The 5 Best Earbuds And Headphones Under $20 - Spring 2020
Reviews

The best earbuds under $20 we've tested so far are the Skullcandy Jib. These Bluetooth in-ears have a very compact earbud design which makes them fairly comfortable, even for longer listening sessions. Their simple in-line remote is easy-to-use and they're available in a variety of different color options.

These wireless earbuds have tons of bass, which makes them very well-suited to fans of bass-heavy EDM like dubstep or techno. While they can sound pretty boomy, they still reproduce vocals and instruments remarkably accurately, so they can still be a decent choice for pop or rock music. Their build quality is also pretty mediocre, but for cheap wireless earbuds, it's not bad.

Unfortunately, their battery life is pretty short, at just under 6 hours, and they take around 2 hours to charge. In addition, they only have call/music controls, so you need to adjust the volume directly on your phone. If you can afford just a few dollars more, the Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019 are much better earbuds overall. However, if you need to stick under $20, then it's hard to beat the Jib.

The best headphones under $20 we've tested so far are the Koss UR20. They have a comfortable, lightweight design and most people should find they have a decently well-balanced sound profile.

Their retro headband design distributes pressure well across the top of your head and they have large ear cups to fit around all different shapes and sizes of ears. They fit rather loosely, though, which can affect the way they sound. Some people find they get more, or less, bass with these headphones, but in general, they tend to sound mostly neutral overall.

These headphones do overemphasis the mid-range quite a bit, which can make them sound boxy, and they lack clarity and detail in the higher frequencies. That said, their sound isn't bad overall, especially for the price. They're not the most portable option, however, and their build quality is quite poor. If you're looking to stay under $20, though, they're a decent over-ear option for neutral listening.

The best on-ear headphones under $20 we've tested so far are the Koss KSC75. They have a unique clip-on design that's very lightweight and ensures a stable, secure fit without putting any pressure across the top of your head. It also makes them very portable and breathable, so they're not bad if you're looking for something affordable to wear while running but don't like earbuds.

These inexpensive on-ears have a similar sound profile to the popular, yet more expensive, Koss Porta Pro KTC. The KSC75 have a bit less bass, but they share the same overall bright, yet still fairly neutral sound. This makes them very well-suited to podcasts or audiobooks. Since they have an open-back design, they also sound quite spacious.

Unfortunately, the ear-clip design isn't the most comfortable. Their ear-hooks stop feeling as intrusive once you've had them on for a while, but if you wear glasses, it doesn't get much better. They also don't isolate any ambient noise at all. While this can actually be a good thing if you're jogging around the neighborhood, they're not suitable for wearing on the bus, especially since they leak a lot of sound.