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| © Provided by Consumers Union of United States, Inc. |
By Thomas Germain, Consumer Reports
These days it's easy to find low-cost headphones in a broad range of
styles and colors. But headphones are more than a fashion statement, and
what distinguishes the models on this list of the best headphones for
under $100 is that they earn high marks for sound quality from our
testers.
The models here not only rank among the top headphones in our ratings but also earn CR's Best Buy designation, thanks to prices that start as low as $50.
There's something for everyone in this roundup, whether you care most
about high-quality sound, the convenience of Bluetooth, or the unmatched
portability of true wireless earphones.
Every year Consumer
Reports buys dozens of headphones at retail—at places you might shop
yourself—and puts them through a battery of tests to help you sort
through the noise when you're shopping.
Jabra Move Style Edition
The Jabra Move Style Edition,
an on-ear Bluetooth model with a sleek appearance and more than decent
sound, comes with convenient features like controls for call, playback,
and volume, and the option to forgo Bluetooth and use the detachable
audio cable included with your purchase.
The headphones have a
closed, isolating design that will keep some noise from leaking in or
out during a listening session. The headphones have an advertised
14-hour battery life, more than enough to get you through a day of
listening. (CR doesn't test battery life in headphones.)
Grado Prestige SR80e
The Grado Prestige SR80e
is a perennial favorite among music fans looking for a bargain on
top-notch sound. You'll have to sacrifice the convenience of Bluetooth,
but for just $100, the SR80e's outstanding audio quality is hard to
beat.
These on-ear home/studio-style headphones are built for the
audio-focused listener. Their open-back ear cups, which are meant to add
audio clarity, won't block sound from bleeding in or out, and their
large profile and long, sturdy cable limit their portability. All that
means they’re best used in a quiet environment where you can really
focus on the music.
1MORE Triple Driver
You won't find many headphones that deliver such superb audio for the price as the in-ear 1MORE E1001 Triple Driver, which typically costs just $80.
These
wired earphones have a sleek design and come with extras, including a
removable shirt clip, a carrying case, and nine sets of earpieces of
varying shapes and sizes to help you find a good fit. The integrated
microphone, call/connect, playback, and volume controls will play nicely
with your iPhone and other devices. And the isolating design also
muffles ambient noise and blocks some sound from bleeding out and
bothering people around you.
1MORE iBFree Sport
Another model from 1MORE, the iBFree Sport, is
one of the best wireless options in our ratings. The sound quality
isn't quite as good as the Triple Driver's shown above, but the $60
price could make these headphones even more appealing.
The iBFree
Sport has inline controls for calls and music playback, and features a
water-resistant design, according to 1MORE. The advertised battery life
is 8 hours.
Anker SoundCore Liberty Air
The Anker
SoundCore Liberty Air earphones look a lot like Apple's AirPods, but at
$80 they cost about half as much, and they have a few notable
advantages. Unlike the AirPods, the Ankers have an isolating design that
will muffle some outside sound, and our testing shows their audio
quality is significantly better, too. CR's technicians also note that
they fit and stay in place better than many true wireless models.
According
to Anker, the earphones have a 5-hour battery life and come with a
charging/carrying case good for three additional charges on the go.
They're also advertised as water-resistant. (CR doesn't test that
feature.)
The Liberty Air has tap controls for calls and playback,
and support for digital assistants, and they come with the option to
use the right earpiece alone for single-ear listening. They're available
in black or white.
Inside CR's Anechoic Chamber
On the "Consumer 101" TV
show, host Jack Rico and a high school marching band put Consumer
Reports’ anechoic chamber to the test to find out what it sounds like
when you remove all echoes from music.
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