Whether the dorm, the library, or the local café will become the study getaway for the new semester, chances are headphones will be necessary. Sometimes they'll be very necessary thanks to a noisy roommate or crowd getting in the way of productivity...and maybe it's all your fault thanks to your music choices. There are plenty of reasons to get a new pair of headphones for back-to-school and we're here to help.
We haven't reviewed every item on this list, but the deals make them worth checking out.
Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro
These cans were our recommendation for the best headphones for college thanks to their solid noise-isolating capabilities and superb sound quality. The Custom One Pro are also built for customization—allowing users to switch out the faceplates and cable, plus tweak sound levels. This deal through Amazon doesn't take that much off the $249 MSRP, but it does include free shipping.
Sennheiser PMX 685i Sports Headset
Whether you're going from class to class or taking a trip to the gym, you can get some use out of the Sennheiser PMX 685i headset, which is now on sale at Amazon for $57 with free shipping. The product description states that they were designed to be worn under bike helmets and to remain secure even with heavy activity, although we can't confirm this claim. They're compatible with Apple products so if you have an iPhone or iPod, you might want to check these out as a replacement for your stock buds.
Audio-Technica ATH-T400
The description for these cans over at BuyDig states that the "plush over-the-ear earpads minimize sound leakage," meaning they would theoretically be great for quiet study breaks. We can't attest to this, but they're inexpensive regardless of sound quality. BuyDig has them on sale for $49 with free shipping—making them one of the cheapest options on this list.
Bose QuietComfort 15 Headphones
Noise canceling is these headphones' middle name. The Bose QuietComfort 15 promise to drown out noise while also being comfortable options for long trips or all-nighters. There's also a cable and remote for Apple products and a built-in microphone so you don't have to fumble around to take calls. They're kind of pricey at $299, but this deal takes $30 off the list price and includes free shipping, so they're a bit more affordable.
SteelSeries 7H Headset
Another option for Apple users is this SteelSeries 7H headset on sale at Amazon for $87 with free shipping. They have the basics that a consumer would need from travel headphones: Cushions for comfortable wearing, a pull-out microphone, and the ability to be disassembled into four pieces for easy portability. There are limited supplies left in stock, so you'll have to act fast.
MEElectronics Sport M6
However, if all you want out of this list is a pair of cheap earbuds that'll allow you to listen to music and will stay in your ears even through tons of abuse, you can check out the MEElectronics Sport M6 buds, which are on sale at Amazon for $19 with free shipping. For inexpensive headphones, they also have pretty good noise cancellation, so you'll be getting a standard, complete package.
Meet the tester
Carli writes for the Deals blog at Reviewed.com, and has become a professional at researching the web for the best deals on electronics. She graduated in 2012 from Northeastern University with a degree in English. She enjoys writing about technology, and is a video game freelance writer on the side with too many games in her backlog.
Checking our work.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email