#10 Best over ear headphones under $100 in 2018 that you can buy right now. Don’t let the cheap price tag fool you because these over-ear headphones are serious about sound quality!
There are dozens of things that can ruin your music experience. But the one that tops the list is … you guessed it, bad headphones.
Maybe the sound quality sucks or you can’t feel the bass. Or the design hurts your ears after a few minutes of use. Whatever the reason, the truth is bad headphones can ruin your whole day.
Now, buying a pair of over-ear headphones from Amazon is as easy as searching “HeadPhones” and clicking the big orange “Buy Now!” button. But how do you decide which one among thousands of headphones you see is the best?
Is it the one with that “noise cancellation” feature? The one that’s “wireless“. Or is it the one that says “120 hz” something? So confusing!
If you are looking to buy over ear headphones under $100? Then you are in for a treat. Because in this article, we have compiled the 10 best over-ear headphones that you can buy for less than a $100. And yes, we have something for everyone!
Top 10 Over-Ear Headphones Comparison
All of the headphones we review come with great features that will offer you a lovable, immersive music experience. So, even if you were to pick one of them being blindfolded, which we do not recommend, you will still be happy with what you receive.
Here’s a quick overview and comparison table of the top 10 best cheap over-ear headphones under $100 in 2018 that we will take a closer look at on this page.
1. TaoTronics Headphones
Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100 with Noise Cancellation & Great Battery Life
- Wireless: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: Yes
- Battery Life: 25 Hours
TaoTronics Headphones Review 2018
- A cool design that is comfortable on the ears.
- Big enough Ear Cups to offer an immersive music experience.
- Comes with a backup AUX for when the battery runs out.
- Great bass.
- The size of these headphones makes it a little difficult to carry.
The design looks great and offers full comfort. Your ears won’t feel a thing even if you spend hours listening to music on these headphones.
The only problem with these headphones is the size. It’s not too big, relax! But if the size was just a little bit smaller, these would be even more portable.
2. Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Headphones
Best Professional Monitor Over-Ear Headphones For DJs Under $100
- Wireless: No
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: 3m
- Collapsible: No
- Battery Life: Not Applicable
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Headphones Review 2018
- A durable body with a design that makes you look like a professional music producer.
- Comes with a 6.3 mm snap-on adaptor.
- A long 3m cable offers a lot of distance.
- The cable is 3m long. In many cases, it can be way too long.
- No noise cancellation.
Audio Technica is long known in the Music industry and is one of the most trusted brands. The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are built for the professionals but with consumers in mind. Whether you are a music lover or produce music, these headphones will work great. It comes with a 6.3mm snap-on adaptor.
If you are looking for headphones with good noise cancellation, these aren’t the best choice. While they will naturally reduce noise because of the ear-covering design, you won’t get any electronically enhanced noise cancellation.
3. Skullcandy Hesh 2 Headphones
The Best Music Experience Money Can Buy For Less Than $100
- Wireless: No
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: No
- Battery Life: 15 Hours
Skullcandy Hesh 2 Headphones Review 2018
- Comes with a backup AUX cable if your battery runs out or you are just old school.
- Big enough comfortable leather ear-cushions.
- Trendy design that looks really cool.
- Powerful Bass to help you immerse in your music.
- No noise cancellation even for such a high price.
- A non-foldable design makes it difficult to carry.
SkullCandy is a brand that needs no introduction. Their headphones are a cross between cool, trendy design and amazing comfort. These bluetooth headphones are one of the best choices for a music lover.
The Skullcandy Hesh 2 headphones come with a 15 hour battery life that is more than you will probably hear in one day. And if you think 15 hour battery life is not enough, these headphones come with a backup AUX cable. Even when your headphones are out of battery, you can still enjoy your music by connecting the backup AUX cord.
The one thing that these headphones lack is active noise cancellation. While the leather ear cups are big enough to naturally block some noise, they won’t block all the noise. For such a high price, no active noise cancellation is a kind of a deal breaker.
4. Avantree AuditionPro Headphones
Best Battery Life Over-Ear Headphones Under $100
![Avantree 40 hr Wireless Bluetooth 4.1 Over-the-Ear Foldable Headphones Headset with Mic, APTX LOW LATENCY Fast Audio for TV PC Computer Phone, with NFC, Wired mode - Audition Pro [2-Year Warranty]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CPRC%2BL6VL.jpg)
- Wireless: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: Yes
- Battery Life: 40 Hours
Avantree AuditionPro Headphones Review 2018
- No other headphones on this list offer a battery life better than these headphones.
- Come with a backup AUX cable for when the battery dies.
- A classic design that looks great on everyone.
- Lowest latency of all the headphones on this list.
- You can connect this device to two phones simultaneously.
- No noise cancellation even for such a high price.
- The links that hold the headphone cups are easily breakable if you handle carelessly.
The 40 hour battery life allows you to enjoy your music for days on end with just one full recharge of the batter. And even if you run out of battery, you can always connect the backup AUX cord to keep enjoying your music even without the battery.
The links that hold the headphones might break easily if you don’t handle with care. And just like SkullCandy Hesh 2, these headphones don’t come with active noise cancellation which is another big con for such a high price.
5. Owlee Artus Premium Headphones
Best Headphones Under $100 For People On The Go
- Wireless: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: Yes
- Battery Life: 9 Hours
Owlee Artus Premium Headphones Review 2018
- Offers hands-free Mic and Calling support.
- Comes with a backup AUX cable for when the battery dies.
- A collapsible design that looks trendy and cool.
- Comfortable leather earcups.
- The second lowest battery life on this list.
- No noise cancellation even for such a high price.
The Owlee Artus Premium headphones offer a trendy design that looks cool but offers enough comfort for you to enjoy your music for hours.
If you like to take your music with you wherever you go, these headphones are one of the best choices out there. These headphones offer everything you could ask for in super-portable headphones. They come with a collapsible design that offers leather ear cups that are big enough to cover average sized ears and comfortable enough to let you enjoy your music for hours.
One thing that I really don’t like about these headphones is that they don’t offer noise cancellation for such a high price. These headphones are the highest priced headphones on this list. Their battery life is amongst the lowest, actually the second lowest, on this list. For such a premium price one would expect much more in terms of battery life.
6. Mpow Thor Headphones
Best Portable Over-Ear Headphones Under $100
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: Yes
- Battery Life: 8 Hours
Mpow Thor Headphones Review 2018
- A minimal design that is compact enough to carry around and cool enough to look trendy.
- Comes with hands-free mic and playback control buttons.
- No noise cancellation.
- Only 8 hours of battery life.
Unlike Owlee Artus, the Mpow Thor headphones offer a compact design that is very easy to carry with you. And unlike all the wireless headphones on this list, these offer the worst battery life, only 8 hours.
These headphones come with a pouch that makes it easy to carry around. You get 8 hours of battery life but you also get a backup AUX cord you can use once you drain the battery.
While there is no active noise cancellation, these headphones do come with basic noise cancellation technology. It’s not the best but works fine.
7. Mpow 059 Headphones
Super-Portable Wireless Headphones With a Trendy Design Under $100
- Wireless: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: Yes
- Battery Life: 20 Hours
Mpow 059 Headphones Review 2018
- A trendy design that looks cool but is portable at the same time.
- Comes with a backup AUX cord so you can enjoy your music even when the battery runs out.
- Support for hands-free calling and built-in mic.
- Comes with playback controls on the side.
- No active noise cancellation.
These trendy-looking headphones are not only super-comfortable but also super-portable. Unlike the Mpow Thor, the Mpow 059 headphones offer a better battery life and a trendy-looking design.
These headphones come with 20 hours of battery life and a backup AUX cord so you can enjoy your music without worrying about the battery.
For such an affordable price, you get hands-free calling and a built-in mic. You also get built-in playback control so you don’t have to pull your phone out every time you need to change music.
These headphones do come with basic noise cancellation technology but it is not as good as real active noise cancellation.
8. Mpow H5 Headphones
Best Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones Under $100
- Wireless: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: Yes
- Battery Life: 18 Hours
Mpow H5 Headphones Review 2018
- Big ear cups and active noise cancellation offer a truly immersive music experience.
- Comes with backup AUX cable.
- Comes with support for Hands-free calling and mic.
- Offers playback controls accessible right from the ear cups.
- The big ear cups look a bit weird and can make it a bit difficult to carry around.
If you want an immersive music experience, the Mpow H5 are the perfect headphones. They not only come with active noise cancellation but also with ear cups more than big enough to cover your ears.
These headphones are portable and really easy to carry around. One of the things we don’t like about the design of these headphones is the size of the ear cups. It is big and can look a bit weird.
9. Hiearcool L-1 Headphones
Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones With a Cool Design Under $100
- Wireless: Yes
- Noise Cancellation: Yes
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Applicable
- Collapsible: Yes
- Battery Life: Not Available
Hiearcool L-1 Headphones Review 2018
- Offers a trendy design that looks great and is comfortable on the ears.
- Comes with backup AUX cable.
- Comes with support for Hands-free calling and mic.
- The size is a little big to carry around.
Most of the headphones on this list either offer a great design or great features. But the Hiearcool L-1 headphones offer both a trendy, comfortable design, active noise cancellation and other great features.
These headphones might be a little big to carry around but offer a great music experience for any music lover. The ear cups are big enough to cover your ears.
10. Tate & Bauer HD 900R Headphones
The Best Headphones For A Comfortable, Immersive Music Experience
- Wireless: No
- Noise Cancellation: No
- Driver Size: 40mm
- Cable Length: Not Available
- Collapsible: No
- Battery Life: Not Applicable
Tate & Bauer HD 900R Headphones Review 2018
- Comes with Electrostatz technology not available in any other headphones in this price range.
- Headphones are big enough to cover your ears and offer an immersive music experience.
- No noise cancellation.
- The design isn’t collapsible making it less portable.
The Tate & Bauer HD 900R headphones are designed to bring high-end technology to everyday users. These headphones come with Hybrid Electrostatz technology that is yet to be seen in any other headphones in similar price range.
These headphones are big enough to cover your ears and offer a great immersive music experience. If you like spending hours immersed in your music, these headphones are made for you.
While these headphones don’t offer active noise cancellation, the ear cups are big enough to block a lot of noise from the outside.
Over-Ear Headphone Buyer’s Guide
Nowadays, the streets are full of people sporting over-ear headphones. We can’t really blame them; the sound they offer is out of this world. Everyone has a set of standard earbuds they take with them on the road – but nothing compares to the joy people feel when they put those headphones on. If you want a great way to simulate a live concert, that would definitely be with the help of the headphones.
However, there are many options for you to choose from. And considering that all of them are fairly expensive, it can be rather difficult to choose the lesser of two evils. If the temptation is high, the information in this over-ear headphone buyer’s guide will help you make a calculated choice.
What Are Over-Ear Headphones?
Like their name goes, they are headphones that go over your ears – literally. Known commonly as full-sized or circumaural headphones, they are the traditional items that feature ear pads going over and around your ear. If you ever went into a musical studio or seen a DJ playing with their tools, you most likely also saw these types or earphones.
Over-ear earphones can have either a close or an open cup, depending on the sound insulation that you are going for. Generally, they are preferred by the ones that love getting a little bit of bass from their music – they provide superior sound quality and a great comfort as compared to earbuds.
Over-Ear Headphones vs. On-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones and on-ear ones are fairly similar in style, with just a few slight differences. Still, making the choice between them can be rather difficult, so let’s see what they both have to offer.
Sound Quality
Over-ear headphones are mostly known for the fact that they provide some of the highest-quality sounds ever. Considering that there is a decent amount of room between your ear and the pads of the earphones, you get great acoustics – leading to an incredible bass. This is mostly why most audio studios use over-ear headphones to record songs or hear tunes.
On-ear headphones are virtually a mini-sized version of the over-ear. Only instead of encompassing your entire ear, it only covers the top part – where your ear canal is. The ear pads are much smaller, which means that the speakers are also reduced in size.
Generally, the audio quality of the on-ear headphone will depend on the design and the brand. They have high-potential – and if you go for a high-quality set, the chances are that you will get high-fidelity sound that almost rivals with over-ear headphones.
Comfort
The comfort of a set of earphones generally depends on their construction. Since you don’t have to stick them in your ear, on-ear and over-ear headphones are definitely more comfortable than earbuds.
On the other hand, there is a great difference between over-ear and on-ear headphones when it comes to seasonal comfort. Since over-ears are rather large, wearing them in the warm season will literally be like wearing earmuffs in summer. Since on-ears are much smaller, the heat buildup is not that high.
The materials from which the cups were made can also make a great difference. For instance, if you go for leather cup covers, they might provide a better fit – but they will make the headphones stick uncomfortably to your face when it’s warm.
Faux leather is generally more breathable, and there are also several other fabric types that you might want to consider. In most cases, the comfort is determined by the breathability of the cups.
Design
When it comes to design, there are several kinds of earphones that you can go for – and that applies to both on-ear and over-ear types. You may go for earphones with a closed back design that isolates any sound coming from the exterior, or you may go for the ones with an open back design that allows surrounding noise to come inside.
Also, their construction is not entirely that different. Everything stands in the size of the ear cups. Over-ears are larger and cover the whole ear, plus some of the area around it. On-ear headphones are only large enough to cover most of your ear – sometimes not even going over the earlobe.
Portability is also a matter of importance when it comes to choosing the design of headphones. While none of these two options are as portable as a pair of earbuds, the reduced size of the on-ear headphones makes them easier to carry around.
Since over-ears are larger, they are much more difficult to store – but it doesn’t mean they are impossible to carry around with you.
Features and Types of Over-Ear Headphones
Now you may think that all over-ear headphones are the same – but they are not.
They come in different types, with various features, making them perfect for different types of people. Depending on your comfort level, here are the different features and types of over-ear headphones that you might want to consider:
Wired Over-Ear Headphones
Wired over-ear headphones are the ones that you will generally see at almost every store. These traditional headphones usually have a jack that you can connect to a smartphone – or even both of them if it also has a microphone option. They are generally the least expensive of the batch.
Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
Wireless over-ear headphones are very popular nowadays. Using radio or infrared technology to deliver audio signals from your device to your headphones, these are a great option when you don’t want to trip over your cables each time you want to move from your spot. They are generally powered by batteries, and they have a wide range of picking up sounds waves.
Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones
Bluetooth headphones may be called wireless, but not every wireless device may be called Bluetooth. Unlike regular wireless, Bluetooth only picks up the frequencies within a short range. It’s mostly just a good option when you want to connect it to a phone or a computer nearby.
The problem with Bluetooth (and most wireless devices, for that matter) is that the sound waves are generally compressed when they’re picked up by the signal – which is why the sound quality may be compromised. New models saw an improvement in sound technology, but they still can’t be compared to the best wired pair.
Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones
Noise canceling earphones have a microphone installed that will listen to any incoming sound from your surroundings. After the sound wave has been detected, it will create an inverse one that will cancel out the first.
For example, if the motor of a plane sends a +1 sound wave, the headphones will send a -1 so that your ears hear 0 (in other words, nothing).
These types of headphones usually work best when it comes to noises such as the motor of an engine or a car – meaning, the low-droning ones. A midrange one, such as a voice, will not be affected – so you’ll still hear Joe talking next to you unless you turn the music up REALLY high.
Noise Isolating Over-Ear Headphones
Unlike noise-canceling headphones that “hear” the sound but cancel it out, noise-isolating earphones completely block any sounds from coming in.
Over-ear headphones are usually the best when it comes to isolating the sound – but that usually depends on the brand. The best noise isolating over-ear headphones will prevent any sound from coming in – even if the music has been turned down.
DJ Style Over-Ear Headphones
DJ style over-ear headphones are probably the most expensive of the batch, simply because they were made to be high-quality and they can be connected to everything.
They need to be comfortable enough to be worn for longer sessions but also insulate enough so that the DJ doesn’t come out with hearing damage after a party.
Water/Sweat Resistant Over-Ear Headphones
Every headphone will have a certain waterproof rating, going from IPX0 to IPX8. If the headphones are an IPX0, you have no water resistance. On the other hand, if it’s an IPX8, you can even submerge them in one meter of water, and they will still be ok. The higher the rating goes, the more resistant your device will be to water.
Keep in mind that water resistance and waterproofing are two completely different matters. If a device is water resistant, then it will resist splashes of water or sweat – but not for a prolonged time – and it will have to be dried immediately. With a waterproof unit, there’s no rush.
Generally, a set of over-ear headphones is considered sweat-proof when it reaches an IPX4 rating, while the water-resistance starts with an IPX5. The higher it goes, the more protected it will be.
Tangle-Free Cord Over-Ear Headphones
Some headphones use special cords and cases that are difficult to tangle – and if they do tangle, they are easy to untangle. This way, you won’t be spending half an hour trying to unknot your headphones – which seem like they went out of their way to make your life miserable.
Open Back Over-Ear Headphones
The open-back option is a feature that may be present on every type of headphones. It’s a feature that blocks certain low-level sounds such as engines or wind but still lets elements such as voices be heard.
Close Back Over-Ear Headphones
Close back over-ear headphones offer much better insulating properties than open back. They are perfect for those who want to hear only the sound of music – without hearing anything else from the background.
Pros and Cons of Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones seem like the most excellent choice for many people, and the most avid users cannot imagine finding something bad in them. However, what seems like something great for you might not apply to the person sitting next to you – so here are some pros and cons that you might want to keep in mind:
- Pure sound quality
- High ability to isolate or muffle down exterior sounds
- Generally packed with high-end features such as Bluetooth
- Very comfortable to wear
- Takes up a lot of space
- Can make your ears warm
- More expensive compared to earbuds
Over-Ear headphones vs. On-Ear headphones vs. Earbuds
Over-Ear Headphones  | On-Ear Headphones  | Earbuds (In-Ear) | |
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Before deciding on a pair of over-ear headphones, think about the pros and cons and decide whether they are a good fit for you or not.
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Over-Ear Headphones
The best over-ear headphones can have different features, depending on your lifestyle and preferences. Here are some factors that you might want to consider before emptying your pockets.
- Activity Level: Will you be wearing them at home, or do you plan on taking them on a jog with you. If you’ll be wearing them in the comfort of your own home, a set of traditional over-ear headphones will do just fine for you. On the other hand, if you want to take them jogging with you, then a pair of sweat-proof headphones may be a more suitable choice for you.
- Purpose: What do you plan on listening to with these earphones? If you need them just to listen to music, then you may want a set that offers superior output. On the other hand, if you want to use them when you are playing games or watching a movie, a set featuring surround-sound might be a more satisfying choice.
- Wired vs. Wireless: If you are one to be bothered by cables, then a wireless option is much better for you. However, since these headphones compress the sound waves, you might want to consider buying wired ones if you want superior sound quality.
- Noise Canceling/Isolating: Some people are bothered by outside noises – so if you just want to hear the music, go for background-isolating headphones. On the other hand, if you still want to hear the voice of people talking next to you, then you might want to get a set of noise-canceling ones.
Once you have decided on these factors, you are ready to purchase a suitable set of over-ear headphones.
Final Thoughts
Over-ear headphones will give you the best sound quality and comfort that you can ask for. As long as you are willing to sacrifice portability and a little bit of extra cash, these are the perfect match for you.
Hopefully, the information that we brought together in this guide has helped you narrow down your choices. All you have to do now is find the right pair of over-ear headphone for your needs.
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Product information and prices was last updated on 2018-12-16 from Amazon Product Advertising API
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