While the Beats by Dr. Dre line of headphones enjoys a massive following of loyal fans, not every Apple enthusiast wants Beats headphones. In fact, some music lovers see Beats everywhere — in all their glorious colors — and would simply prefer a good set of headphones that are anything but Beats. No worries. There’s always a handful of people that would rather not wear what everyone else is wearing, would rather not use what everyone else is using. Plus, when it comes to a personal sense of style and fashion, the Beats look isn’t for everyone — never mind the heavy bass and audiophile-cringe-inducing acoustic qualities. To each their own, though. The world is littered with Beats alternatives, but unfortunately some of the options come with cryptic names that are hard to remember — strings of seemingly random uppercase letters with numbers followed by a lowercase “i” from manufacturers most people have never heard of. In fact, if you look at some of the names of alternative headphones out there — like “AH-D600” or “ES-HF300” — it’s not surprising that Beats was able to quickly cultivate a following. Sure, the star power of Dr. Dre brought awareness, but buying Beats is less about a specific model than it is just picking a pair of “Beats.” Genius marketing and simple customer alignment — no wonder Apple dropped $3 billion to buy them. However, you’re here because you want a good pair of headphones and you don’t care what the name or brand is. That’s good. That frees you up because most of these options below will satisfy most people, so you’re fairly safe shopping based on price, style, or features — like noise cancelation or foldability. So where do you start looking if you’ve decided — preemptively — to go with a Beats alternative headphone? Right here.

10 Beats Alternative Headphones

Full-size, over ear headphones can have closed backs or open backs and they are intended to fit over and around your ear. While open backs might deliver better sound, open backs are bothersome to everyone else around you because they can hear your music, too. Closed backs reduce this side effect, plus they help isolate your ear from background noise so you can focus on the music. (Because you probably don’t want to share your music with whomever happens to be near you, none of these Beats alternatives have open backs.) The headphones below are great alternatives to Beats Studio3 headphones.

1. Sennheiser HD1

This image shows the Sennheiser HD1 Wireless headphones Beats alternative headphones.

Sennheiser HD1 Wireless

The Sennheiser HD1 Wireless headphones get rave reviews for overall sound quality for a variety of listeners while boasting a sophisticated premium look. Soft leather ear pads and an adjustable design provide excellent comfort for hours. The Sennheiser HD1 is wireless and features active noice cancellation — the HD1 also replaces the popular Sennheiser Momentum series. Choose the wired HD1 version for Apple devices if you prefer an old-school wired connection.

[Check out the Sennheiser HD1 Wireless at Amazon.]

2. V-MODA Crossfade M-100

v-moda m-100 beats alternative

V-MODA Crossfade M-100

The V-MODA Crossfade M-100 headphone provides fantastic range for a wide variety of listeners and music types while offering a vaguely wicked industrial style with sharp angles and steel. For a splash of color, you can swap out the matte black, shadow, or white silver cover plates with metallic red, orange, or even purple. It’s got an inline mic for smartphone use, as well as an optional boom mic for gaming. Includes dual-inputs for mixing two sources at the same time or daisy chaining the headphones with friends. Comes with a form-fitting case, plus it’s partially foldable for better portability. Want a wireless option? Choose the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless.

[Check out the V-MODA Crossfade M-100 at Amazon.]

3. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

ATH-M50x beats alternative

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones offers a slight update to the also popular ATH-M50 predecessor. The “x” version is essentially the same as the previous ATH-M50, but it comes with three detachable cables, one short, one long, and another coiled. These headphones fold for easier packing and come in black, white, and a stylish gun metal option. The only downside is that the ATH-M50x does not include a cable with an inline mic for using with your phone.

[Check out the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x at Amazon.]

4. Sony MDR7506

mdr7506 alternative beats

Sony MDR7506

If you’re on a tight budget but are looking for great sound in a reasonable price — if fashion is less important than sound — the workhorse Sony MDR7506 professional headphone has been pleasing customers for years. It’s plain, doesn’t include an inline mic, but for most people, it might deliver the best sound-to-value ratio going today.

[Check out the Sony MDR7506 at Amazon.]

What’s the bottom line here?

The first three headphones above will thrill most everyone with their balanced sound qualities. Choose the Sennheiser HD1 if the upscale premium leather and steel look suits you. Choose the V-MODA Crossfade M-100 for edgy style and the boom mic option. Choose the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X for a solid classic construction. Choose the Sony MDR7506 if you’re ready to hear new levels of crisp detail without breaking the bank.

Mid-Size, On-Ear Headphones

Mid-size, on-ear headphones are just what you would expect — they have a smaller form factor that rests upon your ears, usually with soft cushions that help seal in the sound (but not as well as over-the-hear models). These also let more outside noise in, which might be ideal for use where you need to pay attention to your exterior environment. These headphones offer great alternatives to the Beats Solo3 or Beats EP On-Ear headphones.

5. Sennheiser HD1 On-Ear Headphones

Sennheiser HD1 On-Ear Beats Alternative headphones

Sennheiser HD1 On-Ear

Not surprisingly, much of the goodness in the Sennheiser’s full-size HD1 headphones translate pretty well to its Sennheiser HD1 On-Ear versions. The design is similar, smaller, and not quite as luxurious. Works great with iPhones with an inline mic, plus comes with a case. Choose these over the full-size versions if you want to error toward better mobility and a smaller form factor for wearing around town. Also note the wireless on-ear HD1 version with noise cancelation.

[Check out the Sennheiser HD1 On-Ear at Amazon.]

6. V-MODA XS On-Ear Headphones

v-moda xs alternative beats solo 2

V-MODA XS

Similar to the larger V-MODA M-100, the V-MODA XS offers the same edgy design quality with excellent overall sound and some exterior noise blocking. Includes dual inputs as well as daisy chaining. Uses memory foam ear cushions, a kevlar reinforced cable, an inline mic for your iPhone or other smartphone, as well as an optional boom mic for gaming. Also includes a cool compact exoskeleton hard carry case. Plus, it’s been tested to MIL-STD-810G military durability standards.

[Check out the V-MODA XS at Amazon.]

Noise Canceling Headphones

Noise canceling headphones use a microphone to listen to incoming ambient noise then generates a conflicting sound wave that is 180-degrees out of phase with the ambient noise, effectively erasing it before your ear can process it. Noise canceling headphones usually use AAA batteries to power the noise canceling system, but if they die, the headphones will usually work normally without the noise canceling in effect. (Of course, the Sennheiser HD1 already noted above has noise-canceling built-in.)

7. Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II

Bose QuietComfort 35 II beats alternative headphones

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

The Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II boast one of the best noise-canceling systems, eliminating airplane, office or even city street noise. The overall look is tame but the quality is great, as is the sound. The smartphone mic and connectivity lets you take calls as well as use Siri on your iPhone or other virtual assistants on other smartphones. Battery lasts for up to 20 hours in wireless mode or 40 hours in wired mode. Comes in black or silver.

[Check out the Bose QuietComfort 35 II at Amazon.] 

8. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B

This images shows the beats alternative Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B noise cancelling headphones.

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B

The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B QuietPoint offers noise canceling with plenty of cushion in a redesigned shape to fit over most any ear. The ATH-ANC7B are wired and also work in a passive mode without batteries when the noise-cancelling feature is turned off. The key here is that you get decent sound and quality at a competitive price-to-value ratio. The fold-flat design isn’t the smallest, but it does result in a thinner form factor that’s surprisingly packable.

[Check out the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B at Amazon.]

Inexpensive Beats Alternative Headphones

You could argue that “inexpensive” doesn’t exactly compete with the relatively expensive Beats competition, but these next two headphone options have great overall price-to-value ratios and make a great choice for those on a tighter budget.

9. Ghostek soDrop 2

This beats alternative shows the inexpensive Ghostek soDrop 2 headphones.

Ghostek soDrop 2

The Ghostek soDrop 2 wireless headphones are one of the most notable inexpensive options available today. The angular style somehow works and the headphones are packed with features, including a mic for taking calls. The noise cancelling isn’t the best, but users rave about the solid Bluetooth implementation. The black is the best color option, but the gold and rose are reminiscent of two key Apple colors.

[Check out the Ghostek soDrop 2 Headphones at Amazon.]

10. Jabra Move Wireless

beats alternative jabra move wireless headset

Jabra Move Wireless Headset

The Jabra Move Wireless Stereo Headset boasts a clean on-ear style with a solid wireless set of features. You can take phone calls with the built-in mic or use them in a wired mode. They’re also lightweight. The 8-hour battery doesn’t lead the pack, but the price makes the Jabra Move Wireless headphones a decent option. Again, one of the better budget alternatives available today.

[Check out the Jabra Move Wireless Headset at Amazon.]

 

 

 

About the author

Chris Maxcer

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I've been writing about the tech industry since the birth of the email newsletter, and I still remember the clacking Mac keyboards from high school -- Apple's seed-planting strategy at work. I'm a big fan of elegant gear and great tech, but there's something to be said for turning it all off -- or most of it -- to go outside. Online I like to call out cool stuff on Wicked Cool Bite and blog with my buddies at Man Makes Fire. To catch me, take a "firstnamelastname" guess at the url of this site.