When it comes to headphones, there's no group as passionate as the forum members over at Head-Fi. If you have a pair of headphones, chances are there's a multi-page thread discussing its every nuance on their board.
It can be a little intimidating to sift through their threads (believe me), but the knowledge is invaluable. Before any major headphone-related purchase, I always check what the people there have to say.
In addition to sub-forums dedicated to different headphone styles and brands, Head-Fi also has a headphone buyer's guide. The guide is compiled by people who read through a bunch of different Head-Fi user's reviews and headphones that have become a bit of a hit in that community.
These are 15 pairs of headphones that cost $100 or less that have been given the OK by Head-Fi.
I've read through the reviews and given you the Head-Fi reviewers' thoughts in a nutshell, but it's also worth going to Head-Fi and reading a full review if you want to learn more about each pair.
SoundMAGIC E30
This pair of earbuds has a slight bass emphasis, but not so much that it muddies the midrange and treble. Overall, these are a neutral pair of earbuds that sound good and are built well for the price.
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Koss PortaPro
One of the few "classic" headphones on this list, the Koss PortaPros have been in production since 1986. According to Head-Fi, these headphones fall directly in the middle-of-the-road category. Their lack of super strong bass and treble response lead to a somewhat muffled presentation, although the midrange is pretty accurate. They might be more iconic than sonically excellent, but they're still in production for a reason — people like them.
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A-JAYS Five
This pair of earbuds is capable of producing surprisingly accurate sound given its price. Bass, midrange, and highs were all constrained (in a good way) as to not compete with one another. You should be happy with these earbuds regardless of what genre of music you like. As a bonus, Head-Fi considered this pair to be better than some headphones twice its price, which at the time was $100, making their current quality-to-price ratio even better.
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Thinksound ms01
This pair of earbuds has a strong bass, middling midrange, and pretty good highs. When taken on its own, sound in the midrange (like piano and acoustic guitar), sounds great, but it can get a little lost in more sonically dense songs. On the bass and treble side, though, sound is typically where it should be.
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ZERO AUDIO ZH-DX200-CT
This pair of earbuds has an overall balanced sound. The word one reviewer on Head-Fi emphasized to sum its sound up was "clarity." The midrange might seem a little weak at first, but depending on your taste, "laid back" sound in that area might suit you well.
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Superlux HD-681 EVO
According to Head-Fi, the Superlux HD-681 EVO have a slight bass heaviness, but not enough to detract much from the mids or treble. The midrange can get impacted by the extra bass on some tracks, but not on others; the treble is great overall. These headphones are also accurate enough that you'll be able to detect bad mastering when wearing them; so if your favorite bands recorded low-fidelity music, you'll be able to tell.
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Samson SR850
According to one reviewer on Head-Fi, the Samson SR850's are the best headphones he's ever used. Bass, midrange, and treble all sound excellent, accentuating different parts of different songs and not interfering with one another. Another reviewer said that these were able to keep up — bass-wise — with other headphones he owned that were made to deliver extra bass. That same reviewer also praised this headphone's midrange and treble, although they noted the treble could get fatiguing if you listen at high volumes for extended periods of time.
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AKG K 240
These are not the headphones for bass heads. Bass isn't absent from them, but lower frequencies take a backseat to midrange (sound this headphone excels at producing) and treble (which gets extra emphasis.) One reviewer described the sound these headphones produce as "smooth."
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Grado SR80e
Like the headphones I just mentioned, the Grado SR80e's are not meant for listeners looking for a lot of bass. According to Head-Fi, bass is still there, but it takes a backseat to midrange and treble. Vocals, guitars, and horns were all called out as sounding great through these headphones, and as a former Grado headphone owner myself, I totally agree.
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JVC HAFX40B
This pair of earbuds has an extra boomy bass at the expense of midrange and treble sounds. But it still holds its own in terms of clarity, and for a budget pair of headphones, it is well worth the price of admission.
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