Updated: May 24th, 2021
Your studio headphones shouldn’t be an afterthought! You might think that cheap studio headphones are just for practicing quietly or checking out the overall sound of your mixes, but there’s a lot more to the story. The right earphones help you listen critically, and they help you concentrate on the task at hand even when noises from outside threaten to interfere.
Best Studio Headphones Under $50 Reviewed
Best Bang For Your Buck  | Best Bang For Your Buck | Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones |
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Best For The Money  | Best For The Money | Edifier H840 Audiophile Over-the-Ear Headphones |
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Best for Speed  | Best for Speed | LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over-Ear Professional Studio Headphones |
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Best Direct Drive Double Pedal  | Best Direct Drive Double Pedal | OneOdio Adapter-Free Closed Back Over-Ear DJ Stereo Monitor Headphones |
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What to Look for In Good Studio Headphones Under $50
- Comfort: Your headphones should fit comfortably, particularly if you spend long hours working on your beats. Consider the headband as well as the earpads.
- Cord Length:The cord on your headphones should be long enough to let you move around comfortably. You don’t want to hinder your performance by worrying about causing damage or coming unplugged. If your choice has a short cord, you can remedy the situation by adding an audio extension cable.
- Cord Style:Is the cord detachable or not? A detachable cord might be preferable since this is a known stress point and a component that’s prone to wear, tear, and breakage. At the same time, detachable cords tend to cost more. Most quality studio headphones under $50 come with fixed cords although we did find one good option with a detachable cord.
- Back Style:Open back headphones give you a more natural sound and are ideal for mixing, while closed back headphones reduce noise leakage and are perfect for recording although many people use them for mixing as well. There are obvious advantages to both styles. Choose what works best for you!
- Style:You should like the way your headphones look. It’s true that this isn’t as important as other factors, but it ought to contribute to your decision.
- Price: It would be great if budget didn’t have to play a role in our decision, after all, it’d be fantastic to grab Bose or Beats headphones and be done with it all. In the real world though, there are other priorities. Pick what your budget can handle, but realize that anything under about $30 is likely to be a compromise. Even when choosing good headphones in the under $50 – $100 category, you’re probably going to find yourself liking some things and being less than thrilled about others.
The good news is that you can get great sound, a comfortable fit, and reliable isolation in a pair of affordable headphones. With these and a few other factors in mind, we’ve come up with this list of the best studio headphones under $50.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
Audio-Technica’s ATH-M20x professional studio monitor headphones feature 40mm drives with rare earth magnets. The circumnaural design is meant to comfortably contour around your ears while offering excellent sound isolation, even in loud environments. The headband is adjustable so it’s easy to find the right fit. These headphones are tuned for studio tracking and mixing, and offer enhance low-frequency performance. A ¼” snap-on adapter is included. At just 6.7 ounces, they offer a lightweight feel.
Pros
- Well-balanced sound
- Natural, neutral, and accurate representation of what you’re listening to
- Earcup pads are replaceable, replacement parts sold separately
- Great for recording, with good mids, clear highs, and good bass
- Sturdy build
Cons
- Fit feels uncomfortable on some people; headband has a stiff feel
- Inconsistent sound quality; most users get great quality while a few experience problems right out of the box
While Audio-Tecnica’s ATH-M20x studio headphones offer budget pricing, they deliver well in terms of sound quality, although there’s less bass than some users prefer. The 3-meter cord is adequate for most applications. Constant use does lead to wear and tear, however most people get at least a year of consistent quality from these headphones even when they’re used frequently.
Edifier H840 Audiophile Over-the-Ear Headphones
With fully-enclosed earcups, a steel-reinforced adjustable headband, and leather headrests, Edifier H840 Audiophile over-the-ear headphones feature 40mm driver units that are fine-tuned for sound quality. These studio headphones come in your choice of black, blue, or white. A one-year warranty is included.
Pros
- Good sound quality overall
- Budget-friendly
- Fits most people comfortably, less of a “squeeze” than some other models
- Good sound isolation
Cons
- 6-foot cable may be too short for some users
These studio headphones are calibrated and tuned by Phile Jones of Pure Sound, and the ergonomic design makes them a comfortable choice for most people. As with most studio headphones under $50, these tend to develop signs of wear and tear over time, notably in movable parts like the side cup insertion points. For sound dampening, they’re brilliant, keeping your sounds in and closing the rest of the world out.
LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over-Ear Professional Studio Headphones
LyxPros HAS-10 Closed-Back studio headphones are built for mixing and live monitoring, with NdFeB magnet systems for an instant dynamic response. The rotating ear cups and telescoping stainless steel arms offer a good fit, while leather-covered padding on the headband and ear cups make for a comfortable feel. The single-sided straight cable is preferred by many, and the screw-on jack offers added durability. A ¼” adapter is included.
Pros
- Soft ear foam feels good on most people
- Well-built, good quality components particularly for affordable price point
- Aluminum covers and stainless steel sliders provide a quality feel, less “plasticky” than some other value-priced headphones
Cons
- Cable is just 6 feet long, and is fairly thin
Well-designed for a combination of balanced sound and clean audio representation, these headphones seal in the sound well while feeling lightweight and comfortable on you. As with most consumer products, these are sometimes received with manufacturing flaws. For the most part though, they offer satisfaction in the studio and for standard listening as well, and they tend to improve after a break-in period.
OneOdio Adapter-Free Closed Back Over-Ear DJ Stereo Monitor Headphones
With 50mm neodymium drivers, a flexible padded headband that self-adjusts, and well-padded ear cushions, OneOdio adapter-free closed back headphones feature a detachable dual-duty 9.8 foot cord with detachable 6.3mm and 3.5mm plugs. The ear cups swivel 90 degrees for single side monitoring when desired. These headphones are collapsible for easier transport and storage. A two-year warranty is included, along with a 3.5mm to 3.5mm 4-foot cable with a built-in mic.
Pros
- Detachable 3.5mm and 6.3mm plugs included
- Crisp, clear sound
- 90 degree swiveling ear cups allow for single-side monitoring
- Flexible, self-adjusting headband is comfortable during long sessions
Cons
- Some materials feel a bit lightweight and “cheap”
- Some reports of breakage after a few months of use
Thanks to their outstanding audio quality, innovative design, and surprisingly low price point, these are some of the best studio headphones we’ve found, despite a few issues with durability. If you’re looking for good all-around headphones that won’t break the bank, you’re probably going to want to shortlist these.
Samson SR850 Semi-Open-Back Studio Headphones
With semi-open backs for less ear fatigue paired with an over-ear padded design for good isolation, Samson SR850 studio headphones offer a self-adjusting headband. A 10-foot cord with a 1/8 to 1/4 inch adapter is included. These headphones feature 50mm drivers for a wide dynamic range and quality sound reproduction.
Pros
- Most people find these are comfortable for extended wear
- Excellent sound without ear fatigue
- Outstanding clarity
- Great open-back earphone experience at a value price
Cons
- Some reports of ear covers coming off, can be replaced with some effort
Great for mixing and ideal for general listening, Samson SR850 studio headphones aren’t fancy looking, but they are comfortable, and the metal components on the self-adjusting headband are less likely to break than plastic stress points found on some other entry level studio headphones. The sound quality is incredible, and the velour earpads have a soft, comfortable feel with less heat buildup than some other options.
Breaking in Headphones: What You Need to Know
Many headphones are considered “junk” when reviewed straight out of the box, but things often change over time. Some very expensive headphones sound great the moment you listen to them, but less expensive ones tend to sound better and better as time passes.
Lets face it: even the best studio headphones under $50 are made with far cheaper components than those around the $100 price point and higher. You can get around the issue by leaving your headphones on a desk or table, plugging them into your PC or another audio source that’s strong enough to run them (your phone or small tablet won’t work) and turning the volume up all the way. Again, don’t have them on your ears for this, and turn the volume down before you check quality.
Leave the audio source running on a loop at full volume for at least 24 hours and preferably longer than that. This break-in period should make your headphones sound a lot better than they did when they arrived, and over time, you should notice that the sound improves even more.
While professional-grade headphones tend to cost more than $500 and sometimes even more than $1000, it’s possible to find a decent pair of headphones for under $50. You’ll do a bit better if you spend a little more than that, so we’ve come up with a separate guide for those slightly larger budgets. With a little bit of comparison shopping and an eye toward quality, you can keep your bank account in mind while getting more from your listening experiences.
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