Are Headphones Under 300 Worth It or Overrated?

Known for their best-in-class ANC, I had to test if Sony WH-1000XM4 deserve to be considered the best anc headphones for 300. As expected from such a popular brand, it provided an immersive listening experience with in-depth EQ settings, and a first-party Connect app. The provided mixer ensured the headphones are highly versatile and helped mitigate the problem of overly sensitive touch controls, which make this model susceptible to water damage.

The headphones offer multi-device support, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously and switch between them instantly, which is perfect if you have a laptop for working from home, phones with LDAC codec support, iPhones, or a gaming system. This model can last for up to 30 hours on a single charge, but I turned them off when they weren’t used. The recharging process is very fast, as you can get 5 hours of battery life in just 10 minutes of charging.

Tetiana loved how comfortable they are even when worn for an entire day thanks to its soft and smooth rim and ear cups. While the Sony WH-1000XM4 doesn’t have any notable design features in terms of aesthetics, the functionality packed into this $300 product will exceed all your expectations.

The ANC delivered consistently impressive results, providing top-tier sound isolation on par with the best noise cancelling microphones in the industry, as it excels at recognizing voices and other important sounds. After testing its rich audio profile, I can definitely recommend this option to daily commuters and travelers who want to get one pair of headphones for all their devices.

The name speaks for itself – it’s an extremely comfortable pair of over-ear headphones that delivers balanced audio and reliable ANC, as well as a voice assistant and instant Spotify access. It offers multiple touch control options for your convenience along with a waterproof case. The button on the ear cups lets you switch between two ambient modes. QuietComfort 45 provides a unique acoustic build with a noise-canceling dual-mic mechanism that lets you conveniently handle any frequency level you need. While the produced bass isn’t particularly deep, the audio profile is pleasantly crisp and balanced. If you want to enjoy a “heavier” soundscape, you should get the recommended application that comes with this model.

These are definitely the best headphones for 300 bucks in terms of comfort. Kate also praised QuietComfort for how lightweight they are, which was achieved by using a unique alloy that reduced the weight while reinforcing the folding structure.

These headphones last between 20 to 23 hours on a single charge. Even though the notification sound they make to inform you about remaining battery life can be quite annoying.

QuietComfort is the perfect choice for long listening sessions whether you’re working, commuting, gaming, or studying, while the dependable active noise cancellation will ensure you don’t get distracted from your activity. Add a couple dozen bucks to $300 and you can get an updated version of these best headphones for podcasting with improved specifications and a space-themed color palette.

Many initiated users can recognize these iconic headphones for classical music by just looking at their silhouette or listening to its natural, balanced sound. I’m talking about the Momentum line from Sennheiser, which makes a case for being the best audiophile headphones under 300 USD due to their crystal-clear audio, rich mids, and long-lasting battery.

The default audio profile is already properly calibrated, meaning you don’t have to tinker with any settings if you’re inexperienced in such matters. Ann instantly notices multiple new bars when listening to her music for the test. I wanted to properly gauge the battery life but after the headphones lasted for 4 days without ever dying, I concluded that the battery is definitely as powerful as advertised. Momentum 4 offers a lightweight build, a comfortable headband with snug ear pads, and a transducer system that sets an immersive soundstage and ensures you feel comfortable even when wearing the headphones for hours on end.

The provided adaptive ANC felt a bit weird to me due to its “vacuum” feeling. Thankfully, the headphones have an “emergency” button, which allows me to tweak the playback and filter ambient noise to accommodate my hearing and taste.

I was also a bit confused by how gesture prediction worked, as sometimes just turning my head triggered a pause or a song skip. However, such small issues aside, the provided multi-touch controls and immersive audio make the Momentum 4 an easy recommendation for both home and studio use.

Beats Studio Pro might be the best wireless headphones for under 300 bucks, offering the brand's trademark design and comfortable fit. They not only look great but also provide terrific audio quality and advanced functionality, catering to regular music fans and industry professionals alike. Whether you’re using them on your way to work, during your travels, or in your home – you’ll appreciate the studio-grade audio, clear mic, and handy Bluetooth connectivity.

These headphones offer an impressive combination of tasteful aesthetics, strong bass without overbearing the mids, and brand dependability. Vadym loved using them due to their natural fit into the Apple ecosystem and overall adaptability. He paired Beats Studio Pro with his iPhone 14 Pro and MacBook Air, leveraging Apple’s H1 chipset to enjoy minimal latency and an instant setup process. We also didn’t have any issues using these headphones with an Android Galaxy S23, but several of its features, like spatial audio, aren’t supported by non-Apple devices. Lastly, Studio Pro delivered rich, crisp game audio when connected to my PlayStation 5 via 3.5mm jack.

This model produces premium-grade audio, efficient active noise cancelling and a stylish look for those who value aesthetics and brand recognition. A single charge lasts for about 40 hours without ANC, which is more than solid. However, I wish the headphones themselves felt sturdier given the premium price. They also aren’t particularly water-resistant, so keep that in mind when planning your outings. Overall, Beats Studio Pro is a solid choice for this price range, especially if you can get them at a discount.

If you’re trying to find the best noise-cancelling headphones under $300, JBL Tour One M2 deserves your attention. It offers adaptive noise canceling, a diverse range of customization options, a durable battery, and a stylish aesthetic. Even though it doesn’t have several premium features like LDAC, its audio quality, reasonable price, and versatile functionality make it a great pick for traveling and everyday use. Robin picked these headphones because she appreciates their balanced sound profile and smart functionality. This model comes with JBL Pro Sound that comes with 40mm dynamic drivers and a customizable EQ to let you enjoy rich bass and clear highs. Meanwhile, the smart ambient setting lets external noise reach your ears when needed.

This model supports the latest Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, allowing us to pair the headphones with several devices at the same time, including MacBook Pro, iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, and PlayStation 5 using a cable. The advertised 50-hour-lasting battery ran out of juice after about 32 hours with ANC enabled, meaning it would have lasted longer without this feature. The microphone captured clean audio when tested on Teams, which, along with the AI-powered noise cancellation, makes it a great choice for office environments.

Multi-device connectivity ensures you can switch from taking a call on your phone to listening to music on your laptop instantly. JBL Tour One M2 also allows you to enjoy a crisp soundstage with balanced bass that should be a great fit for most genres. It’s also suitable for gamers even though it doesn’t have a low-latency mode, which is recommended for competitive games.

These headphones also produce rich mids that are important for streaming and enjoying high-resolution audio. I connected it to my PlayStation 5 via headphone jack, enjoying immersive audio without any lag. However, this model isn’t suitable for outdoor use in poor weather and it also doesn’t have some of the codecs that appeal to audiophiles.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is a premium noise-cancelling gaming headset that combines studio-grade audio and advanced DAC. Aimed at competitive gamers, professional streamers, and music fans, it’s one of the best headphones for under around 300 bucks.

Arctis Nova Pro offers a combination of hi-res audio, ANC, and gamer-oriented functionality. In contrast to most gaming headsets in this price range, this model provides an audiophile-level listening experience along with special features that ensure your gaming sessions are as convenient as possible. Moreover, they look very stylishly and have cool metal elements.

Nova Pro was used with several devices, including a gaming PC and a MacBook Pro. GameDAC produces clean spatial sound, ensuring you always know which side someone is coming from when playing games like Call of Duty. We also used these headphones for listening to Spotify, YouTube, and Netflix, delivering audio quality on par with premium headsets. Meanwhile, the AI-based mics get rid of all background noise when making Discord or Teams calls.

Arctis Nova Pro is incredibly comfortable to wear, offers terrific mic clarity, and an immersive soundstage, which is perfect for gaming, streaming, and professional use. This isn’t the optimal choice for gamers with small heads due to its large headband that allows adjusting the fit but not the length.

As a drone operator, Tati is used to swappable batteries, but such a “recharging” method and the console-specific design of these headphones might be a deal-breaker for some. That said, this is still a fantastic premium gaming headset capable of delivering audiophile-grade sound.

While looking for the best headphones below 300 USD, I noticed that many models in this price range come with features that previously were unattainable, including adaptive noise cancellation, instant multi-device switching, and incredibly long-lasting batteries. Let’s go over the key benefits you can expect from headphones in this category.

Audio quality determines the balance between clear high frequencies, balanced mids, and deep bass for different music genres, movies, and games. Even though it’s not on par with the most expensive headphones on the market, most options reviewed above deliver balanced audio with adjustable EQ parameters.

Many people prefer a warm, natural audio profile for music, while others like to have deeper bass. Most brands have their own trademarked presets and sound modes. The level of detail provided by the headphones is extremely important and is tested by listening to dialogue, music, and action scenes. If you’re an audiophile, pick models with high-res audio certification or compatibility with such codecs as LDAC and aptX adaptive. Main characteristics to prioritize:

Noise cancellation is essential if you drive or take public transport to work or need to focus in a loud environment. ANC employs mics to eliminate background noise. Passive noise isolation employs earcup sealing to cancel the noise thanks to its construction, which provides great results with over-ear closed-back headsets. Main features:

Battery life is essential for providing wireless autonomy. The best headphones under 300 bucks provide 30+ hours of battery life on a single charge. Travelers prefer durable batteries while people who work in studios prioritize fast recharging times. Main features:

Connectivity is also responsible for synchronization and versatility. Gamers and music production experts tend to rely on wired headphones while office employees and casual users prefer Bluetooth connectivity for convenient switching. For wireless models, it’s important to ensure there’s no delay between the audio and video channels, especially when watching movies. All headphones are tested for latency and compatibility with different devices – smartphones, gaming laptops, and TVs. Main features:

Comfort can be combined with build quality, particularly if you use the headphones for multiple hours in a row. The best headphones under $300 should offer:

Microphone quality is important for hands-free chatting, using meeting management software like Zoom, streaming, and podcasting. The microphone’s frequency determines how clear your voice is during online meetings. All available physical buttons and touch controls need to be intuitive and convenient. Main features:

When judging the quality of different 300 dollar headphones, it’s important to perform real-world tests to properly gauge their value. I used a variety of models in different scenarios to make sure they can satisfy the expectations that come from this price range: movie watching, video calls, and gaming sessions. To evaluate audio quality and portability, I listened to a diverse list of songs on my way to work.

Noise cancellation was tested during my public transport rides, in my office, and in quiet rooms. I used each model for at least 2-3 hours in a row to estimate their comfort and sturdiness. I paired the headphones with a variety of devices, including phones, PCs, laptops, and Smart TVs. I gauged the battery life by listening to music for hours in a row, after which I tested the recharge speed.

I would also like to mention a couple of models like AKG N700NC M2 from Samsung, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and JBL Tour Pro 2, which are offered in the shape of earbuds, even though they cost about $300 and technically they are headphones.