The 4 Most Overpriced Headphones You Can Buy, According To User Reviews

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Headphones are a dime a dozen. You can buy high-end headphones in the thousands, find affordable audiophile-focused headphones that are worth your time, or even snag a bargain-bin headset at your local discount retailer. I know, because I've experienced both. I recently bought a pair of $8 headphones from Five Below while on vacation after accidentally forgetting my Soundcore Anker Space 2 headphones at home.

And while higher-end headphones do have their advantages and fanbases, you might be surprised to find that many popular headphones are considered overpriced within the audio community. This doesn't necessarily mean these expensive headphones are bad, only that you might not feel you are getting your money's worth, especially if your ears aren't tuned/trained to really listen.

Because of this, we've scoured the internet to find out which headphones users consider overpriced today. From name-brand offerings to brands you've probably never heard of, these are the headphones you might want to think twice before shelling out your next paycheck on. We've also included some more affordable alternatives for those looking to save a few bucks, while still getting great sound.

The Beats brand was a popular one in the audio space, especially after Apple bought them out back in 2014. While Beats went on to be a huge seller for Apple, their status has seemingly fallen over the years as other brands have grown. This has a lot to do with people starting to feel that Beats are generally pretty overrated for their price, even their high-end models like the Beats Studio Pro.

The Beats Studio Pro sound great on paper, and our own review called them the comeback hat we all needed. But some users have been less than thrilled, reporting issues with the overall sound and feeling like the audio is held back in some way. Some reviews highlight the poor build quality, the focus on heavy bass, a tight fit, and, strangely enough, cushions that can't be replaced.

For those looking for something in the same price range that can compete, many often recommend the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones. They're solid headphones for music, with great color options and a full feature set.

It might seem strange to see Sony end up on this list, but here we are. There's nothing inherently bad about the Sony WH-1000XM5, and there was a lot of hype around them at launch. The issue many have is the price-to-performance ratio. If you read enough reviews, you'll quickly see a pattern come together. The most prominent feature isn't the audio; it's the noise-canceling technology.

Sony's noise cancellation technology is some of the best around. It's strange that the number one point many people make isn't about how great these headphones sound. Look, I'm a big fan of noise cancellation when traveling or working, but if I'm buying headphones, it's going to be for the sound quality first and not the lifestyle features.

If you're serious about noise cancellation but not looking to spend nearly $300 on the Sonys, Soundcore might have you covered. The Soundcore Anker Space One features four-stage adaptive active noise cancellation and delivers a High-Res audio experience. Just don't be surprised if these get a name change in the future, as the Soundcore name is getting retired soon. 

You might know Raycon as the company that seems to sponsor every YouTuber over the past several years. And what might surprise you is that Raycon doesn't actually make the worst headphones on the planet. Sure, they aren't for high-end audiophiles, but they get the job done for basic use. The problem often comes down to the price, something which tends to be overly inflated for what you are getting.

The Raycon The Essential headphones are one example. These are decent entry-level headphones with active noise cancellation, long battery life, and a clean, simple design. On paper, they are pretty good headphones, but Raycon's confusing name convention doesn't help. They just feel a bit overpriced at nearly $100 compared with competitors in the space.

When you can snag something competitive like the JLab JBuds Lux for $60 every day, or something that blows them away like the Soundcore Q31i for the same price, it's hard to recommend the Raycon The Essential headphones. Unless you really love the brand and got sucked in by the marketing, there are better options at that price point.

When you start getting really into the audiophile space, chances are you'll quickly come across Bowers & Wilkins. That makes sense, as the company has a rich history dating back to 1966. So, you might expect their headphone offerings to be top-notch, and they generally are. But that name brand now comes at a cost many feel is too high for what you're getting.

Users noted that the company's early days of innovation are long behind it, with its modern headphones banking on the name to draw in a luxury crowd, not necessarily an audiophile one. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 are a good example. They're solid headphones with decent sound, but it's hard to justify shelling out nearly $800 for them.

If you are itching to spend the price of a PlayStation 5 on your next set of headphones and want a truly high-end audiophile experience, I'd suggest something like the Focal Bathys. Users note the superior soundstage and that they're simply a lot more fun musically than the Bowers & Wilkins Px8.

When putting together this list of headphones, we consulted users and audio experts alike, drawing on the writer's expertise and experience. From YouTube audiophiles to Amazon reviews and even audio-focused forums, we focused on headphones many in the audio community feel are overpriced for what you get. 

This doesn't mean that any of the featured headphones are bad, only that you might be paying for a name and fancy marketing, rather than for the audio quality itself. During our research, we also looked for a number of potential alternatives users could consider if they were planning to buy any of the featured headphones on this list.