Last updated: December 2023

Beats headphones are no doubt classic and popular. They are the first choice whenever people are looking for new headphones.

Of course, there is a reason why Beats are extremely popular. They are made of high-quality materials, comfortable to wear, have stylish designs, and on top of that, produce fantastic bass.

With a familiar brand like this one, it is easier for us to figure out what to expect when it comes to overall quality. Other headphone brands cannot give you this sense of familiarity. However, there are still a lot of reliable options.

Moreover, some people are looking for substitutes for Beats for a reason. A lot of times, it is about the desire to discover a new pair of earphones without caring about the brand. On the other hand, some find the models too bass-heavy, distracting the overall sound experience.

Regardless of your reason for looking for alternative headphones, we have curated a list of some of the best Beats headphone alternatives.

With plenty of brands and models to choose from, this list will help you narrow down your choices so you won’t get overwhelmed.

The Evolution of Headphones

Headphones have already established a place in people’s lives. From listening to your favorite band while working, enjoying some upbeat music while jogging, to getting immense to podcasts during the night, a good pair of headphones is the perfect partner to that.

But how were headphones created and became what they are today?

Headphones started in 1890 with phone operators. Back then, it was just a single earpiece that sat on the shoulder of its users. They were also quite heavy, weighing more than 10 pounds.

Not too long after that, the Electrophone came. It was invented in the same year in Britain. The Electrophone was a subscription service that charged users £5 per year. This device connected them to live performances from theaters located in London.

Moreover, it was in 1910 when the first pair of audio headphones was created by Nathaniel Baldwin, an engineer. This was the model that closely resembled the modern ones that we use today. When Baldwin invented this model, the Navy purchased 100 pairs, not knowing that he was making them by hand.

In 1958, John Koss invented Koss SP-3, the first stereo headphones. They were only mini speakers covered in cardboards and sofa foam. However, the impact was excellent.

After the Koss SP-3, Sony came into the picture with the Walkman. This was a cassette player that sold over 400 million units. Moreover, the Walkman is what influenced people to listen to music whenever, wherever.

After the Walkman’s reign, iPods and MP3 Players were created. MP3 Players were popular for some time. But the birth of the iPod took portable digital music to another level. Suddenly hundreds of wired earbuds from Apple were everywhere.

In 2008, brands like Skullcandy, UrbanEars, and of course, Beats were born. From simple utility, they turned headphones into a fashion statement. This was the time when headphones were big, colorful, and expensive. But due to its immense popularity and high quality, a lot of people invested a pretty penny just to have their own headphones.

Needless to say, headphones have undergone years of evolution before becoming the models that we have today.

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Next Best Headphones to Beats	Best Price (USD)
Sony MDR7506	$98.99
Jabra Move Wireless Stereo Headset	$55.00
AKG Noise Cancelling Headphones N60NC	$124.99
Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK SonicPro Headphones	$264.99
V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition	$319.99

The Best Beats Headphone Alternatives that You Can Get Online

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Sony MDR7506

The Sony MDR7506 is a great choice for people who are on a tight budget but are looking for headphones with excellent sound. These professional headphones have a reputation of pleasing customers for years now. While they are plain and do not include an inline mic, they still deliver the great sound and quality that a lot of people are looking for.

Moreover, these headphones by Sony are straightforward. They are comfortable to wear and have a well-balanced sound combined with punchy bass. When listening to music using this headphone, instruments, and vocals sound excellent.

In addition, these Sony headphones are light-weight and not too tight. For this reason, you will never get uncomfortable when wearing this model for a long time.

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2. Jabra Move Wireless Stereo Headset

This pair of headphones by Jabra boasts itself for its clean one-ear style. These headphones have a solid great set of features. You can use them to take phone calls, thanks to the microphone built into them. And while they are wireless, you can connect a wire to them if you prefer to use them in wired mode.

With a minimal yet good-looking design and good quality audio that can compete with other high-end brands, these headphones are an amazing alternative to Beats.

The headband of this model is covered with mesh fabric that is resistant to dirt. It feels breathable and the padding on the earpiece is enough to keep the model lightweight. Apart from that, it has a stainless steel spine, making it durable yet flexible at the same time.

The Jabra Move Wireless Headphones are also lightweight. They can run for eight hours on a single charge. The best part? You can get all these features for a decent price.

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3. AKG Noise Cancelling Headphones N60NC

The AKG Noise Cancelling Headphones N60NC is comfortable on both the ears and head. They are also lightweight that you won’t even notice that you are wearing headphones once you get used to them. What is even better is that the battery life lasts for 30 hours when wired.

Moreover, these headphones provide users with functionality at their best. They have swiveling earcups that you can fold, allowing you to bring the headphones when traveling without worrying that they might get damaged. Additionally, the headband is adjustable so the model will fit different head sizes. It even has a height indicator to make sure that both sides are even.

Innovative ACC and AptX technology ensure that the sound of these headphones is at an optimal level. You can enjoy this high-quality sound for 15 hours with the activation of both ANC and Bluetooth. But when you are only using ANC, these headphones can last for 30 hours straight.

There is also a 1.2-meter cable in the package, allowing you to easily switch between wired and wireless usage.

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4. Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK SonicPro Headphones

This is the perfect choice for all the audiophiles out there. These headphones by Audio-Technica can produce high-quality and highly accurate sounds, making sure that you are getting a detailed music experience. To ensure that you are comfortable while listening to music and podcasts, the headband and earpieces are covered with memory foam.

What’s more, these headphones are a popular alternative to Beats Solo models. They deliver impressively clear sound, thanks to the 45mm True Motion drivers. Also, they consist of a custom circuit board, lightweight coils, and specially designed diaphragms. As a result, they can reduce sound distortions, giving you more detailed sound.

These headphones have lightweight aluminum combined with magnesium as their housing. This reduces undesirable resonance. Besides, they have a vast soundstage that reaches a tight bass and can move between treble and mids effortlessly.

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5. V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition

If you are a gamer or you are just looking for headphones with a high-tech modern look, then this unit from V-MODA is the right headphones for you.

One of the best things about these headphones is that they are equipped with a 30-minute fast charge feature. This means that you can listen to your favorite band or play games for 14 hours even if you are in wireless mode.

In terms of the design, the Crossfade 2 has a highly stylish exterior that features aluminum shields. They are available in a number of color options that match different lifestyles.

Moreover, these headphones by V-MODA produce professional-grade audio, thanks to ACC technology. For this reason, you can ensure that they give the best sound performance even when used on smaller mobile devices. They also have a 50-mm dual-diaphragm driver that is specially designed with outer and inner rings. As a result, you will never hear any bleeding of the bass sounds when listening to music.

Durability-wise, these headphones’ entire frame is made out of steel. It is also backed up with a 45-degree plug to prevent any breakage when bending.

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