I review audio gear for a living and if I was to buy some affordable over-ear headphones, these are the only 4 pairs I’d consider

Looking for a new pair of over-ear headphones? Well, you’ve got a lot of options to choose from, no matter your budget. Nowadays, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get your hands on some cans with effective active noise cancelling, fantastic battery life, and even good sound.

But it’s OK – I’m here to narrow things down for you. I’ve personally reviewed a lot of models, from the best cheap headphones^[1], all the way through to the best noise-cancelling headphones^[2] money can buy. Today, though, I want to focus on the former. I’ve collated a list of four affordable models, all of which myself and the TechRadar reviews team have tested extensively.

You’ll be able to find every pair of headphones listed here for less than $170 / £150 – that’s about $300 / £250 cheaper than our pick for the best headphones^[3] overall, the Sony WH-1000XM6^[4]! So, if I was going to buy some affordable cans, these are the options I’d consider.

1. 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

For some time now, the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 have been our number one budget pick in our guide to the best over-ear headphones^[5] – and for good reason.

They really surprised me with their sound quality, which is far better than you’d expect from a cheaper model. Yes, these have a bass-forward sound signature – ideal for fans of dance, hip-hop and electronic music – but they still serve up clear, dynamic audio, even at higher volumes. The 1More app also lets you adapt EQ to a sound that suits your specific tastes.

On top of that, they’re pretty stylish. A neat matte black finish, curved on-ear look, and lightweight feel ensure that the Sonoflow Pro surpass what’s expected of them once again. Combine that with a jaw-dropping 100 hours of battery life (or 65 hours with ANC switched on), ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth streaming over LDAC, and a comfortable in-use feel, and there’s just so much to love.

Oh, and did I mention these are regularly available for less than $90 / £90. Talk about a no-brainer! Read our full 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review^[6].

2. Sony WH-CH720N

I’ve owned these headphones for a couple of years now, and if you want that Sony^[7] sound on a budget, they’re your best bet.

These pack everything you need – solid ANC, an exhaustive feature-set, and detailed, well-tuned audio that punches above its weight. Sony even included its proprietary DSEE upscaling technology in these cans, which enables them to upscale lower quality music files. Including a respectable 35-hour-long battery life with ANC, a comfortable fit, and a range of color options, these headphones are easy to recommend.

If you’re in the UK, I’m seeing these go for less than £70 right now, which is simply astonishing. They’re coming up for just over $100 in the US at the moment, but during sales events, I’ve seen them for closer to $80 – that’s phenomenal value for money.

Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review^[8].

3. Anker Soundcore Space One Pro

Here’s a pair of headphones that I feel deserve a little more attention – the Anker^[9] Soundcore Space One Pro. These are the priciest cans on my list, but they can still be yours for less than $170 / £150. Honestly, I think they’re still amazing value for money.

One area that these headphones undoubtedly excel in, is comfort. They may well be the most pleasant-feeling headphones I’ve ever used, with a high amount of padding on the headband and earcups. Honestly, when I reviewed them last year, I could barely take them off.

But that’s not all – these also plate up very solid sound, with a gamified EQ option in the Soundcore app, which lets you find the best tuning for you. These offer a lot of depth, with incredibly hard-hitting bass, ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth streaming, and a fairly wide soundstage. With commendable ANC and a foldable design, these have just about everything you could want from an affordable pair of headphones.

Read our full Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review^[10].

4. Earfun Wave Pro

In our Earfun Wave Pro review, we said that “it would be silly to ask more from budget wireless headphones”. Why? How about 80 hours of playtime, balanced audio, and a helpful companion app?

Yes, for headphones that regularly go for less than $60 / £50, these have an impressive resumé. We liked their on-ear feel, commendable build quality, and inclusion of a sturdy carry case. But, more importantly, we enjoyed their low-end and treble output – after a little bit of tinkering in the Earfun app, that is. These also fold up and have a 3.5mm slot for wired listening – pretty convenient.

If you want an ultra-cheap option, it doesn’t get much better than this, so why not check the Wave Pro out?

Read our full Earfun Wave Pro review^[11].

So, do you own any of these headphones? If so, what do you make of them? Or maybe you’re planning to buy a pair from this list, but have a few questions? I’m all ears, so make sure to get chatting in the comments!

You may also like

• Want to hear all of the fine details in your music? You may be better off with a pair of the best wired headphones^[12]
• Or maybe you want something a little more lightweight? Then head on over to our list of the best budget earbuds^[13]
• Another option worth considering is the newly launched Baseus Inspire XH1 headphones^[14], which were developed in partnership with Bose