Around $150 to $200, you get noise canceling that comes close to flagships, batteries that last for days, and wired studio and planar headphones that professionals trust. These eight picks, mostly chosen from RTINGS' lab tests and all sold new on Amazon, cover travel, bass, gaming, calls, recording, music at home, and earbuds.
The best headphones under $200 are the Anker Soundcore Space 2 (~$130): impressive noise canceling, memory foam comfort, LDAC, and about 42 hours of battery.
For bass you can feel, get the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 (~$198). For gaming, the Logitech G733 (~$130), and for calls, the JBL Tune 760NC (~$145). For recording, the Sony MDR-7506 (~$113), and for music at home, the planar HiFiMan HE400se (~$109).
Around $150 to $200 is the sweet spot for headphones. You get noise canceling that comes close to flagships, batteries that last for days, better microphones and builds than budget models, and, if you go wired, studio and audiophile headphones that professionals have trusted for decades.
Our picks are mostly based on RTINGS' lab tests of headphones under $200, and every pick is sold new on Amazon. RTINGS' top wireless pick, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45, is sold only refurbished on Amazon, so we went with its newer sibling, the Space 2. We also left out the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus, Nothing Headphone (a), JBL Live 780NC, and Sennheiser HD 560S, because they're frequently returned on Amazon. Prices change often.
| Headphones | Type | Noise canceling | Battery (RTINGS) | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker Soundcore Space 2 | Wireless over-ear | Yes, impressive | About 42 hours | Most people | ~$130 |
| Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 | Wireless over-ear | Yes, basic | Up to 50 hours (Skullcandy) | Bass lovers | ~$198 |
| Logitech G733 LIGHTSPEED | Wireless gaming | No | Up to 29 hours (Logitech) | Gaming | ~$130 |
| JBL Tune 760NC | Wireless over-ear | Yes, basic | Over 40 hours | Calls | ~$145 |
| Sony MDR-7506 | Wired closed-back | No | None needed | Editing, podcasting | ~$113 |
| Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO | Wired closed-back | No | None needed | Home studio, durability | ~$200 |
| HiFiMan HE400se | Wired open-back planar | No | None needed | Music at home | ~$109 |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Wireless earbuds | Yes, excellent | About 9 hours, plus case | Earbuds, iPhone | ~$199 |
Mid-range noise canceling and comfort for well under $200. The Space 2 use memory foam in the headband and earpads, and RTINGS found them very comfortable, with little clamping force. Their noise canceling handles the swirl of a busy street and the rumble of jet engines well, and the battery lasted about 42 hours in RTINGS' test, enough for the longest trips.
Worth knowing: they fold inward but not flat, and come with only a basic pouch. There's no water-resistance rating, Bluetooth lag is too high for gaming, and reviewers suggest tweaking the app's EQ to get the best sound.
Check Space 2 price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.Bass you can feel. Skullcandy's adjustable haptic bass makes the earcups rumble along with kick drums and explosions, and you can turn it up, down, or off. They add noise canceling and two-device pairing, and Skullcandy rates the battery at up to 50 hours with noise canceling on.
Worth knowing: reviewers found the noise canceling decent on low rumble but weak on voices and higher-pitched sounds, and there's no water-resistance rating. RTINGS hasn't tested them. For stronger noise canceling, get the Space 2.
Check Crusher ANC 2 price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.Lightweight, comfortable gaming headphones with low latency. RTINGS found the G733 have a well-balanced default sound that suits all kinds of games, and Logitech's G HUB software offers a remarkable number of options for sound, surround, controls, and lighting. The boom mic makes your voice clear, if not very natural.
Worth knowing: they only connect through the USB dongle, which doesn't work with Xbox, and there's no Bluetooth. For more picks, see our best gaming headsets.
Check G733 price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.If you take a lot of calls, these have one of the best microphones RTINGS has tested on budget headphones. Your voice comes through clear and natural, and the mic does a decent job of separating it from traffic or a humming air conditioner. The warm sound keeps voices detailed, and the battery lasts more than 40 hours.
Worth knowing: their noise canceling is weak next to the Space 2, and there's no companion app or EQ.
Check Tune 760NC price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.The headphones you'll find in countless recording studios, newsrooms, and podcast setups since the early 1990s. Their bright, forward sound makes clicks, pops, and sibilance easy to hear, which is exactly what editors want, and RTINGS found they deliver sound consistently regardless of head shape or glasses.
Worth knowing: the bright tuning can be fatiguing for casual listening, and the cable is permanently attached. The earpads wear out after a few years, though replacements are cheap.
Check MDR-7506 price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.A studio workhorse that has been in production for decades, with a spring-steel headband and replaceable parts that survive years of daily use. They're very comfortable, with soft velour pads, and their detailed, slightly bright sound makes it easy to pick out small details in a recording.
Worth knowing: RTINGS notes a sharp peak in the treble that can be fatiguing over long sessions, and the cable is permanently attached. For more wired picks, see our best closed-back headphones.
Check DT 770 PRO price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.Planar magnetic sound for about $100. RTINGS found the HE400se match their target curve well: a good amount of bass, natural-sounding mids, and a mostly balanced top end. As open-backs, they create an airy, spacious sound that closed headphones can't match.
Worth knowing: open-backs leak sound and block almost nothing, so they're not for commuting or shared rooms, and build quality is the trade-off at this price. For more, see our best planar magnetic headphones.
Check HE400se price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.The best earbuds under $200, especially for iPhone owners. In RTINGS' tests they're excellent at blocking engine rumble and even better than most flagships with voices and chatter. They're comfortable, light, and water resistant, with excellent Transparency modes and heart-rate tracking for workouts.
Worth knowing: many features, including sound adjustments, only work with Apple devices. Android users should look at the Sony WF-1000XM6 in our best noise-canceling headphones.
Check AirPods Pro 3 price on Amazon Prices change often — check Amazon for the current price.Usually, yes, if you use your headphones every day. Compared with our best headphones under $100, these picks generally have stronger noise canceling across more kinds of noise, better comfort over long sessions, better apps and EQs, and sturdier builds. Wired picks in this range, like the DT 770 PRO and HE400se, also sound clearly more detailed than budget wired headphones.
What you still don't get under $200 is the very best noise canceling, premium cases, and the most polished microphones. For those, see our Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra comparison.