It might seem strange coming from a character who has access to the best headphones that money can buy, but you really don't have to spend much money at all to get headphones that sound great. Sure, they're not going to hold a sonic candle to something that costs hundreds of dollars, but there are plenty of sub-$100 headphones with very pleasing sound.
We are thinking about just sound quality here. Don't expect game-changing ANC, magnificent protective cases or sublime comfort. Only that they're going to sound really good. Of course, those extra points are going to be a nice bonus (especially at the prices we've got here), but they're not expected.
1More Sonoflow
The 1More Sonoflow were the first pair of budget headphones that made me look up from my desk, nod lightly, and say, "Wow, cheap headphones can be good now." Previously, I'd always found that low-cost products had to sacrifice a lot to keep the price low. Usually, this meant compromising sound quality so that they could still feature stuff like ANC.
The Sonoflow sounds great. I'm not sure their LDAC codec support actually adds up to much, given that the less expensive audio gear inside isn't really capable of reproducing the nuance and detail of such high-quality streams, but they work very well with what they have. Excellent, controlled bass, wide, warm mids and clear, bright highs.
Detail retrieval is good, soundstage is very solid and instrument separation is fine. After one listen of For Whom The Bell Tolls, I knew I was in for a budget audio treat — and now you can be too.
JLab JBuds Lux ANC
Despite the above headphones, some manufacturers still make sacrifices in the face of budget constraints. Thankfully, the JBuds Lux ANC only sacrifices a case, focusing on the feature set and sound quality so that they're a solid budget option that sounds excellent. At least there's a soft pouch in the bag so that you don't have to worry about scratches.
We've been very impressed with most of JLabs' cheaper efforts, and the JBuds Lux ANC are no different at all. The bass is the highlight here, with plenty of the low stuff to keep the 1-person party going all night long. Mids are well formed and the highs are still nice and clear, although it's the low stuff that's a priority here.
We've found the soundstage slightly more restricted, although it didn't stop my listening of Motorbreath from dominating my hearing for all 3 minutes of its runtime. Instrument separation is more than adequate. For the price, they're a great-sounding pair of headphones.
Soundcore Space One
I gave these headphones to my mom — and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm not going to give her something awful. The Soundcore Space One packs in a whole host of features that you won't find in anything that costs under $100, including wear detect — that's not found anywhere else on the list. The best bit, though? The way that they sound.
Soundcore has become very well known for excellent sound at prices that don't break the bank, and the Space One are no different. Again, like the Sonoflow, I'm not sure if their high-quality codecs are really served by their cheaper hardware, but they still sound excellent — and the LDAC support certainly doesn't hurt. Well-defined, dynamic bass, a well-formed mid-range and detailed highs make for a great audio experience.
I found the soundstage of The End Of The Line to be nicely widened, and I could hear the instruments separated well in the din. Not that my Mom would listen to Death Magnetic — she's almost certainly using them right now to listen to a daytime radio show. And all the power to her, because it's going to sound great through her Space Ones.
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