The 6 Best Headphones Under $200 of 2025

The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the best headphones under $200 that we've tested. Anker dominates the mid-range headphones market, and these are the pinnacle of premium performance without the price tag. Thanks to their excited, V-shaped sound profile, they deliver extra bass and treble for a punchy, sparkling sound. Vocals and lead instruments aren't as detailed, so they're better suited for modern rock and pop music. Still, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets, so you can always change their sound.

Unfortunately, these headphones have a high noise floor while the ANC is on, meaning you may hear an audible hiss or impurities in the audio. It may not be as noticeable for everyone, but it's worth considering if you have sensitive ears. That said, their adaptive ANC system still performs nearly as well as pricier headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, and can easily block out a wide range of background noise. The Anker have a continuous battery life of nearly 28 hours with ANC on, meaning they'll last through a couple of workdays without recharging. If you're lucky, though, and can find them under $200 when they're on sale, the Sony headphones are a great pickup for their superior ANC and 10-hour longer battery life.

If sound quality is most important, you'll want to check out the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless. These headphones don't have an ANC system like the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless, but you may not need this feature, especially if you plan to listen to your music in a quieter environment. They're the wireless variant of the popular wired studio headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, but with the added benefits of playback controls and a built-in mic.

They have a very neutral sound right out of the box, making them suitable for listening to many different audio genres. Vocals and lead instruments are reproduced with clarity and accuracy as a result. Unlike the ATH-M50x, you can customize these cans using the graphic EQ and presets in their companion app if you prefer a different sound. Plus, these headphones come with some extra sound-focused features—in their app, you can choose between a couple of different codecs, including LDAC and AAC, which are designed for streaming higher-resolution audio over Bluetooth. Add a continuous battery life of over 60 hours, and you have a great pair of headphones for listening to all your favorite albums.

On the other hand, if you value noise cancelling, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus Wireless deliver ANC (even if it's not as effective as the Anker's) and an EQ to tailor the somewhat bassy, warm, and smooth sound profile. That said, their microphone sounds worse, and they feel slightly less comfortable than the Audio-Technica.

The Beats Studio Pro Wireless are a capable workout companion, and the brand is a mainstay found in gyms. These over-ears feel pretty comfortable and have a long battery life, so you won't get caught without your tunes. Their sound is pretty neutral, with a good amount of bass for boom and rumble, natural-sounding mids, and a bright treble register allowing you to hear great detail, but it can get a bit shrill if you're sensitive to high frequencies. If you have an iOS device, you can enable Apple's Spatial Audio to get a more immersive soundtrack to your workout. The headphones' listening modes include ANC and a transparency mode to either reduce distractions in the gym or stay aware of environmental dangers if you're exercising outside.

These don't have an IP rating to protect against water, so don't dump water over your head while wearing them during a marathon. They're also decently stable, but like most over-ears, they're not as stable as dedicated fitness-oriented earbuds, but you can weight train without issues. Their folding frame makes their footprint smaller, and their case adds some protection, so you can easily stow them in your gym bag. Unfortunately, they lack EQ in their companion app, so the only way to access a different sound profile is by using their USB-C connection and cycling through the factory EQ presets accessible through the headphones' physical controls.

If you want more control over the sound of your headphones and a slightly more stable fit, try the JBL Live 660NC Wireless. Although these lack virtual surround sound and USB-C audio connectivity, their app has a customizable equalizer, and they stay put a little better so you can focus without readjusting the cans. They don't cut quite as much noise as the Beats. If you're still unsure, most headphones recommended in our best over-ears for working out article are also available for under $200.

If you don't want to break the bank on a pair of audiophile headphones, consider the Sennheiser HD 560S. These headphones have an open-back design, which helps them create an open, spacious, and natural passive soundstage, making for a more immersive audio experience. Although they lack a bit of low-bass due to this design, these well-built over-ears have a balanced sound profile, so vocals and lead instruments accurately reproduce. Once you achieve a good fit, you'll receive consistent audio delivery, too.

The headphones are comfortable for most people and have a lightweight design with well-padded ear cups. However, their open-back design makes them less versatile than closed-back wired headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO since, by design, they leak noise and let in ambient sound. Closed-backs like the Beyerdynamic are worth considering instead if you want headphones to use in a shared space. Their soundstage doesn't seem as spacious, and sound seems to come from inside your head, but they leak much less audio and reduce some ambient sound. However, they come in 250-ohm, 80-ohm, and 32-ohm variants. The 250-ohm headphones require an amp to properly power, which is an added expense if you don't already have one.

The best wireless headphones under $200 with an on-ear design are the JBL Live 670NC Wireless, which offer a lot of boom for your bucks. If you like the smaller size of on-ears, these have decently comfortable padding and a not-too-tight clamping force. Their button controls have a distinctive feel to differentiate them, so you won't accidentally misfire a command. While their noise cancelling isn't the best, it still tempers sounds like traffic din. The battery is advertised to last 65 hours, and in testing, they lasted a staggering 88 hours, so you won't get caught without audio. In addition, you get multi-device pairing.

If you're a fan of very bassy and bright music, you're in luck because these deliver an intense amount of low-end thump and boom with a bright high-end, although the mids are narrowly scooped, producing an excited sound. If that's not your preferred tuning, you can use the companion app's EQ to adjust to your tastes. If you're unsure about their excited sound profile and want something more balanced without requiring any tuning, the Beats Solo 4 are worth a look. Their straightforward design includes a smooth sound profile with excellent consistency between wears that suits plenty of music genres, though they lack the JBL's active noise cancelling capability.

You have plenty of options if you're looking for great casual-use earbuds for under $200. The best we've tested are the Nothing Ear. These stemmed buds strike a balance of appealing features that suit both tinkerers who want to dive deep with comprehensive graphic EQ and folks who prefer a straightforward listening experience without needing to fuss with settings. Out-of-the-box, they provide a smooth sound profile with a bit of bassy weight that doesn't overwhelm the even mid-range and clear top-end, which works well for most music genres.

The versatile design includes a 7.5-hour battery life on a single charge with the ANC enabled and nearly four extra charges stored in the case. Since the buds come equipped with an IP54 rating against dust and water and an IP55 rating with the case, they can accompany you to the gym, on a rainy commute, or a day at the beach without worrying if they'll hold up. While the mic system isn't the greatest, it still captures your voice clearly enough for calls and does a rather good job of separating your voice from background noise. The onboard ANC has adjustable strengths and filters out a decent amount of background noise like traffic and chatter.

That said, if noise cancelling is more important than call quality or build quality, consider the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. These cost a fraction of the Nothing and boast better ANC. Still, their microphone is a weak point, and they're not as premium or stable to wear. If you want more variety, our list of the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds includes many buds for under $200.