Best Earphones Under Rs.1,000 (April 2019)

If you love listening to a lot of music, a good pair of earphones is a must in your gadget kitty.

Choosing the best earphones is a tough job when you have a lot of options to choose in the market.

There are very few credible reviews out there on the Internet that can ease your buying decision.

In this article, we have compiled a list of the best earphones under Rs.1000 available in the Indian market.

Best Earphones Under Rs.1,000

1. Sony MDR-EX155AP	Overall Best Pick
2. House Of Marley Smile Jamaica	Runner-Up Pick
3. Audio-Technica ATH-CLR100BK	Best Sound Clarity
4. Sennheiser CX 180	Best for Listening EDMs
5. boAt BassHeads 225	Best Value for Money Earphone
6. Sound Magic ES18S	Best Budget Pick
7. 1MORE Piston Fit	Best Build Quality
8. Sony MDR-AS210	Best Sports Earphones
9. Mi Earphones	Cheap and good Earphone with Mic
10. boAt Nirvana Bliss	Best Build Quality
11. Philips SHQ1200 Action fit	Good Outdoor Earphone
12. JBL C100SI	Honourable Mention

Sony is a class apart when you consider any of the products that the company has laid its footprints on.

The same is the case with earphones too.

Introduction

Sony has been really popular among the audiophiles for its great quality headphones and earphones albeit being a tad bit pricier than its competitors.

The Sony MDR-EX155AP is an in-ear earphone that comes with an inline microphone to attend the calls on the go.

Considering the price of just Rs.949, we can safely say that this is one of the best earphones under Rs.1000 available in the market at present.

Neodymium Drivers

This in-ear earphone from Sony is equipped with a 9mm neodymium driver that offers powerful yet balanced sound output.

With an impedance rating of 16 ohms, the drivers are able to pump music so crisp and clear on any device that you might use it with.

Sound Quality

With a frequency response covering over a range from 5Hz to a maximum of 24000 Hz, this earphone does not misses out even the minute notes.

The bass quality is balanced and doesn’t feel artificial.

The highs tend to peak during the listening, but with the vocals being so crisp and clear, it’s almost indistinguishable for our ears.

Hardware

The speaker unit weighs just 30g. You won’t even notice the earphone if not the wires were dangling around.

Speaking of wires, they’re vertically textured and feels durable & strong.

The ear tips supplied with this earphones are soft and comfortable to wear.

Additional pairs of ear-tips are provided which is always a welcome move, as everyone’s ears may not be of the same size.

Warranty

This in-ear earphone from Sony priced under Rs.1000 comes with a 1 year offline as well as online warranty.

So no matter where you purchase, the product is covered under warranty.

Verdict

Those who love Sony and bass should consider buying this product as the first option.

The neodymium drivers sound natural and the bass is on the point that doesn’t overpower the vocals.

House of Marley is an international brand that specializes in R&D and marketing of audio-related equipment such as turntables and Bluetooth speakers.

The House of Marley Smile Jamaica is a budget in-ear styled wired earphone that’s made completely out of eco-friendly materials.

Design and Build Quality

The House of Marley Smile Jamaica earphones, for the most part, is made using natural materials such as wood.

The earpiece casing is made from bamboo and coated with a layer of antifungal spray that extends the longevity of this product.

This pure wood rear housing has received critical acclaim from environmentalists worldwide and also comes with the certification from Forest Stewardship Council of US.

The fabric covered cord style cable is of very high quality and can withstand even the toughest of abuses without succumbing to failure.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The House of Marley Smile Jamaica in-ear style earphone is powered by 8mm speaker drivers that cover a frequency response range of 20-20000 Hz.

The quality of sound output coming of these speakers is on par with most other earphones available in this price category.

A good news for bass fanatics, this earphone has that extra oomph that you expect to hear while listening to EDMs and hip hop music.

The mids and highs are decently clean and crisp, but at times the bass tends to overpower those notes.

The wood housing around the speaker drivers also chips in to reduce the reverberation effect while playing bass heavy music.

In-line Remote and Call Quality

The in-line remote on this budget earphone has a single button to accept/reject the calls.

This button also doubles up as a music player control that can pause/play the track when used with an Android smartphone.

The microphone even though is sensitive doesn’t pick up much environment noise, providing a pleasant voice calling experience.

Verdict

The House of Marley Smile Jamaica is an excellent in-ear style earphone for a budget under Rs.1,000.

The uniqueness of pure wood construction and decent sound output from the tuned drivers makes this a compelling product worth purchasing.

Audio-Technica is a Japanese company who is one of the most sought-after brands when it comes to audio equipment such as professional headphones and earphones.

The Audio-Technica ATH-CLR100BK, their offering under Rs.1000 is one of the top earphones at this price thanks to the detailed sound clarity it offers.

Design and build quality

The ear pods on this earphone are designed to stand out from the rest of the competitors in the market.

It is very sleek and stylish, providing a premium feel even though with an all plastic build.

The quality of wires though is mediocre and feels very flimsy.

Sound quality

High Acoustic Resolution technology ensures the sound output from this neat little piece of hardware is refined and up to the mark.

These in-ear earphones come with an 8.5mm driver that delivers great clarity audio with a well-balanced punch.

The mids and highs are distinct thanks to the frequency response that ranges between 20Hz – 20,000Hz.

Miscellaneous

Weighing only about 34g, this earphone is very lightweight and comfortable to wear.

The silicon ear-tips are very soft and fit snug inside the ear canals preventing any possible sound leak to the outside.

The company has included a cord-wrap in the box so that after listening to the music, the wires can be kept securely without getting tangled.

Verdict

Audio Technica earphones deliver the best sound clarity among this bunch. The lows, mids and highs are perfectly balanced when it comes out of the drivers.

If you are the one who likes to listen a lot of vocals, this might be a good investment.

Sennheiser CX 180 is an earphone that has garnered a huge market in India thanks to the brand name and sound quality of Sennheiser.

Design and build quality

The design of the earphones gives a subtle and royal look.

The only flaw in the build of this earphones is its cable, which is thin, tangle-prone, and extremely susceptible to cable noise.

Sound quality

When it comes to the sound quality of these budget earphones, the Sennheiser CX 180 performs really well for the price.

It is best suited for those who listen to a lot of EDM tracks and bass heavy songs.

It produces good highs and lows, the bass is really great and the vocals are clear and crispy.

Miscellaneous

Sennheiser also gives a 2-year manufacturer warranty for these earphones.

Noise cancellation and microphone are the features that are absent from these pair of earphones.

Verdict

If you are a fan of EDMs and other bass rich music, the Sennheiser CX 180 would totally make you happy.

The earpiece is designed to slide in to the ear canal comfortably and gives a decent acoustic listening experience.

boAt, as you might have already known, is a serious contender in the Indian consumer audio electronics industry.

The BassHeads 225 from boAt is a budget wired earphone offering from the company priced around Rs.600 mark, specifically catering people who have an affinity for bass-rich sound output.

Design and Build Quality

Starting with the aesthetics, the basshead series earphones from boAt comes with unique earpiece designs which stand completely out of the loop when compared with the traditional design of its competitors.

The boAt bassheads 225 has a beautifully textured earpiece design which is, in fact, a metal casing rather than the conventional plastic one.

The metal casing does allow in for a better acoustic performance of this in-ear style earphone.

The flat “memory wire” used in this headset is tangle free and reduces the risk of damage due to dangling.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The boAt bassheads 225 comes equipped with a respectable 10 mm speaker driver inside.

The sound profile in favour for those who would like thumbing bass, hence the name bassheads.

The bass produced by this earphone is so clean and deep, which will satisfy a hardcore bass fanatic.

Even with the thundering bass, the mids and highs remain perfectly audible and makes in for an excellent all-around performer.

This headset has a sensitivity level around 100 dB/mW which offers the best of both the worlds – loudness of the sound output and minimal speaker distortion effects.

Inline Remote and Microphone

The boAt bassheads 225 comes with an inline remote and mic for voice calling purposes.

The microphone quality is average and works best if you are indoors. The button is a bit recessed and you might find it a bit difficult at times to accept and reject the call.

Miscellaneous

The gold plated connector of this earphone is resistant to corrosion and passes the signal much more efficiently without any significant signal loss.

Since the design of the driver case units is in tune with the grooves of the human ear, it fits snug inside the ear canal offering a natural noise cancellation effect.

The boAt bassheads 225 comes in a hard protective case that you can use to keep the earphone safe while in transit.

Verdict

The boAt bassheads 225 comes with a bit of goodness that sprawls multiple sections such as build quality, sound output and even with supplied accessories.

This earphone does sound excellent for the price and the clever design of the earpiece lets you enjoy the music in peace.

SoundMagic is a Chinese electronics manufacturer who specializes in high-quality audio products.

SoundMagic ES18S offers excellent performance compared to its competitors and you will not get such great clarity in sound even from the ones which cost twice its price.

Design and build quality

The silicon ear tips provide very good comfort and help to seal the ears from outside noise very well.

It has an L-shaped 3.5 mm jack which is gold plated.

The cable is 1.25m, the rubber padding at each end adds up to the build quality.

The overall build quality is really good as well, it can easily survive some accidental drops and improper handling.

Sound quality

The sound-stage is definitely better than many other expensive earphones out there.

Though it doesn’t have the thumping bass you get on some top picks, when it comes to the clarity of sound the ES18S are miles ahead.

Verdict

Definitely, these headphones from SoundMagic are the best sounding budget earphones you can buy under Rs. 1,000.

If you are looking for a good pair of earphones on a tight budget, the SoundMagic ES18 is the perfect choice for you.

You may not have heard too much about the brand 1MORE in the past.

1MORE is Chinese electronics manufacturer who manufactures earphones for companies like Xiaomi, ASUS etc.

Design and Build Quality

1MORE always keeps a standard build quality and audio quality with their earphones and the Piston Fit is one of the top-rated earphones in the 1000 rupees price range from them.

The earpiece of this budget in-ear styled earphone is made from lightweight aluminium alloy.

The Piston Fit features an aluminium casing with ‘CD lining’ textured surface which makes these pair of earbuds more beautiful.

The earpiece is slightly oblique-angled to rest inside the ears naturally. This creates a passive noise cancellation effect for unhindered music listening sessions in the outdoors.

Speakers and Sound Quality

When it comes to the sound quality, the 1MORE Piston Fit is nicely balanced with clear highs and detailed mids, and good focus on the bass.

The specially designed dual layer 10mm driver is capable of delivering some of the best quality audio experience you can get under a budget of Rs.1000.

You get clear vocals with Piston Fit, sub-bass is handled well and the low-end punch doesn’t get too boomy as well on these.

More than that 1MORE Piston Fit is able to produce better surround sound and neat vocals.

Miscellaneous

The gold plated headphone jack which is protected by quality paddings adds to the earphone’s build quality.

Furthermore, 1MORE earphone drivers are factory tuned by Grammy award-winning sound engineers to deliver you a precise studio-quality music experience.

The inline microphone on this earphone works pretty well to eliminate background static while having voice calls.

Verdict

Overall, if you are a rough user and looking for an earphone with the best build quality and doesn’t want to compromise on sound quality, 1MORE Piston Fit is definitely the perfect choice for you!

Sony is known for a lot of things ranging from LED TVs to Bluetooth speakers to headphones.

Not only does the company has its presence in the consumer electronics industry, it does excel in it as well.

The MDR-AS210 is an active style earphone targeted at users who wish to have a sports related feature rich earphone during their exercise sessions.

Design and build quality

The Sony MDR-AS210 is an open ear active sports earphone designed to meet the expectations of fitness enthusiasts.

The adjustable ear clip is very lightweight and comfortable to wear this earphone around the ears.

It offers a secure grip to the earpiece that will remain in position even with intense movement such as running or climbing.

The earpiece is designed in such a way that the sound flows in and out through the back of the earcups ensuring a natural and soothing music listening experience.

The 1.2m cord is long enough to put the device in your pocket while in the gym or while jogging outside.

Sound quality

This earphones comes with a pair of 13.5mm drivers that lets out loud and clear sound output without any distortions even at maximum volume levels.

Covering a wide 17 – 22,000 Hz frequency response range, this budget earphone delivers a wide variety of notes from low to high end of the audio spectrum, generating an immersive music listening experience.

The bass as you might have already know, is very rich and for those who would love those beats with extra punch will be satisfied.

Miscellaneous

The water resistant design of this earphone prevents the water and sweat from leaking in to the earpiece compartment, making it suitable for wearing outside or while at the gym.

The serrated cord keeps the wires from getting tangled. This will save you a lot of time and provides you the convenience of keeping the earphones in your pocket as you may please.

Verdict

The Sony MDR-AS210 is the perfect choice if you would love to have a sports earphone to use while in the gym or even outside.

The water, splash resistant design lets you use this earphone in any weather without the fear of getting damaged.

The sound output is impressive and the additional clips securely holds the earpiece in place while doing workouts.

Xiaomi is one of the prominent smartphone manufacturers in India with a majority share in their pocket.

Xiaomi has shown their prowess in smartphone accessories like power banks as well. Their budget earphones are also popular among the masses.

Design and Build Quality

The Mi earphones are exceptionally well built. The machine cut precision is evident from the first look itself.

The design language is very much minimal at the same time appealing to the eyes.

The specialized driver case design has a metallic chamber inside which the speaker driver is placed.

This makes the sound to reverberate inside and create an amplified effect on its own.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is very much pleasant to the ears. The bass is pronounced and the treble matches with the rest of the audio spectrum quite beautifully.

The only downside we could find with this earphone is that there is no ear markings anywhere to be seen.

Miscellaneous

The 90-degree L shaped connector is gold plated and offers the least resistance to the signals.

The inline mic and remote are one of the most comprehensive we have seen in this category.

There is an answer/end call and two separate volume rockers which is very much desirable for any earphone out there.

The kevlar coated and braided cable feels strong, sturdy and induces an indestructible feel. Do note that if you abuse the wire so hard, it will eventually break.

Verdict

If you want a well-built earphone with great sound quality the Mi earphones are one of the best in the business.

These earphones sound really great for its asking price and the excellent build quality ensures that the product is durable for long term use.

boAt is an Indian company specialized in marketing audio related accessories such as earphones and headphones under an affordable budget.

The Nirvana Bliss from boAt is a budget wired earphone offering from the company priced around Rs.1000 price range.

Design and Build Quality

Starting with the aesthetics, the design of this earphone’s speaker units is in line with the other products from the Nirvana lineup that features a distinct earpiece design which makes these products stand out from the rest.

The company has made some improvements in the overall hardware this time around.

The fabric material cover wire is strong enough to withstand minor abuses without compromising on the usability of this budget wired earphone.

The black and gold dual colour scheme looks very attractive and delivers a sense of premium feel under an affordable budget.

He ceramic earpiece is very touch and durable as well as offers excellent acoustic properties for improved sound output quality.

Speakers and Sound Quality

This product gives you a more balanced and soothing sound output which is perfect for listening to classical and melodious songs.

Inside the speaker unit is a comparatively small 8mm driver that delivers decent bass.

If you are looking for an earphone with an upper hand in the bass, you might want to check out the bassheads lineup of earphones priced under Rs.500 from boAt.

Miscellaneous

The gold plated connector of this earphone is resistant to corrosion and passes the signal much more efficiently without any significant signal loss.

Verdict

If you are in search of a wired earphone with emphasis on durability and build quality, the boAt Nirvana Bliss is the choice you should go with,

Philips, the brand was once very popular in India and suddenly with the influx of other Chinese manufacturers lost the sheen.

The SHQ1200 Action fit is an in-ear earphone from Philips priced under Rs.1000.

These earphones have a very niche target, aiming at the people who do workouts and loves to stay outdoors.

Design and Build Quality

The build quality of Philips SHQ1200 is on par with the other similarly priced models in the market.

The ear pods on this product are made of high-grade anti-slip rubber which fits tight inside your ear canal, offering a stress-free workout session or outdoor jogging.

The cable on this in-ear earphone is coated with Kevlar which provides it with enhanced durability and strength.

Even when subjected to rigorous bending or stretching, which is normal during workouts, the cables stay intact.

Features

This earphone is designed for an active lifestyle.

It is sweat as well as rainproof.

This enables these earphones to be used outdoors even under direct rain with no fear of getting damaged.

Sound and Speaker Quality

The large 13.5 mm drivers provide a detailed and crisp acoustic sound quality over a frequency response range between 30 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

The bass though is not as distinct as we would like to have.

Verdict

The Philips SHQ1200 Action fit is one of the best outdoor earphones available under Rs.1000 currently in the Indian market.

With its string kevlar reinforced cable and rain/sweat resistance, this wired earphone will last the test of time for sure.

JBL audio equipment is very popular among the youth in this country.

Their Bluetooth speakers are a major success in the market and the earphone and headphone sales are booming as well.

The JBL C100SI is a budget in-ear style earphone with a legendary status among the audiophiles owing to its sound quality and the lightweight and comfortable form factor.

Design and Build Quality

The JBL C100SI features an attractive bulb shaped earpiece made from high-quality glossy ABS plastic.

The JBL C100SI has ear tips which are really soft that are great for extended usage and longtime music listening experience without hurting the ears.

When we talk about the build quality, the JBL CS100SI gives an above average build quality for the price but, the cables are not that great.

They can get tangled in your pockets very easily.

The gold-plated earphone jack is well made and gives a better sound reproduction from the playback devices.

JBL also provides a 1-year warranty on these earphones as well.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The JBL C100SI features 9mm drivers that deliver the signature JBL sound profile with rich bass and perfectly balanced mids and highs.

The dome-shaped structure that houses the drivers helps in creating an acoustic chamber that enhances the bass from inside.

The frequency response of the JBL C100SI ranges between 20-20,000Hz and the bass on these earphones are well pronounced.

Custom made JBL drivers inside this earphone deliver precise, powerful sound for an exceptional listening experience.

In-line Remote and Microphone

This earphone comes with a 1.2 m long cable which features an in-line microphone and remote control for music playbacks.

Microphone quality is really good for the price as well and the single button on the inline remote is multi-functional.

Verdict

If you love the brand JBL and its products, you might not want to miss this one.

The excellent deep bass coupled with clean and crisp vocals makes this earphone, one of the best in its business under the budget of Rs.1000.

That completes our list of the best earphones under Rs.1000. We hope that we have helped you pick the right product without much hassle.

Don’t hesitate to check out our article on earphones under Rs.500 for more budget choices.

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