You don’t need to spend a fortune to get honest, usable headphones for tracking and reference. The best studio headphones under 50 dollars give you a reasonably flat sound, decent isolation for recording, and enough comfort for a session. Here’s how to choose a pair on a budget and the real models that punch above their price.
Quick answer
At this price, the Sony MDR-7506 (often near the top of the budget bracket) and Audio-Technica ATH-M20x/M30x are the safe picks for closed-back tracking. The Samson SR850 is a popular open-back budget option for casual reference, and the AKG K72 is another solid closed-back choice.
What to expect at this price
Budget headphones won’t match high-end reference cans for detail or comfort, but the good ones are honest enough to track and rough-mix on. The most important split is open-back vs closed-back: closed-back isolate sound so it doesn’t bleed into your mic while recording, while open-back sound more natural for listening but leak. For tracking, choose closed-back. Learn the difference in open-back vs closed-back headphones and what to look for in reference headphones.
It helps to set realistic expectations before you buy. Under 50 dollars you are paying for the core driver and a workable tuning, not for plush memory-foam pads, exotic materials or a perfectly ruler-flat response. What you do get is a tool that tells you the truth often enough to make good decisions: whether a vocal take is clean, whether a part is in tune, and whether your rough balance is roughly right. The cheaper the pair, the more you lean on cross-referencing rather than trusting any single listen.
How to choose budget studio headphones
- Closed vs open back: Closed-back for recording (isolation, no bleed); open-back for relaxed listening if leakage doesn’t matter. Most budget studio buyers want a solid closed-back pair for recording.
- Tonal balance: Look for a fairly even response rather than hyped bass. Overly “fun” tuning makes mixing decisions harder.
- Comfort and clamp: You’ll wear these for hours. Check pad comfort and clamping force; replaceable ear pads extend their life — see how to clean and replace headphone ear pads.
- Cable: A detachable cable is a bonus at this price since cables are the most common failure point. Otherwise, mind how the cable exits and strain-relieves.
- Impedance: Low-impedance budget headphones are easy to drive from interfaces, laptops and phones, which is what most people plug into.
- Connector and adapter: Check whether the pair terminates in a 3.5mm plug, a 6.3mm (quarter-inch) plug, or comes with a screw-on adapter. Studio interfaces usually want the larger jack, while phones and laptops want the smaller one, so make sure you can connect to whatever you actually use.
The best studio headphones under $50
Sony MDR-7506
A long-running studio standard that often sits right at the top of the budget range. Closed-back, detailed in the mids and highs, and great for spotting problems while tracking. The coiled cable and folding design are practical for everyday studio use, and if you ever want to step up, our Sony MDR-7506 vs ATH-M50x comparison shows what more money buys.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x and M30x
The entry models in Audio-Technica’s respected M-series, offering closed-back isolation and a fairly balanced sound for tracking and casual reference. Comfortable and reliable, they’re a dependable first pair for a home studio.
Samson SR850
A semi-open budget favourite known for a spacious sound that belies its low price. The open design leaks, so it’s better for listening and rough mixing than for recording near a live mic, but the value is excellent.
AKG K72 and Superlux options
The AKG K72 is a comfortable closed-back option with a smooth, easygoing tone. Superlux also makes well-regarded budget headphones in both closed and semi-open designs that mimic the feel of pricier studio cans for very little money.
Common mistakes when buying budget headphones
A few avoidable errors trip up first-time buyers more than the choice of model ever does.
- Chasing bass: Consumer-style cans with a big low-end thump feel exciting but flatter your mixes. If everything sounds great, you’ll under-do the bass and the mix will sound thin everywhere else. Pick the more neutral option, even if it sounds less impressive at first.
- Buying open-back for tracking: Open and semi-open headphones leak sound into the room. Record vocals or acoustic instruments with them and you’ll capture a faint click track or backing bleed in your take. Save open-back pairs for mixing and listening.
- Trusting one pair for every decision: No budget headphone is the whole truth. Final calls on bass weight, stereo width and overall loudness should always be cross-checked elsewhere.
- Ignoring fit: A pair that clamps too hard or sits hot becomes unusable over a long session, and a tired, distracted engineer makes worse mixes than the gear ever does. Comfort is a working feature, not a luxury.
Getting the most life out of a cheap pair
Budget headphones tend to fail at predictable points, so a little care goes a long way. The cable and its strain relief are usually the first to go: coil the cable loosely rather than kinking it, and unplug by gripping the connector instead of yanking the lead. Ear pads flatten and crumble over time, but they’re cheap to swap and an easy way to refresh both comfort and sound — keeping them clean slows the wear. Store the headphones on a hook or stand rather than crushing them in a bag, and keep them out of direct sun and damp, both of which harden foam and perish plastics. Treated this way, an inexpensive pair can serve as a reliable tracking and reference tool for years.
How to use budget headphones well
Use closed-back pairs for tracking and check your mixes on monitors too — see studio monitors vs headphones for mixing. Reference your mix on several devices, since no single pair tells the whole story. If you outgrow them, our best budget headphones for music production guide covers the next tier up, and the monitors and headphones hub has more on building accurate monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix on headphones that cost under $50?
You can do a lot of the work, but check the result on monitors and other devices before finalising. Budget headphones are honest enough for tracking and rough mixes, though they reveal less detail than reference-grade cans.
Open-back or closed-back for a budget pair?
Closed-back if you record with a live mic in the room, because they isolate sound and prevent bleed. Open-back sound more natural for listening but leak audio, so they’re best reserved for mixing or casual reference.
Do cheap headphones need a headphone amp?
Usually no. Most budget studio headphones are low impedance and easy to drive from an audio interface, laptop or phone. Higher-impedance models benefit from more power, but that’s rare in this price range.
Are budget studio headphones good enough to start with?
Yes. A solid closed-back pair under 50 dollars is plenty to learn tracking and rough mixing, and many engineers keep one around for years as a tracking and reference workhorse even after upgrading. Buy the most honest-sounding pair you can, get used to how it represents your mixes, and only move up a tier once you genuinely feel the detail holding you back.
