The 15 Best On Ear Headphones in 2024

	Overall	Audio features	Comfort	Control	Wireless audio features	Wireless connectivity	Battery
GRADO RS2e	7.5	8	7	inapt	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price
Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT	7.3	9	7	8	3	9	8	Check price
GRADO SR325e	7	7	7	inapt	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price
Marshall Major III	7	6	10	6	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price
Sennheiser HD 25	7	8	6	inapt	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price
Sennheiser RS120	7	7	7	inapt	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price
Beats Solo Pro	6.6	6	10	8	5	5	6	Check price
Koss Porta Pro	6.5	6	7	inapt	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price
GRADO SR225e	6.5	6	7	inapt	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price
GRADO SR80e	6.5	6	7	inapt	inapt	inapt	inapt	Check price

When it comes to purchasing a new pair of on ear headphones a lot of parameters must be taken into account to own the best on ear headphones. In the world of countless fast-growing brands and innovative technologies, it’s easy to make false judgments. Just remember that sometimes cheaper models will provide better performance than the super expensive ones. In this review, you’ll find a fresh look at some great headphones, which cost less than $200 and can be used for different purposes.

Honestly, I have tried a dozen of popular models and tested them for a long time, then finally defined a middle ground, which I consider a success. So, this is my perfect selection, where you will find the desired device – no matter who you are and what requirements have. And don’t hesitate – each pair described below is characterized by high-quality sound and comfort. There’s no bad - only different profiles.

Best On Ear Headphones Under $200 Reviews

Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT - best overall and wireless

Our rating

7.3/10

Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT

This model deserves to head the top of the review of the best on ear wireless headphones. Premium quality is combined here with a tempting price – about $150. If you’ve been searching for a set of headphones with a high-resolution audio setting and comfortable wearing for training then you probably might consider these. So, what features do they offer? To begin with, Bluetooth technology which can pair with up to eight Bluetooth-supporting devices. ATH-SR5BTBK is also equipped with large 45 mm drivers and has aptX capability that is available when using the attached cable.

The earpads are made of memory foam, which can be shaped to fit right on your ear without exceeding pressing, plus there’s a headband slider to tune your preferences. As for the battery performance – it is doing just fine, providing you with 38 hours of continuous listening. I didn’t wear them for so long but can say doubtlessly that they will work during 3-4 days without additional charging. And, of course, built-in control buttons for microphone and volume regulation located in the ear cup allow you to enjoy their functionality to the fullest.

Technical characteristics: the weight of 185 g(6.5 oz), 35 Ohm impedance, the frequency response in diapason 50-40000 Hz, 100 dB sensitivity, 3.5 mm mini-jack, and 1.2 m(3.9 ft) long detachable cord.

Sound

I must confess that electronic, kind of dubstep music doesn’t actually sound compelling with the SR5BT, but for the majority of tracks their bass would be enough for unpretending users. Nevertheless, intransigent bassheads have to search for something more suitable.

The highs are quite satisfying too, more perceptible in the mid-high area, and not once stiff or hissing. ATH-Sr5BTBK fills a sound with warm fresh notes, emphasized by a little recessed low-mids that help to refrain from the transient distortion of so many similar headphones.

The other part of the mids is well-balanced, and you can hear all voices really clean. In fact I can call them without hesitation the best sounding on ear headphones I have ever reviewed.

Audio-Technica ATH-SR5BT

Key specs

Enclosure: closed back
Impedance, Ohm: 47
Frequency response: 5Hz-40KHz
Sensitivity, dB: 103
Weight, g/oz: 185/6.5
Battery life, hrs: 38
aptX: yes
aptX HD: no
Official website
Full specs

Pros

Luxurious design, high-quality materials
Compactness, small weight
Hi-Resolution capability
Extra long-time battery life

Cons

Might lack bass and volume for some songs

Beats Solo3

Our rating

6.1/10

Beats Solo3

Beats has produced a lot of decent headphones and these can’t leave music lovers indifferent, as they provide new opportunities for using wireless audio devices. These closed-back Bluetooth on ear headphones are equipped with a powerful battery that works for 40 hours, which means that any trip or long stay outside the city, where there is no possibility to connect to the network, becomes much more fun because music will sound incredibly long in the new Beats Solo 3 Wireless. The speed charge mode is available, too.

Like all other Beats, they are ideal for working in a duet with an iPhone. Both products incorporate the W1 chip and first-class Bluetooth technology, thanks to which the Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones have several advantages over their predecessors, and a powerful battery is not all that they can boast of.

The new Beats Solo 3 headphones allow you to move freely around your home, office, or gym, completely forgetting about your phone or player because you can control tracks, volume, receive incoming calls and even activate Siri using the buttons located on the headphones themselves.

As for the connectivity, in the package you’ll find a cable of 1.3 m/4.2 ft length, which is detachable. Technical features include the impedance of 600 Ohm, the frequency response range from 10 to 30000 Hz, and the sensitivity of 97 dB. There’s no aptX technology available. You will be amazed by their comfort as they weigh only 215 g/7.58 oz.

Sound

As for me, the sound quality remains the same as in Solos 2, which doesn’t make it bad though. These comfortable on ear headphones will give you natural complete sound but don’t wait for all details to be revealed. The mids sound quite powerfully but once again - they lack refinement and nuance. The highs sound clear and straight, although instrumental music seems to be kind of flat. Try pop or hip hop tracks on those for full enjoyment. Remember, that Solo 3 has no noise cancellation, so you can start annoying people around when turning the volume too loud.

Beats Solo3

Key specs

Enclosure: closed back
Impedance, Ohm: N/A
Frequency response: N/A
Sensitivity, dB: N/A
Weight, g/oz: 215/7.5
Battery life, hrs: 40
aptX: no
aptX HD: no
Official website
Full specs

Pros

Super long battery life
Improved Bluetooth technology for more free listening
Stable construction
W1 chip lets you enjoy them to the fullest with Apple devices

Cons

Not clear mid-range sounding
Leaky on higher volume
No Lightning connector

Best Budget On Ear Headphones Reviews

Koss Porta Pro - best budget

Our rating

6.5/10

Koss Porta Pro

Let me introduce you to the best cheap on ear headphones that have ever been produced - Koss Porta Pro. These look very interesting, are-closed back, wired and cost only about $40. The technical features include 60 Ohm impedance, 15 - 25000 Hz frequency response, and 101 dB sensitivity, which make their performance quite efficient as for their price. In the set you will get a leatherette carrying case, 6.3 mm adapter, and the headphones themselves. The weight is only 60 g/2.1 oz.

Porta Pro can be described as the headphones of medium size, made in a folding design with a metal headband. Headphone earbuds and special pads are made of black foam. The headphones have a standard 3.5 mm mini-jack plug with "gilding". Among the distinctive design features, it is worth highlighting the spring-loaded headband, which automatically reduces the diameter if the headphones are removed from the head. It consists of two thin metal plates that move freely relative to each other.

The flexibility of the plates, in addition to convenient size adjustment, also allows the headphones to be folded very compactly for transport. It is also necessary to note the suspension of the dynamics, which allows you to change their angle relative to the headband - it provides additional comfort in wearing the headphones. The material of Koss Porta Pro is a solid plastic with various coatings in black and blue colors, there are also silver sections. The plastic gives an impression of being strong enough to last for several years. All details are precisely stamped, the slightest hints to the defects are absent.

Sound

A sound in them is truly addictive - any kind of music becomes so engaging to your ears, that it’s easy to fully immerse into the melody. Mids and bass are punchy, muffled in some places yet very natural. The highs probably lack fidelity but still bring a lot of fun to an ordinary user. It’s better not to EQ them, because this will indeed emphasize cracks in the upper treble. One more problem is that they leak sound and make your songs audible for others when listening to them outside.

Koss Porta Pro

Key specs

Wearing style: on ear
Enclosure: closed back
Wireless: no
Wired: yes
Official website
Full specs

Pros

High-quality voice coils made of oxygen-free copper produce profound bass
Adjustable headphones and ear cups
Lightweight and compact
Convenient design is perfect for exercising

Cons

The audio cable isn’t thick enough
Sound leakage is unimpeded

AKG N60NC

Our rating

6/10

AKG N60NC

This is one more cool option for a low budget - comfortable semi-open wired on ear headphones from AKG. Their specifications involve 40 mm/1.5 inch drivers, 32 Ohm impedance, 10 - 22000 Hz frequency response, 111 dB sensitivity, and weight of 150 g/5.3 oz.

In the standard set aside from the headphones themselves, there is a case, an audio cable that can be connected separately, a charging cable, and an adapter to use in a plane. The appearance is completely congruent. But I warn you - the headphones are quite small, and many write that after images from the Internet they seem to be different.

The ear cups look genuinely good with their shiny metallic edges. I can say without a doubt, that the materials are premium - leather headband, leather ear cushions, sturdy construction. Nothing squeaks or backlashes - it feels like they cost their money.

The headphones fold comfortably (3D Axis), but this was to be expected because they are designed specifically for people who move a lot. The earbuds are easy to fold and unfold, so they can be conveniently carried in a special case. The cable goes with a remote control that works with iOS and Android. There is also an inline built-in microphone, which might be useful for many customers.

These headphones are also equipped with active noise canceling technology and manage to weed out extraneous sounds perfectly.

Sound

You will be surprised but I can approve that all music genres sound pretty good with them. This may be explained by the great range of frequency response and the size of drivers, that will keep an accuracy of rock or heavy metal tracks. You can even notice a slight sub-bass accent and clear midrange bass. And there’s no deterioration for vocals or instruments sounding. Descents and rises in the treble are perceived quite softly by the ear canals. I like how pleasant acoustic music is played with those.

AKG N60NC

Key specs

Enclosure: semi-open
Impedance, Ohm: 16
Frequency response: 10Hz-22KHz
Sensitivity, dB: 111
Weight, g/oz: 150/5.3
Battery life, hrs: 30
aptX: no
aptX HD: no
Official website
Full specs

Pros

Indisputably good noise cancellation
Comfy design
Decent bass as well as midrange and treble

Cons

Sound clarity isn’t on top for such price
No Bluetooth connection

Best On Ear Headphones For Working Out & Gym Reviews

Beats Solo Pro

Our rating

6.6/10

Beats Solo Pro

Wireless, noise-canceling, designed in classic elegant style, Beats Solo Pro headphones may capture the heart of many music lovers. It isn’t the cheapest option though.

There is a design congeniality between the Beats Solo Pro and Solo 3 Wireless. The models are very similar in appearance, except that the cups in the new product are slightly larger. The headphones are made of matte plastic and soft leather, the temples, and base of the headband are metal, from anodized aluminum. The material on the headband is moderately elastic and quickly restores its original shape. The abundance of colors makes the headphones attractive to different types of users. The casing is reliable, you won't detect unpleasant squeaks and backlashes.

To turn on the headphones, you need to unfold them. No buttons needed. I laid it out, listened to it, folded it up - simple, intuitive, and logical. Call control and music playback can be accessed by clicking on the Beats logo on the right earcup. The commands are standard and familiar: one press - pause (start playback) or starting/ending a call, long press - reject an incoming call or call a voice assistant, double press – switch to the next song, triple - go to the beginning of the current song.

As for technical specifications, you’ll get the weight of 242 g/9.42 oz, 32 Ohm impedance, 20-20000 Hz frequency response, 118 dB sensitivity, 22 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation or 40 hours without it. I would call them one the greatest on ear noise-canceling headphones as well as the best on ear headphones for working out.

Sound

Typically for other Beats headphones these support strong-bass sound. The sub-bass here is retransmitted with twice more loudness compared to original vocals, and, moreover, you can recognize distinctive vibrancies of strings on the background. Despite their closed-back enclosure, Beats Solo Pro renders a realistic image of real-life space. Try listening to hip-hop, pop, or rap genres, which must sound so vivid and deep with them. Thanks to ANS technology noise isolation is great, too. They cope with lows, mids, and highs very well, allowing you to hear a voice clear enough and feel deeply all sound accents, including clapping, bass part along with peaky piano accords. Don’t hesitate if you'd like to own the best on ear noise cancelling headphones – here they are!

Beats Solo Pro