12 Best Budget Audiophile Headphones of 2022 – Recommended Headphones

There are hundreds and thousands of headphones available in the market so why buy audiophile headphones? The simple answer is that if you want to experience incredible high-fidelity sound then you have to buy the audiophile headphones.

Generally, audiophile headphones are very expensive as high quality comes with a high price but you don’t need to worry because in this article we are going to present you the best budget audiophile headphones.

It is not a simple task to find out the best budget audiophile headphones. Our experts have made this difficult task easy for you. After thorough research of the market, they have picked up carefully the top 12 best budget audiophile headphones for you.

Top 12 Best Budget Audiophile Headphones Reviews 2022

Our selected models not just have affordable prices but they also produce high-quality crystal clear sound with deep bass and have premium designs.

Audiophile headphones are truly luxurious audio devices and they are made with the highest quality material that produces the highest possible accuracy of the sound. They are usually made with combinations of aluminum, titanium, and high-quality plastic material.

This product is targeted to those users who prefer sound quality. These premium quality headphones can cost from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. The design, style, and construction material may vary in these headphones but they produce a high-quality sound that they never compromise.

Audiophile headphones are mostly used by sound professionals and they really need a high-quality sound to create excellent results. There is also a large majority of sound enthusiasts who want to listen to crisp and crystal clear sound so they prefer audiophile headphones.

1-Grado SR80e Stereo Wide Open Back Prestige Headphones

Grado SR80e Stereo Wide Open Back Prestige is one of the best audiophile headphones. It is a part of the classic headphones Prestige series by a well known audio brand Grado. It is a good starter cheap headphone for those who want to experience audiophile quality.

The Grado is a famous brand of headphones that have been producing high-quality sound equipment for many years to its customers. It is an on-ear open-back headphone with a classical and fashionable look.

The average build quality headphone has a lightweight and perfect fit with all kinds of head shapes. A standard 3.5 mm audio jack allows easy connectivity to devices with detachable cable. The cable is solid and does not tangle on frequent use.

The Grado SR80e has a simple but attractive design. Plastic ear cups of round shape with perfect size can swivel 360 degrees.

To adjust the headphone to the size that best fits your head, two small metal rods adjacent to the ear cups join up to the headband. The metallic headband covers with leather while the clamping force keeps it fixed at your head and keeps away from collapsing.

As far as comfort is concerned it is quite possible that you might feel a little bit uncomfortable with new headphones but with the passage of time as you frequently use them you will be more comfortable with these amazing headphones.

Though earpads are comfortable the roughness can create a little hassle to wear them for long sound sessions. You can experience average bass quality but it would be clearer and punchy free of distortion.

Besides all of this, it is great audiophile headphones with plenty of exciting features having a very reasonable price. Therefore it is perfect to use for your personal sound needs as well as for professionals.

2-Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm Professional Over-Ear Studio Headphones

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm Professional Over-Ear Studio Headphones are perfect for professional recording and monitoring. It is a superb closed-back audiophile headphone with soft and replaceable velour earpads to ensure the highest level of comfort.

You can comfortably wear this hearing gear for long sessions of listening. It comes in two different colors gray and black. The robust and durable workmanship with an innovative bass reflex system is made in Germany.

In fact, Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is purely a studio legend. It is not just a popular choice among sound enthusiasts and professionals but also has proven quality for many years.

These amazing headphones have won the trust of professionals all over the world. The studio reference headphones deliver crystal clear sounds and boast the utmost detailed resolution for impressive sound quality.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is one of the top choices of producers, broadcasters, technicians, and musical bands and one of the best sound equipment in studios across the world. These closed-back headphones are popular not just their superb quality bass but also of their specious reproduction competency.

The tough steel headband and soft ear cups provide comfort to wear for a long time span. The headband can comfortably bend to accommodate your head shape.

Although it is connected through the cable it is placed just at one side of the headphone so you can comfortably take off your headphones frequently without getting cable hassle. It is a great tool to monitor the level of musical detail efficiently.

It is a wonderful high fidelity alternative for professionals and music enthusiasts. The mid-range 80-ohm headphones are exceptionally good for universal studio usage to deal effectively with studio applications.

Beyerdynamic has a remarkable reputation to produce outstanding quality sound and musical products.

3-Hifiman HE400S Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Full Size Headphone

Hifiman HE400S Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Full Size Headphone is one of the highest efficiency Planar phones. It is compatible with most of the smartphones and portable audio devices to experience terrific sound with deep bass.

The expectation of superb hi-fi quality sound from Hifiman satisfactorily fulfilled with this amazing hearing gadget. The unique design with super comfortable earpads and innovative headband allow remarkable comfort to enjoy each beat of the music for hours.

At this stage, you might be confused which is the best headphones dynamic headphone or planar? The answer is simple, let us explain it. Conductors are used in dynamic headphones. These conductors vibrate in limited areas of the diaphragm resulting in a large percentage of the diaphragm that cannot be directly driven by those conductors.

On the other hand, planar headphones consist of conductive layers over almost the whole of the diaphragm as a result it significantly lower distortion than dynamic headphones.

Hifiman HE400S Planar Magnetic is an open back audiophile headphone that delivers life-like clarity, extended bass, detail, and a wide soundstage. It is an inexpensive planar magnetic headphone with a lot of expertise to deal with professional-level quality sound.

It is an attractive choice for those who want to try planar magnetic technology. The earcups are soft, circular, and large enough to accommodate most ears comfortably. For extra comfort ear pads have memory foam-padded.

The side grill of the earcups is made with metal while the headband with pleather and other visible parts are made with plastic. The adjustable headband fits perfectly on most head sizes with sufficient clamping force to wear it for a longer period of time.

The construction material is inexpensive but good build quality makes it durable.

4-Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Open-Air Over-Ear Headphone

Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Open-Air Over-Ear Headphone is the best for high fidelity sound. You can simply enjoy the high-resolution sound in the comfort of your home, office, or studio. It is professional headphones to experience the detail of sound and plush comfort of your custom-fit design.

It is made by a famous electronics equipment brand Philips having a prestigious heritage of over 50 years. Philips is a well-known brand all over the world by the incredible quality of its products.

They are committed to retaining their standards both ergonomic performance and sound quality. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Headphone is an innovative product with its signature design.

The 50mm high power drivers with neodymium magnets are carefully tuned and tested to deliver well balanced crisp bass and detailed natural sound. It consists of acoustics, open back excellent architecture and engineering with double-layered ear-shell.

Open-back architecture removes air pressure build-up behind the driver that allows sufficient free movement to the diaphragm which ultimately enhances the transparency of sound.

Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Headphone is equipped with Layered Motion Control (LMC) drivers which possess multi-layered polymer diaphragm with damping gel.

These multi-layers with gel behave like flexible boundaries to absorb exaggerated frequencies which ultimately result in a natural, more balanced, and refined range of high-frequency sound.

For minimal sound reflection, pre-tilted drivers fit the ears resulting in audio signals directly channeled into ears to create an authentic and dynamic listening experience.

The hammock adjacent to the headband features an airy 3D mesh, self-adjusted, and lightweight which is not only flexible enough to ensure a perfect fit but also breathable.

Moreover, deluxe memory foam cushions and breathable velour are used effectively to dissolve heat and pressure to make headphones ergonomically comfortable for longer wearing.

5-Sennheiser HD 569 Closed Back Headphone

Sennheiser HD 569 Closed-Back Headphone is a successor of the popular HD 500 series for exceptional sound quality. The closed round ear design provides a rich and clear bass to enjoy sounds without disturbing others.

The superb HD 569 pushes performance to the next level for those who are looking for a gorgeous headphone of outstanding sound with noise isolation feature.

Noise isolation is an advanced feature to minimize the ambient noise that gives transparent sound free of noise distortion to improve the listening experience. Premium quality transducers with aluminum voice coils are used to deliver excellent dynamics, extremely low distortion, and high efficiency.

The lightweight yet sturdy design, superbly soft and luxurious cushion covered with velour padded headband provides extraordinary wearing comfort to use headphones for a longer time period without irritating your ears.

The latest Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement design is used to more effectively channel the audio signals directly into the ear for a satisfactory listening experience.

The earpads are replaceable for enhanced comfort. It has wired connectivity. A detachable 1.2-meter wire is used to connect with devices through a standard 3.5 mm audio jack. An inline microphone and remote for call and music control are present on the wire to accept calls and move tracks.

Sennheiser HD 500 series have a very rich selection of excellent audiophile headphones. All designs are well constructed, attractive, comfortable, and give exceptional quality sound.

Sennheiser HD 569 Closed-Back Headphone is one of the best audiophile headphones of this series with simple but attractive design. It is mainly made with plastic except for the ear cups padding and these ear pads are large enough to cover ears comfortably.

One of the important aspects of this closed-back audiophile headphone is the comfort that allows users to wear it for long audio sessions.

6-Sennheiser HD 600 Wired Open Back Professional Headphone

Sennheiser HD 600 Wired Open Back Professional Headphone is designed for the true audiophile. It is equipped with many advanced features including the high-quality open mesh grilled design that delivers incredibly transparent sound.

It is made with lightweight aluminum and hard plastic to make it sturdy and durable. The Sennheiser HD 600 is a professional stereo open dynamic hi-fi audiophile-grade headphone.

Lightweight and durable aluminum voice coils deliver superb transient response while Neodymium ferrous is responsible to maintain optimum sensitivity and magnificent dynamics.

It gives you a much crisper and cleaner sound. The design is elegantly and sophisticatedly designed in gray and black colors to give a more attractive look.

A Kevlar-reinforced oxygen-free copper wire with very low handling noise is used to connect the headphones with other devices and this copper cable is detachable.

The latest technology is used to construct its advanced diaphragm design to eliminate standing waves which creates artifacts and acoustical disturbance to produce crystal clear sound. The computer-optimized magnet system is very helpful to minimize intermodulation and harmonic distortion.

It is a perfect choice to experience the extraordinary natural, accurate, and spatial sound and it is well optimized for hi-resolution recording. It comes with 2 years international warranty.

The earpads are extra soft and comfortable and do not get hot even for long sessions of listing while the headband has bumps that rest on the head. The bass of the headphone is punchy and clean to listen to all kinds of your favorite music. Sennheiser HD 600 is made by a well-known sound and music equipment manufacturer.

They are producing excellent quality sound products for 60 years. If you are looking to find inexpensive but incredible sound quality professional headphones than Sennheiser HD 600 can satisfy your hearing needs.

7-Meze 99 Classics Over-Ear Closed-Back Headphones

Meze 99 Classics Over-Ear Headphones are one of the top 10 best closed-back headphones of all time. This beautiful audiophile headphone is made with intensive care to create a masterpiece for sound enthusiasts.

As far as the beauty is concerned ear cups are aesthetically crafted with precious walnut wood, CNC machine is used to give precision curves on it and then hand finish and polish to give a charismatic look.

PU headband is self-adjusted that spreads the weight out to comfortably perfect fit on all head sizes. To increase the comfort further, soft leather earpads with medium density memory foam give you wearing comfort to efficiently stop the ambient noise.

No doubt noise isolation feature enhances the quality of sound because it is responsible to produce crystal clear and noise-free sound.

To make it charming and durable high-quality material is used to construct this amazing headgear and only nuts and bolts are used no glue is involved. This long-lasting headphone comes with the manufacturer warranty that if any part would ever need to be replaced it would be fully serviceable.

Therefore you can enjoy the highest quality of sound for a long time with peace of mind. Meze 99 Classics Over-Ear Headphones come with a detachable 1.2 meters thread Kevlar OFC cable with mic and remote control to handle calls and music, a hard storage pouch, cable pouch, a detachable 3 meters thread Kevlar OFC cable with 6.3 mm gold plated jack, and an airplane jack adapter.

You can enjoy the perfect natural sound with deep bass. Precise assembly and sturdy built to make it an heirloom rather than just a headphone. Meze 99 Classics is a premium quality product that changes the perception of headphones as cheap plastic accessories.

8-Sennheiser HD 558 Open Back Headphones

Sennheiser HD 558 is an audiophile-grade open-back headphone. It is one of the best budget audiophile headphones in the market with an internal surround reflector.

To ensure the accurate channeling of audio signals into ears it features the innovative and latest Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement technology while a sophisticated diaphragm reduces unwanted resonance.

The outstanding wearing comfort of Sennheiser HD 558 comes with the plush, extra soft, velour, luxurious, oval-shaped ear pads and cushioned headband for long listening sessions. The internal surround reflector is able to generate an extended spatial sound field for an exceptional listening experience.

Sennheiser HD 558 is high-end open-back headphones to experience a detailed sound image for music and audiovisual entertainment. It is also a perfect choice for advanced level gamers to enjoy each beat of the game’s sound without disturbing others around them.

The latest lightweight aluminum voice coils are used for excellent dynamics and high efficiency. These headphones are extremely comfortable which helps sound professionals to complete their long and time-consuming assignments with comfort.

Soft and loud sound notes are really helpful for music creators to make incredible soundtracks. State of the art advanced diaphragm delivers maximum transparency. It is beautifully designed and perfectly made for home entertainment and professional sound experts.

Wired connectivity technology is used to connect it with other devices. Sennheiser has been a pioneer of the sound world for over 5 years. The name of the Sennheiser is the symbol of high quality and reliable products.

Sennheiser HD 558 headphones have twisted and locked single side wire to eliminate tangles while it features ¼ inch gold plated plug with 1/8 inch adapter.

With the low price tag, it is one of the most praised headphones among the audiophile lovers community around the world.

9-Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 Pro Over-Ear Open Back Studio Headphones

Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 Pro Over-Ear Open Back Studio Headphones are perfect choices for editing, mixing, and mastering. It is equipped with many latest features to get strong bass and treble sound. Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 Pro is simply a studio legend and compatible with most of the studio advanced applications.

It has won the trust of professional users all over the world for decades. Sound experts consider these audiophile headphones as benchmark-setting studio headphones. These headphones come in three different models and all of them deliver extremely transparent sound and exceptionally detailed resolutions.

The DT 990 is one of the most impressive models in all of them. It is a reliable tool for music composers and producers to use for stereo image and three dimensional sound reproductions. The design of Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is fairly simple and attractive.

It is fully functional for sound experts with exceptional spacious and tonal depth. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro produces precise bass instead of overstated powerful treble boost without sounding sharp. It has been handcrafted in Germany with high-quality material for long term use with consistency and powerful performance.

The robust spring steel headband and extra soft adjustable ear cups provide wearing comfort and secure fit while the practical single-sided cable allows the user to put headphones on and off frequently without tangling the cable.

It has a lovely black and gray color while the model number of the headphone is written in white color on the back of ear pads. Beyerdynamic has been the pioneer of sound equipment since 1924.

Having vast experience the company is producing professional audio electronics devices. Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 Pro Open Back Over-Ear Studio Headphones are highly recommended to work with audiophile-grade headphones.

10-Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones is used for exceptional sound clarity, deep and accurate bass response. Top audio engineers and sound enthusiasts critically acclaimed its sonic performance.

Soft and comfortable ear cups can swivel 90 degrees to monitor sound from one ear while the headband and professional-grade earpad made with sturdy and reliable material to deliver comfort and durability. It can be connected with other devices via the detachable cable that consists of a standard 3.5 mm jack.

The design is professionally crafted by the experts of audiophile headphones. It is perfect for studio, DJ, and live sounds as well as personal use to enjoy the entertainment at home or on the go. These versatile and foldable audiophile headphones made with high-quality material to use them for a longer period of time.

Mainly it is made with hard plastic but metal is used to construct the headband of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones.

An easy folding mechanism makes it ultra-portable to go with this headphone anywhere. After getting an incredible sound from audiophile headphones then the other vital concern of users will be a comfort. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Headphones not only deliver exceptional sound quality but also give durability and comfort.

Accessories included in the box of Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones are detachable 1.2 m straight cable, detachable 1.2 m – 3.0 m coiled cable, and a stylish carry bag.

It comes with four different colors including Black, White, Gun Black, and Purple/Black. It possesses a proprietary 45 mm large-aperture driver with rare earth magnet and also has copper clad aluminum cable voice coils.

Sound isolation features ensure crystal clear sound to eliminate ambient noise even in noisy environments. It gives extended response with solid low-frequency definition while the collapsible design is easy to fold the headphone.

11-V-MODA Crossfade Over-Ear Wireless Headphone

V-MODA Crossfade Over-Ear Wireless Headphone is one of the best Bluetooth headphones available in the market at an affordable price. It is made with the combination of high-quality steel and vegan leather to make it strong, durable, and comfortable.

With its powerful speakers, you can experience the award-winning signature sound and it is compatible to deliver the same quality of sound in wired mode as well as wireless mode via the latest Bluetooth technology.

It features sound isolation technology that does not completely block out the sound as noise cancellation features do. You can experience pure and natural sound with zero latency that is essential for DJs and advanced level gamers.

V-MODA Crossfade Over-Ear Wireless Headphone promises unlimited hours of audio in analog mode while in the wireless mode you can entertain up to 12 hours of continuous music or calls.

Thanks to the included V-USB cable that can charge a powerful lithium battery of V-MODA Crossfade Wireless Headphone to 100% in 100 minutes.

It is made not just to listen to music or audiovisual entertainment but also to facilitate voice recognition and optimize for phone calls. It consists of breathable vegan leather and a lovely 3D mesh exterior.

V-MODA Crossfade Wireless Headphone contains a dual-diaphragm 50mm driver that is a refined version of the award-winning crossfade M-100 and it is a crucial part of hundreds of audiophile headphones.

The uniqueness is its excellent material, speaker consistency, and balanced airflow mechanism. The Ergosoft memory foam cushions and Steelflex headband with adjustable clamping source ensure the comfort for long listening sessions without irritating your ears.

Multitasking is possible with this audiophile headphone to pair it simultaneously with two sources at a time. It is highly resistant with extreme temperatures, UV exposure, salt spray, and humidity to comfortably use it comfortably indoors and outdoor use.

12-Philips SHP9500 Hi-Fi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones

Philips SHP9500 Hi-Fi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones is used to get an authentic listening experience in style. It is made with superb quality material to ensure durability and comfort.

Philips SHP9500 Hi-Fi Precision Stereo Headphones are ideal for music composers, producers, technicians as well as for home entertainment. The design of the headphone is pretty cool and attractive.

It features a 50mm neodymium driver to deliver a full spectrum of sound with balanced crisp bass and flawless high frequency. It works with wired connectivity while 1.5-meter long cable gives you the power of freedom for home or studio use.

If you are a sound professional or sound enthusiasts then this headphone can fulfill your needs. The spectacular open-back architecture has low impedance to make it ready for work with or without an amplifier.

A gold plated 3.5-6.3 mm adaptor is used for easy connectivity with audiophile-grade devices.

Angled drivers perfectly aligned with the ear to effectively channel the audio signals directly into your ears for the best listening experience. Breathable soft ear cushions and steel headband are used for comfort, durability and dissipate heat and pressure to use headphones for longer audio sessions.

You can simply feel the difference that Philips SHP9500 Hi-Fi Precision Headphones are far much better than the traditional headphones. Though the microphone is not included 3.5mm jack on the headphone is used for easy connectivity to add a microphone.

Philips SHP9500 Hi-Fi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones are carefully designed to meet the high expectations of audiophile headphones users. It is a great combination of incredible sound and comfort that will not let you down anyway.

Philips SHP9500 Hi-Fi Precision Headphones are equipped with all the latest features which are required for the best audiophile-grade headphones.

How should we choose the best budget audiophile headphones?

You should consider the following factors to pick the best audiophile headphones that best fit your needs.

Sound quality

It is one of the most crucial factors when you buy the best budget audiophile headphones. If you want to pick audiophile headphones then sound quality cannot be compromised in any way.

To get a better sound quality you should go with open-back design to get extraordinary quality natural sound. These kinds of headphones deliver more immersive and natural sound quality.

Comfort

Your audiophile headphone should be comfortable enough that if you wear it for a long session it would not let you tired. Therefore it is recommended that you should purchase a lightweight and well-padded pair.

The earcups of the headphones should be soft and breathable and perfectly fit with your head size.

Design

It is an overall look of the product that is a first step to lock you purchase. A decent design should have good build quality, attractive appearance, and high-end construction material.

We prefer that over-the-ear headphones are more comfortable than the on-ear and in-ear headphone models.

Durability

Audiophile headphones are relatively more expensive than ordinary headphones therefore you expect them to use them for the long run. You should choose a set constructed with high-quality material.

Wired or wireless

These impressive audiophile headphones come with wired and wireless as well. The majority of the latest devices use Bluetooth technology.

Audiophile wireless headphones connected through Bluetooth connection and they are more convenient than wired headphones. They give you more freedom to move around.

Final words

We have carefully reviewed the best available budget audiophile headphones. You can simply pick one or more for you to experience entirely different kinds of high-quality sound that are not possible with traditional headphones.

Audiophile headphones are expensive but we tried to select only those which have not just reasonable prices but also equipped with the latest features. Our chosen models are equally good for home entertainment as well as for professionals.