6 Best Retro Headphones Reviews | Buying Guide 2022

Retro headphones have made a comeback in the 21st century thanks to the modern-day YouTubers and gamers. Vintage headphones have a unique style and excellent build quality that makes them equally attractive and comfortable.

Just like modern headphones, retro vintage headphones also have some valuable features which improve the audio performance to match the taste of all kinds of audiophiles.

However, choosing the best retro headphones isn’t an easy job to do as there are hundreds of different types of vintage headphones available on the marketplace.

To assist you in finding the best retro vintage headphones, here we will discuss the features of some top-tier retro headphones, provide a detailed buying guide, and much more! So without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Advantages of Retro Headphones

Before making your purchase, you might be wondering why you should choose retro vintage headphones over contemporary headphones. Here we have provided some benefits of using retro headphones so that you can ultimately make your choice.

Style & Aesthetics

No one can deny the appeal of old-school vintage headphones as they have a unique style and great aesthetics. These over-ear headphones with their timeless style look good on both males and females. Hence, if you want something trendy and aesthetically pleasing, retro headphones are a must for you.

Build Quality

Mostly, good-quality retro headphones are built from durable and strong materials to provide excellent sound quality. You can find metal and wooden retro headphones with the softest ear pads for maximum comfort. Hence, retro vintage headphones can be a great choice for long-lasting performance and comfort.

Sound Quality

As retro headphones are infused with the most modern technologies, the headphones deliver clear music with great quality of sound. Whether you’re monitoring sound in recording studios or just listening to metal music, it doesn’t matter, you’ll always receive the best quality sound from these headphones.

Affordability

Compared to many modern-day headphones, retro vintage headphones are surprisingly affordable with some incredible features. So, if you want to enjoy clear and bright music without breaking the bank, retro ear headphones are the way to go.

6 Best Retro Headphones

Now it’s time to introduce you to our top picks. We have chosen the most advanced, affordable, and well-reviewed retro vintage headphones to make this list. Go through the features of our best choices and pick one that meets your needs.

1. Marshall Major III Foldable Bluetooth Headphones

When it comes to delivering top-grade headphones, Marshall is one brand that most expert audiophiles rely on. This particular model from the brand has a retro design with excellent audio quality and some very useful features.

Without a doubt, the infusion of modern technology is the main highlight of these on-ear headphones. The Bluetooth aptX technology allows you to connect a device wirelessly and receive flawless sound for up to 30 feet. Because of this technology, you can enjoy premium sound at a higher bit rate.

Moreover, this pair of headphones offer you wide frequency response and perfect syncing of both audio and video. You can enjoy a movie or music video with precise lip-syncing. The silhouette of these on-ear headphones provides stylish retro vibes without being uncomfortable on your ears.

We picked the classic black headphones for this review, but you can buy these retro headphones in white or brown color as well. The ear cups are cushioned with soft foam to ensure a snug fit and great comfort for long listening sessions.

Although the headphones aren’t noise-canceling, they offer you clean and clear sound with stellar noise reduction. The vinyl covering of the ear pads is resilient and long-lasting. As these retro headphones feature 40 mm drivers, you can enjoy enhanced bass response smooth and clear highs.

Another excellent feature of these retro headphones is the battery life. It will take only 3 hours to become fully charged and provide you with 30 hours of uninterrupted playtime! A collapsible design allows you to fold the headphones in a compact size and carry them anywhere you want. What else can you ask for?

Verdict

Marshall Major III headphone is a great wireless option for the best sound quality, excellent battery life, and unmatched convenience.

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2. Pioneer SE-MS7BT(T) Bluetooth Over-Ear Headset

For music enthusiasts with a thing for aesthetically pleasing stuff, we have picked the PIONEER High retro headphones. These dynamic headphones are stylish with a sturdy structure for a smooth and long-lasting music experience.

To provide crystal clear sound, these over-ear headphones feature closed dynamic speakers with 40 mm drivers. Because of the large driver diameter, you can enjoy high audio resolution without any distortions. The dynamic headphones are fully enclosed for active noise canceling and crisp sound.

As the package includes a 4 ft cord and line-in mic, you can easily connect the headphones with your computer or mobile device. Also, the wireless connection perfectly functions for up to 33 feet of distance.

While the frequency response for wireless connection is 9 to 22,000 Hz, the range expands up to 40,000 Hz for wired connection.

Unlike the compact headphones, this one is a bit bulky with sturdy construction. High-quality materials like leather and metal have been used to manufacture these over-the-ear headphones. The leather covering the headband and ear cups is top-grade and features a classy brown color.

As for the battery life, the headphones can serve you for 12 hours when fully charged. Due to the closed-ear design, sound leaks and ambient noise are minimized. The package includes a remote control to adjust the volume.

Also, the ear cups contain conveniently placed buttons to manually on/off the headphones and control volumes. As the retro headphones support multi pairing, you can pair the headphones with 8 devices at a time!

Verdict

PIONEER High is a great choice if you want both looks and incredible sound from your headphones. The unique multi pairing feature will allow you to attend calls and enjoy music at the same time.

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3. Superlux HD668B Headphones

Let’s face it, we all want the best features at the most affordable prices. So, for our budget pick, we have these cost-effective, semi-open vintage headphones for you. The professional audio industry-level headphones offer deep bass performance and durable construction.

Thanks to the dynamic speakers, the headphones provide quality sound with defined highs and mids. The deep bass will allow you to feel the music notes clearly in their natural tones. As the headband is lightweight with a unique design, you won’t feel any comfort issue even after using this pair of headphones for hours.

Despite being a wired headphone, this pair offers you maximum convenience with 2 detachable cables. For personal applications, you can use the 1-meter long straight cable.

You can go for the 3-meter long cable to perform professional monitoring. The cables will allow you to attach the headphones to your computer and any kind of mobile device.

As the Superlux headphones are semi-open, you need to be careful about sound leaks if you’re used to playing music at high volumes. The frequency response range for this pair of headphones is 10 Hz to 30,000 Hz. Hence, you can enjoy the natural and balanced sound with authentic voice reproduction.

Verdict

If you’re looking for affordable wired headphones, the Superlux dynamic headphones will be your ideal choice for natural and accurate sound.

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4. Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi DJ Style Over Ear Pro Headphone

A professional quality headphone set with the most flexible design, the Monoprice Premium Hi-Fi headphones are everything you want and more! This pair of headphones provides premium quality sound and unmatched comfort for all types of audiophiles.

Thanks to the super-flexible construction, you don’t have to worry about the fitting at all. The thickly padded ear cups can swivel around at 90 degrees angle to match all your needs. On top of that, the adjustable headband can be extended up to 1.5 inches so that you can easily adjust the headphones according to your head size.

As the headband of these headphones is made of resilient rubber, they can serve you for years and offer maximum flexibility. The rubber won’t easily crack or

break even if the headphone accidentally falls from your hands. Moreover, the inside of the headpiece is padded with soft foam to keep you comfortable.

The frequency response of these retro headphones ranges from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Plus, the headphones feature 50 mm wide drivers with 100 decibels of sound sensitivity so that you can enjoy premium sound with precise clarity.

Impressively, the thick earpieces work for active noise cancellation eliminating all kinds of ambient sound so that you can enjoy the music notes without any distortion. You don’t have to worry about connecting the headphones as the package includes gold-plated cables along with a 3.5 mm gold-plated plug.

Moreover, you can easily roam around your room wearing the headphones because the package comes with an 11.5-feet long and thick cable. Another 50-inch cable is also included for monitoring purposes. Altogether, these vintage headphones are surely a bang for your bucks.

Verdict

Monoprice Premium headphones are for those who need flexibility and convenience from their headphones. The headphones are a great combination of affordable price and crystal-clear sound quality.

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5. AKG K712PRO Open-Back, Over-Ear Premium Reference Class Studio Headphones

If you’re looking for top-tier studio headphones to achieve precise mixing and listening, this pick of ours can be the most suitable for your needs. The K712 PRO Over-Ear Studio Headphones by AKG Pro Audio is good-looking with high sensitivity to catch every high and low note of your preferred music.

With a maximum input power of 200 mW and a wide frequency response of 10 Hz to 39,800 Hz, this pair of headphones will catch every little detail and improve your overall listening experience. Also, the wide sound stage reproduces detailed music with the highest accuracy.

Unlike other modern headphones, this one comes with thickly coiled cables for outstanding treble responses. The coils also improve the low-end performance of the headphones to provide powerful and more impactful sound imagery.

For professional musicians and sound engineers, these vintage headphones feature an open-back technology that detects and reproduces all the nuances of the sound.

Both ear cups are thickly padded with a large and round shape for noise canceling. Also, the soft foam saves your ears from ear fatigue and provides unmatched comfort.

With a very unique design, the orange headband is attractive and durable. The headband is made of genuine leather to ensure years of use. As the package includes a professional XLR connector, you can easily connect the headphones to any device. It also ships with a premium carry bag for easy transportation.

Verdict

The K712 Pro is a great choice for professional musicians as it accurately picks the high and low ends of each note. A comfortable build quality allows you to use the headphones for hours.

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6. JLab Rewind Wireless Headphones

To end our list with a bang, we have chosen a pair of very stylish, compact, and balanced headphones. The JLab Wireless Headphones come at the most affordable prices with all their impressive features.

With 12 hours of nonstop playtime, these vintage headphones can be your perfect choice for traveling and regular outings. Thanks to the radical EQ3 settings, you can select from 3 different tunes; Balanced, JLab Signature, and Bass Boost just by one tap.

The metal-made headband and rubber-made earpieces are durable, sturdy, and suitable for your everyday uses. Due to the noise isolation feature of the earpieces, you’ll feel only the original music without any distortion.

The earpieces are padded to comfort your ears. Also, the package includes two pairs of foam covers with beautiful colors.

For maximum convenience, the headphones feature only one button to change tracks, pick up incoming calls, activate google assistant, turn on/off the device. The built-in microphone will ensure that your caller can hear every word you say.

Although we picked the black & orange vintage headphones, you can go for the white & blue or grey & white options.

Verdict

These vintage headphones are a cost-effective and simple choice for regular travelers. Comes in different color combinations to provide the perfect old-school vibes.

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Features to Look for Before Buying

It’s always a good idea to make a well-informed purchase if you want to get the best possible products. That’s why we have narrowed down some important features you need to check out before buying retro vintage headphones. Let’s have a look:

Design

Retro headphones are mostly popular for their charming old-school design. So it’s important to find a nice design that suits your taste. If you like complete, bulkier headphones, you can go for the thick and wide over-the-ear headphones.

These headphones will eliminate all kinds of extra noise. Otherwise, you can go for compact, lightweight, on-the-ear headphones in case you want a perfect travel partner. Most retro headphones come in different colors and some unique headband designs. You can choose any of them as per your needs.

Audio Performance

Of course, the audio quality is another important aspect that an audiophile will surely notice in a headphone.

preference, you need to choose one according to your requirements. If you like crisp and natural sounds, you can go for open or semi-open back headphones.

Otherwise, choose closed-back headphones to eliminate noises and sound leaks. You need to ensure that the audio quality is detailed and accurate at all the frequency ranges including highs, mids, and lows.

A wide frequency response range will ensure clear sound with small details. You should also look for noise cancellation features to enjoy uninterrupted audio performances. Altogether, go for a pair that provides, bright, clear, and noise-free sound at any given condition.

Materials

The material of the headphones will decide how comfortable they will be and how long they can perform flawlessly. Hence, you need to check out the building materials of the headband and ear cups before buying your headphones. High-quality headbands are mostly made from metal or wood.

However, the price of such headphones is relatively higher. Rubber and plastic headphones can be a great choice if you have a tight budget. Both the materials are pretty strong and highly durable. While rubber-made headphones don’t crack or break under pressure, you need to be extra careful with the plastic ones.

As for the earpieces, go for the softest foam to ensure the highest comfort. Leather earpiece coverings are the most popular and durable ones. You should pick a resilient and long-lasting cover material that won’t wear easily even after years of use.

Additional Features

Not all headphone brands provide additional features in their headphones so that the price remains affordable for everyone. Yet, some headphones offer many premium features to improve your listening experience. Try to get as many features as you can while buying retro headphones.

Built-in microphones, foldable earpieces, adjustable headbands, detachable cables, carrying bags, additional batteries, etc., are some features that you should look for.

Price & Warranty

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a pair of good-quality retro headphones. Check out the prices and compare the features to choose a pair according to your budget. Be sure to stay away from surprisingly low prices if you want to get the original product only.

Also, ask the seller for a warranty as this will help you to easily return the product if any parts go missing during the shipping process.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are retro headphones better than modern headphones?

In terms of looks, features, and build quality, both modern and retro headphones are quite similar. In fact, retro headphones are somewhat better looking than contemporary ones.

They provide you with the best audio quality and some incredible features. Also, many of them offer both wired and wireless connectivity options. We can conclude that retro headphones are better in their design and sound quality whereas modern ones are better in their advanced features

2. How do I know if my headphones have good sound quality?

It’s better to directly play something with the headphones to judge the sound quality. Connect the headphones to your device and play some high and low guitar or piano notes.

If the sound is detailed, clear, noise-free, and doesn’t distort at high frequency, you can be sure that the headphones are good in quality.

3. Are retro headphones more expensive

No, not at all. Retro headphones are pretty affordable in comparison to many contemporary ones. Also, the headphones come in a wide variety of price ranges. Regular and simplest retro headphones will cost you up to 50$ only.

To get some advanced ones with some modern features like noise isolation or high-resolution compatibility, you need to spend around 80$. The most advanced ones with tons of useful features usually cost more than 100$.

4. Does driver size matter in headphones?

Driver size is a significant aspect if you want loud and clear sound from your headphones. Usually, the driver size varies from 20 mm to 50 mm in diameter.

A 50 mm driver will produce a louder sound than a 20 mm driver. However, wider drivers might show some minor problems at high frequencies. You can go for wider drivers if you like loud music.

5. How do I choose the right headphones

The features and quality of your headphones should meet your preferences. Go for a pair that has a satisfying build quality. Then check out its audio features to judge the quality of sound. Finally, look for some additional features you’ll need in the long run.

Final Words

So there you have the best retro headphones available on the market today. All our picks are unique and great in quality.

You can go for the Marshall Major III or PIONEER High for an overall satisfactory experience. If you’re on a budget, you should pick the Superlux dynamic headphones for the best results.