7 Most Durable Earphones Under 500 in 2023
The most durable earphones under 500 are the best affordable wireless earbuds that offer exceptional value with impressive features, quality sound, and attractive designs that rival higher-priced options. However, it can be challenging to determine which budget earbuds under $500 provide the best value and which ones are simply cheap and subpar. Fortunately, our extensive earbud reviews have enabled us to identify the high-performing yet affordable gems worth your consideration. Not only do renowned Audio tech giants like Audio-Technica, Cambridge Audio, and Sony offer fantastic options, but emerging tech brands are also making their mark in this space. Rest assured; we have thoroughly tested these earbuds to ensure they deliver outstanding sound quality for their price.
1. Shure AONIC 5 Sound Isolating™ Earphones
This Shure AONIC 5 incorporates three high-definition balanced armature drivers to produce an expansive and remarkable sound complemented by a clean and natural bass. The two dedicated woofers and a separate tweeter work together to make enriched highs, warm mid-range, and natural low-end. These earphones have undergone refinement for several decades to meet our meticulous standards, resulting in a cinematic audio experience—one of the best-wired earphones with a mic on our list.
Key Features
- Active noise cancellation: Yes
- Built-in microphone: Yes
- Weight: 24.5g
- Length: 1.25m
- Impedance: 36Ω
- Sensitivity: 119dB
- Frequency range: 18-19,000Hz
- Driver: One Dynamic Driver
Design:
- Eartips: soft and comfortable foam, made for daily use and comfort your ears in long hours
- Connectivity: With its direct connection capability to laptops, in-flight entertainment systems, and other mobile devices, these earphones offer versatile connectivity options.
- Wireless option: the SecureFit Wireless Adapter can be separately purchased and used with these earphones. Alternatively, other MMCX cable accessories can also be connected for further customization. This ensures you can remain connected to any device regardless of location.
- Customizable Sound: Take charge of the audio experience with these earphones, providing complete control over the sound output. Its removable nozzles allow you to choose between three unique proper signatures, balanced, warm, and bright, providing distinct audio profiles to suit your preference.
Performance:
- Noise cancellation: With the ability to block up to 37 dB of noise, these earphones effectively eliminate potential distractions. Its design ensures the earphones stay in place and outside noise is effectively blocked out, providing an immersive listening experience during exercise or travel.
- Microphone: Featuring an integrated remote and mic, these earphones provide effortless control for phone calls, allowing easy operation of voice commands, volume, and music playback with minimal hassle.
- Sound quality: By utilizing three high-definition balanced armature drivers, two dedicated woofers, and a separate tweeter, these earphones provide an enhanced high frequency, warm mid-range, and a natural low-end. Developed over several decades to meet our rigorous standards, these earphones offer an immersive audio experience akin to cinematic production.
Pros:
- Great noise cancellation
- Strong built
- Premium looks
Cons:
- Expensive
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 499.00
2. Shure AONIC 3 | The Most Durable Earphones Under 500
Shure is known for producing sturdy and long-lasting earphones, primarily designed as monitors for professional musicians. Although the Aonic 3 is intended for general consumers, I was concerned that they might compromise on durability, yet they surpassed the quality of their earlier models.
Key Features
- Active noise cancellation: Yes
- Built-in microphone: Yes
- Weight: 20.8g
- Length: 1.25m
- Impedance: 28Ω
- Sensitivity: 108dB
- Frequency range: 22-18,500Hz
- Driver: One Dynamic Driver
Design
- Earbuds: The Shure Aonic 3 earbuds offer effective isolation when paired with appropriate tips. It is recommended to insert them at a medium depth for optimal sound quality, although they can be inserted further without compromising good quality.
- Control feature: Equipped with an integrated remote and mic, these earphones offer seamless control for phone calls and easy access to voice commands, volume adjustments, and music playback.
- Connectivity: With its secure over-the-ear design and wire form fit, these earphones ensure a comfortable and stable listening experience while keeping the cables out of the way. Moreover, they enable a direct connection to laptops, in-flight entertainment systems, and other mobile devices.
- Wireless option: You can customize your earphones even further by connecting them to other MMCX cable accessories or the separately available Secure Fit Wireless Adapter. This way, you can stay connected to any device wherever you go.
Performance:
- Noise isolation: Experience a highly immersive listening session while exercising or traveling with earphones that keep unwanted noise out, blocking up to 37 dB of distractions.
- Microphone: Great quality phone call with the integrated remote and mic by directly plugging in with the 3.5mm connection.
- Sound quality: Experience music as it was intended to be heard, produced from a single, vented balanced armature driver.
- Imaging: the imaging performance is superb, offering clarity and spatial awareness that enables precise placement of individual instruments.
- Bass: The bass is skillfully executed, accurately representing the low end and enhancing it significantly. The bass is rich in detail and texture, exhibiting impressive speed when delivering low notes. However, those emphasizing quantity and sub-bass rumble may need to seek alternative options. The earbuds deliver low-end bass notes, such as those from a jazz double bass or broad electronic sweeps.
Pros:
- Great microphone calls
- Great noise cancellation
Cons:
- High price
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 199.00
3. QuietComfort® 20 | The Most Durable Earphones Under 500
The QuietComfort® 20 earphones are a great option for those looking for both portability and effective sound isolation. Earphones with active noise cancellation are not often found, but theQuietComfort® 20 excels in this area.
In addition to their exceptional noise-canceling capabilities, these earphones boast a sturdy build, comfortable fit, lengthy cable, 4-button remote, and long-lasting rechargeable battery. Furthermore, the sound quality is precise and intricate, designed to provide an immersive and enjoyable experience. All in all, the QuietComfort® 20 is a top-notch choice for anyone seeking dependable earphones.
Key Features:
- Active noise cancellation: Yes
- Connectivity: Wired
- Built-in microphone: Yes
- Weight: 44g
- Length: 1.32m
- Sensitivity: 117dB
- Frequency range: 100-10,000Hz
- Driver: One Dynamic Driver
Design:
- Eartips: StayHear+ tips guarantee a comfortable and secure fit for extended periods of use.
- Control button: the inline mic/remote allows for the control of music and calls on Apple devices and to have hands-free conversations on your phone.
- Innovative feature: TriPort and Active EQ technology generate a deep, lucid sound.
- Device connectivity: Designed to function at peak performance with most iPod, iPhone, and iPad models.
Performance:
- Active noise cancellation: a modern technology to decrease external sounds, allowing the user to concentrate on their music.
- Transparency: At a button’s press, Aware mode can be activated, allowing users to hear their surroundings.
- Sound quality: The earbuds effectively maintain the distinctive Bose sound, which I find appealing due to their balanced and neutral nature. This implies no excessive emphasis on any particular frequency range, ensuring that all frequencies are heard equally.
- Microphone: produces clear and intelligible Sound during phone calls. It is designed to reduce background noise and capture your voice accurately, making it easier for the person on the other end of the call to hear you.
Pros:
- Great sound quality
- Good noise cancellation
- Modern design
Cons:
- Expensive
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 349.99
4. Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds II
The new edition of Bose QuietComfort will make you want to try it. As you can see in the picture, the design is premium and modern, with matte black. These earbuds are super comfortable, especially when wearing a helmet; this won’t pressure your ear. More than that, it has excellent sound quality with active noise canceling, isolating outside noise well—the most durable earphones under 500 on the list today.
Key Features
- Active noise cancelling: Yes
- Transparency: Yes
- Battery: 6 hours
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3
- Water resistance: Yes
- Built-in microphone: Yes
Design
- Earbuds: the silicone ear tips are made for everyday use. Super comfortable, and it’s available in three sizes of ear tips.
- Water resistance: with an IPX4 rating can handle sweat or even rain.
- Adjustable EQ: customize your preference sound level with the Bose Music app
- Touch control: a simple touch of turn on and off ANC mode
- Connectivity:robust and fast connection with Bluetooth version 5.3, the consistent signal within 30 feets
Performance
- Active noise cancelling: isolate outside noise well, and immerse yourself in the music in your world.
- Transparency: aware of the world around you without taking them off
- Microphone: four built-in microphones that focus on your voice and clear out background noise, an excellent quality voice in phone calls
- Sound quality: excellent sound quality; you can hear in two different modes, such as aware mode and quiet mode; choose any method depending on your situation.
Pros:
- Great in noise isolation sound
- Good quality control
Cons:
- High price
- No multi-devices connection
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 283.00
5. Jabra Elite 7 Pro | The Most Durable Earphones Under 500
Jabra Elite 7 pro is the model that has a great built-in microphone earphone that you shouldn’t pass. It’s known for advanced audio engineering, providing great sound quality, and the best call performance because of Jabra MultiSensor Voice™ new technology. Moreover, it has noise cancellation that blocks traffic noise and vehicle sound, and you focus on your music.
Key Features
- Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
- Battery: 8 hours
- Transparency: Yes
- Water resistance: Yes
- Mono mode: Yes
- Built-in microphone: Yes
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2
-
Audio codecs supported: AAC, SBC
Design
- Earbuds: designed to fit in the ear, smaller than before by 16%
- Eartips: made of soft silicone. stable and fit within your ear and won’t fall out easily
- Touch Control: control features, pause or skip music, even adjust volume, only use the touch control on the earbuds
- Connectivity: Wireless Bluetooth 5.2, fast and stable connection, and the wireless range is for up to 10 meters
- Water Resistance: with an IP57 rating
- Jabra Sound+ app: adjust your preference sound in the app as your desire
- Mono mode: listen with one earbud and the other one charged in the case
- Voice assistant: use your voice assistant when you need with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant
Performance
- Noise Cancellation: isolate outside noise, such as traffic sounds, really well, and immerse yourself in music
- Microphone: the new Jabra MultiSensor Voice™ isolates background noise; you can call anywhere with six microphones.
- Transparency: turn on this mode anytime you want to in case you need to hear your surrounding without taking them off
- Sound quality: a new generation of quality audio with 6mm custom speakers that allow you to listen in deep bass, rich and powerful Sound
Pros:
- Warranty card for two years
- Bluetooth® Multipoint connection
Cons:
- No aptX support
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 149.99
6. 1MORE Triple Driver | Durable Earphones
While the 1More Triple Driver earbuds offer a balanced sound, their design limits the soundstage, resulting in a lack of ambiance similar to that of more giant open headphones. Despite this, they are an excellent choice for those who prioritize fidelity as they can reproduce tracks with above-average accuracy comparable to more costly in-ear models. However, listeners who prefer a more neutral sound may find them less suitable—the most durable earphones under 500 on the list.
Key Features
- Active noise cancellation: Yes
- Built-in microphone: Yes
- Weight: 18g
- Length: 1.25m
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Wire Material: Enameled Copper Wire
- Sensitivity: 99dB
- Frequency range: 20-40,000Hz
- Driver: Two Balanced Amatures + One Dynamic Driver
Design
- Earbuds: constructed with a lightweight aluminum alloy body that boasts an anodized surface. They also feature an enameled oxygen-free copper wire wrapped around Kevlar fiber, which enhances their durability.
- Control feature: effortlessly adjust tracks, control volume, and make calls with the inline controller with three haptic buttons.
- Connectivity: the kevlar fiber cable exudes strength and durability yet has a pleasant soft exterior. Additionally, the line produces considerably less microphonics.
Performance:
- Noise isolation: the earbuds provide decent noise isolation, with external noises blocked at around halfway to the maximum volume. The noise isolation can be further enhanced by using the various ear tips provided.
- Microphone: featuring a MEMS microphone located conveniently beneath the jawline, the 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones provide hands-free calling and crystal-clear audio quality.
- Sound quality: the sound signature is balanced well and exhibits punchy bass and detailed mids and treble, which we appreciate.
Pros:
- Premium built
- Well balanced Sound
Cons:
- Leak sound
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 68.61
7. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) | The Most Durable Earphones Under 500
These are the most trustworthy earbuds with great quality microphones built inside, designed to ensure comfort and provide a better experience to listeners. Apple users would never worry about connecting issues because of Apple’s H1 chip, which makes it stable and fast. Furthermore, the advanced adaptive noise cancellation allows you to listen in peace without any outside noise interruption. Also, it automatically switches to transparency mode whenever you take one side off.
Key Features
- Active Noise Cancelling: Yes
- Battery: 6 hours
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3
- Transparency: Yes
- Water resistance: IPX4
- Spatial Audio: Yes
- Built-in microphone: Yes
Design
- Eartips: super comfortable and soft ear tips that are made from silicone.
- Touch Control: hold and switch from noise cancelling to transparency mode, control playlist, adjust volume, etc.
- Connectivity: Easy to connect with Apple devices, including sharing music.
- Accessibility: Always on ‘Siri,’ with a conversation boost feature detecting human voice and communicating without taking off.
- Notification: Siri will alert your essential message through headphones
- Water Resistance: AirPods Pro and MagSafe Case are IPX4, sweat, and waterproof.
Performance
- Noise Cancellation: Twice better performance, blocks all the unwanted Sound, which helps improve your sleep quality.
- Noise Cancellation Microphone: detected human voices and counters before reaching your ear.
- Transparency: the power of H2 reduces loud noise like sirens, and you can still be aware of the world around you.
- Audio: listen to the best audio sound quality but still be able to hear low frequencies sound if you want to.
- Spatial Audio: tracking the device with all surrounding you
- Adaptive EQ: able to listen to every frequency
Pros:
- Free Apple Music for six months
- Personalized Spatial Audio
- Water-resistant
- Available in Active noise cancelling and Adaptive transparency
- Modern and luxury design
Cons:
- Focused on IOS
- Limited features on Android
- Expensive
Pricing:
Buy now at Amazon for only USD 228.99.
Conclusion
These affordable earphones, priced below $500, have built-in microphones crucial for gamers. With the increasing demand for reliable and top-notch audio devices, our guide presents the 7 most durable earphones to help you discover your ideal option. Whether you prioritize convenience, flexibility, or exceptional audio quality, these microphones-enabled headphones offer a unique experience. Invest in a high-quality headset with a microphone today and enjoy the advantages of a dependable and efficient audio tool. We trust our guide will assist you in finding the perfect headset that suits your needs.
