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Best Entry Level Audiophile Headphones 2021 – Buying Guide

Last Updated August 19, 2021 By Adrien Iglesias Filed Under: Headphones

Getting the best entry-level audiophile headphones is a daunting task. Don’t worry about it as we are going to highlight the most affordable options that will be the best bangs of your bucks. So if you are dealing with a tight budget but need higher performance headphones, then let’s get into the review of the best entry level audiophile headphones.

Now don’t need to break your bank because we assure you will make the valued purchase by reviewing these headphones. Take a peek!

Contents

  • Top Best Entry Level Audiophile Headphones in 2021
    • 1. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x – Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
    • 2. 1More Triple Driver – In-Ear Earphones Hi-Res Headphones
    • 3. Beyerdynamic DT 770 – PRO Over-Ear Studio
    • 4. Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones
    • 5. Meze 99 Classic – Over-Ear Headphones
    • 6. GRADO SR8-e Prestige Series Wired – Open-Back Stereo Headphones
  • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Which Audiophile Headphones Are Worth Purchasing? 
      • What Should I Look For In Audiophile Headphones?
      • Which Is The Most Selling Audiophile Headphone?
      • Is Sony Audiophile Headphone Better Than Bose?
      • Are Noise Canceling Headphones Good For Canceling The Background Noise Completely?
  • The Final Words

Top Best Entry Level Audiophile Headphones in 2021

HeadphoneRatingPrice
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x4.5 out of 5 stars Check Price
1More Triple Driver3.5 out of 5 stars Check Price
Beyerdynamic DT 7704.5 out of 5 stars Check Price
Sennheiser HD 5584.5 out of 5 stars Check Price
Meze 99 Classic4.5 out of 5 stars Check Price
GRADO SR8-e Prestige4.5 out of 5 stars Check Price

1. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x – Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is not only our first choice, but thousands of users recommend it. It is one of the best entry level audiophile headphones in the world.

What makes this set more special? Its versatile design, attractive look, immersive sound quality, and precise fit. No doubt, these headphones are well-built. These have a sturdier look that built to last.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

As the name suggests, these headphones are best for professional studio monitors. It ensures to provide crystal clear sound quality. The over-ear closed-back design has the most plastic material. The material is made of high-quality plastic. But there is also a little use of metal in the construction of headband. It makes them more durable.

Unlike its predecessor, this headset comes with a removable cable. There is also a locking mechanism that makes it possible the cable doesn’t detach when you are listening to music regardless of how long you use it.

When it comes to earpads, these have soft and plush padding. To enhance more fit, there is a tight clamp. If using, mistakenly you stretch them a little, the fit doesn’t lose. Alternatively, you feel more comfortable.

Even for hours of use, its design doesn’t make them fall off your head. This feature supports portability. You can easily walk around wearing them. Although the padding is not thick enough, the earpads tend to be warm if you use them for long sessions.

Out of the incredible features, the sound quality is super good. The bass is also punched as well as full. If you are looking for bassy headphones, then it’s best among all.

Its treble is also clear. Besides quality, its midrange is a bit laid back. But we assure you will be happy while listening.

  • Category: Dynamic/ closed
  • Impedance: 38Ω
  • Sensitivity: 98dB
Pros
  • Powerful bass
  • Good value among peers
  • Great sound quality
  • Decent soundage isolation
Cons
  • Sometimes bass a little emphasized
  • Plastic construction

Check Price On Amazon


2. 1More Triple Driver – In-Ear Earphones Hi-Res Headphones

1More Triple Driver review

Now we have the most incredible headphones that provide exceptional performance when we look at the price. These are 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones Hi-Res Headphones.

The 1More Triple Driver is not only well-built but also performs more than you could expect. It is one of the best budget audiophile headphones as compared to its sound, material, and comfort.

Before going to its design and performance, it is also worth saying; these headphones have flawless packaging. It is on the point from the unwrap box to constant hours of use.

The headphones come with a premium design. Its metallic design has a flared conical form that features a downward pointing metallic cylinder extension at the edge of these headphones.

These have a lightweight aluminum alloy body. With having sandblasted material, it gives an attractive look as well as fingerprint resistance.

There is metal-made 3.5mm jacks. Also, it is housing with a durable cable that featuring with three buttons in line. These buttons let you control music conveniently, such as play/pause, track skipping, and volume up/high.

As far as comfort, the headphones are lightweight. With oblique angles, the earbuds give a comfortable fit. There are nine different sets of ear tips so that you will get a proper seal.

Impressively, the headphone uses a hybrid driver, which works efficiently for the bass as a dedicated, dynamic driver. These are also the best audiophile headphones for bass.

Also, the sound quality is top-notch. The vocals are detailed and rich. Also, the treble is warm and more relaxed soundly.

Last but not least, this set comes with luxurious accessories. These include six sets of silicone ear tips with three different sets of foam tips, matching shirt clip, magnetic clasping traveling case, quality dual prong airline adapter, and adorable storage case.

  • Category: Hybrid/closed-back
  • Impedance: 32Ω
  • Sensitivity: 99dB
Pros
  • Great price for a triple driver
  • Rich sound
  • Good accessories
  • Impressive packaging
Cons
  • Bass quality could be better

Check Price On Amazon


3. Beyerdynamic DT 770 – PRO Over-Ear Studio

Without Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, the Best Entry Level Audiophile Headphones 2021 won’t be complete. The Beyerdynamic is remarkably known for its quality worldwide.

As the name suggests, these headphones are studio headphones but portable too. These have all the things that you are looking for in the best audiophile headphones.

beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Over-Ear Studio Headphones

These offer standout sound quality at a relatively lower price as compared to other headphones available on the market. For the design, these have over-ear headphones and are similar to professional end appeal.

These use mostly metal and plastic materials. The outer material is made of high-quality plastic. It is sturdy, so to withstand while falling. The headband is made of metal that is covered by premium quality leather.

The headband ensures provide comfort. It is well-padded and accommodates almost every size of the head. The earcups are joining with a headband. Its earcups are made of a metal band that feels rigid as well as comfy.

For years, this brand is always remaining as the first choice for music producers. The reason is, this headphone set is ideal for professional recording and monitoring.

These have well-cushioned, soft, breathable, circumaural, and replaceable earpads. The earcups let you feel high comfort even for long sessions.

From scratch, you might feel stiff on your ears, but after occasional use, they get plushy soft. Without getting fatigued, these headphones give an optimal level of comfort.

Additionally, this set also offers a passive noise isolation feature. There is no leakage of sound, even in a noisy environment. However, things need care.

Going to the bass, it gets punchy or even a bit tight. Sometimes, it feels burn-in and uncontrollable. But it’s amazing for low-end notes. Lastly, the mids sound impressive, like neutral. For treble is easy and clear on-ear.

  • Category: Dynamic/ closed-back
  • Impedance:80Ω
  • Sensitivity: 96dB
Pros
  • Very comfortable
  • Nice bass
  • Noise isolation features
  • Great sound quality
Cons
  • Sub-bass is lacking
  • No-detachable cable

Check Price On Amazon


4. Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones

One of the legendary best audiophile earphones, named as the Sennheiser HD 558. From design to performance, these headphones are the most appreciated set available in the market.

The headphones come in an open-back over-ear design. That’s among the preferred reason to choose from. Undoubtedly, these are one of the best open-back headphones audiophiles.

Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones

Its material is made of plastic. This set has large earcups with enough padding to make them more comfortable on each size of ears. These have light in weight, solid and high-quality plastic makes them eye-catching. Not only look premium but these headphones are also built to last.

Unlike its predecessor models, there are no cracking or braking issues. These headphones now improved properly. For added satisfaction, the manufacturers offer a 2-year warranty.

What makes them more special? Their comfort. The Sennheiser HD 558 provides comfort more than your expectations. There includes soft padding on its thick velour earpads that let you feel comfortable.

The size of earcups is huge as compared to other models. That’s why it is ideal for those who have big ears. Besides, there is thicker padding, which is why they feel comfy, and there is no leakage of sound issues.

While the headband has padding covered with a plastic covered by premium quality plastic material. Also, it can be extending longer to fit any size of the head.

When it comes to the bass, its sub-bass is pretty fine. But if you want deep bass, then these will not suffice. Overall, the sound is more clear with slight bass.

It takes the cake when coming to mids. This set ensures to have smooth, relaxed, and never feeling discomfort. The lower sounds well clear but ideal for classical music and lyrical.

Above all, the headphones dose a fantastic job for the price range.

  • Category: Dynamic/ closed-back
  • Impedance: 50Ω
  • Sensitivity: 112dB
Pros
  • Extremely comfortable
  • Great soundage
  • Long cable
  • Removable cord
Cons
  • Leaks sound
  • Plastic construction

Check Price On Amazon


5. Meze 99 Classic – Over-Ear Headphones

Since 2015, the Meze 99 Classic Over-ear Headphones is like a storm to the market. It comes with an elegant and appealing design.

The rest of the headphones, the Meze 99, have unique earcups that will draw everyone’s attention. The earcups have a conical shape that is made of wood.

Meze 99 Classic Over-ear Headphones

Apart from its aesthetical appealing, there is a 3.5 mm jack, which included a little gold ring surrounding the holes. Its headband is self-adjusting. It is well-padded which makes it more comfortable. There is featuring a steel band through cast zinc that allows cross structure, which connects to the earcups.

However, the padding is a bit thicket that makes them plushy. This feature offers more comfort, and the quality of sound is in more depth.

For added more performance, there is featuring a passive noise isolation feature. Besides, the headphones comfortably fit all head sizes.

What makes them more adorable? They have silky and smooth, well-balanced sounds. Whether you are listening to low, mids, or high sounds, it is well detailed and balanced.

When it comes to the bass, it is pretty good and extends quite low. It ensures you will get a more rich bass as compared to other models. Moreover, the midrange is more neutral. Also, the treble is balanced.

Furthermore, there are some accessories included. These are detachable 1.2mm thread Kevlar OFC cable with remote and mic, hard EVA carrying case, 6.3mm gold-plated jack, a detachable 3m thread OFC cable, cable pouch as well as airplane jack adapter.

  • Category: Dynamic/ closed-back
  • Impedance: 32Ω
  • Sensitivity: 103dB
Pros
  • Adorable design
  • Comfortable
  • High performance
  • Superb dynamics
Cons
  • A bit pricy

Check Price On Amazon


6. GRADO SR8-e Prestige Series Wired – Open-Back Stereo Headphones

Lastly, we have another entry-level audiophile setup, the GRADO SR8-e. It has an on-ear open-back design, which makes them a unique model available in the market.

It is one of the parts of the classic headphones series by Grado, which is also referred to as the Prestige series. Both for design and performance, it is an improved version of its predecessor.

GRADO SR8-e Prestige Series Wired Open-Back Stereo Headphones

Its antiquated look and lightweight design make them more eye appealing. But the quality is a bit disappointing. There are rounded earpads. These are made of high-quality plastic material.

The earcups swivel up to a 360-degree angle. When it comes to the headband, it is made of leather. For the collapsing, there is a metal that goes through the headband to give it shape to fit any size of the head.

On each ear cup connect with a metal rod to the headband. This feature also makes to fit according to your preference. It also features a non-detachable cable. It feels solid and lightweight.

When it comes to comfort, these are best for one hour. These don’t provide the most comfort. If the roughness removes, then these can be more comfortable over 1 hour.

But there is one thing considerable. The earpads are removable to get high-quality comfort. Besides, the sound frequencies are well-balancing. These headphones offer impressive sound without distortion.

The bass is also punchy as compared to the price range. As far as midrange, it is clear and more natural. For treble, it is rich.

With a four-conductor connecting cable and large ear cushions, more improved bass, it provides richer and detailed sound. Overall, if you are looking for the best budget audiophile headphones, it is a perfect choice available out there.

  • Category: Dynamic/Open-back
  • Impedance: 32Ω
  • Sensitivity: 99.8dB
Pros
  • Comfortable fit
  • Clarity
  • Durable cable
  • Replaceable earpads
Cons
  • Tight clamping force

Check Price On Amazon


Frequently Asked Questions

Which Audiophile Headphones Are Worth Purchasing? 

Some of the best audiophile headphones that are worth purchasing are the following:

  • Shure SRH 1540 headphones – Best choice overall
  • Sony WF 1000 Xm3 headphones – Most selling
  • Grado headphones – Most Durable
  • Focal Utopia headphones – Best Soundstage
  • B and W P9 signature headphones – Best luxurious Headphones
  • Focal utopia – Best Stunning Sound Headphones
  • AKG K72 – Best Affordable Headphones

What Should I Look For In Audiophile Headphones?

The important things to check in the headphones before buying include the sound quality, comfort and convenience, weight of the headphone, battery timing, and fitting of the headphone. Furthermore, you can choose the best sound quality headphones over the other specs.

Which Is The Most Selling Audiophile Headphone?

The most selling audiophile headphone is the Grado G3000e. Moreover, you will have a comfortable fitting with exceptional clarity. Best of all, the grado headphone has a durable cable and the earpads are replaceable as well.

Is Sony Audiophile Headphone Better Than Bose?

In terms of performance, the audiophile headphones are better because they have extremely impressive noise-canceling performance. Moreover, according to our tests, we found the sony headphones with better bass than bose headphones. Apart from that, you will find the audiophile headphones by the bose company with the mid-low frequency.

Are Noise Canceling Headphones Good For Canceling The Background Noise Completely?

If you buy headphones of a good brand with the noise cancellation feature, it will surely block the external noise. In fact, you will not hear any noise from the background. Additionally, you will have the choice of buying the headphones with the noise isolation with the high-quality sound from our review of the classical music headphones.

On the other hand, cheap headphones will not have the best sound quality or complete noise cancelation technology.


The Final Words

All in all, we have summed up the best entry-level audiophile headphones. Before choosing one rest assure to look at the listed pros and cons at the end of each product so that you can get it according to your needs.

Besides, from material to performance, these products will be great choices available on the market. Anyhow, Thank you for visiting us!

Filed Under: Headphones

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About Adrien Iglesias

Adrien has experience in writing reviews for several products on amazon. You will find the reviews helpful in making the right decision for any tech gadget. For reading my reviews, you can click on the link and have detailed, unbiased reviews on various products of everyday use. Read More About him.

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