Got $80? Buy these sick headphones

Here at SoundGuys, we’re all about helping you find the best value for your dollar, and in 2025, you really don’t need to spend more than $100 for a set of headphones that can do it all. Value is the name of the game, so when I say do it all, I’m referring to headphones that have excellent sound quality, ANC performance, and at least offer a few features usually reserved for more expensive flagship headphones.

It’s not often that we strike it rich, but after reviewing the Edifier W830NB over-ear headphones that came across my desk, I’m convinced they are one of the best value buys on the market right now. So, without further ado, if you have 80 bucks and need a new set of cans, I have five reasons why you should buy these sick headphones.

1. They’re comfortable with a practical design

Before I even had a chance to listen to the Edifier W830NB headphones, I was immediately impressed with their sleek, modern, yet practical design. The padding on the headband and earcups are plush, creating an excellent seal over my ears, which we know is essential to sound quality and its ability to cancel noise. Now, as a progressive-metal enthusiast, I’m no stranger to 15:07-minute long songs and 78-minute albums, and I have no comfort issues wearing the W830NB headphones for longer listening sessions. I was also stoked to discover they nicely fold up in a compact bundle.

They easily fit into a backpack, a feature commuters and travellers will surely take advantage of. Bonus points for not having the company name visible anywhere, either – only two small Edifier logos are on either side of the headband. These budget headphones are easily mistaken for a premium pair of over-ears from a distance. While yes, they are mostly made of plastic, nothing about them feels cheap once they’re on your head.

2. Quality ANC performance

Not everyone can—or wants to—shell out the cash for a pair of Bose QC Ultra or Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones to tune out the world around them. And if you’re not regularly taking long international flights, you don’t need to. If you’re like me, you’re hopping on the bus or the train to work more often than heading to the airport.

Looking at the chart below, our test results show that the W830NB headphones can reduce outside noise by an average of 76%. For comparison, that’s better than the $449 Sonos Ace, which only blocks out 74%. That’s not bad at all for “budget headphones.”

As mentioned, the comfy earpads help provide a snug seal that adds even more passive isolation. Well done, Edifier. These headphones are perfect for your daily commute as they effectively block out the rumble of the bus or train and save you from overhearing your neighbor’s drab conversation or that overly chatty coworker who won’t stop recommending TV shows.

3. Top-tier features you won’t even find on some $400+ headphones

I’m not sure where Edifier found the corners to cut, if any, to keep the price of these headphones down, but you can’t argue with the feature set the W830NB offers. We’re talking about various listening modes that include two different levels of ANC, as well as wind reduction and transparency modes. While Android users can enjoy Hi-Res audio thanks to its support for the LDAC codec, everyone can take advantage of another rad feature the W830NB headphones offer: wired listening over USB-C. More bonus points: It’ll charge up your battery, and you can still use its ANC and listening modes. Sick!

However, the companion app EQ setup is the real highlight here. You get four EQ presets, but Edifier takes it up a notch with a four-band parametric EQ with Q control that lets you fine-tune specific frequencies. This is something I love to see. This means you can really personalize the sound of these headphones, so it’s worth messing around with if the preset EQs don’t satisfy you. It’s pretty cool to see this level of customization on budget pair of cans; even flagship models from Sony and Bose don’t offer this feature.

Bose wants you to spend $429 on a pair of QC Ultras. Your EQ options? Adjustable Low, mid, and Treble. That’s it. A 3-band EQ with preselected frequencies doesn’t cut it in my book. I’ll decide what sounds good to my ears; thank you very much.

4. Excellent sound quality that can be personalized further

Alright, into the nitty gritty. Features are great, but how do these headphones sound?

The chart above shows how the Edifier W830NB’s frequency response stacks up against our SoundGuys Preference Curve. They’re a bit light on sub-bass but match up nicely with our upper bass and lower mid-range targets. Now, while there’s a noticeable spike in the highs from about 6.5kHz to 9kHz, which I found could be fatiguing for treble-sensitive listeners during long listening sessions, the good news is you can easily tweak this thanks to the thorough EQ options. The same goes for you bass heads who crave that sub-bass rumble in your skull. Don’t be afraid to get in there and turn some knobs!

If the thought of EQ tweaking scares you a little, even just applying the “Heavy bass” setting brings a nice, satisfying punch to the double kick drums of my favorite progressive metal tunes. It also beefs up the synth bass on tunes like “Tech Noir” by Gunship without overwhelming the rest of the mix. Another box checked.

5. Finally, and most importantly: the price

What’s left to say? These sleek-looking, feature-packed, well-performing headphones cost only $80. Are they perfect? Of course not. Unfortunately, they don’t offer an IP rating for protection from the elements. But then again, hardly any headphones do.

Additionally, a carry case or bag would be a nice addition. The plastic does begin to scuff over time, but plenty of affordable aftermarket options exist. After all, you might have a few bucks left over! In the end, these missing features certainly aren’t deal breakers by any means.

All things considered, the Edifier W830NB are a certifiably sick set of headphones. For the price, I can’t see how you can go wrong. I highly recommend them if you’re in the market.