Under $75 Headphones with Removable Cord

July 19, 2015 4:31 PM

Ask Mefi helped me buy my last pair of headphones, but they broke, so I'd like some suggestions for a replacement. I am not interested in modifying headphones, and I would like over-ear headphones with a replaceable cord that plugs in.

Thanks for suggesting the Monoprice headphones last time! They held up well, but broke after I dropped them one too many times and the band cracked so they no longer fit well on my head. However, there was no cord failure. I'm even more convinced of the necessity of a removable cord. I can't count the number of times I forgot I had them on and the cord popped up when I tried to leave the room.

More information: Would prefer closed, but am open to semi-open.
Headphones will be used at home. Portability is not important.
I listen mainly to pop, electronic, and some classical.
Am located in the US.

posted by shoyu to Shopping (7 answers total)

So, you're not just looking for headphones with a cord that jacks in at the headphone end, but for ones where the cord will pull out if you walk away with them on your head by mistake?

Or, how about Bluetooth headphones? You can plug a Bluetooth transmitter into the audio jack of the sound source.
posted by intermod at 4:44 PM on July 19, 2015

Superlux HD668B will give you a fantastic sounding over-ear headphone with 2 removable cables, one longer and one shorter, for less than $50. These are often cited on Head-Fi as a 'giant killer' that punch way above their class. They are semi-open.
posted by mattholomew at 4:45 PM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

I am rough rough rough on headphones because I use them constantly while out and about and they get dropped and slammed and yanked, and am saving up to replace my V-MODA Crossfade LPs (which still worked in one ear after four years of endless abuse and were still working when I gave them to somebody) but they are around $105, which is higher than your budget. However, the company has decent support for if/when you break them so that you can stretch out the life even more or buy another of the same pair for 50% off, so it might be a worthwhile investment long term.

I'm not an audiophile nor stylish, but the V-MODAs just felt so solid and robust because the frame is made of metal, not plastic. On top of it they were so comfortable I could wear them 8 solid hours a day without discomfort.
posted by foxfirefey at 4:52 PM on July 19, 2015

I like my Skullcandy Hesh 2s. Bought them a little over 2 years ago. I use them at home with my iMac setup, and I keep them in my backpack and take them with me to do my radio show. Comfortable, good range of sound, affordable. They do have a removable cord with 1/8" stereo plugs on each end. They apparently make the cord with a mic for smartphone use too. I was able to find a nice brown set that looked old skool -- as I am nearly 50, that's my preference. Would buy another set.
posted by terrapin at 4:55 PM on July 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

Seconding terrapin. I found a pair of those at Target on clearance for less than $20. My only complaint is they're a little uncomfortable over glasses.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 8:29 PM on July 19, 2015

Honestly i came in to suggest the monoprice headphones. They're so cheap that i'd just buy another set, and hey, now you have some spare parts and an extra cable.

I'm not using them right now, but for years what i did every time i broke or lost my big over the ear at my pc desk headphones was just buy whatever the ~$50 sennheiser model with a detachable cord was. The longest lasting ones were the old hd212's(which were, IMO, the best budget headphones ever made), and the current equivalent seems to be this.

I would be shocked if those weren't kickass headphones. I'm using thrift store hd570s right now, but i've seriously never owned a pair of sennheisers that weren't pretty good, and all the >$40 ones seem to be great.

An alternative recommendation would be to wait for a sale on the audio technica M50s, which generally knocks them down to ~$80. Thats an entire better class of headphone that competes with stuff like the sennheiser 280/380 and other Serious Work Stuff Headphones.

Another thing worth considering is that some headphones like the monoprice ones just take any bog standard 3.5mm cable. Others, like my 570s and my old 212s, take a stupid ass weirdo cable that you end up having to order online. It's still detachable and replaceable, but it's not next to the register at rite aid replaceable.
posted by emptythought at 2:59 AM on July 20, 2015

Audio technica ATH-M40s are indistinguishable in my ears to the M50s, and they hover around $75-80 even before they are on sale. I love my M40s.
posted by umbú at 12:45 PM on July 20, 2015