Finding the best studio headphones under $100 to add to your recording and mixing setup isn’t easy. There are a number of good studio headphones in the $100 price range that have great audio depth. You just need to find the right pair for your recording setup.
Regardless whether you want over-ear, in-ear, or closed back headphones, the main thing that you need to think about is sound quality and material quality. There is nothing worse than getting a new set of headphones and having them fall apart in a few months of using them. Don’t worry though. We’ve reviewed all of the top headphones on the market and found the ones worth getting.
Let’s compare the top-rated $100 studio headphones and review their features, audio quality, and pros, so you can pick the right one.
Compare the Top Studio Headphones Below $100 in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Studio Headphones Below $100 in 2020
- 1.1 Audio-Technica ATHM40x Professional Monitor Headphones
- 1.2 Shure SRH440 Pro Studio Headphones
- 1.3 CAD Audio Sessions MH510 Closed-Back Headphones
- 1.4 Sennheiser HD280PRO Mixing Headphones
- 1.5 AKG K240 Studio Semi-Open Over-Ear Pro Studio Headphones
- 1.6 LyxPro HAS-30 Closed Back Pro Headphones
- 1.7 Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Headphones
- 1.8 KRK KNS 8400 On-Ear Circumaural Studio Headphones
- 1.9 Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Recording Studio Headphones
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of best studio headphones below $100 for recording and mixing that have high quality tone and won’t break your budget.
- Audio-Technica ATHM40x
- Shure SRH440 Pro Studio Headphones
- CAD Audio Sessions MH510
- Sennheiser HD280PRO Mixing Headphones
- AKG K240 Studio Headphones
- LyxPro HAS-30
- Status Audio CB-1
- KRK KNS 8400
- Audio-Technica ATH-M30x
Audio-Technica ATHM40x Professional Monitor Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
Audio Technica is a brand that is widely known in the professional audio solutions industry. This brand has contributed some great products that can be found in top studios across the world. These range from microphones to headphones.
One product from this brand is this studio headphone – the ATH-M40x. This is an over-the-ear headphone that offers a mix of comfort, durability and performance.
It is designed with ample padding to offer maximum comfort. We find these in the headband and the earpads. In addition to this, the ear cups are very adjustable for an easy fit and they can be rotated for easy single ear monitoring and also folded for easy portability. This is in addition to its circumaural design that improves sound isolation.
Looking into the core of things, we find two 40 mm drivers that have a sensitivity of 98dB across a frequency response range of 15Hz-24kHz. These offer impressive sound transparency, which comes in very handy in professional audio monitoring situations.
Using this headphone is convenient as it comes with a 1.2 – 3 meter coiled cable and a 3 meter straight cable with a 1/4″ screw-on adapter. A pouch is also included pouch for increased convenience.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Well-built and comfortable.
- Sensitivity – 98dB.
- Frequency Response – 15Hz to 24kHz.
Cons and Potential Flaws
It could get a bit warm when it’s been on for a while.
Bottom line
This is a professional level headphone that can be used in the studio for tracking and also for mixing.
Shure SRH440 Pro Studio Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
It’s difficult to have been in the music industry or close to any audio setting without having come in contact or heard of Shure. Shure is an international brand that has built a reputation of offering top quality products, some of which have attained legendary status.
Here, the brand offers the SRH440, a headphone designed for studio use. This is an over-the-ear headphone with a circumaural, closed back design. They can also be collapsed for portability and easy storage. To ensure comfort, both the earpads and headband are padded.
The ear cups are replaceable as is the included 3 meter coiled cable. This ensures durability as you can easily change any of them when any gets damaged.
Now let’s get behind the exterior to see what’s inside. Inside, you will find two 40mm neodymium driver that have been tuned to deliver accurate sound reproduction. They have a sensitivity of 105dB/mW and cover a frequency range of 10 Hz – 22 kHz. With an impedance of 44 Ohm, even a mobile device can power it effectively.
While there are obviously more high-end headphones out there, this set will suffice for most home studios’ tracking and mixing needs as they deliver a transparent, balanced and well-defined sound.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Foldable and comfortable.
- Sensitivity – 105dB.
- Frequency Response – 10Hz – 22kHz.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Earpads – They could get uncomfortably hot after a while.
Bottom line
For home studios that can’t afford to spend more than $100 headphones, this is a perfect solution.
CAD Audio Sessions MH510 Closed-Back Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
CAD Audio has built a huge reputation that traverses over 85 years. It has contributed to the music industry a lot of products like microphones, headphones and other products for music production and live performances.
One of the products offered by this brand for professional sound monitoring especially in studios, is the MH510 Closed-Back Headphones. This is a product that was nominated for the 29th Annual TEC Awards for Outstanding Technical Achievement in Headphone/Earpiece Technology. This should be an indication of what this product offers.
This headphone offers durability, thanks to its sturdy build. Despite its sturdiness, it also offers comfort thanks to the well-padded headband as well as the leatherette and velvet covered earcups.
It offers convenience in terms of use. It comes with two cables – a 10 feet straight one and 3.5 feet coiled one. It also comes with a carrying bag.
Now for a peek inside it. Each ear cup includes a 50mm High Gauss driver. These have a frequency response of between 10Hz to 24kHz over which they can deliver an SPL of 103dB.
Using this headphone offers you great headroom plus a transparent sound reproduction that will meet your professional music monitoring needs. This makes it great for tracking and mixing in your studio.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Sturdy and comfortable.
- Frequency Response – 10Hz to 24kHz.
- Sound Pressure Level – 103dB.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Earcups – May be small for folks with bigger ears.
Bottom line
For studio tracking and mixing needs, these headphones will do quite well.
Sennheiser HD280PRO Mixing Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
Sennheiser is a well-known brand when it comes to professional audio solutions. It has offered top performing microphones and headphones that have been used by some of the best musicians and music professional in the world today.
Thankfully, the brand also offers some quality products for users with not so large a budget. One product that falls into this category is the HD280PRO. This is a professional studio closed back headphone with a circumaural design.
Its ergonomic design and light weight makes wearing it very comfortable. This is in addition to the well-padded ear cups and headband. You will also want to know that the ear cups, headband and the included 3.3 feet (extendable to 9.8 feet) coiled cable are all replaceable. This enhances durability.
Now let’s look at the drivers. These drivers cover a frequency range of 8Hz to 25kHz. They also have an SPL of 113dB and have a warm, natural sounding audio reproduction. The design of the ear cups reduces external noise interference by up to 32dB.
This is a good quality headphone that will be useful in most low to mid-level studios. They can be used for tracking and mixing.
Pros and Highlights
- Frequency Response – 8Hz to 25kHz.
- Sound Pressure Level – 113dB.
- Build – Ergonomic design, lightweight and comfortable.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Earpads – Can cause some sweating after a while.
Bottom line
For any studio that can’t afford very high-end headphones, this is a good option. It offers flat response, which is ideal for professional audio monitoring.
AKG K240 Studio Semi-Open Over-Ear Pro Studio Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
AKG is easily recognizable as one of the most popular brands in the music industry. The product we are however looking at from this brand is the K240 Studio, a professional studio headphone designed for home to mid-level studios that cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars or more on headphones.
It is an over-the-ear, semi-open back headphone that is designed to be snug thanks to the headband supported by a flexible steel frame. This frame helps clamp the ear cups to your ears.
This headphone is built sturdily but also offers comfort without reducing its strength and durability. Getting down to the drivers, they deliver a clean, open sound across a frequency range of 15Hz to 25kHz. They also have a 55 Ohm impedance, which is not difficult to manage.
Connecting these drivers to the amp or device is a 3 meter cable that ends in a gold-plated screw-on 1/8 inch plug. It also comes with a 1/4 inch adapter.
Remember that this is a semi-open back headphone, which means that there will be sound leakage both in and out. This means that you may not enjoy total isolation and you cannot use them for tacking because of this bleed.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Sturdy, snug and comfortable.
- Frequency Response – 15Hz to 25kHz.
- Impedance – 55 Ohms.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Earpads – They may be a bit uncomfortable for users with large ears.
Bottom line
This headphone is ideal for mixing but not for tracking because of its semi-open back design.
LyxPro HAS-30 Closed Back Pro Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
LYXPRO is a brand dedicated to the design and manufacture of various professional audio gear. It incorporates innovation and special care into the manufacture of each gear to ensure that creative inspirations find easy expression through them.
One product designed by this brand for music professionals is the HAS-30, a closed back, over the ear headphone that is designed to offer professional monitoring.
As part of its design, this headphone is fully foldable for easy storage and portability. The earcups can also rotate 180° for increased convenience and versatility. These earcups are replaceable as are the included 9.5 ft. straight cable and the 4 ft. coiled cable expandable to 10 ft.
It also offers appreciable comfort thanks to its well-padded headband and earpads. This makes extended listening easier.
Inside, you find two 50mm drivers that have a sensitivity of 100+-3dB sensitivity and a frequency response that covers 15Hz-26kHz. All of these can be easily powered by a smartphone thanks to its low impedance of 32 Ohms.
What you get from this headphone is a transparent sound. Though the bass is a bit pronounced, it will work in a budget studio.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Foldable, rotatable earcups and comfortable.
- Frequency Response – 15Hz – 26kHz.
- Sensitivity – 100 +- 3dB.
Cons and Potential Flaws
Depending on your head size, you may experience heat around the ears after extended listening.
Bottom line
This headphone is well suited for tracking and monitoring. For mixing, you should be sure to work with a reference audio.
Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
Status is a brand that prides itself on the quality and performance of its products, which are majorly different types of music listening pieces. According to the brand, it focuses on the important things, leaving the non-essentials so as to be able to deliver products that perform at the same level as a lot more expensive brands.
Here we are looking at the brand’s CB-1 Closed Back Studio Headphones. These headphones are foldable, making them easy to store and take around with you. The adjustable headband, which is padded, makes it easy to achieve a good fit while the well-padded earcups enhances prolonged listening.
Overall, this headphone is sturdily made and also looks really good. The fact that it has a lot of plastic parts is a simple function of its price. For increased convenience, it includes two cables, one straight and one coiled which can be interchanged since they are detachable.
For sound, there are two 50mm drivers that deliver a clean and balanced sound across a frequency response of 15Hz to 30kHz. Its 32 Ohms impedance means they can also be used with mobile devices to good effect.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Solid and comfortable.
- Frequency Response – 15Hz to 30kHz.
- Performance – Clear and balanced sound reproduction.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Materials – There are a lot of plastic parts, which is understandable given the price.
Bottom line
This headphone is versatile as it can be used effectively for tracking, professional monitoring and casual listening thanks to its low impedance.
KRK KNS 8400 On-Ear Circumaural Studio Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
KRK Systems is a brand dedicated to the creation of professional audio listening and reference products like studio monitors and headphones. Today we are looking at the KNS 8400.
This is a closed back on ear headphone which the brand describes as a monitor headphone because it was voiced for critical listening, a situation that requires a clear and accurate sound reproduction.
The design features a plastic frame with metal reinforcement. On the headband, we find two paddings, which combine with the ample earcup padding provided by the acoustic memory foam. These ensure that extended listening can be done with considerable comfort. The swivel function of the earcups adds some versatility as it makes one-ear listening pretty easy.
This headphone comes with 40mm drivers that have a sensitivity of 97 dB SPL, a maximum SPL of 124 dB and covers a frequency response range of 5Hz – 23kHz. One of the interesting features offered by this headphone is the volume control that is mounted on the detachable cable.
For the budget studio, this is certainly a set of headphones that you can use for mixing sessions.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Well-built.
- Frequency Response – 5Hz – 23kHz.
- Sensitivity – 97db SPL.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Earpads – These may not offer the best level of comfort for long term listening.
Bottom line
This headphone performs really well. While it can serve well in the studio, it can also be used outside the studio for other refined listening needs.
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Recording Studio Headphones
Specs, features, and benefits
We want to end our review with another product from Audio Technica. We already know that this brand offers some top quality headphones within this price range. The next one we are about to look at is even priced slightly lower than the first. We are referring to the ATH-M30x.
This is also a closed back headphone that can be folded down for easy storage and movement. The design is built around a frame that slides in or out to adjust to the user’s specs. The headband is well-padded as are the earcups for increased comfort. To further increase its convenience of use, the earcups are highly adjustable. They can rotate 15 degrees on the vertical axis and about 90 degrees on the horizontal axis.
The overall view shows a sturdy and well-made product, at least externally.
Internally, we find two 40mm drivers. These have copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils as well as rare earth magnets. They have a sensitivity of 95.5 dB and cover a frequency response range of 15Hz – 20kHz.
With this, you enjoy great clarity, transparency and definition. The brand recommends this for tracking and mixing.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – Solid, versatile and comfortable.
- Frequency Response – 15Hz to 20kHz.
- Sensitivity – 95.5dB.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Cable – The included cable is great but not detachable.
Bottom line
This is a great headphone that combines a great build with a solid performance. Aside from other possible uses, they will serve well for both tracking and mixing.
What We Recommend and Why
It’s been an interesting ride in this journey through the world of studio headphones. From the nine different products we looked at, we saw some great features and offerings. Now we much choose the one that we will crown our Top Studio Headphone Under $100.
After carefully reviewing all the nine headphones listed above, we decided that the Audio-Technica ATHM40x Professional Headphones offered the most overall value and is therefore name our Top Studio Headphone Under $100.