Best Over Ear Headphones Under $100

Different online shops claim that they can recommend you the best over ear headphones under 100. However, if you want to get a suggestion from a professional, I have what to tell you. There are wired and wireless headphones that cost not much but sound great. It’s not that easy to find them but after reading my review you will be significantly more knowledgeable.

Why did I focus on the $100 price? Because many people think that cheap headphones usually look ugly and sound horrible. Nevertheless, if you aren’t an audiophile with 5 years of experience, it’s pretty risky to choose an expensive device. So, an affordable pair of headphones would be a good beginning of your romance with high-quality music.

The next thing you may be wondering about is the over ear wearing style. I collected here wonderful units with such a design since they provide excellent comfort. The most impressive headphone models I have seen in my life were over ear. You will find gaming appliances here as I have tried to make the review helpful for everyone. If you are keen on playing games, you probably know how much the comfort matters.

Best Wired Over Ear Headphones Under

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x - best overall

If you don’t mind using a wired device, then these are the best over ear headphones under $100 for you. They look solid and produce amazing sound in a range of 15 Hz - 24 kHz. The closed back design of this model provides pretty good noise isolation which means using them while walking is quite convenient. To add, these headphones made by Audio-Technica are extremely lightweight as they have only 240 g/ 8.4 oz. You won’t feel any pressure on your ears even if you wear the headphones for hours. Considering the fact that they are foldable, you can carry the appliance in a pocket or put it in a carry case.

The technical features of this device make it very attractive for those who really value good sound. The headphones have 98 dB of sensitivity and 35 Ohm of impedance. Whatever gadget you are using for listening to your tracks, the audio will be awesome. The headphones are equipped with stereo speakers that help to give excellent sound quality with crisp sound.

These headphones have a standard 3.5mm jack where you have to plug in a 300 cm/9.8 ft long cable. Audio-Technica M40x does not work with audio cables from other brands which is one of its disadvantages. If you are taking the unit with you on the plane, don’t forget about the 6.35 mm adapter that comes with this model. The ear cups of the headphones are able to rotate a full 90 degree.

Sound

The sound offered by these cans is very clear with even emphasis put into all frequencies – the lows, mids, and highs. The midrange is incredibly accurate, with fantastic low-mid depth. The headphones also deliver crisp highs with excellent detail.

Sennheiser HD 280 PRO

First of all, take a look at the specs of these headphones of German production. Their impedance is 64 Ohm which means the device can work with mobile devices that have a low level of impedance. The noise isolation gives you an opportunity to clearly monitor sounds with minimal external bleeding through the microphone when recording tracks. The frequency response of 8 Hz - 25 kHz provides crystal clear and accurate sound over the whole spectrum. The sensitivity of 113 dB is pretty impressive. This model is well-liked for both monitoring and tracking.

The mentioned pair of closed back headphones is wired and its cable is 130 cm/4.2 ft long. The HD 280 PRO is a foldable unit, so taking it with you on a trip will be comfortable. The headphones come with a nice case for carrying. Moreover, I found a ¼-inch adapter (6.35mm) in the package that is very useful on a plane. You can also connect this model to your home stereo systems with the adapter. The device weighs 285 g/10 oz which is not much for such a great pair of headphones.

Sound

The bass delivered by HD 280 PRO isn’t too strong, which is ideal for critical listening. If you are buying the device for professional use, you will probably be amazed by the balanced sound signature that these headphones offer. This model offers non-piercing and well-defined highs.

Philips SHP9500

The next wired model in my review looks premium built and has well-padded ear cups for prolonged comfort. These headphones are quite different from the previous ones here since they are open back. Yes, sound leakage is going to be a problem, so it’s better to avoid using them in public. Plus, the unit isn’t foldable which means travelling with it would be a challenge.

Let’s move to the bright side and see what’s there. The first feature I would like you to pay attention to is the frequency response. Its width is 12 Hz - 35 kHz which basically guarantees that the audio will be perfectly clear. When it comes to other technical characteristics, these headphones have a sensitivity of 101 dB and impedance of 32 Ohm.

This unit weighs 320 g/11.3 oz and feels pretty light on the head. From my point of view, the considered model is ideal for long listening sessions. Its ear cups are huge and can fit most ears. Moreover, the SHP9500 is not too tight as lots of other models on the market. If you are looking for the best budget over ear headphones, take a look at this option.

Speaking of its outlook, the device is stylish and sleek. It is mostly black colored with little metal elements that nicely complete the minimalist design. There are also huge letters ‘R’ and ‘L’ indicating right and left ear cups. The headphones have a 300 cm/9.8 ft long cable. Statistics say that most of the time, when the headphones stop working, the cause is a broken wire. So, it is great that Philips allows you to detach the audio cable.

Sound

The audio produced by the SHP9500 is good for neutral listening. You will hear your favourite tracks with above-average fidelity. Philips SHP9500 offers well-balanced bass, incredibly transparent mid-range, and pristine high frequencies. I felt a pretty sharp peak in the high treble.

Best Wireless Over Ear Headphones

Skullcandy Hesh 2

Let me show you this awesome closed back appliance that can be used without a cable. Its battery works approximately 15 hours which is enough to forget about charging it for a few days. However, if you are running out of battery, don’t worry, there is a cable. Just plug it in the headphones and continue enjoying music. If you wanna walk with Skullcandy Hesh 2 or you are buying them for doing sports, you must be happy to know that the unit weighs only 180 g/6.3 oz. This is an incredibly low figure for such a pair of wireless over ear headphones.

At this stage, I offer you to discuss the technical features of the Hesh 2. Normally, humans can hear a sound in a range of 20 Hz - 20 kHz. This is exactly the width of the frequency response of these headphones. They have 105 dB of sensitivity and produce fantastic sound even at high volumes. These are among the best over ear Bluetooth headphones under 100.

The mentioned headphones do not have ANC, however, they do provide decent noise isolation due to their over ear design. If you are going to spend a lot of time wearing this unit, then the built-in mic will be useful since it allows you to take phone calls. The audio cable that comes with this model is 120 cm/3.9 ft long and has no in-line control. You can change songs and adjust the volume using the three-button remote. In addition, you will have voice control that includes Siri and Google Assistant.

Sound

The manufacturer of this product says it uses Supreme Sound tech designed for “powerful bass, warm, natural vocals, and precision highs”. Consider, that on some tracks the headphones sound a bit too boomy and boxy. The bass provided by this model is inflated and the sound warm.

Best Over Ear Headphones For Gaming

SteelSeries Arctis 5

Looking at these headphones you immediately understand that they are intended for gaming. I must admit the design of the unit is excellent. Those who like the minimalist style and want to find some really good-looking headphones should pay attention to these ones. Their controls are neatly tucked away. When you are playing in darkness, it’s fantastic to see them shining.

The device Arctis 5 can be used only as wired, however, the audio cable is detachable. The product of SteelSeries weighs 355 g/12.5 oz and fits perfectly on the head of any size. One of the features that make this appliance special is app control. This makes it easy to set up your headphones. Speaking of the ways to adjust the volume or turn on/off the mic, there are built-in buttons and in-line control. The feature that sets the Arctis 5 headset apart is the ChatMix dial. The dial splits the two audio streams automatically, and the cool bit is that it works with third-party chat clients like Vent, Google Hangouts, or Skype.

Probably, you are curious about the specs of these fabulous headphones. They have pretty wide impedance from 20 Hz to 20 kHz that allows you to get well-detailed audio. The device has a decent sensitivity of 98 dB. Its level of impedance is 32 Ohm which is also a superb figure. Overall, if you are looking for cheap over ear headphones that are suitable for gaming, here they are.

Sound

Don’t expect booming sub-bass or clear highs on the Arctis 5, but sound effects and voices come through clearly and distinctly. With these headphones, you will get a really nice detailed sound signature without any harsh treble. They have awesome stereo imaging for spatial orientation.