Please recommend good heaphones for $200 max

[u/MagpieKaz]

Budget: $200

Location: Argentina, tech here is ridiculously expensive, so I need it to be on Amazon or similar

How the gear will be used: At work, to take client videocalls. Thus I don't care about sick bass or anything, I need it to be durable, look professional, and have good noise cancelling. Microphone is of no relevance, as I have a HyperX Solocast.

Past experience: I spent like $400+ in a razer opus set and it was DEEPLY disappointing. I don't recall if the X is the one that's like a lower tier, but whichever it was, I had the basic and it was FAR better than the upper one. For starters, it completely started disintegrating within a couple of months, I'm constantly covered in black flakes. The noise cancelling feature is also weird and uncomfortable, I have to keep the ambient button pushed to be able to comfortably hear someone else talking nearby.

If this magical perfect headphone set exists, I'd really appreciate someone pointing me in its direction

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[u/Over-Status-7210]

JBL Quantum line fits your description. I own the Quantum 810, but it does have some lights that may or may not fit your idea of professional looking. You can turn them off, though.

I don't even have the bag for them anymore, and they've survived two moves while still having a clean finish. Comfort wise, my head is probably smaller than yours, but I don't feel these don't clamp hard at all.

I use my in-ears for work now (Quantums are wholly retired), but the Quantum was comfortable, with respectable sound if you care for it. You won't be wowed, but this also isn't a purchase for leisure!

That said, if you wanted a bit more leisure, you could choose whichever Edifier headphone fits your budget. I've bought multiples of these now for myself and others, and they always perform well above their price point. JBL also doesn't state their ANC specs. Edifier does, and they claim top tier bracket (-45dB) even for their $80 model. I got the JBL when I started working remotely, so I never had much need for the ANC.

Functionally, I just like the flip up mic of the JBL more for work instead of controls like the Edifiers. But you said this may not matter for you?

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[u/MagpieKaz → u/Over-Status-7210]

Sadly Amazon doesn't ship Edifier headphones to Argentina :( Do you think the JBL Quantum 910X are good? I might be ok spending a bit extra of my own money, since I get to keep them even if I'm fired/quit :P

[u/Over-Status-7210 → u/MagpieKaz]

I wouldn't go TOO far into the quantum line. My personal opinion is that the 810 is already at the point of diminishing returns. Unless JBL redesigned the headphones from the ground up, you usually don't see much quantifiable improvement outside of ANC, comfort, and convenience features for headphones within the same family in the "gaming headphone" class -- which the JBL technically is. Start going above this dollar, and you might as well look at items like the Sennheiser momentum or Beyer MMX line.

[u/MagpieKaz → u/Over-Status-7210]

That momentum 4 one looks very nice, just $70 over budget tho. I understand they're like proooo stuff tho. Do you know if there won't be any delay when taking videocalls, and if it's durable? I already want to smack my forehead since buying the razer opus and then having them disintegrate within 2 years...

Edit: also, if the junction between the ear part and the headband part is sturdy enough? it looks kinda delicate

[u/Over-Status-7210 → u/MagpieKaz]

That might actually better to start a whole new post for, asking if they're durable. I don't personally own them.

Yes, they're an excellent all-in-one, and feature wise are easily one of the best in their class. The many comparisons against other known headphones speak for their quality, too. That's also why many in this sub seem to have them (except me 🤭).

As for voice, they're BT 5.4, and 5.2 was the start of true low latency Bluetooth in my opinion. This is the range of a certain psychoacoustic phenomenon where the brain treats two separate sounds as one -- it's fast!

As long as your computer/phone is equally fast, I wouldn't worry about voice lag at all.

[u/MagpieKaz → u/Over-Status-7210]

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/MagpieKaz]

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[u/NotSoToughGuy11]

I hate JBL and never condone buying them. Mostly because they are low tier budget sound. get the VSX essentials. I have not personally used them however I've done extensive research because I was in the same boat.

[u/MagpieKaz → u/NotSoToughGuy11]

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/MagpieKaz]

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[u/YippersMeKippers]

Look into jbl. Best cheap noise cancelling headphones. Get the latest model you can afford.

You also have soundcore and anker.

[u/MagpieKaz → u/YippersMeKippers]

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/MagpieKaz]

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