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Good news! You don’t have to break the bank for an excellent pair of headphones.
Whilst you can spend over $1000 on a pair of Hifiman HE-1000 V2 Planar’s for example, it isn’t really worth it unless you are in the audio production business. And even then, it’s questionable whether most people would even notice the sound quality differences.
99% of us just want a great-sounding pair of headphones, perhaps with some customisability and noise cancelling, that we can wear every day in any scenario.
Luckily for you, we’ve tested and reviewed a lot of headphones. Even luckier, most of these recommendations have discounts around the clock, so click the links and check! Below are our picks for the best headphones under $500.
Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM5
$399/£319
First off, let’s get something straight. Headphones are an incredibly personal thing. One person could love a pair of cans that lead with bass whilst others may scoff at them for muddying the overall tone. Or someone might despise a pair if they don’t have a foldable design.
What I’m trying to say is that no one can definitively tell you what the ‘best’ headphones are. Ultimately, you have to try them yourself.
But we think, if you’re after an all-rounder that doesn’t cost a small fortune, then you can’t go wrong with the Sony WH-1000XM5.
In terms of sound quality, the XM5s are slightly more bass-heavy than competitors like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra which is generally more palatable to a wider audience. This does mean the mid-range tones, that’s things like strings and vocals, can be slightly dulled if you’re listening hard enough.
Luckily for those who care, the XM5s have custom EQ, accessed via the Sony Headphones Connect app, so you can adjust the listening experience to your own tastes. Overall though, most people will be perfectly happy with how the Sony XM5 sounds.
Beyond that, the XM5s also have the best active noise cancelling (ANC) on the market which can also be turned off to let ambient noise in. So if you hate hearing the rumble of plane engines underneath your favourite tracks, these are the headphones for you.
One of the biggest ‘wow’ moments with these headphones however is the battery life. With ANC turned one, you get about 31 hours of use out of them. But with ANC turned off, you get a whopping 50+ hours. Compare that to the 31 hours on the Beats Studio Pro and the meagre 16 hours on the QuietComfort Ultras, and you can see why these take the ‘Best Overall’ spot.
You control Sony’s headphones with a capacitive touch panel on the side of the ear cups which is a love it/hate it thing. The XM5s also retain compatibility with high-resolution wireless audio thanks to LDAC support and DSEE Extreme, which uses artificial intelligence to upscale compressed music.
They also have an excellent microphone for call quality. All of this for less than its Bose QC competitor. You truly won’t find a pair of headphones that comprehensively cover most people’s tastes for less money.
Best Overall Runner-up: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
$429.00/£449
If we’re being honest, there isn’t much of a difference between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. But there are some defining factors. The main one is the ANC.
It just isn’t as good as the XM5. In fact, it is noticeably worse. That isn’t to say it is bad in its own right, it’s actually a big improvement over the Bose QC45, but there is a difference.
The listening experience is fairly similar to the XM5 but a much higher bitrate on the Sonys means the sound is of a higher quality. Sony’s EQ adjustments on the app also offer a wider range of customisation than the QuietComfort.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra is controlled through a mixture of mechanical and capacitive buttons. Do with that information as you will. And the battery lasts for about 28 hours of continuous playback.
There is also a mic built into a cable that comes with the QuietComfort which handles everything as you would need it to.
The problem is, all of this comes at a higher price than the Sony XM5.
Now, we aren’t saying the QuietComfort Ultra are massively worse than the XM5. They aren’t. The differences are minute and pretty much indistinguishable from the majority of people who just want a good pair of everyday headphones.
And if you do fancy going for Bose, pay the extra to get the QuietComfort Ultra over the QC45. On sound quality alone, you won’t regret it.
Best Audiophile: Sennheiser HD600
$449/£399
We said before that there really is no way to determine which headphones have the best listening experience. Despite that, we think there isn’t much room for debate here.
For the money, there isn’t a much better, well-rounded-sounding pair of headphones than the Sennheiser HD600s.
With a rich and natural-sounding midrange, well-extended and nuanced treble, and excellent detail retrieval, those who really care about the nitty-gritty in terms of sound quality cannot go wrong with the HD600s.
There are some smaller drawbacks depending on your preferences. These headphones have a reputation for a narrow soundstage, meaning there is a more intimate feel to the audio, which some people hate and some love.
The Sennheisers are also open-backed headphones meaning they tend to leak sound to the outside world by design. So, not great if you’re in a quiet library. There is also no active noise cancellation (ANC) which is replaced by active noise isolation.
This means the headphones are made out of a material intended to block as much exterior sound out as possible, instead of using sound trickery to filter those noises out. In our experience, isolation is an inferior technique compared to cancellation and unfortunately, the Sennheiser HD600s are no exception to this rule.
They are also not the most portable cans, hence why we haven’t crowned them ‘Best Overall’. That being said, they are still brilliant headphones, perfect for those who want a listening experience with depth.
If you prefer a warmer sound signature, then the Sennheiser HD650s are also a great option.
Best Newcomer: TiTum Headphones
$349
When we say newcomer, we mean it. These headphones haven’t even been released yet! But we’ve tried them and there’s a lot to like. You can watch Mark’s video review above.
The first thing you notice when you hold the TiTum Headphones is the huge amount of ear cushioning. There is about an inch of foam on the earcups which is really noticeable when you put them on. They are incredibly comfy headphones.
If you like pushing real buttons, then you’ll be happy to hear that the TiTums have no capacitive features.
Interestingly, TiTum is pitching their cans as a blend of audiophile and noise cancelling, something that classically does not go together. To get a pure sound quality, you don’t want interference from the ANC.
And there are compromises with TiTum’s approach at both ends of the spectrum. You aren’t getting the audio quality of dedicated audiophile cans, and the ANC isn’t perfect, but it is a good compromise.
The 50mm drivers and large acoustic chambers go a long way to compensating for what could have been a severely jumbled listening experience. There’s a very wide sound stage with no single frequency dominating the audio and a meaty-but-not-overpowering bass.
Overall, it’s a pretty flat listening experience which audiophiles will be used to. It’s not for everyone but some will absolutely love it.
A final point of interest is the TiTum Headphone app. Using this, you can adjust the headphones to match the sound signature of other popular brands like Sony or Bose. It isn’t exact but it’s a unique feature that expands the appeal of the TiTums.
Releasing later in the year on Amazon, you can get in on them early through their Kickstarter campaign which launches in March.
Best Apple Compatability And Case: Beats Studio Pro
$349/£349
Amongst the headphone community, Beats comes well down the list of options in terms of sound quality. They are often the butt of the joke. The ugly duckling that never got its glow up.
Until now.
When we reviewed the Beats Studio Pro in 2023, we were taken by complete surprise in every aspect.
The noise cancelling isn’t as good as some others on the list like the XM5 or QuietComfort Ultra, but it does a good enough job. The sound quality is where it gets interesting.
As a brand, Beats has very distinct sound. Renowned for having heavy bass to cater for hip-hop and electronic music, headphone purists often discard them without a second thought. But the Beats Studio Pro are a massive improvement on the previous model.
The bottom-end frequencies are still strong but not overpoweringly so. Mid-ranges are sometimes too bright, and the sound signature still has a slightly artificial ‘sparkle’ to it, but these are minor issues. They sound great and will appeal to a general audience.
The real USP of the Beats Studio Pro though is their compatibility with Apple products. Due to a partnership with Apple, these headphones seamlessly connect with iPhones and MacBooks just like AirPods Max. So if you’re in the Apple ecosystem but don’t want to spend over $500 on some AirPods, then the Beats are an excellent option.
And the case. It’s a work of art. Small and squat, the headphones fold into a washbag-style case that is truly revolutionary. Travelling with the Studio Pros is a hassle-free experience.
Best Cheapest: Philips Fidelio X3
$169/£139
If you’re looking for the biggest value-for-money pick, then the Philips Fidelio X3 is the way to go.
With its spacious soundstage, detailed imaging, and balanced frequency response, the Fidelio X3 is a versatile pair of headphones that sound better than any other option for less than $300. They are audiophile cans though so there is no ANC capability.
Comfortable and capable across a range of frequencies, these headphones are currently an absolute bargain at $169. If you want them, get them soon!
Something Different: Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2
$229/£199
If you buy these headphones, you won’t get the best listening experience. The bass is heavy, the mid-range is sometimes overpowered and the high-end frequencies can tend to shine a little too bright. Overall, they sound fine and the thumping bass will appeal to a lot of people who aren’t audio connoisseurs.
But we aren’t here to talk about sound quality. There is something different about the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2. No, it’s not a slightly pronounced mid-range or boosted bass. It’s something weirder.
The Crusher ANC 2 has haptic rumble technology. That means, when the bass is booming, the headphones literally shake on your head as a form of immersive listening. And it is genuinely quite fun.
When you listen to a heavy track with a thumping bass, you can turn a dial on the ear cup to increase the amount the headphones rumble. It is undeniably a gimmick. After a while it gets tiring. But if it’s your thing, they’re perfect.
Also, they have about 50 hours of continuous battery life which is pretty great at this price point.
It’s not for everyone, in fact, its probably not for many people, but if you want even more bass immersion or just a unique bit of headphone tech, then the Crushers are there.
Honorable Mention: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
$399/£379
We couldn’t make a list of the best headphones without mentioning Bowers & Wilkins. We love their wireless Pi7 S2 earbuds for example.
But these headphones just offer slightly less value for money than the others. First off, they aren’t the most comfortable headphones with a high clamping force, especially if you have a larger-than-average head!
Out of the box, the Px7 S2e sound a bit weird. The bass is all over the place and when there are complex tracks with lots of instruments, for example, Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer, you quickly lose definition and clarity.
That being said, they still sound fine and they look very swish. If you want the best-looking headphones on this list then we think the Bowers & Wilkins are (subjectively) top of the pile.
But for the price, they just aren’t good enough sound-wise to rank next to the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
Conclusion
There you have it. There are our best picks for headphones under $500. You may not agree on the exact decisions but whichever pair you choose on this list, you’ll have at least a good experience.
What are your favourite headphones? Let us know below!
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4 Comments
The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones offer an impressive blend of comfort and sound quality. Their open-back design provides a spacious and natural audio experience, making them a pleasure for critical listening. The build is sturdy yet lightweight, ensuring long-lasting comfort. While they may not provide the isolation of closed-back models, their sound clarity and rich detail make them a standout choice for audiophiles.
Terrible list LMAO.. momentum 4force kill everyone on this list. It’s not subjective objective it’s a fact just Google it
Great roundup of the best headphones under $500—very insightful! I recently tried the 7Hz Zero 2, and I have to say it delivers excellent sound quality for the price. For anyone interested in checking it out, here’s the product page with details and specs: https://gadixoo.com/product/7hz-x-crinacle-zero-2-earphone/
. I think it’s a solid option for audiophiles who want great performance without spending too much.”
Great breakdown of headphones under $500 with solid options across ANC, soundstage, and comfort. Worth checking out insignia reviews for deeper comparisons and long-term reliability insights across different headphone brands.