cheap headphones

Best headphones for under $25

Some people just don't want to spend a lot of money on headphones, and I don't blame them.

But can you get a decent pair of headphones on a very tight budget?

Sure. And you can even find some models that deliver fairly impressive sound for less than $10.

Click on any image to see our picks.

Earlier I put together a list of headphones that cost less than $50. While that list included some models that you could pick up for less than $25, the ones I've rounded up here all come in under $25 -- and even a few under $10. However, most of the models in this price range are limited to in-ear and on-ear models, not the larger over-the-ear or wireless Bluetooth headphones.… Read more

The Audiophiliac's favorite budget headphones

Great-sounding headphones have never been more affordable. Even the least expensive headphone model on this list, the Panasonic RP HJE 355 in-ear, has oodles of detail and decent bass punch. For me the most important thing when evaluating headphones is sound balance; no frequency range should call attention to itself, so I don't like overly bassy headphones, or ones that overemphasize treble. Headphones should sound clear, not muffled or fuzzy. I prefer spacious stereo imaging over sound that's stuck inside my head. Headphones that allow music's soft-to-loud dynamics to bloom are better than ones that constrict dynamics. … Read more

Best headphones for under $50

Headphones are among the most popular products on CNET, and, not surprisingly, many of you are looking for a pair that delivers a lot of bang for the buck -- and so are we.

Earlier I put together a list of headphones that cost less than $100. While that list included some models that you could pick up for less than $50, the ones I've rounded up here all come in under $50 -- and even a few under $10. Like the previous list, it's a hodgepodge of products, with a mix of in-ear, on-ear, and over-the-ear headphones, and even a few Bluetooth models.… Read more

Best headphones for under $100

Headphones are among the most popular products on CNET, and, not surprisingly, many of you are looking for a pair that delivers a lot of bang for the buck.

With that in mind, I've put together a list of our favorite headphones that offer good -- and sometimes excellent -- performance for the money. It's a bit of a hodgepodge of products, with a mix of in-ear, on-ear, and over-the-ear headphones, and even a few Bluetooth models.

Since there are literally thousands of models available, we've most likely missed some great deals, but we're determined to find as many headphone bargains as we can, so feel free to offer up your own nominations in the comments section below. We'll be reviewing additional headphones throughout the year and will be updating this list as we go along. … Read more