Best Headphones Under $500: Bose, Sony, Sennheiser & More!

David and David tell you about the best headphones under $500. With this budget, you can purchase most of our favorite over-ear headphones and earbuds, including the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and Sony XM4s.

However, it's important to know that price ≠ quality. There are a lot of expensive headphones that sound extremely poor!

We've tested dozens of pairs of headphones to help you make an informed decision!

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1. Introduction [0:00]
2. Why you can trust our reviews [0:09]
3. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds [0:28]
4. Sony WH-XB700 [1:20]
5. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro [2:04]
6. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless II Earbuds [2:50]
7. Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless [3:19]
8. Bose Sport Earbuds [4:20]
9. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT [5:17]
10. Sony WH-1000XM4 [6:14]
11. David P.'s #2 Best Headphones Under $500: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 [7:14]
12. David L.'s #1 Best Headphones Under $500: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 [7:20]
13. David P.'s #1 Best Headphones Under $500: Sony WF-1000XM4 Earbuds [8:12]
14. Honorable Mention: Beats Solo Pro [9:11]

Tracks We Used For Testing:
🎵 "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk — Pristine, well-recorded track: Overall clarity, space
🎵 "Jack Of Speed" by Steely Dan — Pristine, well-recorded track: Overall quality, 3D space
🎵 "Weird Fishes" by Radiohead/Noordpool Orchestra — Wide Dynamic Range: Clarity from loud to soft & "big" soundstage
🎵 "Tin Pan Alley" by Stevie Ray Vaughan — Wide Dynamic Range: Clarity from soft to loud & "live" sound
🎵 "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson — Bass: Makes you want to move but not overpowering
🎵 "Morning" by Beck — Bass: Not too much or too little (Goldilocks zone)
🎵 "Brass Monkey" by Beastie Boys — Bass: Powerful but doesn't get muddy / rumbly
🎵 "Waterwheel" by Kronos Quartet — Dynamic range & space: Sounds like sound is coming from outside your head

Get Social With Payette Forward:

[FinneasJedidiah]

Have you guys ever reviews Jabra headphones? Like the Elite 85H? Theyr a couple years old now, but you can get them for just $150

[skullcrusher_]

The xm4 earbuds are the only ear buds I have ever used that actually fit and stay in my ears. I have weird shaped ears for sure and giant canals for some weird reason. 😂 I'd agree with the Bose being number 1. I usually can't stand the sound signature of Bose but those qc over ears sound phenomenal.

[Varxiva]

Great reviewing! Helped me choose a new pair after my Utaxos started falling apart. I'm going with the Sony WH-XB700s, as I'm on a budget - however, I don't see a commission link to purchase them with.

[kamenml]

Hey, Davids. I was digging around for a good Wireless piece and I came across your video, very informative and well done, thank you. I wanted to ask why the Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless wasn't included, from what I keep reading, they're pretty good. Understandable if you had to pick only a few to fit the budget, just wanted to know if there was another reason?

[deacon]

Audio technica have released a new version. the m50xbt2

[Kalo_agori]

David and David, Try out the Tribit XFree Go headphones. They're suuuper cheap, and sound really really great.

[aryanschannelever]

I thought of buying Jabra active 75ts
But u guys saved my money 😀😂
Gonna buy bose sport tq...

[Malfunctsean]

Straight up gotta have one over ear and in ear wear. And for me it’s senheiser momentum2’s for as long as they live (3hrs maxed out). then it’s onto the Sony xm4 over ears cans (with that bass).

[teevis]

Nearly April 2022 and my 2 plus year old Limited Edition Bose Over ear NC700s are still my preferable daily drive.
I love them and they still look as new as the day l purchased them . (I very recently replaced the white ear cupsI that probably still had a few months of wear left in them).
The sound quality across the range of music l personally listen too is excellent and in this area l consider the phone call quality is superior to that of my 6 month old Sony WH1000XM4s.
I've never used the Bose app (using it could possibly enrich and enhance the quality of the sound across the spectrum but meh...l try to keep my android phone Apps to the bare minimum and having watched reviews where people later regretted the software updates on some model/Brand headphones that werre unable to be rolled back to factory reset, l'm kind of reluctant to use any such apps. ( l should have maintained that practice with the Sony XM4s l bought). l didn't...Duh...another story 😅)
I thinkI paid somewhere in the region of $NZ550 for the Bose 700s and 'unbelievably' the other day l saw a (Non Special Edition) pair on sale at a popular retail outlet ticketed at $NZ700 😳😳😳

Definitely the Sony WH1000XM4s are my number 2 backup daily drive and (in relatively small areas marginally outshine my Bose 700s and that's only my opinion because l did Install the Sony app and was able to view and use for a short time (because l later got rid of the App) 'SOME' of the useful features said app has.
I believe l purchased the Sonys for around $NZ390 6 months ago and l surmise that global supply chain issues and inflation bought about by the covid situation, l've seen the Sonys now being retailed locally at up to $NZ550 here.

Overview...lve never found an 'in ear' system that actually fits my ears comfortably so l can't offer an informed opinion about those systems.
However as far as 'over ear' Noise Canceling headphones go and having viewed a number of other reviews l would personally purchase either of these systems if lchose to purchase them as a gift for someone else.

Thanks for the helpful review guys.
Cheers.
Have a nice day.

[caioiqsc]

Loved the video guys!!! First time watching your videos!!!! Keeo it up!!!

[nrey]

As someone with the WF-1000XM3, worth upgrading to the WF1000XM4? I have the WHXM4s :)

[alexsmith]

Any B&O headphones? I'm wondering what's y'all take on them

[deacon]

have you guys tried out marshall mids or monitor II? curious what you think their qualities are if there is any

[dvil]

I had a fit issue as well. I got regular comply foam tips. Which are not as firm as the tips that come on the Sonys.

[robbiedonald]

Have you guys done reviews of Nura products?

[lacsap]

Awesome review guys you just made up my mind, Bose sport in ear excellent!

[SAyar-sour]

You guys have the best attitude and humor in all headphone reviewers and you don't take yourself too serious, it's a joy to watch you. And I agree Galaxy Buds Pro's sound great!

[markpomerhn]

Jeez, Amazon Prime had the Bose 700's in soapstone color for $229.00 during Prime Day sale. Wish I would have picked them up. Thanks David and David.

[petermurage]

Goid job there, folks! How good are the Sennheiser CX true wireless? I hear they sound better than the Sony Wf-1000xm4!!!!

[lrzdkis]

Love your reviews
Can you add a review on oppo enco free 2 pls