If you want headphones with a classic, retro look and some Marley-Esque touches, the House of Marley Positive Vibration 2: Over-Ear Headphones can be a great alternative. You can’t match the value of these headphones with other similar-range retro headphones, which include a sleek design, high-quality sound, and reliable performance. And, for their price level, they have really amazing sound – again, not for audiophile purists, maybe (except when their audiophile purist friends aren’t looking), but for everybody else they have a clear, clean and highly dynamic sound, with tons of bass, bright clear highs and a much more sweet and musical signature than most others in their class. And even the models that are relatively new seem very much inspired by, and pay homage to, not just those established and well-loved sonic designs and established engineering practices, but also the old-school values of high quality and durability.

The soundstage is respectably wide, too. However, all the good bits aren’t enough to detract from the core issue, which is hard to ignore. The Panasonic RP-HTX80B have no impressive extra features. There’s no active noise cancellation, no aptX HD or even aptX. A mic sits on the right cup’s bottom, however, letting you take calls while wearing the headphones. I tested the mic with a voice recording and found its tone is rather thin, and there’s no noise cancellation behind the scenes. This, along with their extraordinary strength, durability and wearing comfort, are why the Sennheiser HD 25 are the true choice among the hippest DJs today – and why they make an amazing choice for anybody else. The Lindy BNX-60 are a better, if less attractive, over-ear pair of headphones. And the AKG Y50BT and Urbanista Seattle are also two superb on-ear alternatives at a similar price. Accurate and Fun– I was surprised by how many of my choices are, in fact, either designed for recording studio use, or have become favorites among recording artists and engineers. This is a reflection of how so many of the very best retro headphones are far more accurate and high fidelity than other choices in their class.

Device control

All of the ‘phones on our list have brilliant and beautiful sound (often the best available at their respective price point), are very high quality and very well made, and some of them can even offer not just tech, but the latest and the greatest tech currently available. I noticed a couple of trends when considering which retro headphones are the best, and which ones I would choose, and these two tendencies seem to help explain just why so many retro headphones are so excellent, and why they can be such a great choice:

The Panasonic RP-HTX80B look good, and offer most of the tech you’d want. Bluetooth signal is good, battery life is great plus these headphones are comfortable to wear.They are also, in almost every way, decidedly non-tech – there is no wireless connectivity, just a professional quality audiophile cable to connect to your device. There’s no noise cancelling, just well designed ear cups that keep the music in and outside sounds out. They are also surprisingly comfortable to wear – much more than their appearance might suggest – and designed for hours and hours of continuous use.

If you compare the JVC Basic gumy to great headphones at higher price levels you can easily hear why people pay more, but compared to anything at this sub-bargain price level these are absolutely amazing sounding buds, and it’s easy to understand why even audiophiles love them, and so many people make them their beater / daily commute in-ears of choice. In conclusion, your search for durable retro headphones can end with Koss Pro-4AA Studio Quality Headphones. They’re comfortable too. We really liked the clear and crisp sound delivered by these headphones. They may feel somewhat heavy, but they’re durability and sturdiness overshadows everything else. The robust and eye-catching retro design of the Monoprice – 116150 Modern Retro Over Ear Headphones may startle you when you use them for the first time. The construction quality of these headphones is fantastic considering their price.Sony’s marketing clearly brings our attention to the large diaphragm of the MDR7506 wired over-ear headphones, and this really does say a lot about the design and sound of these legendary cans. Basic, wired headphones that don’t even have a microphone, the AKG K92 are retro in all the best ways, and highly recommended! I’m supposed to end these buyer’s guides with questions like: How can you find the best retro headphones for you and your needs? They are also among the most beautiful and highest quality premium products I’ve ever seen, and get our very highest recommendation. Conclusion: Why Are Retro Headphones So Great?

With almost 60 years in the business, Marshall Amplification is a company that consistently delivers with their top-notch audio devices, and when it comes to retro headphones? The Marshall Major III didn't come to play. The sound is, of course, not as good as some of the very expensive headphones on our list, but for the money it is amazing – very, very dynamic, with real energy and excitement, great clarity all the way up and down, and much deeper and more solid bass than you’d expect from headphones of this size.Just for their features and functionality, and their fabulous sound, the JLab Rewind are a pretty obvious choice at this price level, and if you love the retro headphone style they are a no-brainer! These Master and Dynamic headphones are brand new, however, and their retro style – probably unintentional – is more a result of the superb materials, including anodized aluminum and caramel lambskin, and the solid, premium quality that is evident in every single detail. Kids can use these durable and retro headphones to work with various electronic devices, including iPads, iPods, Android smartphones, MP3 players, CD players, listening centers, and more. The long, flexible wire accompanying it is plastic coated so that it won’t fray. I call the Sennheiser Momentum 3, just above, the best sounding retro headphones on my list, but in fact many true audiophiles would choose these astounding Master and Dynamics MW65 over them, and these do have, to be sure, a slightly more accurate sound. The headphones are plastic, aside from the aluminium cap that holds the Panasonic logo and the metal spokes of the headband. There are some nice touches to note. There’s a hand-stitched look to the headband, and the cable that attaches cup to band is fabric-coated.