This article ranks and reviews the 9 best webinar headphones on the market under $200, their features, and how to choose the pair that'll best fit your needs.
If you’re a webinar host who's on the market for quality headphones, it‘s important that you know what you’re looking for before you start shopping around because there’s an overwhelming number of choices.
Some are great but pricey, some are inexpensive yet punch way above their weight, and some look deceivingly fantastic but are plain terrible.
Disclosure: Although I receive affiliate compensation at no additional cost to you to support this site that compensation in no way influences my recommendations, which are strictly informed by my 10+ years of online business experience consulting for clients large and small. My aim is to always recommend tools that offer the best return for your investment (for more details, read my Affiliate Disclosure).
What Are the Best Webinar Headphones Under $200?
Best Overall:
The DT 770 Pro has been a staple for broadcasters for a very long time. They are known for their deep bass and well-defined highs, which is why they're perfect if you need studio headphones that offer high fidelity sound.
The DT 770 Pro's large ear cups provide excellent noise isolation so you can focus on your own sound without the outside world getting in the way.
They're built to be durable and have a wide frequency response range that lets them reproduce sound accurately.
This pair of headphones can produce an impressive sound pressure level up to 96 dB.
Key Features
- Large ear cups provide excellent noise isolation
- Wide frequency response range lets them reproduce sound accurately
- Practical single-sided cable
Price Range: $150-$180
2. Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Best for Comfort
Sennheiser has a reputation for making world-class headphones and the HD 280 Pro is no exception. These are professional-level headphones for webinar hosts and podcasters who want a product they can count on when it matters most at a price range that won’t break the wallet.
The HD 280 Pro features an adjustable headband that provides comfort over long listening sessions and ear cups with plush padding to make sure you're always comfortable.
They have a wide frequency response range from 8Hz all the way up to 25kHz which ensures clear, accurate sound reproduction.
Key Features
- 8Hz-25kHz frequency response range
- Wide, adjustable headband for comfort
- Padded ear cups and lightweight design for long listening sessions
Price Range: $80-$100
3. Sony MDR 7506
Best for Low Cost Sound Quality
A studio workhorse many years, the Sony MDR 7506 has been around for a long, long time and it's still a great headphone choice today.
They're well-built and very comfortable with large ear cups that can accommodate any size ears.
The Sony MDR 7506 headphones have high sound quality, very low distortion levels and are durable enough to take some abuse, which makes them great for travel use.
One of its most popular features is that it has excellent sound isolation due to its large ear cups, which means you can enjoy your music without being disturbed or distracted.
Their only downside is that some people find them a little bit heavy compared to other models, but if weight isn't an issue for you then these professional headphones are a great buy.
Key Features
- Respectable frequency response ranges from 10Hz to 20kHz for clear, accurate reproduction of your sound
- Adjustable headbands provide comfort over long listening sessions and ear cups with plush padding make sure you're always comfortable
- Replaceable cables that can be swapped if they break down, although this shouldn't be an issue due to how rugged this product is
Price Range: $80-$100
4. AKG K240 Studio
Best Closed-Back Headset
AKG is an Austrian audio equipment company that has been around since the late 40s. Their products have been common fixtures in broadcast settings around the world for many decades and their headphones are one of the studio favorites.
The K240 Studio is a closed-back model that features soft ear pads, an adjustable headband, and collapsible steel hinges for easy transport.
They also have an impressive frequency response range from 15Hz to 25kHz.
Key Features
- Soft ear pads
- Adjustable headband
- Detachable cable
Price Range: $60-$80
5. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
Best for Distortion-Free Audio
Here is another widely popular pair of headphones that is the preferred choice of many webinar hosts and podcasters.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50X are good at blocking noise, have a comfortable design and offer a great sound experience for the price tag.
The M50X have excellent sound quality and provide distortion-free audio even at high volume levels.
The design offers plenty of space around your ears so it won't feel like constricting.
Key Features
- Crisp, extended highs for a realistic audio experience
- Incredible sound isolation that reduces the need to turn up your volume to compete with background noise
- Detachable cables and swiveling ear cups allow you to customize fit in seconds.
Price Range: $140-$160
6. Avantone Pro MP1
Best Open-Back Design
The Avantone Pro MP1 are a great accessory for webinar hosts and podcasters who want a product that gives them accurate stereo mixing and the benefits of an open-back headphone.
The open back earpieces allow you to monitor your audio tracks in full detail by letting the air to pass through the cup for a more natural sound.
You also get a few extra pads that can be used for different sized ears and more isolation when needed.
If you're looking for high-end professional headphones, these are a great pick!
Key Features
- Open back design allows air to pass through, creating a natural and clear sound
- 18Hz-25kHz frequency response lets you hear every nuance of your sound
- Large-format 50mm drivers for crisp, powerful reproduction of any signal.
Price Range: $140-$160
7. Mackie MP-240
Best Earbud Style
If you're looking for a great set of top of the line in-ear headphones that won't break the bank, Mackie's MP-240 are a great option.
The Mackie MP-240 will give you a performance boost with their enhanced sound isolation and full-range frequency reproduction.
These comfortable ergonomically designed in-ear headphones make sound come alive with pristine detail and clarity.
With a dual hybrid driver design on each earbud these headphones are known for super clear highs and mids.
Key Features
- Dual hybrid driver produces balanced frequency response of 20Hz–20kHz
- Offers up to 40 dB of noise isolation
- Includes three different types of ear tips in different sizes
Price Range: $180-$200
8. Samson SR850
Best Semi-Acoustic Design
Samson is a great option if you're looking for a high-fidelity pair of headphones that are of semi-open acoustic design.
The SR85 have a lot going for them: they're comfortable, reasonably priced, and sound great! When you put these on your head the first thing you'll notice is their lightweight design—you barely know they're there.
Key Features
- Over-ear, semi-open-back design with velour cushioning.
- Large 50mm drivers with rare earth magnets
- 10Hz–30kHz frequency response.
Price Range: $40-$60
9. Sennheiser HD-25
Best Lightweight Headset
Finally, let’s bring the list to a close with another great Sennheiser option.
The HD-25 headphones are lightweight, and come with a swivel design that allows them to lay flat when not in use. This is one of the most popular options with webinar hosts, podcasters and broadcast studios.
Key Features
- Lightweight and comfortable over long periods of use
- Detachable, single-sided cable
- Rotatable capsule for single-ear listening
Price Range: $140-$160
How Do I Choose Studio Headphones?
All headphones on the list above have exceptional sound quality, so what you really need to focus on is form and fit.
Look at the headband and ear pads and their choice of materials that are applying a constant pressure to your skin. You want to choose headphones that can be worn for long periods of time without discomfort or irritation.
You also need to consider where they sit on your head; some people prefer over-ear models while others might be more comfortable with a supra-aural design that sits on your ears.
How Much Should I Spend on Headphones?
If you're working with a low budget, you should look at models that are in the $60-$100 range. When you go below $60 the sound quality begins to degrade quite rapidly.
As your budget goes up it becomes a trade-off: higher-end headphones will offer the clearest and most accurate sound reproduction but they're also going to set you back quite a bit more than their lower tier counterparts.
You should expect to spend anywhere between $150 and $200 for top quality headphones with the best frequency response range, driver type, impedance rating and sensitivity.
Why Are Open Back Headphones Better?
Open back headphones have an advantage over closed back headphones in that they allow air to pass through the ear cups into the speaker element.
This prevents a buildup of pressure inside the cup, thus producing a more clear and natural sound.
Do You Need Noise-Cancelling Headphones to Host a Webinar?
As a rule, you don't. Most webinars are recorded in controlled environments where background noise can be minimized.
However, if you are unable to control your background noise (say, there's a loud air conditioner in the room) or you have a hard time hearing people, then noise-cancelling headphones can be very helpful.
Where this feature can become very useful is for audience members participating in your webinar from a place with a lot of distractions, like an airport or a coffee shop.
Wrapping Things Up
A great pair of headphones will allow you to hear every nuances in your audio. When you are working in a studio setting, like a webinar or a podcast, you want to have crystal sound reproduction free of noise and distortion.
The other important consideration is comfort. When you’re recording or monitoring sound for an extended period of time, you don’t want to choose headphones that irritate your skin under pressure or feel heavy on you.
You always want to look for plush surfaces, ergonomic designs and lightweight materials.
Before making your purchasing decision, visit an audio equipment store that lets you sample different models before you settle on your pick.
If you treat them well, a good pair of headphones will give you many years of awesome sound reproduction.
