Earphones or headphones are a must-have gadget for anyone who loves music. I am a bit finicky about my headphones and like to have a good bass effect. This post is not for you if you think the sounds coming out of those disposable headphones on flights is the same as good quality headphones or you don’t care.
But you still need to think twice before spending money on these things. I tend to lose headphones quite easily or the over-the-ear ones break.
I don’t really prefer over the ear headphones as they are quite uncomfortable when you want to listen to good music and relax. The in-ear headphone not only are unobtrusive, but also provide better sound insulation, in my opinion. So here it is my take on the current headphones under Rs. 1000 that you should buy.
1. Sony MDR-EX150
I will be frank. I am kind of biased to Sony products when it comes to sound quality. I have tended to buy music systems and headphones based more on how they feel than the specifications. But I am glad the my ear and decision have been good so for.
Sony MDR EX150 is and in-ear type of headphones. The one I said have better sound insulation and help you block the ambient noise quite well. The earphones have a wide range of frequency response from 5 Hz to 24 kHz. The earphones come with a standard cable length of 1.2 m and have an Impedance of 16 ohms. This becomes important when you are using these with your smartphone ad battery consumption becomes an important thing to consider. The sound pressure level of 103 in between the other earphones in this category and are loud enough.
2. Sennheiser CX 180 and Sennheiser CX 213
Sennheiser is another leader in the sound industry and headphones. Here Sennheiser CX 180 offers a slightly better frequency response range of 20 Hz to 20KHz over Sennheiser CX 213, which has a lowest frequency of 25 Hz. So not much of a difference. But this is higher than Sony MDR EX150 that bottoms at 5 Hz. What this means that you will hear lower notes and Bass better in the Sony MDR EX150 than in Sennheiser CX 180 or CX 213.
With sound pressure levels of 115, the Sennheiser headphones are slightly loder and if you intend to use them mostly in places where the ambient noise is high, this might prove beneficial. The headphone jack and the cable length are standard, with a 3.5 mm jack and 1.2m of cable length.
3. JBL T150A and T100A
JBL is a leader in outdoor speaker system and I have used JBL speakers for years. These JBL in ear headphones priced around Rs. 900 are similar to Sennheiser CX 180 and CX 213. But here too the frequency range of 20 Hz to 22KHz is not as good as Sony MDR-EX150.
The headphones are louder than Sony MDR-Ex150 at 100db but not as loud as Sennheiser CX 180 0r CX 213. So JBL is another good option under 1000 if you like the brand better than Sony.
4. PANASONIC – RP-HJE190
PANASONIC – RP-HJE190 is a serious competitor in this space, if you ask me. The headphones support a wide range of frequency response from 6 Hz to 24KHz. So you get both the deep bass tones and high pitched treble effects quite well. With a sensitivity of 98 db, the headphones will be a bit less louder, but a good option if you listen to them mostly at work or home.
At the lowest price of Rs 540 PANASONIC – RP-HJE190 definitely a good contender if you are not brand loyalist.
5. Sony MDR-ZX110
I prefer the ear bud design or the in-ear headphones more, but if over the ear is your thing, Sony MDR-ZX110 is the one you should go for in the under Rs. 1000 range. The swivel fold design is very convenient and you can fold the headphone into a small bag, which makes it very easy to carry. The frequency response range is not as good as Sony MDR EX-150 but still the best in the over the ear headphones in this price range. At 24 ohms impedance the power consumption is slightly higher than the in-ear headphones model. But this will be higher for other over the ear headphones too.
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