There are probably literally a million different headphones that you could buy right now, so whether you’re looking for yourself or trying to find the perfect gift for a music-lover in your life, it can seem impossible to make a decision. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list with some of our favorite audiophile headphones and IEMs with prices ranging from $50 to $300.

Best Headphones and IEMs Under $100

While there are some amazing values to be found on the headphone market for under $100, there are also a lot of dubs and just outright bad products. However, brands like Kiwi Ears, Moondrop, and Audio-Technica offer up some solid options that should satisfy anyone looking for great sound that doesn’t break the bank.

Wired IEMs: Fosi Audio M4 - $99.99

Fosi Audio is a new brand in the IEM space, but that doesn’t stop them from delivering an excellent IEM with a really cool package with M4. The main draw of the package is the three sets of eartips (each including S/M/L) intended to provide three different tunings for the IEMs. Labeled, “Deep Bass,” “Bass,” and “Balanced” each uses slightly different design and materials to deliver a simple retuning on the IEM. Alternative brass nozzles are also included, giving you a huge variety of sound adjustments in a $100 package.

Alternate option: DUNU Titan S2 - $79

If you prefer the simplicity of a single, powerful tuning, and prioritize the build quality, Titan S2 is an excellent choice for an IEM under $100 that delivers great sound quality for the price, with a hard-hitting bassy tuning, and some of the best build quality in the price bracket.

Open-Back Headphones: Kiwi Ears Altruva - $69.99

For $70, Altruva’s sound is absolutely stunning. The goal of its design was to capture the experience of listening to studio monitors, and Altruva scores with a wide soundstage, punchy bass, excellent detail, and strong definition and separation. They’re quite comfortable, and lightweight, and the build is very good quality considering the price. If your number one priority in a headphone is sound quality and your budget $100, get Altruva and treat yourself to a nice lunch with the other $30.

Closed-Back Headphones: ATH-M20x - $59

You've seen videos of recording artists in the studio, there's a good chance you've seen  headphones from Audio-Technica’s ATH-Mx series. While most studios are likely using the ATH-M50x or ATH-M70x, the ATH-M20x uses a scaled down version of the same tech and brings the same sound that artists hear while they’re making the music to your home. ATH-M20x doesn’t have the same build quality as the headphones higher up in the ATH-Mx series, but it does deliver all-day wearing comfort and a super long cable.

Wireless Headphones: ATH-M20xBT - $89

This is cheating a little bit, but if you like the sound of the ATH-M20x, there’s also a wireless version available. ATH-M20xBT is the exact same sound design of the original M20x, but without the wires. While it doesn’t have all the same features as higher end wireless headphones, the basic sound and design makes it an excellent choice.

Best Headphones and IEMs Under $300

Moving your budget up the $300 gets you a lot more options, and a higher level of quality. Some of the headphones and IEMs in this class are competitive with products that cost 3-4x as much, meaning that you can get a lot of bang for your buck.

Wired IEMs: Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite - $249

Orchestra Lite is an incredible all-around IEM, with a very balanced tuning that delivers a clean, balanced sound. Orchestra Lite’s balance of bass and treble, with rich, full mids makes it a great pick for just about any genre. Orchestra Lite is a looker too with its transparent shell with a choice of different colored faceplates. 

Alternate Option: Ziigaat x HBB Arcadia - $199

If you want deep powerful bass, over clean balanced detail, Ziigaat Arcadia gives you punch and rumble that people who love electronic music, hip hop, and pop might be missing from the more neutral sound of the Orchestra Lite.

Wireless IEMs/TWS: Sennheiser Momentum Sport - $200

Sennheiser Momentum Sport is one of the most complete IEMs on the market, featuring strong ANC, transparency, connectivity, and great sound quality, along with a heart rate sensor and an app to manage it all. In terms of sound, Momentum Sport is on the same level as Sennheiser’s previous Momentum IEMs, but it improves upon the connectivity of the Momentum 3 TWS, and builds on the feature set. While these are great for just about any TWS user, the secure, comfortable fit, configurable ANC/Transparency, and IPX5 rating makes it perfect for exercise, travel, and commuting. 

Open-Back Headphones: Sennheiser HD560S - $280

If you’re looking for an exaggerated, bombastic sound with massive bass, this isn’t going to be the one for you, but if you want detail, refinement, and accuracy, Sennheiser HD560S is the gold standard for headphones in this price range. Sennheiser’s HD series is designed for professional use, so the build quality is strong, and they’re going to remain comfortable even after having them on your head for hours, making them a great option for music production, listening to music while you’re working from home, or late-night gaming sessions.

Alternate Option: HIFIMAN Sundara - $179

It’s been out for years now, but with its recent price drop, HIFIMAN Sundara is an excellent pick for a headphone under $300. While they’re not as comfortable and practical as the HD560S, the metal frame and earcups coupled with the planar magnetic driver technology make Sundara an interesting alternative to the better known brands out there.

Closed-Back Headphones: FiiO FT1 - $165

When they were released, FT1 felt like a total revolution in the closed-back headphone world. While it’s notoriously difficult to balance sound quality, comfort, and noise isolation in a closed-back headphone, FT1 seems to have done it at a fraction of the cost of its competition. The level of sound and build quality FiiO provides here is unmatched for the price.

Wireless Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT

Few categories have as much competition as Wireless Headphones, and while there are a lot of good options out there, ATH-S300BT stands out at $149. The sound quality is what you’d expect from a brand like Audio-Technica, with a good detail and a slight bass emphasis, but where it really shines is the all-day comfort and 90 hours of battery life. The ANC and transparency features are also solid for the price.

Alternate Option: Sennheiser Accentum Plus - $189.95

While there’s very little that immediately stands out about Accentum Plus, it earns high marks by simply doing everything very well. Sennheiser provides a solid app, good ANC, and 50 hours of battery life, along with some of the best sound quality in its price range.