Any recommendations for USB Headphones (with Mic) for $35 or less?

[JuanMC45]

Hey everyone,

 

So yeah title says it all. I've got a very, very tight budget since my Onikuma K9 headphones...

(these)

...suddenly broke, and I don't have any other headphones lying around. I'd appreciate if any of you gave recommendations for some headphones on a $25-35 USD budget, which have USB audio and microphone (it's not required to be USB only, but would be much appreciated, since the 3.5mm mic jack in my motherboard has quite the static to it). I mainly game, listen to music, and maybe edit once in a while, if that matters.
 

I know I'm asking a lot, almost all posts searching for headphones have a crazy budget like $100, $200, even $500. I just can't afford that at the moment, and I can't save to have a better budget, so it's got to be something that can be usable for a while. As long as they have around the same quality of the Onikuma K9 and it's within the budget, I'm down for it.

 

Thanks!

Edit I forgot to include: I would just search a local store with some off-brand headphones and get those, I've done that before. It's just that it's often a gamble what you get. I wanted to see if there was anything worth recommending within my budget, and avoid gambling my money away with something that's gonna sound the same as some $2 earbuds from the gas store, or it's gonna break in just one month.

Edited November 18, 2023 by JuanMC45

[DrMacintosh]

Apple sells USB-C EarPods for $19. But if your computer does not have a Type-C port, those won't be of much use to you. 

[RONOTHAN##]

If it weren't for the USB requirement, I'd say something along the lines of the HyperX Cloud Stinger. They are ~$20, and while you can definitely tell they're cheap, they sound good enough and the mic is pretty good. I still might recommend those and just recommend finding a cheap ~$15 DAC with the remaining budget so you don't have to deal with your mobo's static. There is also a new version available, though it's $35 and I haven't really looked too closely at it to know if they're good or not (the first gen Clouds are one of the spare headsets I've got lying around, so I can personally attest to them). 

 

Another option would just be to search local junk drawers to find an old pair of Apple EarPods from someone buying an iPhone. They are fairly decent with a mostly competent microphone, and they would let you save up a bit for some better headphones if you can get them for free. 

[Cocococo]

Only idea i have is Koss KSC-75 with Drop's inline mic, have a look on Drop if they're in stock (literally the only "headphones" that are recommendable in this budget) or maybe look at IEM's, Moondrop Chu2 come with an optional mic and they sound exponentially better than anything you'll find in a store. Good luck with whatever you find, hope your circumstances improve soon.

[JuanMC45]

Thank you everyone for the recommendations! I'll keep them in mind when black friday and cyber monday comes around in my home country (it's like next week or sum). 

 

1 hour ago, RONOTHAN## said:

I still might recommend those and just recommend finding a cheap ~$15 DAC with the remaining budget so you don't have to deal with your mobo's static.

Do you maybe have a DAC in mind you could name? All I find are like $50-200 audio interfaces, nothing like what you said lol. Idk if I'm not doing it right but I've Googled ~30 minutes already and still get the same results. 

[Psittac]

Why USB? Koss KPH30Ci

 

If you're feeling bougie Grado Pad mod

[Cocococo]

5 minutes ago, Psittac said:

Why USB? Koss KPH30Ci

 

If you're feeling bougie Grado Pad mod

Why grado pads? Yaxi pads play so much better with Koss stuff and is cheaper than any Grado knock off, one of the exceptionally rare cases where 3rd party earpads are better than OEM

[Psittac]

12 hours ago, Cocococo said:

Why grado pads? Yaxi pads play so much better with Koss stuff and is cheaper than any Grado knock off, one of the exceptionally rare cases where 3rd party earpads are better than OEM

I have a set of yaxi and a set of grado, I really enjoy the grado myself over the yaxi.  I've purchased at least a dozen of the kph30i to give as gifts and kept a couple for myself.