Last Updated: on October 15, 2023 by Jack
Most people have a pair of headphones or earphones of some sort these days, but It might be time to upgrade or replace them. The question is – how much money should you spend on a new pair of headphones?
The market for headphones is huge, and the price range can go from as little as £5 all the way up to £1000+. You don’t want to spend more money than you need when it comes to headphones, as someone who casually uses earbuds at work doesn’t need a set of studio headphones priced at £300.
Define Your Needs
Before diving into the price ranges, it’s crucial to understand what you’re looking for in headphones and what you’ll primarily be using them for. Are you a music enthusiast craving pristine audio quality, or are you content with a pair that does the job?
If you’re a gamer looking for a performance headset, it’s very different from someone just looking for a headset that will plug in just so they don’t need to use speakers.
Do you need headphones with features such as noise cancellation and water resistance, as it could run up the cost?
Knowing your preferences will guide your decision-making process. Let’s be honest: a casual music listener on the go doesn’t want to drop hundreds of pounds on a pair and probably shouldn’t either. Here’s a little guide below on the different price ranges and where users might sit in terms of usage. finding the perfect balance between quality and cost.
Budget-Friendly Options: Around £50
For those on a tight budget, fear not! There are plenty of affordable headphones that offer surprisingly good sound quality. Brands like Audio-Technica, Sony, and JBL provide budget-friendly options without sacrificing too much on audio performance. These are ideal for casual listeners or those who need a spare pair for everyday use.
Budget headphones are the most popular sellers, which sounds obvious because of the price. However, some budget models provide a much better sound quality than their competitors in the next price range.
£50 is a good budget starting point to work from here.
The market is currently alight with earbuds under the £50 mark, which, to be fair, there are plenty of buds that are perfect for everyday use at this price on Amazon. They may or may not last as long as a more expensive pair; it’s a bit of a hit or miss with headphones durability-wise.
Budget uses:
- Casual music or podcast listening
- At work
- Travelling
- General out and about
- Gaming – Only if you’re not that bothered about performance
Mid-Range Marvels: £100-£250
If you’re willing to invest a bit more, the mid-range headphone market opens up a world of possibilities. Models from Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, and Bose offer an excellent balance between price and performance. Expect enhanced audio quality, more comfortable designs, and additional features like noise cancellation, water resistance, etc.
Mid-range headphones are an investment; most listeners probably don’t need anything above this.
If you’re taking your headphone game a little more seriously, then you’ll probably fall into this category like most people reading this. Mid-range models are really where you’ll start to notice a difference in sound quality.
Anything professional or where performance really matters will require headphones in this price range at a bare minimum.
Mid-range uses:
- Most sports, such as running, swimming, cycling
- Gamers requiring clear audio and a microphone
- Music listeners who want to hear different ranges
- Professional work on a computer
High-End Audiophile’s Delight: £250+
For the true audio connoisseur, high-end headphones are a must. Brands like Neumann, Focal, and Shure produce premium models that deliver an unparalleled listening experience. These headphones often feature advanced driver technology, luxurious materials, and meticulous craftsmanship. However, you need to be prepared to open your wallet wide, as these can come with a hefty price tag.
It gets to a point with high-end headphones where it’s diminishing returns. After the £500 mark, the extra money you’re paying for sound quality doesn’t match what you pay at the lower price points.
You’re paying a lot of money for very little sound improvement. That being said, any minor sound improvements are essential for anyone working in the audio industry professionally.
Studio headphones are usually designed with a strong clamping force to ensure a tight fit and seal, which is essential at a professional level. You can always reduce the clamping force, but they’re designed for serious sound, not for casual headphone users. Don’t spend money on these for gaming or a walk outside; look at the lower price brackets.
High-end uses:
- Music producers, DJs and artists
- Professional audio jobs
- Audiophiles
- Headphone reviewers
Read Real Reviews
Before making a final decision and parting ways with money for a model, read all the reviews from online experts and real consumers first. You should be able to gauge from reviews whether a pair of headphones is value for money and might even get an idea of what people are primarily using them for.
Start by browsing headphone models on Amazon. Look at some of the ‘Best Sellers’ and check out the reviews for each. Look for ‘Verified Purchase’ next to the review, which gives it a better chance of being a ‘real’ review. When browsing headphone sections on Amazon, you can also set a price range to only show models from, which is ideal if you’ve got a budget in mind.
Browse our own reviews section, where we try to give an honest take on whether a model is value for money and whether you should buy it based on your requirements.
It’s not that common these days, but If you have the chance, test headphones in-store to get a feel for their comfort and sound signature. Currys usually have a range of headphones on display that they allow you to test out on your own devices.
Brand Reputation Matters
Consider the reputation of the brand if you’re unsure if a larger price tag is justified. Established brands with a reliable track record of producing excellent audio products, such as Bose, Sennheiser, Sony, and SHOKZ, are usually worth spending that extra bit of money on.
Another thing worth considering is the customer support and warranty of the manufacturer you’re buying from. If it’s a higher-priced pair of headphones, then you’ll want some reassurance or fallback if anything goes wrong. The last thing you want is to put out over £200 on a set of headphones or earphones only for them to break within a matter of months and be left out of pocket.
You would think that the more reputable brands offer the best support when it comes to models not working and needing to be returned or fixed, but that’s not always the case. Some of the cheapest headphones in the lower-tier budget bracket actually have some of the best customer support from our experience.
However, it is worth noting that although headphones are always a bit of a hit-and-miss in terms of durability, regardless of their price point, you’re still taking more of a risk purchasing budget-style units.
There are loads of cheap, unknown manufacturers around in this space that are probably best avoided. Earbuds are all the rage today. Just look at the number of cheap earbud models on Amazon. A lot of them are the same models, just with different branding.
Conclusion: Finding Your Sweet Spot
Ultimately, there’s no right and wrong answer when it comes to how much money you should spend on headphones – it’s a personal choice. While budget-friendly options provide great value, mid-range and high-end headphones offer a more immersive audio experience.
We’ve broken it down and tried to guide you towards a price range based on what you need from your headphones and how much we think you should realistically spend on a pair.
We would say that we wouldn’t worry too much about future-proofing when it comes to headphones. Just buy what you need and can afford at the time.