Best Headphones Under $500

Top-ranked headphones under $500, scored by frequency response measurements. Ranked by AudioList Score from frequency response measurements, then current retailer price.

Eligibility: current price under $500; canonical best variants only; measurement required.

  1. AKG Pro Audio K371 #1 - $190; Score: 78.2; 3 retailer offers.
  2. Focal Azurys #2 - $499; Score: 78.1; 11 retailer offers.
  3. Audeze Maxwell #3 - $325; Score: 77.6; 3 retailer offers.
  4. Hifiman Edition XV #4 - $399; Score: 76.9; 9 retailer offers.
  5. Apple AirPods Max #5 - $370; Score: 75.9; 2 retailer offers.
  6. Hifiman Edition XS #6 - $209; Score: 75.3; 8 retailer offers.
  7. Hifiman Sundara Closed-Back #7 - $129; Score: 73.9; 4 retailer offers.
  8. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x #8 - $159; Score: 73.2; 11 retailer offers.
  9. Austrian Audio Hi-X60 #9 - $499; Score: 72.6; 3 retailer offers.
  10. Beyerdynamic DT 250 #10 - $330; Score: 72.5; 4 retailer offers.
  11. Bose QuietComfort 35 2 #11 - $299; Score: 72; 1 retailer offers.
  12. Sennheiser HD 620S #12 - $250; Score: 71.7; 14 retailer offers.
  13. Focal Elegia High Fidelity #13 - $399; Score: 71.7; 1 retailer offers.
  14. FiiO FT1 Pro #14 - $200; Score: 70.8; 5 retailer offers.
  15. AUNE Audio AR5000 #15 - $280; Score: 70.4; 1 retailer offers.
  16. HyperX Cloud Alpha #16 - $69.99; Score: 70.3; 1 retailer offers.
  17. Sennheiser HDB 630 #17 - $500; Score: 70.3; 9 retailer offers.
  18. Sennheiser HD 400S #18 - $89.95; Score: 69.9; 1 retailer offers.
  19. Moondrop VOID #19 - $200; Score: 69.5; 2 retailer offers.
  20. Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Studio #20 - $109; Score: 69.2; 9 retailer offers.

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