After testing more than ten headsets for comfort and audio quality, we chose Sony MDR1A Premium Hi-Res Stereo as the best closed back headphones under 300. The MDR1A Stereo’s audio delivery may not be as thorough as ATH-M50X by Audio-Technica, but there is a good balance between bass and treble for a flawless, natural sound.
Not too long ago, I thought it would be a good idea to buy the best closed back headphones under 300 to end my series of disappointment with my set of earbuds for sleeping.
I had already wasted more than $100 on in-ear options, and it’s unfortunate that none of them lasted longer than I had expected.
Switching to closed back headsets brought with itself a number of benefits, including a new level of audio quality, proper noise isolation, and guaranteed durability.
And while they are heavier than my favorite earbuds for small ears , they are far much improved and worth buying – especially if you are looking for something that can last for a long time.
I chose five affordable closed back headsets, ran a background check on them, and then put up a list that should help you pick accordingly.
Whether you are looking for something that doesn’t break the bank or you are just in the market for headphones costing not more than $300, this list is for you.
Closed Back Headphones Under 300
1. PSB M4U 1 High Performance Headsets
The home theater like feeling from headphones does absolutely give you the best listening experience.
And this is actually what PSB M4U 1 High Performance over-ear headphones under 200 give you.
In fact, by creating an on ear environment that sounds almost similar to your home theater, your music listening experience cannot remain on the same level.
The M4U 1 is well engineered to give a listener a roomy feel and exclusive comfort, so you can wear these for hours without feeling like you’d somehow take them off and toss them to the bin.
The ear pads aren’t just soft and gyro-suspended. They are also self-adjusting for proper fitting on your ears.
Because I am a big fan of music, I wouldn’t imagine going outdoors without my headphones on. And I am not the only one on this.
The PSB M4U is a good option because it is lightweight, so it makes your time outdoors musical, not burdensome.
And given that it is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and mp3 players, you can use it with whatever musical device you own at home.
If someone calls you when you are listening to music, you don’t have to unplug the headphones to answer the call.
That’s because these headphones are fitted with a microphone, which allows making or receiving calls with ease.
2. Sony MDR1A Premium Hi-Res Stereo
Sony has been in the headphones business for a very long time.
And without a doubt, MDR1A Premium Hi-Res Stereo is one of their top-rated closed back headphones that you can buy for less than $300 bucks.
Everything about the Premium Hi-Res comes down to balance.
In fact, Sony trades a good balance between design, audio quality, and sound blocking to give you a product that’s hard not to love.
While MDR1A Premium Hi-Res Stereo isn’t thorough in audio delivery like the Audio-Technical ATH-M50X, it still has a good soundstage that gives it an edge.
The treble isn’t the too-easy-going type. It is – in fact – so detailed that it balanced out so well with the base, making spoken as well as sung voices sound natural.
I may be a little biased to include this in the list of features, but it’s still important if you ask me.
The microphone plays an important role of allowing you to make and answer phone calls without unplugging the jack pin from your smartphone.
Besides the microphone, Sony also fits a remote control on the MDR1A Premium. I doubt you’ll be using this too often, though.
Even its performance is highly dependent on the type of smartphone you use.
3. V-MODA Crossfade M-100
V-MODA no longer stresses on fashionable design than they do on sound quality.
It’s easy to see this in Crossfade M-100 than in its previous models.
For people that want the home theater-like bass, this is a perfect choice.
And for DJs looking for a good set of headsets that makes entertaining an audience even more exciting, I bet you wouldn’t blink twice to grab this one.
What you get here is good quality for cheap
The Crossfade M-100 headphones are known for their tough, durable design.
The ear caps are made of tough plastic, and the frame is pure, sturdy steel.
Add that to the durable, flexible leather covering the headband and what you get is long-lasting headphones that can stand a drop or two – or maybe even more.
These fold up easily and take a lot less space, usually fitting the size of your hand’s palm.
You can customize the earcup plates if you like, especially if you are the type of person who loves a more personalized look.
For the most part, though, the M-100 still look great without additional styling.
M-100 are bass-heavy. In fact, V-MODA seems to place more emphasis on bass than a perfect balance between bass and treble.
Even then, the sound is still pleasurable enough for watching movies, listening to your favorite music, and/or playing video games.
The M-100 won’t cancel external noise better than Bose Quiet Comfort 15, but it still does a better job in passive noise isolation.
In fact, if you set the volume high, it will cancel out noise pretty well. But, these shouldn’t be used in the loudest environment that you can think of because they won’t do the trick.
4. Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series I)
Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series I) has stood the test of time to become one of the top-rated headsets on the market today.
It’s a good option for people who are searching for headphones slightly above $300.
That’s about under 500 dollars for the best quality headphones that you can find on the market.
A world-class headphone should always be easy to use. And this couldn’t be more true than with QuietComfort 35.
Here, we forget about hanging cords, which sometimes get tangled and become stressful, and we go completely wireless for more convenience.
While it doesn’t compete on the same level with Skullcandy Crush in terms of playtime, QC 35 (Series I) still has a decent batter life.
You can use this for 20 hours before the next charge. And, that means using it for a couple of days before you plug it to power again.
5. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Monitor Headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Monitor is exactly what I would confidently call the best closed back headphones under 300.
And that’s especially for being good for studio level production.
And I love them because they play by the rules of professional audio quality for a full immersion in your favorite music or videos.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Monitor Headphones
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Known to be among the most affordable options on the market, these headsets are suitable for anyone who’s on budget.
Like Beats by Drake, these headphones sound great, and they make a perfect option for long hours of music listening, gaming, and movies.
Besides the aluminum voice coils, which boosts radio frequency response up to 20 KHz, Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Monitor headsets also have a good balance between treble and bass, giving you a clear sound that many headphones out there simply can’t.
Thanks to the circumaural contour design, you can use these headphones for sleeping because they cancel out noise from the surrounding on the go.
If you bring them with you to use in a noisy environment, you will still get clear sound with – of course – very little disturbance from the outside noise.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50’s ear caps are soft, and they can swivel easily up to 90 degrees. And the adjustable headbands are firm and sturdy enough to stay in position until you take the headphones.
Despite being lightweight, affordable, and boasting of exceptional sound clarity, adjusting the headband can be a bit challenging. And if wrongly adjusted, it becomes difficult to use.