The 15 headphones under $100 actually worth your time

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When it comes to headphones, there's no group as passionate as the forum members over at Head-Fi. If you have a pair of headphones, chances are there's a multi-page thread discussing its every nuance on their board. 

It can be a little intimidating to sift through their threads (believe me), but the knowledge is invaluable. Before any major headphone-related purchase, I always check what the people there have to say. 

In addition to sub-forums dedicated to different headphone styles and brands, Head-Fi also has a headphone buyer's guide. The guide is compiled by people who read through a bunch of different Head-Fi user's reviews and headphones that have become a bit of a hit in that community.

These are 15 pairs of headphones that cost $100 or less that have been given the OK by Head-Fi.

I've read through the reviews and given you the Head-Fi reviewers' thoughts in a nutshell, but it's also worth going to Head-Fi and reading a full review if you want to learn more about each pair.

SoundMAGIC E30

Amazon

This pair of earbuds has a slight bass emphasis, but not so much that it muddies the midrange and treble. Overall, these are a neutral pair of earbuds that sound good and are built well for the price.

SoundMAGIC E30 Noise Isolating Earphones, $37.99, available at Amazon

 

 

 

 

Koss PortaPro

Amazon

One of the few "classic" headphones on this list, the Koss PortaPros have been in production since 1986. According to Head-Fi, these headphones fall directly in the middle-of-the-road category. Their lack of super strong bass and treble response lead to a somewhat muffled presentation, although the midrange is pretty accurate. They might be more iconic than sonically excellent, but they're still in production for a reason — people like them.

Koss PortaPro Headphones with Case, $41.96, available at Amazon

a-JAYS Five

Amazon

This pair of earbuds is capable of producing surprisingly accurate sound given its price. Bass, midrange, and highs were all constrained (in a good way) as to not compete with one another. You should be happy with these earbuds regardless of what genre of music you like. As a bonus, Head-Fi considered this pair to be better than some headphones twice its price, which at the time was $100, making their current quality-to-price ratio even better. 

a-JAYS Five for Android, $24.95, available at Amazon

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