The 6 Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100 - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best over-ear headphones under $100 for casual use that we've tested so far are the Mixcder E9. These decently well-built headphones are very comfortable, making them ideal for long listening sessions. With an over 18-hour battery life, you can also use them when you're on the go.

Thanks to their accurate, well-balanced sound profile, these headphones are ideal for a variety of music genres. There's even a bit of extra punch in the low-bass, which should please fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. They also have an active noise cancelling feature, though it doesn't block out background noise as well as some of the other headphones we've tested.

On the downside, these headphones have a mediocre microphone performance, so they may not be ideal for phone calls. Their build also feels a bit plasticky, though they have a more premium feel than some of the other models in this price range. That being said, these versatile headphones have a good price-to-performance ratio that ranks them among the best budget wireless headphones we've tested.

The best over-ear headphones under $100 for audiophiles we've tested so far are the Philips SHP9500. They have an outstandingly well-balanced sound profile that rivals what some of the most premium audiophile headphones have to offer. They're also remarkably comfortable, with a lightweight design that's perfect for long listening sessions.

These wired headphones deliver exceptional audio fidelity at a very reasonable price. They reproduce instruments and vocals with great detail and clarity, without sounding overly sharp or harsh. They also provide a good amount of warmth and fullness and have an open, spacious soundstage. However, like most open-back headphones, they lack quite a bit of thump and rumble, so they won't be ideal for listening to EDM or hip-hop.

While the large, spacious ear cups of these headphones give your ears lots of comfortable breathing room, their padding is covered with a rather rough material. It's unlikely to be a dealbreaker for most people, but it doesn't feel as pleasant on the skin as the velour fabric that's more common on higher-end models. That said, they still provide the best value we've seen for audiophiles on a budget, and are very easy to recommend overall.

The best over-ear headphones under $100 for gaming that we've tested so far are the Logitech G533. These wireless gaming headphones are compatible with either your PC or PS4 and will let you game from the comfort of your couch without having to worry about a long cable dragging everywhere. They feel well-built, are comfortable, and provide good value for the price.

Out-of-the-box, they have a very well-balanced sound profile that lends itself well to all kinds of video game soundtracks and effects. Some people might find they lack a bit of bass by default, especially if you wear glasses, but this can be corrected with the graphic EQ in the Logitech G HUB software. You can also activate their surround sound effects, adjust mic and volume levels, and even customize their multifunction button. Their 17-hour battery life is great, and, while they take quite a while to charge, you can still use them while charging.

Unfortunately, these wireless gaming headphones don't have an audio jack, so they can't be used wired with a regular audio cable. This also means they aren't compatible with the Xbox One at all. Also, while their mic still sounds decent, it doesn't perform as well as wired models, such as the Logitech G433 Gaming Headset. That said, the G533 still provide great value for the price, especially considering the wireless freedom they deliver.