Headphones under $50

Budget, portable and street-style headphones

Since the days of the Walkman to the current reign of the iPod, small, lightweight and affordable headsets have proliferated for on-the-go listeners. Some models look like miniaturized over-the-ear headphones, while street-style headphones connect around the back of the head, allowing listeners either to wear a hat unencumbered or to preserve their hairdos. Some headset-style headphones have remained unchanged for years. Most importantly, these scaled-down headphones can be had for $50 or less. Reviewers make it clear that you can't expect the kind of sound quality or isolation you'd get with a full-size, more expensive headphones, but some models in this category come close.

Keep in mind that earphones and earbuds are covered in a separate ConsumerSearch report.

Not everyone likes wearing earbud headphones, such as those that come with iPods and other portable music players. In that case, the Sennheiser PX 100 (*Est. $50) have a conventional on-the-ears style but are lightweight and comfortable. Reviews say these 2-ounce headphones outperform other models in their price range, with rich, full audio and accurate sound reproduction across all ranges, even at high volumes. These headphones fold up, so they are even more compact and are considered durable compared with other lightweight headphones. However, travelers should note that the Sennheiser PX 100 suffer from sound leakage in and out. Some users also note the cord is thin and that the connector can be unstable, causing them to fiddle with it in order to get the sound to come through both sides evenly.

Sennheiser also makes a street-style version of this headset, the Sennheiser PMX 100 (*Est. $40). Good Gear Guide's Andrew Kliem finds that the audio is very good, but the ear clips tend to get uncomfortable over time, especially since they aren't as well designed as the Koss KSC75 (*Est. $20) discussed below.

In recent years, Grado has broken into the portable headset market with the iGrado (*Est. $50) model. Featuring a wrap-around design, these smaller headphones retain the slightly clunky look of full-sized Grado cans; thankfully, critics report that, more importantly, the exceptional performance has been miniaturized as well. According to What Hi-Fi?, the iGrado is "open-sounding and clear, with terrific punch and tonal balance." Dan Frakes at Macworld points out that the iGrado headphones have the same drivers as the larger Grado SR60 headphones (discussed in the section on full-size headphones), and have an edge on the Sennheiser PMX 100 in terms of sound, though they are significantly heavier than Sennheiser's portable headphones. Also, the iGrado's open design means that they too leak sound and may not be suitable for commuting.

Like Grado, Koss makes headsets that inspire customer and reviewer loyalty, despite flying in the face of style trends. Its PortaPro headphones (*Est. $40) were first introduced in 1984 -- and definitely look it. CNET named them an Editors' Choice as recently as April 2008; reviewer Justin Yu finds that as far as pure sound quality goes, the Koss PortaPro headphones outperform newer models such as the Sennheiser PX 100. Even though he loves the 1980s aesthetic, Yu admits that others will not, and many of the PortaPro's downsides stem from their dated design. The metal band can catch your hair as you take the headphones on and off, and they won't block ambient noise or prevent significant sound leakage.

We actually found the best reviews overall for the company's cheapest pair, the Koss KSC75 (*Est. $20). These headphones, like the PortaPro, have been around awhile. The Koss KSC75's design is interesting; each of the two earpieces have hooks attached to them, which slip over the outer ears. Reviewers find this configuration comfortable, though users complain that the ear hooks tend to fall off. One advantage, though, is Koss' lifetime, no-questions-asked warranty. Should you lose an ear hook, just call customer service and they'll send you two new ones.

Sound quality on the Koss KSC75 headphones is described as airy, rich and detailed. Bass response is strong. Andrew Kliem of the Australian review site Good Gear Guide even found they benefited from the use of an amplifier, although this seems to defeat the purpose of their portable design. Be aware that the KSC75 leaks sound and thus isn't suitable for libraries or public transportation.