Having a hi-fi headphone is incredibly useful for an audiophile, and even for any music lover, who craves high quality sound. Headphones give you the choice to independently listen to any audio without intruding on your environment. In this guide, we have reviewed and compared the best high-end headphones that you can find in the market for less than 300 bucks.
In a hurry? The best audiophile headphones under $300 in 2024 are the high quality Bose SoundLink Around Ear Wireless Headphones II and the Philips X2HR Fidelio Over Ear Headphone.
Best Headphones for Audiophile for Less Than 300 Bucks: Quick Comparison
| BEST RATED |
Bose SoundLink Around Ear Wireless Headphones II
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RUNNER UP  |
Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Headphone
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Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH710N
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Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Bluetooth Headphones
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Shure SE215-CL Professional Sound Isolating
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Top Audiophile Headphones Under $300 2024: Reviews
1. Bose SoundLink Around Ear Wireless Headphones II
Best Rated
The Bose SoundLink Wireless headphones are truly one of the best budget choices available because of their convenience and portability.
Bose gives you one of the best wireless experiences and it provides you with deep immersive sound at both the highest and lowest volumes.
It offers a clear, natural and seamless sound at both ends of a call, even in windy or noisy environments.
Bose headphone allows you to seamlessly switch between two connected Bluetooth devices, ensuring that you never miss a call or a movie you are watching.
You would instantly agree that they are the best-sounding wireless headphones you’ll find anywhere.
It is lighter and more comfortable than other comparable headphones. It has an inbuilt USB fast charging port that guarantees that you don’t have to wait long between charges.
They are also engineered with impact-resistant materials that give the headphones long term durability making sure it keeps up with your busy life.
They are built with the mind to impress anyone who would like to listen to their audio in hi-fi levels, thereby making it a good pick for audiophiles.
Pros
- Good Bluetooth strength
- Strong Build
- Strong Battery Life
- Comfortable
- Advanced microphone system
Cons
- Customer service could be better
2. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Open-Air Headphone
Second Best High Quality Headphones Under 300 Bucks
Phiilips audio fidelio are optimized to deliver an accurate, detailed and clear refined sound on any music format, from MP3 to high resolution files.
Fidelio X2HR integrates an iconic design that is built to match with its impeccably clear and detailed sound range.
With the PHILIPS Fidelio X2HR you can immerse into the experience of a lifetime, you can have a personal concert right at home.
It features an acoustic open-back architecture with engineered double layered ear-shells and pre-tilted speaker plates.
Includes 50 mm high definition neodymium drivers with LMC diaphragm and replaceable deluxe memory foam ear-pads finished with breathable velour.
This Philips headphone also comes with a lightweight self-adjustable hammock with 3D mesh and a genuine leather outer headband.
The 3.5 mm detachable oxygen-free cable (3M) 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm adapter and cable management clip are included to make your experience with Philips an unforgettable one.
Pros
- Comfortable wear
- Large sound state
- Removable 3.5 mm jack
Cons
- mid-range sound could be improved
3. Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH710N
Best Audiophile Noise Cancelling Headphones Under 300 Dollars
Sony provided the world with an awesome noise cancellation headphone that provides all day comfort with the perfect fit.
This is provided by its adjustable metal slider and oval shaped earpads, which in combination makes long listening even more comfortable.
Noise cancellation automatically senses your environment with the inbuilt dual noise sensor technology.
It boasts a listening time of about 35 hours and a quick battery recharging technology and a Next-generation USB type-C charging.
With its 30 millimeter driver unit, you can listen to audio in high detail, and it also comes with a wireless Bluetooth streaming with NFC one-touch.
These headphones are not only built on noise cancellation, but they also have many other great features.
Like its smartphone compatibility for hands-free calls and voice assistant usage, this feature means that you can pick up your calls without the stress of trying to reach out the answer button with your hands.
The voice assistant does all the dialing and answering of calls for you so that you can just kick back and relax.
Pros
- Wireless Bluetooth streaming
- Comfortable Earpads
- Long lasting battery life
Cons
- Its noise cancellation is not total
4. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Bluetooth Headphones
Runner Up
The Anker headphones are built with a high resolution audio, and the custom 40 mm dynamic drivers reproduce music with rich details and an extraordinary clarity in order to inspire a heightened listening experience.
They have a customized algorithm that performs real time music analysis and intensifies the low frequencies for hitting hard beats.
An ultra-fast and highly unbreakable connection between the Life Q20 active noise cancelling headphones and your mobile device.
It is compatible with many hardware like smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers amongst others. The bass of the headphone is superior to other comparable high end headphones.
Pros
- Durable battery life
- Low price
- Good Bluetooth strength
Cons
- Minimal active noise cancellation
5. Shure SE215-CL Professional Sound Isolating Earphones with Single Dynamic MicroDriver
One of the reasons we love this headphone is because of its comfortable sound isolating sleeves that can block up to 37 dB ambient noise.
It has a fit kit that comes in three sizes, so that you can experiment with the size and style that creates the best fit for you.
A good seal is a key to optimizing sound isolation and bass response and also maximizing comfort during extended wear.
Its personal monitor technology has been road-tested by pro musicians. The SE215 offers detailed sound and enhanced bass for personal listening or even professional monitoring.
Pros
- Does not protrude from the ears when listening to music
- It offers sufficient sound isolation
- High definition driver
- Clear sound with deep bass
- It has great volume
Cons
- Moisture can impact sound
Hi-Fi High Quality Headphone Buying Guide
Wired or Wireless
Based on our studies, wired is definitely the best because you would only be sacrificing a little bit of audio quality, while with the wireless counterpart, the Bluetooth strength determines the quality of your audio. Read also: Best Closed Back Audiophile Headphones 2024 and Best Audiophile Headphones For Bass Heads
Although the companies that produce wireless headphones use an advanced technological system to increase the frequency at which audio is transmitted, wired headphones usually have the best sound quality.
Wireless headphones on the other hand are more convenient because you can connect to it using your IPod or your smartphone and it wouldn’t limit your movements or keep you from going about your daily chores without the wires getting in your way.
Final Thoughts About The Best Hi-Fi High-End Audiophile Headphones For Under $300
We’ve carefully done our research and have listed the best Audiophile headphones for less than $300 on the market in 2024. After testing numerous products, we have arrived at the very best ones that 300 dollars can buy.
In conclusion, the top rated ones are the Bose SoundLink Around Ear Wireless Headphones II and the Philips X2HR Fidelio Over Ear Headphone.
Dave Pearson is a Canadian musician, sound editor, and audiophile. He is also the founder and owner of the website SoundProofGeek. On SoundProofGeek, Pearson offers advice and resources on audio equipment, including how to assess and improve audio quality, how to troubleshoot and repair audio equipment, and how to improve the music listening experience.
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