knowing which of the top headphones under $100 is the exact right pair for you is certainly not an easy decision or one that should be made without first doing the proper research.
Fortunately, we’ve done all the hard work for you! We reviewed all the top brands of headphones, taking note of each and every little detail that might be important to you as you search for the pair of headphones that is just right for you.
Whether you’re a serious audiophile looking for headphones for laying down your beats, or an athlete in search of durable earbuds that can keep up with your intense workouts we’ve got the pair for you! Read on, and enjoy.
Best In-Ear Headphones Under $100
Our winner for the best in-ear headphones for less than $100 is a brand well-known in the audio world. The Bose Sound True In-Ear Headphones impressed us in all areas. The bass is excellent, with levels coming in perfect on the lows, mids, and highs.
The ear buds were quite comfortable and stayed in place easily, meaning they’ll work perfectly for long sessions and won’t leave you constantly readjusting them to get a more comfortable or snug fit.
The in-line controller is well-placed on the wire leading to the right earbud, much better than previous models which placed it lower where the wires met. A few of our testers (including myself) are left-handed and had no problems, so don’t worry about it being on the wrong side for you.
Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100
If you’re looking for something to reduce external noise, then we found the best over-ear headphones for less than $100 to be the Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones.
Also our winner for the best studio headphones under $100, the Sony MDR7506s are great for anyone working in an environment where high-quality sound is a must. A go-to brand for professionals in film, music production, and other related industries, the MDR7506 was top notch in all aspects.
That’s not to say they can’t be great for home or travel usage as well, though. Our testers also found them to produce excellent sound while watching movies, playing video games, and simply listening to music while on the subway.
The MDR7506s produce terrific bass, with a very clear and distinct sound coming across all ranges of frequency. They’re quite comfortable and we found them to be very light, especially when compared to others in this model range.
Perhaps the only negative one might find is that the cable is not detachable, but we feel that is a minor concern and does little to impact the overall great quality of these headphones.
Best Wireless Headphones Under $100
The newest category in the headphones market, and likely soon to be the biggest as well, our choice for the best wireless headphones for less than $100 was a tough one. All the top brands are working hard in this category and the competition was stiff, so it was not an easy decision for us to choose the Sennheiser RS120 On-Ear Wireless RF Headphones as our winner.
Why the Sennheiser RS120 over offerings from Sony, Bose, and other top brands? Simple. The Sennheisers allow for an unmatched level of audio quality even when you have ventured far away from the receiver base (which also serves as your charger).
In fact, we found you could easily walk to the other side of a rather large house full of other active electronic devices without loss of sound quality or interference. The company claims a range of 300ft and we are inclined to believe it following our testing.
The sound quality was excellent and will be a good choice whether you are planning to listen to music or simply watch television without disturbing others. We found the headphones to have strong bass with a quality mid-range as well as highs.
Battery life is an area many headphones in this category have trouble with, but you’ll have no worries with the Sennheisers. Testers reported no problems after up to 8 hours of listening without charging. Just make sure to place the headphones back on the charging base between uses and we feel that the battery life should never be an issue that will even enter your mind.
There’s really not very many negative things we have to say about the RS120s, but it wouldn’t be an honest review without them. The build quality while very good compared to competitors is a bit thin. This could perhaps lead to durability issues down the road, but it’s also why they’re so light and comfortable so we feel it’s a worthwhile trade-off.
Best Noise Canceling Headphones Under $100
Looking to shut yourself off from all the crying babies, in-public arguments, phone conversations, and other awkward annoyances of modern plane and subway travel? This category is for you! Our winner for best noise canceling headphones for less than $100 is the Plane Quiet Active Noise Canceling Headphone from Solitude Design.
Where better to turn for headphones in this category than a company who specializes in making your traveling as quiet and distraction-free as possible? The Plane Quiet is a full, over-ear offering which combines top rated noise canceling capabilities with excellent quality sound.
The Plane Quiets haven’t neglected other aspects besides noise canceling. They were one of the most comfortable pairs we tested regardless of category, so much so that you should have no problems wearing them for hours on end if you choose.
Space is always at a shortage while traveling, and thankfully the Plane Quiets have kept this in mind. They fold up nicely, and ship with a zippered travel bag and detachable cord. Frequent fliers should have no problems fitting these in their carry-ons.
Sound quality is very good for headphones in this category. We found them to have a deep bass, with good clear sounds at most levels. Is the level of quality up to par with headphones intended for DJs or audiophiles? No, but that’s not what these are intended to do. Those looking for a peaceful listening experience, with quality sound free from outside noise will be very happy with the Plane Quiets.
Regardless of your decision, any of the headphones under $100 we reviewed will be a smart choice. All feature terrific quality with excellent capabilities suited to their category. Decide first on how you intend to use them, then pick from the headphones above and you won’t regret your decision!
All images courtesy of Amazon.com
