Yes, you are seeing that correctly — studio headphones under $50! Most think of studio headphones priced super high due to the consumer market getting pretty saturated with this term. However, there are some viable pairs of cans out there that won’t cost you an arm and a leg and still bring us ‘studio’ quality. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the best professional, good quality studio headphones for $50 or less at the lowest price-range we’ve been able to find when it comes to this piece of our recording studio (or those who just want some nice headphones to listen to any type of audio).
The Best Studio Headphones for Under $50
Sennheiser HD 200 PRO
We definitely try not to be biased when it comes to recommending Sennheiser HD headphones in any article, but to be straight-forward — this entire line is absolutely amazing and covers pretty much every corner of the closed-back studio headphones game, especially price-ranges. The HD 200 Pro features very good dynamics and noise reduction. They are a monitoring headphone; therefore, it has accurate and detailed, studio quality sound with high resolution and low-end punch.
The headphones have a 6.6’ straight cable on one side, is lightweight and very comfortable to wear them for an extended period of time, thanks to their cushioned ear cups. Lastly, we have a frequency response of 20 Hz – 20 kHz and an impedance of 32 Ohms. and the package comes with a 1/4″ stereo jack adapter. The Sennheiser HD 200 PRO is a powerful closed-back, over the ear pair of studio headphones we can’t recommend enough.
Samson SR850
If you’re looking for honesty, this studio headphone has a linear frequency response and an accurate sound. They’re quite comfortable as they have velour ear cushions and the self-adjustable head band enables a nice, snug fit on your head. Regarding specs, the Samson SR850 has a standard frequency response of 10 Hz – 30 kHz, an impedance of 32 Ohms and sensitivity of 98 dB.
It also features large 50 mm dynamic neodymium drivers, has volume control and comes with a straight cable and 1/4″ stereo adapter. The Samson SR850 is a semi-open, over the ear pair of studio headphones just under $50 bucks.
Roland RH-5
The Roland RH-5 is a closed-back, over the ear high quality studio headphone with large 40mm drivers and a balanced, flat audio response. The closed back design offers noise cancellation, blocking sound coming from outside as well as prevents it from bleeding out.
This one has a frequency response of 10Hz – 22kHz and an impedance of 32 Ohms. It is lightweight and very comfortable with cushioned ear cups \ headband as well as a 10’ straight cable. It comes with a conversion plug for some convenient connectivity.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
This entire line of “M” studio headphones by Audio-Technica has stood the test of time, and are super popular among recording musicians and the like. This particular model is their cheapest pair available, and is a closed back over the ear monitor headphone made with high quality materials.
It has advanced technology, a modern design and is comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The earcups swivel 15 degrees for convenience and they have large 40mm neodymium magnet drivers offering accurate frequency response and solid bass. It has a frequency response of 15Hz – 20kHz, an impedance of 47 Ohms and sensitivity of 96dB. They lastly come with 9.8’ straight cable on the left side, but you can also purchase cables separately since they’re interchangeable. Another professional high-quality studio headphone for $50 or less is the Audio-Technica ATH-M20.
AKG K175
Here’s a little bit of a different design as we’ve seen in our previous picks — on-ear studio headphones. However, many out there would claim that this is a bit more comfortable than traditional over-ear pairs, so we included it towards the end here. The K175 has cushioned ear cups and an adjustable headband with 3-axis hinge useful for folding. It also has a 16.4 feet coiled cable that can be replaced.
Specifications include 40mm transducers and the headphone itself is made of durable metal and components. It has a frequency response of 18Hz – 26kHz and an impedance of 32 Ohms. The AKG K175 is a closed back, on the ear professional studio headphone that folds for the convenience of traveling or portability. It features high quality, transparent and defined sound and sonic performance. It includes a headphone bag in the box!
Behringer HPX6000
Lastl but not least, the HPX6000 is a closed back over the ear professional and flexible DJ headphone for under $50. This pair of studio headphones under $50 features 50mm neodymium drivers offering very good bass, wide frequency response, as well as adjustable ear cups useful to wear them around the neck for convenience and an adjustable headband for comfort.
It has a 9.84’ detachable coiled cable and comes with a 1/8” gold-plated adapter, a carrying bag and a limited one year warranty that can be extended to three years if the product is registered within 90 days of purchase. The Behringer HPX6000 has a frequency response of 15Hz – 20kHz and an impedance of 24 Ohms.
