Image via Complex Original
Caught in the mayhem of the holiday shopping season, it’s easy to blow money fast and have crumbs left to spoil yourself or a loved one with a dope present. In the case you manage to salvage some bills after going hard on the Christmas list, it’s only wise to spend the last of your fortune on a prized gift. Considering its popularity factor, we recommend a pair of over-ear headphones. Granted there are over 100 options available on the market, more than half aren’t worth their full manufacturing cost. That’s just real talk. But lucky for you, we borrowed through the trash and locked down a collection of noisemakers worth the investment. Keep that last Benjamin in check as you look over The Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100.
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Pendleton x Urbanears Plattan Headphones
Price: $80
Made in collaboration with Pendelton, these limited edition Plattans flaunt one of the clothing staple’s signature multicolored Native American-inspired prints made from pure virgin wool. Hipsters can share their abstract swag and music tastings with others by plugging a secondary pair of headphones into the Urbanears receivers via ZoundPlug socket. Better cop’em now while still in stock.
Skullcandy Crusher
Price: $99.99
Skullcandy stepped up its audio game over the past year and all praises go to its new dual-driver technology, which is featured in the company’s latest eardrum-piercing receivers. The Crusher is engineered to balance sound range with an adjustable bass response slider commanding the entire listening experience and taking things from phonically soothing to intensely sonorous in an instance. It also has a passive mode that functions without batteries—a feature most common on premium headphones.
eskuche Control v2
Price: $60
It’s easy to become magnetized by the 70s monitor-like ABS construction and matte finish of the Control V2. That was our initial reaction when unboxing the nostalgic headphones. Old-school audiophiles should find the same joy in sound quality as they would in the funky design, basking in impressive mids and warm bass levels.
House of Marley Liberate
Price: $99.99
Rohan Marley’s audio offspring adds another dope pair of on-ears to its eco-centric collection. Powerful 40mm drivers sit behind sapele wood inserts and a stainless steel frame, offering up a well-balanced soundscape showcased best through accurate acoustics and great resolution. Stir it up!
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Price: $99.99
The average shelf life for a great pair of headphones is somewhere around three to four years. Sennheiser proves how far durable construction and great sound quality can take a pair of receivers, with the decade-aged 280 Pro’s producing beautiful audio performance both standard listeners and studio professionals will savor. Guess the classics never go out of style after all.
MEElectronics Atlas
Price: $99.99
Striking in sound quality and style, MEEelectronics new flagship headphones are the first to use in-mold labeling technology to feature multi-layered graphics embedded into the receivers. Expect to turn some heads on the audio end as well with crisp clarity and strong bass output running the show. Choose from five different high-contrast sketches: including Carbon, Diamond, Fantasy, Orion, and Sky.
Sol Republic Tracks (V8)
Price: $99.99
Even though the wireless model might be a little out of your financial reach, doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the superior sound quality and fashionable presence of Sol Republic’s original noisemakers. Backed by the manufacturer’s patented V8 sound engines, the Tracks emit striking bass response and rich full range unmatched by any other over-ear in its price range.
Marshall Major
Price: $88.88
Marshall’s retro-inspired sound cans bring together amazing, live audio and unique aesthetics. Its wide sound stage is complimentary to most music genres and dynamic enough that listeners can listen hours on in without the need of cranking higher volumes. A sturdy design highlighted by a headband constructed from vinyl used on the company’s amplifiers ensures long-term durability as well.
Sony X Series
Price: $99.99
One of our favorite premium headphones of last year receives a huge markdown, making it a steal for bass-blasting conformists. The X series achieves an effectively crisp and loyd output courtesy of its 50mm drivers. Its pillow-like and snug earpads seal the deal.
WeSC Banjar
Price: $80
The throwback-laced headphones boast a noise-canceling, supra-aural design with 40mm driers capable of delivering deep and sharp audio. Adjustable, soft-cushion earcups add comfort for stretched listening sessions and the in-line microphone lets you screen calls hands-free. Pick from 7 different color schemes.
