Seven Hi-Fi headphones for less than 200 euros that will leave you speechless
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The result? Today you don't have to spend huge amounts to get a fantastic-sounding headset. The seven models that we have selected in this post demonstrate it. None of them exceeds 200 euros; in fact, we can find some at a "market" price well below this figure. But the important thing is that they all have what it takes to allow us to enjoy our music with guarantees. If you are thinking of renewing your headphones and you are not sure which model you are going to stay with, keep reading. It is possible that in this selection you will find what you are looking for.
Before choosing yours, keep this in mind
All the headphones that we have chosen to prepare this post can be used both for listening to music at home and on the go. In fact, they have a suitable impedance to be "attacked" by the amplification circuitry of a smartphone or tablet without too much trouble. Even so, their volume is generous enough to make them more appetizing to be used at home, although, of course, anyone who doesn't care if they are somewhat bulky can use them wherever they prefer.
The comfortable impedance of these headphones allows them to be "attacked" by a smartphone or tablet without difficulty
Although its price is relatively moderate and these brands have much more expensive models, we should not underestimate them: all the proposals that we suggest are of more than enough quality to satisfy a very wide range of music fans. Limitations? In principle practically none. All of them have a very wide frequency response, a careful construction and first-class ergonomics. Of course, six of the seven models in this selection require a connection cable. The only wireless model is Sony's, though otherwise its philosophy is similar to that of its rivals.
Of course, if our budget allows us to spend more money we have options, from these same manufacturers or others, such as STAX or Audeze, for example, with an even more refined sound. Of course, the latter would force us to use a dedicated headphone amplifier if we want to extract their full potential, which would force us to spend even more money. But if we are looking for headphones with a very good quality/price ratio and global "first division" features, any of these seven models can easily comply. We go with them.
AKG K 272 HD
The headphones of this veteran Austrian company have always stood out, above all, for their careful construction and the high quality of their transducers. And this model is no exception. Like all closed circumaural designs, they effectively isolate the user from surrounding noise, but what makes them different is undoubtedly the extension of their frequency response, which according to AKG spans between 16 and 28 Hz. kHz.
The reference models of this brand tend to be liked more by fans of classical music, jazz and ethnic sounds than by fans of rock. But curiously, these headphones, on paper, stand out for their very remarkable versatility, so they should offer a very convincing sound with any type of music. A detail that shows that AKG takes care of the ergonomics of its proposals, even if they are not reference models: the suspension is designed to exert very little pressure on our ears, so they can be used for hours without causing fatigue (hence the manufacturer also recommends them for DJs).
| AKG K 272 HD | Features |
|---|---|
| Transducer | Electrodynamic |
| Enclosure | Closed |
| Coupling | Circumaural |
| Frequency response | 16 Hz to 28 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 91 dB |
| Input impedance | 55 ohms |
| Price | 190.95 euros at Amazon |
Audio-Technica ATH-A500X
This Japanese company has a legion of followers all over the world, above all, for the transparency and timbre precision of its headphones. All of their high-end models have these features, so we can expect these headphones to excel in these two parameters as well, which would make them suitable for classical, ethnic, and jazz music. However, this doesn't mean that they don't perform well with more "hardcore" styles, such as pop, and, above all, rock. In fact, its 53mm drivers, which are driven by a neodymium magnet, "drop" down to 5Hz, a rather staggering figure for a model of this price, but one that we can take very seriously because this manufacturer is very scrupulous with the specifications it advertises.
Otherwise, these ATH-A500X are not as luxuriously built as the more expensive models of this brand, but we can trust that they are well built and that their ergonomics allow them to be used during long listening sessions without problems. Without a doubt, they are an option that is worth taking into account if their price is not an obstacle.
| Audio-Technica ATH-A500X | Features |
|---|---|
| Transducer | Electrodynamic |
| Enclosure | Closed |
| Coupling | Circumaural |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz to 30 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB |
| Input impedance | 48 ohms |
| Price |
Beyerdynamic DT 660 Edition
This German brand is not as well known by the general public as its compatriot Sennheiser, of which we also propose a model in this selection of "first division" headphones and a reasonable price, but it is highly respected for the high quality of its all your proposals. In fact, although the DT 660 Edition is one of its most affordable options, it has been handcrafted to the same standards as the brand's models that cost four or five times as much.
Unlike most of the alternatives that we propose in this post, these headphones are foldable and the pads can rotate 90 degrees, so they are interesting if we want to take them with us to listen to music from our smartphone. Even so, it is a perfect model to be enjoyed in the privacy of the home. Another interesting detail is that, according to Beyerdynamic, they offer very remarkable ambient noise attenuation (16 dB), which allows them to effectively isolate the person who listens to them in noisy environments.
| Beyerdynamic DT 660 Edition | Features |
|---|---|
| Transducer | Electrodynamic |
| Enclosure | Closed |
| Coupling | Circumaural |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz to 32 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 97 dB |
| Input impedance | 32 ohms |
| Price | 120.81 euros on Amazon |
Grade SR125e
Although it may seem that, due to its design, this model is simpler than the other proposals in this post, nothing could be further from the truth. If Grado headphones stand out for something, it is because of the indisputable quality of their transducers (it uses electrodynamic speakers), and this model incorporates ones that use the same technology as the higher-end proposals of this brand. In any case, its hallmarks are a very high level of detail and a comfortable sound even at considerable sound pressure levels, and nothing seems to indicate that this model lacks these qualities.
Another consequence of the high rigidity of the transducers used by Grado is their ability to deliver intense and controlled bass. But, fortunately, this does not mean that we are going to find a sound in which the low frequencies prevail and distort the musical content to a certain extent (something that happens in models from brands like Beats): its conception is audiophile, and, therefore, in their designs transparency and balance prevail above all.
| Grade SR125e | Features |
|---|---|
| Transducer | Electrodynamic |
| Enclosure | Open |
| Coupling | Supraaural |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz to 20 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 99 .8 dB |
| Input impedance | 32 ohms |
| Price | 162 euros on Amazon |
Sennheiser HD 558
This German brand has some of the most sophisticated headphones on the market today (their HD 800s represent "the end of the road" for almost any music fan). And this model, despite being very reasonably priced, incorporates many of the refinements that we can find in the most expensive headphones from this manufacturer, such as Duofol diaphragms, which minimize unwanted resonances, or E.A.R.
This latest innovation guarantees, according to this brand, that our ears perceive the pressure changes caused by the movement of the diaphragm optimally, which results in a detailed and transparent sound. In any case, from these headphones we can expect impactful bass, smooth treble, and, above all, realistic midrange that gives the human voice a very credible texture. On paper they'll work well with any type of music, but they'll probably shine with styles where the voice is dominant, like vocal jazz or pop.
| Sennheiser HD 558 | Features |
|---|---|
| Transducer | < td>Electrodynamic|
| Cabinet | Open |
| Coupling | Circumaural< /td> |
| Frequency response | 15 Hz to 28 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB |
| Input impedance | 50 ohms |
| Price | 121 euros on Amazon |
Shure SRH840
The aesthetics of these headphones allows us to guess what we are going to find. And it is that its sobriety and "pro" aspect reveal that Shure has thought of sound engineers above all, but this should not be a problem for someone who wants to use them at home. Quite the opposite. If we are looking for transparency, a wide frequency response and a very detailed sound, this is one of the brands that is worth paying attention to.
Like the other models we have selected in this post, the SRH840 have an affordable impedance for portable devices, although due to their size they seem more suitable for use at home and not on the go. In any case, I have tried other Shure models, and they all have something important in common: it is one of the brands that offers the most comfort. For this reason, if you intend to do very long listening sessions, keep these headphones in mind. It is very unlikely that you will be disappointed.
| Shure SRH840 | Features |
|---|---|
| Transducer | Electrodynamic |
| Enclosure | Closed |
| Coupling | Circumaural |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz to 25 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB |
| Input impedance | 44 ohms |
| Price | 169 0.04 euros at Amazon |
Sony MDR-XB950BT
The latest headphones that we propose in this selection are very appetizing if you prefer to do without cables. And it is that this Sony model incorporates Bluetooth and NFC connectivity, which allows us to clearly intuit that it has been designed, above all, to listen to the music from our smartphones and tablets through it. However, it is evident that this brand has taken great care in this model; in fact, their electronic bass boost allows these headphones to “drop” down to 3Hz, a frequency we can't hear, but can feel.
The presence of a battery-powered DSP chip, which is responsible for reinforcing the bass, makes this model attractive for listening to rock, electronic or pop music, although this does not mean that it is not also convincing with classical or jazz. An interesting note: its autonomy, according to Sony, reaches 20 hours, a figure that is not bad. For all that I have mentioned, if you prefer to go without cables and the price of this model suits you, keep that in mind before choosing your next headphones.
| Sony MDR-XB950BT | Features |
|---|---|
| Transducer | Electrodynamic |
| Enclosure | Closed |
| Coupling | Circumaural |
| Frequency response | 3 Hz to 28 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB |
| Input impedance | Irrelevant (they are wireless) |
| Price | 158 euros on Amazon |
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Audio Technica ATH-A500X Hi-Fi Headphones (with 3.5mm jack plug), Black
Beyerdynamic DT 660 Edition 2007 - Open-back headphones, gray
Grado SR125e Prestige Series Open-Back Headphones, Black
Sennheiser HD 558 Open-Back Headphones, Black
Sony MDR-XB950BT - Bluetooth Headphones with Extra Bass, black
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