Best Earphones Under Rs.2,000 (February 2019)

Whether you’re an audiophile, music lover or a regular joe, good earphones are a must these days.

The enjoyment, entertainment and comfort they offer while listening to your favourite tracks are immense.

If you’re looking for good quality in-ear headphones that are best sounding as well as well-built, your go-to budget is Rs. 2000.

Here is the curated list of the best wired earphones under Rs.2000 available in the market.

Best Earphones Under Rs.2,000

SoundMagic has been building some of the good quality cheap earphones for the last few years that not only sounds great but also well built.

The E10C, an upgraded version of SoundMagic E10 is again a perfect example to justify that tag, thanks to its audio performance and build quality.

Design and build quality

The E10C has a solid design with tangle-free braided cables and aluminium earbud housing.

Its in-ear design has made sure that the earbuds sit deep inside the ear canal without any discomfort.

Provided inside the box is a carry case with enough sizes of silicone ear tips, cable adjuster, computer/mobile adapter and the earphone itself.

Sound quality

The SoundMagic E10C has a frequency response between 15Hz and 22KHz.

Because of this wider frequency range, it can output a wide variety of sound.

The sound stage is pretty good with great clarity and details.

The bass is tighter and the mids and highs are crisp in nature to enhance the sound quality.

Miscellaneous

The big difference SoundMagic E10C has from the E10 is its inline remote control design.

It has a 3 button remote control to attend/disconnect calls, adjust volume and control tracks.

This earphone is compatible with most of the devices out of the box including iPhone, Android, Laptops and PCs.

Verdict

All in all, the SoundMagic E10C is the best earphone under Rs.2000.

Its musical detail with powerful bass and wide sound stage is second to none in this price range.

Added to that is the build quality of cables which are tangle-free and the metallic housing of earbud drivers, the E10C is simply a cut above the rest.

RHA is a British company famous for its audiophile grade earphones and headphones that are acclaimed for its unparalleled build and sound quality.

The RHA MA 390 is one of the entry-level earphones from the company, aiming first-time premium earphone customers who wish to own an excellent quality device at an affordable price.

Design and Build Quality

The RHA MA 390 driver casing and the related components are made of aluminium alloy which ensures structural integrity and durability to this earphone.

The brushed aluminium finish without any paint job looks stunning and offers a luxurious vibe to the device.

The aerophonic housing that has the drivers inside constitute of a hollow chamber to improve the acoustic performance of this in-ear styled earphones.

This earphone features a long 1.3m braided tangle-free cable which is a blessing for those who carelessly throw their stuff inside pockets or bags, with the additional burden of untangling the wires before use.

The gold plated connector ensures that it will remain corrosion free even if it comes in contact with the water droplets. Gold plating also minimizes the resistance to the electrical signals, resulting in better audio quality.

RHA also provides dual density silicone ear tips that provide a comfortable and long lasting cushion effect while wearing this earphone.

There is also a fabric carrying case available with the purchase of this earphone which is pretty useful if you are a person who cares to keep your things organised.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The RHA MA 390 has a relatively larger 13.8mm driver that provides the sound output with rich bass and detailed mids and highs.

The aerophonic housing helps this earphone to deliver deep bass but to the level that it doesn’t feel artificial to the ears.

The soundstage separation on this earphone is very distinct and you will be able to enjoy all the notes across the spectrum in crisp and clean quality.

These drivers have a sensitivity of just 89dB/mW meaning even if you listen to music at the maximum volume levels, there won’t be any noticeable distortion in the output.

The dual density silicone eartips and the inverted trumpet-shaped driver casing provides a very good passive noise attenuation.

This helps the earphone to block most of the external noises and deliver a peaceful and immersive music listening session for you.

Inline Remote and Microphone

The RHA MA 390 is a universal earphone. This device is compatible with most of the gadgets with a 3.5mm jack in the market at present.

The inline remote has a single button to control all the functionalities such as calls and media playback without having the need to touch your smartphone.

The microphone is very sensitive to pick your voice whether you are inside the house or in a busy marketplace crowded with people.

The company provides a belt clip in the box that can be used to place the inline microphone securely on your shirt for consistent audio call quality.

Verdict

The RHA MA 390 is one of the best premium earphones available under a budget of Rs.2,000 that excel in build quality and audio performance.

Precise British engineering that delivers unmatched sound quality and uncompromising durability make this earphone a compelling choice for purchase.

Sony is a highly reputed brand in consumer electronics space for their quality offerings across the spectrum.

Their brand of earphones also follows the same pattern.

Build quality and design

The Sony MDR-EX225AP model is a compact earphone that delivers quality sound output.

Housing a 12mm Neodymium driver that can respond between 5Hz-25KHz, the frequency range of Sony MDR-EX225AP is pretty wide.

The driver size is one of the widest in this price range which will deliver better sub-bass sounds.

It has an impedance rating of 16 Ohm and the sensitivity is 106dB/MW.

Sound quality

The overall sound quality of this earphone is very good.

It has an excellent sound system that provides true sound through the earpiece rather than any boosted output.

The clarity and details of output are also very good with this wired earphone.

Even the voice recorded via inline Mic was impressive.

Miscellaneous

The Sony MDR-EX225AP houses its dynamic drivers in a plastic body.

The cables have a serrated design to resist tangles and snags.

The inline remote control and mic have a single button to take hands-free calls and switch tracks.

There is no button to adjust volume.

We felt the overall build quality pretty average.

Verdict

If your concern is a good sounding earphone from a reputed brand, then the Sony MDR-EX225AP is a great choice under Rs. 2000.

The bass levels are satisfying for those who look for that extra punch in the music they listen to.

Having an inline microphone makes it more useful than ever before for having voice calls on the go.

Sennheiser is a brand which needs no introduction to audiophiles.

They have launched some of the best audio devices in the world and pioneered this industry for decades.

The Sennheiser CX275s has been dominating the budget earphone segment for a few years now.

Build quality and design

The area where Sennheiser CX275s lags big time is build quality.

These earphones are fairly ordinary built with tangle prone cables and plastic driver housing.

The cables are built well but are very thin when compared to SoundMagic E10C or Sony MDR.

The inline remote control has just a single button and there is no volume control option there.

Sound quality

In terms of sound quality, the Sennheiser CX275s has a bass-driven stereo sound as claimed by them.

It has a frequency response of 17Hz-23KHz and an impedance of 16 Ohm.

They sound balanced than some of the other earphones in the CX line, although the bass definitely has a bit of a boost.

The midrange is clear and the treble is fairly pleasant.

They aren’t audiophile quality earphones but they perform respectably at the price point.

The microphone also performs well during calls.

Miscellaneous

The CX 275s are a pair of in-ear headphones that are designed specifically for mobile devices.

They are compatible with every Android and Apple devices.

The earphones are provided with a carry pouch and 3 pairs of rubber ear-tips inside the box.

Verdict

In conclusion, the Sennheiser CX 275s is a good headset for someone who wants a branded, average sounding earphone with good microphone functionality under Rs.2,000.

The sound is tailored to be bass heavy and if you mostly listen to EDM or other bass heavy genres without too many vocals, you may not feel the loss in the other regions of sound.

If you want something with a bit more balanced sound, consider the SoundMagic E10C.

The surprising entry in this list of best earphones is the SoundGear 500 from Tagg, an Indian consumer electronics brand.

This ergonomically designed in-ear headphone has the USP of having dual drivers to output sound.

The SoundGear 500 comes with the In-ear headset, Carry pouch and 3 pairs of earbuds.

Build quality and design

It has a solid build quality even though the driver housing is made of plastic.

The ear-tip design looks and fits really well and doesn’t fall off from the ear.

The 3.5mm headphone jack is solidly built with gold plating.

There is a single button on the inline remote for controlling music and attending calls.

Sound quality

It is in sound quality that the Tagg SoundGear 500 really stand out.

Thanks to the dual driver setup, the overall sound-stage is very wide and you get a balanced sound output with no boosted output.

A big thumbs up to Tagg for an accurate audio performance.

Verdict

In conclusion, the SoundGear 500 is a very good pair of in-ear headphones at Rs. 1500.

They sound great and accurate in lows, mids and highs.

There is not much going against this device at this price except the headphone jack connector which is not L shaped.

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-AS410AP 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-AS410AP 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 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 earphone comes with a pair of 9mm drivers that lets out loud and clear sound output without any distortions even at maximum volume levels.

Covering a wide 5-22,000 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.

The inline microphone allows you to take calls while performing exercises and other activities.

The mic is very sensitive and comfortably picks up your voice even while moving constantly.

Verdict

The Sony MDR-AS410AP 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.

Skullcandy is an American company based in Utah that markets consumer-centric products such as earphones and headphones.

We have reviewed a lot of Skullcandy audio products in the past and all of them delivered good sound output but lacked the fit and finish. The build quality also sucked big time in the past.

The Smokin’ Buds 2 comes with these gripes fixed.

This budget earphone priced under Rs.1,500 delivers great audio output on a budget without compromising on the build quality.

Design and Build Quality

The Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2 comes with a two-tone colour option and a mesmerising transparent option that is sure to turn some heads.

The earpiece casing is made of glossy plastic and looks very nice on the ear. The design is in such a way that the earpiece fits snug inside the ear canal comfortably.

Flat ribbon-style rubber cable is tough and feels solid this time which is way better than those thin flimsy cables Skullcandy used on some of its products in the past.

There is an inline mic and remote for attending calls. The single button remote is designed to execute various functionality by the number of presses.

Speakers and Sound Quality

As expected, the Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2 delivers excellent quality sound through its 9mm drivers.

The sound output is less louder but more balanced this time. This is indeed a good thing because having too much loudness equates to noise.

For an audiophile, the balance between the notes is much more important than having just a loud music blaring out through the speakers.

The bass is more pronounced and those bass lovers would definitely feel at home with this earphone.

Miscellaneous

The Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2 comes with a 2-year global warranty. This means you can carry this product with you anywhere in the world and if something unfortunate happens, you can get it repaired right away.

The mic used in this earphone is of very good quality and picks up sound very well. The construction is of plastic and it comes with a moisture-resistant coating that will keep the sweat and water splashes away from the earpiece.

Verdict

The Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2 is a great choice for those who would love to have a great sounding earphone with a good quality mic for voice calls.

The one-button inline remote has some nifty tricks that serve multiple features like skipping the song, pausing the music and attending the calls. The build quality is great this time around so does the looks.

If your budget is under Rs.1500, you should definitely check out this product.

JBL is a renowned audio equipment manufacturer popular for its Bluetooth speakers, affordable headphones and earphones.

The JBL T210 is a budget in-ear style wired earphone which delivers excellent bass-heavy music and distortion free voice calls via the in-line microphone.

Design and Build Quality

The JBL T210 comes with a rather minimalistic design that looks premium, thanks to the metallic glossy paint job on the earpiece housing.

The slightly angled ear tube helps in providing a passive noise cancellation effect which will block out unnecessary outside noise from getting inside the ears.

The silicone tip is soft and sweat resistant. It fits well within the ear canal and offers excellent wearing comfort.

The 1.2m cable is flat styled and doesn’t tangle when placed carelessly inside your bag or pant pocket.

Multiple sized eartips are included with this earphone and also comes with a carrying pouch which can be used to store the product when not in active use.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The JBL T210 is powered by 8.7mm drivers designed and developed in-house by the company for exceptional music clarity and tonal balance.

These drivers deliver excellent quality bass without any distortions even at the higher volume level. The mids and highs gracefully complement the bass and help this earphone provide an immersive and pleasant music listening experience.

In-line Remote and Voice Quality

The JBL T210 comes equipped with an in-line remote and a microphone for voice calls.

The remote has a single button to accept/reject calls. Made of high-quality plastic, the remote is very solid and feels durable enough to last for years of continuous usage.

Verdict

The JBL T210 is a budget-friendly in-ear style wired headphone that delivers excellent sound quality with rich bass and clean highs.

If you love the brand JBL and trust its reliability, the purchase of this earphone wouldn’t make you unsatisfied for sure.

JBL E15 is yet another bass oriented budget earphone offering from the company.

These in-ear style earphones come with the signature custom tuned JBL sound drivers for excellent sound output.

Build Quality and Design

The JBL E15 has a plastic earpiece section with a dual tone matte and gloss finish.

There is a bit of textured ring at the end of the chassis which imparts an elegant feel to the other bland style of this in-ear style earphone.

The 1.2m cable is rounded and isn’t tangle free. There is a fabric covered cable from the inline remote to the 3.5mm jack to ensure maximum strength and damage resistance.

Speakers and Sound Quality

All the JBL earphones and headphones with custom factory tuned drivers to ensure a rewarding music listening experience.

The JBL E15 comes with an 8.6mm driver which sounds excellent overall.

The bass from this speaker is very pronounced and deep but not as much as that it overpowers the mids and highs.
No, the bass from this earphone isn’t comparable to the likes of boAt basshead series earphones, but we personally feel the overall sound output quality is clean and precise.

Miscellaneous

The gold plated 3.5mm headphone jack on this earphone is optimally angled at 45 degrees to ensure comfortable usage while holding the phone in landscape mode.

The sweat-resistant silicone eartips promotes active usage while in the gym or jogging outside.

The inline remote and microphone is present and accounted for in this earphone. The remote button is very large compared to others in its segment and is really easy to press.

The inline remote has integrated media controls in it and the microphone lets you do hands-free voice calls.

Verdict

The JBL E15 is for those who would like to have a tonally balanced sound output but with a relatively deep bass touch to it.

With the fully functional inline remote and microphone integrated to the earphone, this earphone is definitely worth purchasing under Rs.1500.

This concludes our list of the best earphones under Rs.2,000 right now in India.

We will be updating this list when new products that can dethrone our top picks emerge in the market.

Until then, keep following our best lists and buying guides to stay updated with the latest and greatest gadgets. Ciao!