Gearank

At publication time these were on our recommended list for Studio Headphones Under $100.

Neutrality is the name of the game when it comes to mixing. Many headphones at the Samson SR850's price point are anything but neutral.

The Samson SR850 is an affordable set of open back headphones designed for critical listening. It does so thanks to a large 50mm Neodymium driver for fast transients and a flat midrange.

The SR850's treble is slightly accentuated in a way that exposes overly sibilant mixes. This guides you to be more conservative with upper frequency excitement.

Specifications

• Driver Diameter: 50mm
• Magnet Type: Neodymium
• Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 30 kHz
• Sensitivity: 98 dB at 1 kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ohms
• Weight: 9.73 oz
• Cable and Connector: Straight cable, Gold-plated 1/8” (3.5 mm) stereo mini connector with gold-plated 1/8” (3.5 mm) to 1/4” (6.3 mm) adapter

Pros

In a price point dominated by "v" shaped sound signatures, boosted bass and other cheap headphone tropes, the SR850 gets praise from users for its revealing and relatively neutral sound. It is good enough for critical listening and mixing as a few have noted that own the pair and use them for reference.

Cons

Cable is not detachable. Users also disliked the cheap feeling plastic parts.

Overall

If you need a cheap pair of reference headphones to make critical mixing decisions, the Samson SR850 is a great choice that wont break the bank.

At publication time these were on our recommended list for The Best Studio Headphones Under $100.