While most companies' flagship headphones can cost upwards of $300, you can still get a great, well-rounded pair for less. For under $200, you can get a wide range of headphones, from Bluetooth over-ears to truly wireless in-ears, and an assortment of features like active noise cancelling (ANC), IP ratings for water resistance, or dedicated companion apps with EQ adjustments. The headphones in this list are well-built, have good audio reproduction, and provide good value for their price.
We've tested over 850 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones and earbuds under $200 you can buy. See our picks for the best wireless headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200, and the best headphones.
Quick Look
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Best Headphones Under $200
Peaks/Dips6.3Noise Isolation - Full Range8.9Comfort7.5Battery8.7Sports And Fitness7.0Travel7.8See all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)7.3The 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. They're also somewhat prone to breakage around the hinges, so it's best to use them gently. 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.
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Best-Sounding Wireless Headphones Under $200
Sound Profile8.1Peaks/Dips7.9Noise Isolation - Full Range7.5Comfort7.0Battery9.4Sports/Fitness7.3See all our test resultsCommute/Travel7.4If sound quality ranks high on your list of must-haves, but you still want the convenience of Bluetooth, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus are the best headphones under $200 that let you go cable-free with good sound. Their noise isolation isn't as effective as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless', but the Sennheiser cans make up for it with their sound, if you're willing to compromise on ANC a bit. These over-ears provide a smooth tuning with a touch of low-end oomph by default, resulting in full bass, balanced mids, and slightly warm yet even treble. While your personal preferences determine whether you like a sound profile or not, a smooth response makes it easier to adjust the app's graphic EQ to your taste.
To deliver your audio, you have a choice of high-quality codecs, including the aptX Adaptive suite and AAC, which is optimized for Apple users, alongside multi-pairing with a second Bluetooth device. Additionally, using the low-latency aptX codec enables you to watch movies with A/V without compromising the frequency response. Their control scheme is intuitive, and their 56-hour battery life is fantastic. While their main appeal may be the wireless Bluetooth design, you can also use these headphones with either an analog cable or a USB-C cable for lossless audio listening, making them a versatile pick.
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Best Headphones For Working Out
Peaks/Dips8.1Noise Isolation - Full Range8.3Comfort7.0Battery8.7Sports And Fitness7.1Travel7.6See all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)5.2The Beats Studio Pro Wireless are a capable workout companion, and the brand is a mainstay found in gyms. These over-ears feel comfortable and have a long battery life, so you won't get caught without your tunes. Their sound profile is balanced, featuring a good amount of bass for boom and rumble, natural-sounding mids, and a bright treble register that allows you to hear great detail. However, it can become 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 while 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 provides additional protection, allowing you to 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. Although these lack virtual surround sound and USB-C audio connectivity, their app features a customizable equalizer, and they stay in place a little better, allowing you to focus without needing to readjust the cans. They don't cut quite as much noise as the Beats.
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Best Audiophile Headphones Under $200
Peaks/Dips7.5Noise Isolation - Full Range1.4Comfort8.0Sports And Fitness6.2See all our test resultsTravel4.9If 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 naturally 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 are accurately reproduced. Once you achieve a good fit, you'll also receive consistent audio delivery.
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, such as the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, as they, by design, leak noise and let in ambient sound. Closed-back headphones, like the Beyerdynamic, are worth considering if you want headphones for use in a shared space. 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 be properly powered, which is an added expense if you don't already have one.
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Best Wireless On-Ear Headphones Under $200
Sound Profile8.6Peaks/Dips7.2Noise Isolation - Full Range6.1Comfort7.0Battery9.1Sports/Fitness7.0See all our test resultsCommute/Travel7.1The best wireless headphones under $200 with an on-ear design are the JBL Live 670NC Wireless, which offer a lot of bang for your buck. If you prefer the smaller size of on-ear headphones, these offer 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 the sounds of traffic. 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. Additionally, you get multi-device pairing.
If you're a fan of very bassy and bright music, you're in luck, as these deliver an intense amount of low-end thump and boom with a bright high-end. Although the mids are narrowly scooped, this produces 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.
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Best Earbuds Under $200
Peaks/Dips7.9Noise Isolation - Full Range7.4Comfort7.5Battery6.6Sports And Fitness8.0Travel7.6See all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)7.0You 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 features a 7.5-hour battery life on a single charge with ANC enabled, along with 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, such as traffic and chatter, but it's not the best.
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.
Notable Mentions
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FIIO FT1 Pro:
The FIIO FT1 Pro are open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD560S with a flat response. These planar magnetic headphones deliver a touch more bass boom than the Sennheiser, but they're less consistent-sounding between people with different traits.
See our review -
HiFiMan HE400se:
The HiFiMan HE400se are a good entry into the world of planar magnetic drivers in audiophile headphones. These open-back headphones are great for spacious and immersive audio, although they roll off a bit more bass than the Sennheiser HD 560S.
See our review -
JBL Live 460NC Wireless:
The JBL Live 460NC Wireless are a good option if you want a less excited sound than the JBL Live 670NC Wireless. They boast a more balanced frequency response, EQ, and similar ANC performance, but their padding is a bit less plush, and they have a notably shorter battery life of about 30 hours.
See our review -
Philips SHP9600:
The Philips SHP9600 are open-back audiophile headphones with a very comfortable design and a warm sound profile. However, they're less stable on your head than the Sennheiser HD 560S, meaning they may not be the best choice for listeners who prefer to move with their music.
See our review -
Technics EAH-AZ80:
The Technics EAH-AZ80 are a great option if you prefer touch controls to the Nothing Ear's squeeze stems. Their ANC is more powerful, but their mic system struggles more with background noise rejection than the Nothing.
See our review
Recent Updates
Dec 04, 2025:
This article has been updated to replace the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 with the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus for the 'Best Sound' pick. The Notable Mentions have been updated to include the FIIO FT1 Pro and Technics EAH-AZ80. Otherwise, minor text edits and formatting changes were made.
Mar 14, 2025:
This article's updates include replacing the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 with the Nothing Ear due to pricing, adding the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus as an alternative to the Audio-Technia ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless for people who want noise cancelling, adding the Beats Solo 4 for those who don't want ANC as an alternative to the JBL Live 670NC, and moving the JBL Live 460NC to Notable Mentions.
Dec 12, 2024:
We've updated a couple of our picks and improved the text. The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 replace the Jabra Elite 10 as the top earbuds under $200 for their improved ANC and microphone quality. Meanwhile, the Sennheiser HD 560S replace the Philips Fidelio X2HR as our best audiophile headphones under $200 thanks to their superior control of their sound profile.
Aug 29, 2024: The Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless are our new top earbud pick because their mic performs better than the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, and they have a more balanced sound by default. We've kept the Anker as an alternative for anyone looking to save money without compromising too much on performance. We also added the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless as an alternative to our main pick, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. The Sony have a better build quality and mic, but we don't think the added cost is worth it for most people.
May 24, 2024: The Beats Studio Pro Wireless were added as the workout pick with the JBL Live 660NC Wireless mentioned, and the JBL Live 670NC Wireless were added as the on-ear pick with the JBL Live 460NC Wireless as an alternative. The Razer Opus Wireless 2020 were added as an alternative to the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best wired and best wireless headphones under $200 to buy for most people. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find in the US or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no ideal headphones. Personal tastes, preferences, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.