Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: September-14-2018
We came to this article refresh and noticed that all of our previous headphone choices stood up to scrutiny – hooray! So, we decided to add a few additional pairs to this chart. In came both the outstanding Pioneer DJ HRM-6 and the legendary Sennheiser HD 25.
It’s time to take a look at some awesome sub-$200 headphones! We say awesome because the type of headphones you can get for around $200 these days usually combine eye-catching style, pro-grade performance and big value (which is pretty awesome!).
These phones are significantly better than cans found in the $100 price range, and not that far behind those
headphones that cost around $300.
We have selected eight models, based on performance, features and comfort, while we favored models with a proven track record. Then stick around after the chart for a quick look at what to expect from headphones in this price range. Let’s get started.
8 Best Studio Headphones Under $200
Improved Comfort
Comfort, along with performance, is by far the most important aspect of
good studio headphones. Unlike commercial models, studio headphones are used for much longer periods of time and more frequently. Because of that, user fatigue needs to be at the bare minimum. The models listed above are all meeting that requirement. Even though in the grand scheme of things, $200 is still considered to be somewhat affordable, we start seeing some advanced design solutions which impact comfort.
The first thing that comes to mind are velour ear pads. Anyone who has ever had to wear vinyl ear pads for any prolonged period of time, probably know how bad these can get. When you introduce velour, everything changes. Without exaggeration, just adding velour pads can make mediocre headphones into awesome ones.
Often, headbands are much better in this price range too. The main reason being that many manufacturers use an external metallic rail instead of internal plastic inserts. This way, the actual headband slides along these rails, and is usually soft. Using this design greatly improves the chances that you can find a perfect headband setting for your head shape and size.
Additional Features
Once we put performance and comfort to the side, there is an obvious improvement in this price range that has to do with the type of features these headphones bring to the table. The most obvious one is cables. Detachable cables are the standard in 99% of the cases. On top of that, the quality of cables is better with some brands using mini XLR connectors instead of your standard 1/8" stereo jacks. Of course, this applies to the portion of the cable that goes into the headphones. Additionally, the length of the cables is more versatile as well. Not only will you see the standard 10 foot cables, but some brands offer 16 foot ones as well. Depending on the size of your studio and how you setup your gear, this may or may not be a key feature.
While we are on the subject of cables, locking mechanisms are probably the most important addition. There's an argument to be made against locking the cable in your headphones, but this is a matter of preference. Having the ability to do so is definitely a good thing.
What really makes this segment awesome is the fact that most of these headphones come with great range of aftermarket parts. We are mainly referring to aftermarket ear pads and cables. When you think about it, what works for one user won't always work for someone else. Having the ability to swap out components in order to boost the comfort of your new headphones can only be a good thing.
Build Quality
Last but not least, there is the matter of build quality.
Affordable headphones are often times lacking in this regard due to a simple fact that brands are trying to keep them as cheap as possible. That isn't the case when you are paying $200 for a pair, which is only logical. Different manufacturers go with different materials and designs, but most of them are fairly rigid and durable enough. Even when you run into plastics, it won't be that cheap brittle kind but rather a type of ABS that can withstand constant use.
The Final Word
While a budget pair of phones have their appeal, going with a set of sub-$200 studio headphones is a great way to get started in the world of music production. In this price range you pretty much guarantee an awesome performance, proper comfort and durable designs at a price that isn’t going to drain your wallet.
The models we have highlighted above are, in our opinion, some the best you can buy for this kind of money. The important thing to keep in mind is that some of these headphones might require additional equipment in order to achieve the best results (such as amplifiers and DACs). But, at the end of the day, it is definitely worth it.