Good quality headphones for less than 100$

I need some good quality headphones with nice and clear sound quality, my budget is around 2000 to 4000 INR which is equavalent to $35 to $ 80 .

Im looking for decent quality, it doesnt have to be super amazing bass or treble or anything like that ( i dont even know what those 2 mean) i just want good quality for the money.

And i Live in India which means that only some companies sell headphones here.

I know Sennheiser, Sony , and philips , and Skullkandy do sell here.

 

Open or closed? It will affect recommendations.

Open usually provides better sound for the money, but they're not usable portably or in areas where you don't a) want others to be disturbed by your sound or b) the other way around.

I do like the MDR-ZX700 as an all-purpose phone but it's about 6000INR.

 

Go here if you dont mind 2nd hand gear: Headphones for Sale / Trade[type][1]=true&Filter[type][2]=true&Filter[type][4]=true&Filter[type][5]=true&Filter[state][Open]=true&Filter[state][Sold]=false&Filter[order_by]=Classified.bump_at

 

I guess if he can find a used seller in India it'd work. Importing into India for private individuals can still be pretty hit & miss.

 

6000 is too much.
I was thinking about HD 215 sennheiser.

 

That's a pretty decent phone - not as good as the HD280, but a similar type of sound. Not bassy, pretty evenly balanced in terms of tone. Fairly comfortable for a closed phone as well - at least, I found it comfortable. In warm climates though can get sweaty, but the same goes for almost every other around-ear closed phone.

 

If prefer crystal clear sound, I like the open Grados. I use the Alessandro MS1, which is at the top end of your budget, but depending on shipping, might be suitable for you. As Vogelbung said, you need to give us more details such as if you will be traveling with your headphones, if you prefer open or closed, what style do you like (IEM, full sized, etc.), what type of music you listen to... there are many good headphones but recommendations are different based off of these answers.

 

FTFY
10 char

Shortest route to hearing loss IMO. Small wonder many Grado-leaning 'audiophiles' (yes, even those who write about it for a living) are half deaf.

 

Haha. I don't listen to them that loud

 

ok so I prefer closed headphones the ones which cancel outside noise so i dont get disturbed or disturb someone else with my music.
I will be travelling with them alot but weight isnt a problem. size may be a problem so i dont want very large ones just medium sized headphones.
I listen to rap/hip hop/ kinda music. as i said im not looking for amazing quality .
also i will be listening through my iPhone or Touchpad most of the time and only occasionally through my laptop if that matters.

Also the sweat problem with HD 215, is it too much? In my place the temps get up to 50 deg C in the summers .

And i cant get Grado since they dont sell over here

what about skullcandy? are they any good?

What about HD 228?

Also i can get the HD 428 and MAYBE the HD 448, since the price of the HD 448 (4300)is higher than my budget which was 4000 INR i will only get it if the quality is much much better than HD 428 or HD 215 which are around 800 INR= $18 cheaper than 448 .
till now HD 228 is the cheapest one i could find but im not too keen on it since it is not closed like the HD 215s are

 

and suppose i do manage to get enough money to buy the HD 280 , are those the best i will be able to get for that price?

 

They're kind of analytical, but yeah - probably. They're still very decent phones.

 

Sennheiser is definitely much better for the money than Skullcandy. I've heard that the HD 280 is very good at the sub $100 price range, but I've only tried the PX100 (the original one) from Sennheiser. I'm definitely not an audiophile so I've stuck to sub $100 headphones, but you can really hear a difference between a crappy pair and any one of these models.

 

Well yes, walk around with a pair of nice warm earmuffs and see how you do in summer

Seems, honestly, that a pair of earphones might be a better bet. CX300-II's seem to be ~3000INR (but watch out for too-cheap fakes). Won't be as good as the HD215, but potentially a lot more practical (and cooler in all climates)...?

 

ok so I think ill most pobably buy the HD 428 since they fit my price range perfectly and well look pretty good too.
They also seem to get pretty good reviews online. they dont have any major issues that i dont know about right?

 

If your gonna do Sennheiser, then the HD 280 is one I would save for. Below that model, SQ tails off dramatically. Honestly though, at your price range look at the Sony XB 700's(Not the XB 500's, they are poor bloated bass heavy sounding). The XB700's have excellent DETAILED bass, but couple it with good midrange and treble too and the sound is more open and relaxed. They can be had on Ebay for about $75. Not sure the cost overseas though.

Ultrasone is my top recommendation though, just not sure if its available over there. Ultrasone is a cut above the rest IMO.

 

Try finding the PANASONIC RP-HTF600-S in india, I've heard that these 30$ headphones are more fun than the Sennheiser HD650s.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/571005/the-panasonic-rp-htf600-s-headphones-more-fun-than-the-hd650
Also post this question on head-fi, the forum i linked to, i believe they'll be able to help you much more

 

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RP-HTX7-G1-Monitor-Headphones-green/dp/B00186YNIA

 

Isn't this rather like saying "The Ford Focus has more cupholders than the S-Class"?

Mind you, Head-Fi's full of threads like that.

 

i haven't really tried the panasonics but their reputation on head-fi is amazing, and i find head-fi to be a trustworthy forum just like NBR. Their sound is supposed to be really amazing and the sound signature matches that of the HD650s, and thats like saying the Focus goes around corners like a Ferrari and that my friend, is saying a lot.

 

I'd make it another vote for the HD280s. Newegg had a sale on them a couple weeks ago and I got a pair for $75. Wish I'd have gotten two.

 

... but would you wear them in 30 - 50C (90 - 122F) ambients?

 

I think a lot of people find Head-fi trustworthy because they buy that one thing that's recommended to them and they don't actually get anything else to compare for themselves. Personally, I think it's a sea of opinions. It's a great place to talk about stuff for sure, but take all popular opinions with a pinch of salt.

 

I don't go places that are 122F. So no I guess not.

 

I replaced my music headphone system's Stax headphones with a very nice pair($300) of Sennheiser and I have been very happy with them.

Another option, if you can buy on Ebay, are these rebadged Superlux HD668b headphones($39)... which although I haven't ever tried, are highly rated on Head-Fi.
Samson SR850 Semi-Open Studio Reference Headphones | eBay

 

Surprised no one mentioned the Audio-Technica ATH-M30 or M35. Literally the less expensive version of the ATH-M50 with less power in the drivers and less quality on the ranges. Cost $40 USD and they are really good for the money.

 

Great thread!

I need a replacement (over-the-ear is preferred), so I'll be looking at these models you guys have recommended.

 

Samson SR850 might be worth checking out. Been recommended them recently and am going to give them a shot when funds allow.

Samson SR850 (Superlux OEM) Review: A $50 Budget Champion.

Amazon.com: Samson SR850 Semi-Open Studio Reference Headphones: Musical Instruments

 

If your budget is like the OP then look at all the models mentioned. But if you can extend your budget by a but might i recommend the ATH M-50 and the Ultrasone HFi 580, 2 really great headphones. Both retail for around 130$(on b&h)

 

Try Razer. I can't remember the exact model number, but it was the only one at the $80usd price. Good sound and comfy fit. It has a microphone - which you do not have to use.

 

I can recommend the Shure SE215 which you can find at the top of your budget...

http://www.shure.com/americas/products/earphones-headphones/se-models/se215-sound-isolating-earphones

 

I've been using the same pair of HD 280 Pros since 2003 and they still work great. What I find strange is that they have not changed in price since then :lol:

 

I use Pioneer HDJ-2000s to DJ(dj for 3 years)

and I have Meelectronic m9 IEM earphones for casual/portability.

Google Meelectronics, and visit head-fi.org

The meelectronics out perform any sennheiser/jbl/koss/sony/etc Ive tried.

The m6 and m9 are less than 20 dollars, the sound is amazing after about 50 hours burn-in, and just google meelectronics, they are highly regarded in the audiophile forums for price/performance.

This is my first time posting outside the Sager/Clevo sub-forums.

Enjoy.

 

koss porta pro for £16 and lifetime warrranty cant be beaten

 

+1 4 the Koss Porta Pro's, might look like they were teleported from the 80's,(because they are)but that just shows that if the formula is right why mess with it. Awesome headphones.

Warranty is awesome like Cutco Knives, even if you find one in the street all beat up and mangled Koss will replace it.

 

Yes those Koss are pretty cool too! I owned a pair. Lifetime warranty but its sitting in my room with a broken 3.5mm jack

Great sound, but its open ear, so not suitable for every occasion. They sound great and theyve been around. I like the retro look as well ^^

But I still recommend the Meelectronics over the Koss. Its cheaper and sounds better with better isolation. My Koss had better highs but I spent lots more time burning it in with Pinknoise and other software.

 

All I can say is avoid Skullcandy.

I had a pair that broke after 3 months and they wanted me, the buyer, to ship them out of my own pocket from Ontario, Canada to Utah, US ...and wait 5 weeks for a replacement.

Newegg was nice enough to give me a credit on my account after I explained Skullcandy's horrific support.

Now, to headphone shop based on your recommendations as mine just died tonight and are out of warranty.

 

Koss portapros. At 30 usd it sounds better than most 200+ usd cans

Sent from my samsung galaxy s2 using tapatalk

 

My wife got me Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones for Christmas. I don't know exactly how much they cost, but I'm pretty sure they're under $100. They're FANTASTIC.

 

How about the Monoprice 8323's? http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-57337747-47/how-good-can-$21.59-headphones-be/

 

Been having an auction war with the HD 280 and HD 215's on ebay. I read up on both of them and they're excellent suggestions.

My Gamecom 777's is KIA. The right headphone piece is hanging with a piece of duct tape lol...I better get something soon.

By the way, how is Sennheiser for warranty? Are they generally good as Logitech/Plantronics for replacements?