Best Closed Back Headphones Under 200

1. Audio-Technica BPHS1 Broadcast Stereo Headset with Dynamic Boom Mic

When you’re choosing the Audio-Technica brand, you’re going for one of the top rated audiophile favorites on the market. Audio-Technica is going to give you a professional sound with a heavy duty look. They’re well known for both their open back and closed back headphones – and this pair is no exception.

The design is one of the hallmarks of this brand. It’s professional and industrial, with a thick, wide, padded head band, very large over-the-ear cups, and stainless steel metal accents. The head band is also adjustable for a customized fit. Despite the appearance, these headphones are surprisingly light in weight. 

2. Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, 250 ohms

With German engineering at the core of Beyerdynamic’s headphone lines, you can rest assured there’s high quality in this closed back pair. This brand’s price range is not as high as some others, but you’re still getting a top model. You can choose either gray or black colors.

Probably the first thing you’ll notice about these headphones are the massive round ear cups. With soft velour ear pads, you can wear these for hours and not feel any aches or head strain. It’s like having a blanket against your ears. They can also be washed, which is good for cleanliness. The head band cushion is also softly padded and won’t squeeze your head. 

3. Sennheiser HD 25 Plus Professional DJ Headphone

Sennheiser also features German engineering in their headphones, so they are also a great, professional quality. They were founded back in 1945, and their products have become really popular with the rise of personal audio devices.

Since they’re made to be professional DJ headphones, these headphones are excellent for mobile monitoring, creating tracks in a studio, or being out in a noisy, crowded environment. There’s a very high attenuation of background noise, and sensitivity is also high thanks to the aluminum voice coils. These are considered the ‘industry standard’ for disc jockeys everywhere, and the design has changed little in the past twenty years – because it works.

These headphones are lightweight, comfortable, and are built to handle high sound pressure levels. These are not over-ear headphones, but rather, the ear cups sit right on top of the ears. They do swivel for convenience. The ear cup material is a plush and soft velour, like wearing ‘pillows’ on your ears. Interestingly, you actually get the option of one-ear listening with these.

The frequency response is between 16 and 22,000 Hz, while the total harmonic distortion is less than 0.3%. The ear coupling is supra-aural, and the transducer is principal dynamic and closed. As a maximum active sound pressure, these can go up to 120 dB.

As for the cable, this pair of headphones actually includes two. You get a 10 foot straight cable and a 10 foot coiled cable. Both cables come with a 3.5 mm jack, as well as an additional 6.5 mm stereo jack. You also get a secondary set of velour ear pads to prolong the comfort and longevity of your headphone use.

What about the sound? There’s an excellent and articulate bass response, since they’re made for DJs, but they don’t shirk on the highs or lows, either. They’re so dynamic that you’ll want a good equalizer to adjust it for your preferences. You’ll definitely appreciate the sound isolation, too.

Many users have had their Sennheisers for years, so these come with a 2 year warranty. They come with a protective pouch, too.

There are a couple of quick negatives, though. They don’t fold for storage and don’t come with any type of very protective case, but you can buy one separately. Some users have also commented on the noticeable weight difference between cables, the coiled one being much heavier.

4. Shure SRH840 Professional Monitoring Headphones (Black)

Shure offers all kinds of audio equipment, from microphones to mixers to their extensive headphone line. They’ve been around since 1925, and their brand motto is “sound is our business.”

These Shure SRH840 black headphones were actually designed for professional audio engineers and musicians. They’re excellent and optimized for studio recording, critical listening, and personal listening as well. In these closed back headphones are top quality 40 mm neodymium magnet dynamic drivers. 

The head band is also padded all the way around from one ear cup to the other. It’s collapsible for easy storage, and you can customize the fit with the adjustable section on the side.

These headphones come with a 3 meter (9.8 foot) coiled cable that’s actually detachable. At the end is a threaded 3.5 mm stereo jack, although it also comes with a threaded ¼” gold plated adapter, too. You also get a special carrying pouch that fits this pair of headphones.

With possible negatives, you don’t get a choice of cables. The ear pads are not as comfortable as some other brands, since they’re not made from velour or other soft material. Some users have said these have a tendency to ‘squeeze’ your head and be too tight a fit. Try breaking them in over a week or two. If you’re used to wearing larger headphones, though, you might really enjoy these ones.

5. Fischer Audio FA-003Ti Noise Isolation Earcups Headphones

These ‘cans’ are really large – the biggest on this list! The massive ear cups on these Fischer Audio headphones set this design apart and will give you superior sound isolation and noise-cancelling. It is basically like getting a pair of higher end Bose for a decent pocket price.

These also have larger drivers than the standard 40 mm. You’ll get a 42 mm driver in each ear cup, and they feature a composite mylar diaphragm that is strengthened by titanium coating. That improves accuracy and reduces distortion. These titanium drivers are a recent upgrade, and you’ll not find too many in headphones at this price range.