While 'audiophile' and 'budget' are usually mutually exclusive, but as a enthusiast community we hope to give users more choices. The Superlux HD681 belongs to the kind of high quality, which can give you good sound, but not expensive headphones. There is even a page (pdf) detailing how to custom this Headphone. You can read it here .

Let's discuss more details. The Superlux HD681 is surprisingly well-built for the small amount of money paid (less than $30), with a sturdy plastic frame and vinyl earcups that encircle your ears comfortably. For the design, it's not so fresh, but more emphasis on their own personality. They look like a sewing machine accident. Lots of red knobs and strange mechanical gears.

After AKG’s classic K240-series monitors, the HD668B features a simple-yet-functional construction of black plastic and vinyl. The inner pad diameter of the Superlux is quite large and they are fully circumaural. Clamping force is moderate and the headphones are very light. The cups maybe a bit shallow, but the pads can be stuffed to alleviate the issue. The vinyl used on the head and earpads is thick and smooth, and tends to invoke sweat more easily than the padding of most DJ cans.

Though the HD668B is a semi-open headphone, but it has very decent isolation and leaks suprisingly little. So it can be used in quiet environment like a library.

Let's talk about the most important part - sound quality.The drivers Superlux crammed into the 668B are very, very impressive and compare to it's price, the sound is quite good. The general signature is balanced, crisp, and neutral in tone. The bass not at all exaggerated, instead appearing tight, quick, and accurate. Technically, they extend quite low but bass notes really thin out below 50Hz and without the typical bass 'rumble' which present in many consumer-class headphones. Bass texture and detail are also quite good - the Senn HD25-II perform just a little better when it comes to portraying subtle nuances between low notes, but then it is nearly four times the price.

When you first put these headphones on your head, you will immediately notice the excellent comfort provided by the double layered headband padding and the breathable ear cushion for longer wearing comfort. The SHP9500 as one of the most comfortable full-size headphones at this price, and the self-adjusting headband always provides just the right clamping force. Although the earpads are not replaceable, their quality is good, so they will likely outlive the headphones themselves. Also the open-back design ensures a good ventilation.

The design is professional and the headphones are well constructed. We have never noticed any unwanted sounds, resonance, or other general annoyance during our testing.

The 50mm neodymium drivers are designed to deliver a full sound and accurately all frequencies. We have found the sonic character of the SHP9500 to be midrange-centric. However, that definitely doesn’t mean that the headphones would be unable to cope well with lows and highs.

Bass, especially, is represented accurately, which could make a few bassheads feel like the headphones lack a punch. In reality, they simply do their best to avoid unnecessary sound coloration. Many happy owners have found them to work amazingly well for home instrument practice, including the piano and drums.

There's also another choice Philips SHP9500S 50mm drivers HiFi Stereo Headphones SHP9500S

The open-backed Sennheiser HD 598SR headphones offer a jazzed-up take on the HD 595, which have been part of Sennheiser’s over-the-ears range for more than five years. The main structure is made of plastic, the headband from foam and leather, the cups from fleece and metal grilles supply these ‘phones’ open backs. There are glossy “Burl wood” veneers that surround the speaker grilles and hem-in the leather part of the headband, but they’re purely aesthetic and shouldn’t affect the HD 598SR’s sound whatsoever.

Unlike the Sennheiser HD 595 headphones, the HD 598SR’s cable is removable. A 2.5mm jack plugs into the headphone itself, while a twist-to-lock mechanism keeps the cable safely in place when attached – a simple yank won’t pull it out. At the other end of the cable sits a 6.3mm jack, but Sennheiser also includes a 3.5mm converter, so you can plug it directly into a portable MP3 player.

The updated design of these headphones seemingly hasn’t added any flab, as they weigh the same as the original HD 595s – significantly lighter than the popular, more expensive Sennheiser HD 650s. They’re exceptionally comfortable, thanks to the team effort made by the padded leather headband, velour ear cups, lightweight construction and over-ear design. They do apply some slight pressure to the sides of your head, but they can be worn all day long, and all night too, without any discomfort.

The Philips Fidelio X2s headphones have a big reputation to live up to. Their predecessors, the X1s, went straight to the leaderboard on their debut. Finally philips has decided against going back to the drawing board for the winning formula, instead opting to tweak its existing model. The X2s have new drivers, which use the multi-layered diaphragm technology introduced in the brand’s S2 in-ears. This, it claims, gives more accurate bass response and a cleaner, more transparent treble. The jack is now 3.5mm too, though a 6.3mm adapter is included.

The cosmetic changes aren’t drastic either, and taking after their beautiful, solidly built predecessors, the X2s feature mesh open-back ear cups; memory foam, velour-covered ear pads to die for; and a detachable (3m) cable and clip. The leather headband is as strong as ever and the familiar mesh band sits below for your comfort.

We’re glad (albeit not surprised) to hear the X1s’ spacious and smooth sound come has been preserved in the X2s, especially when it’s presented with extra dollops of detail, clarity and solidity. It’s a hugely listenable sound. There’s good instrument separation and insight from top to bottom, and their precise, organised manner isn’t a trade off for punch. Each note is punctual in the cohesive presentation and the drubbing bassline drives the track with aplomb. There’s bite to the proceedings too and dynamics are rendered with confidence. Vocals are full of feeling and cymbals wash over the top with precise detail. If anything, the balance is slightly bottom-heavy, but you can’t fault the X2s’ taut, tuneful and controlled quality.

Still, the Philips Fidelio X2s are worthy alternatives. And if you’re looking for unrivalled comfort and an eye-pleasing design to boot, there’s none better

Monoprice has quantity pricing for nearly everything it sells, so if you buy two pairs of 8323 headphones it knocks the price down from $21.59 to $21.23. In any case, Monoprice sells the 8323 model with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The 8323 headphones' cable is detachable, and therefore user-replaceable. The headphones come with two cables: a skinny 50-inch-long one and a thicker 11.5-foot-long one. Both cables are terminated with 3.5mm plugs and there's a 3.5-to-6.3 adapter plug so you can hook up the 8323 headphones to your home stereo. But there's no Apple-friendly in-line remote compatibility or mic, but when you're outdoors or traveling, the over-the-ear design provides a fair amount of isolation from external noise. The hinged earcups allow for compact storage.

The Black Keys' full-on stomp-rock kicked like a mule over the 8323s. The headphones' bass-midrange-treble balance is nice and smooth, which makes it suitable for those with audiophile tastes. The design is closed-back, and while most really inexpensive closed-back headphones can sound canned or hollow, these suffer no such problems. I compared the 8323 with a much more expensive closed-back pair, the Audio Technica ATH-WS55 headphones, and preferred the WS55 for their superior detailing and livelier dynamics, but the 8323s weren't totally clobbered by the comparison. The Monoprice headphones were definitely more comfortable, and some listeners might prefer their more laid-back tone.

The ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones are the number one bestselling product in the Recording Headphone Audio Monitors category on Amazon. Over 1,000 customer reviews average a rating of 4.5 stars, making these headphones not only popular, but also highly recommended by a range of consumers.

This headphone model from Audio-Technica includes top-notch earpads and headband padding to make the listening experience more comfortable. For additional convenience, the cable for these headphones is removable, and the entire structure is foldable.Especially after reading some of the thousands of glowing customer reviews of the ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, it is clear that this product is not only of an exceptionally high quality, but also a great value for the price. This model includes almost all of the features of the most advanced Audio-Technica studio headphones, but costs under $100; an outstanding price for a device of its caliber.

Despite the affordability of the ATH-M40xs, audio professionals will find that the sound quality is up to an expert standard. The circumaural design eliminates ambient sound for a clear, private listening experience, while the extended frequency range and flat tuning make for fantastic accuracy of sound. For one-ear studio monitoring, the earcups swivel 90 degrees.

The 598 Cs comes packaged with two removable cables – one 4 ft (1.2 m) 3.5mm stereo cable with an in-line mic and remote, and one 10 ft (3 m) 1/4” stereo cable for home or studio use. Aside from these two accessories, this headphone forgoes any other additional accessories. Deep and soft velour earpads go a long way in terms of comfort, while thick pleather padding on the headband takes the comfort even further. The earcups perfectly ensconce my large-ish ears, remaining comfortable for hours on end. The headband is entirely plastic, with plastic extenders. Like the other 598 models, this leads to a lightweight yet sturdy feel.

Before my listening session, I was willing to bet that soundstage would suffer on these closed-back headphones – especially when compared to the soundstage of the open-back 598 models. However, quite astoundingly, the soundstage has ample depth and excellent placement. While it might never sound as open as other 598 models, it’s still close enough to fool my ears. This sense of soundstage particularly compliments the luscious high end – for lovers of classical music or female chanteuses, this headphone offers clear benefit.

Excelling at the high end of its frequency range, while simultaneously offering a tactile sense of soundstage, the Sennheiser HD 598 Cs is a welcome addition to the manufacturer’s catalog. And with a low price of just $149, it’s a clear contender with entrenched stalwarts from the likes of Audio Technica, AKG, and others. Need more detail in your high end? Audition the 598 Cs and fall in love.

The DT770 Pro 80 Ohm is built like a strong beefy thing that was designed in the 80’s. Because that’s kind of what it is. The headband is solid metal, covered by a replaceable pad attached with snaps. The ear cups are made of a hard composite textured plastic, akin to a musical instrument case. The ear cups are huge, and covered with giant soft velour pads that provide lots of isolation and long-wearing comfort.

The cable is ten feet long, straight, and non-detachable. Twitch. It’s terminated in a 3.5mm plug with a 6.3mm adapter included in the box. The cable is made from a nice, pliable material, and it’s pretty easy to work with actually. I’ve had no issue using this headphone at a coffee shop by just coiling the cable a bit. But you wouldn’t want to walk around with these unless you’re going to dedicate a pocket to the cable.

The DT 770 are great-sounding closed-back headphones. They have an excellent and extended Bass, a nearly flawless Mid-Range reproduction, and very good imaging and distortion performance. However, their Treble is on the bright and sibilant side, they don't have the most open Soundstage. Also their Bass response can vary from one individual to another.

Finally, Beyerdynamic’s DT770 Pro 80 Ohm is a great closed-back headphone with a wide soundstage, ample speed, good bass and treble performance, and long-wearing comfort.