In this article, we’re going to talk about the top retro and vintage-styled headphones in the market right now. All these headphones are great in terms of design, specs, and overall value. So, sit back, relax, and read this article till the end if you want to find the perfect pair of headphones for yourself.
When it comes to the one true clear winner of this roundup, we think it is the Marshall Major III. In terms of price, design, performance, and everything in between, it is incredibly balanced and provides a great audio experience to the user. That’s why we’ve picked it as our top headphones on this list.
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Recommended Retro and Vintage Looking Headphones
Marshall Major III
Design: On-ear.
Weight: 178g
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity: 97 dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms.
What We Like: Beautiful vintage design and moderate price.
Not So Much: Wearing for long periods can sometimes be uncomfortable.
The Marshall Major 3 headphones are truly one of the best headphones in the market for such a low and affordable price. There are a lot of exciting features that come with these headphones.
With a single charge of around 3 hours, you can play music for up to 30+ hours which is amazing for avid music listeners. The advanced Bluetooth aptX provides you with top-notch sound quality. There’s also a really amazing control knob that you can utilize for phone connection and options.
These headphones are perfect for anyone looking to listen to music casually or even make professional music as many audiophiles do. The amazing design and epic acoustics make these headphones the best of all the members of this list.
Overall, these headphones are great, but there is a slight problem with the comfort level. Over long periods of time, these headphones can become a little uncomfortable.
Other than that, the great quality and collapsible design want you to definitely keep these headphones on your priority list if you’ve got a decent but not too over the top budget.
AKG Pro Audio K240 STUDIO
Design: Over-Ear
Weight: 240g
Cable Length: 3m.
Frequency Response: 15Hz – 25kHz
Sensitivity: 104 dB
Impedance: 55 Ohms.
What We Like: Crisp and high-quality audio for a great price.
Not So Much: The noise cancellation isn’t very great.
AKG’s Pro Studio K240 is an excellent over-ear headphone for people looking to spend less than moderately. With an excellent frequency response rate along with incredible quality sound, these headphones are definitely one of the big players.
With a long cable and an ergonomic fit, these headphones are meant for hours and hours of professional music production. The stereo plug is 3.5mm with a 6.3mm screw-on adapter. The clarity of sound is crisp and the detail is pretty amazing too.
The noise cancellation on these headphones isn’t the best. Another problem with these headphones is that they’re not foldable. That could be a problem for some users.
That’s why these headphones are on this vintage headphones list but they’re not the best option available in our opinion. If you’re looking for the best price to value ratio, then we’d suggest you look through the entire list. However, if you can get past the few problems this pair of headphones has, it is going to be a great choice for some professional-level production.
GRADO SR80e Prestige Series
Design: Over-Ear
Weight: 231g
Cable Length: 1.8m
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity: 99.8 dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms.
What We Like: Amazing bass and sound quality along with great design.
Not So Much: Comfort level not that great.
Grado sr80e Prestige series headphones are pricey but they’re incredibly high-quality as well. The best thing about these headphones is the bass, which is really great for EDM music producers and general listeners alike.
The cable length and the retro design of this pair of headphones are aesthetically beautiful. The quality of sound is exceptional. The sound stage is large and there is exceptional clarity in the quality of sound.
Arguably one of the best HiFi headphones with incredibly strong bass energy able to get you immersed into the music and sounds you’re playing on them has to be the Grado sr80e. Quality over comfort is where some audiophiles have their priorities get.
A place where these headphones lack is the comfort factor. This could prove a problem for many users. The thing is, wearing these headphones for long can prove uncomfortable for some people.
Overall, these classic-looking headphones are great but they come for a high price. If you’re up for it, you can choose to buy the Grado sr80e Open back headphones for quenching your high-quality music thirst.
Beyerdynamic Aventho Wired
Design: On-Ear
Weight: 238g
Cable Length: 1.2 m
Frequency Response: 15Hz – 25kHz
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms.
What We Like: Impressive design with high-quality sound.
Not So Much: There is no active noise cancellation for a huge price.
Compactly designed and known for their exceptionally high-quality sound due to Tesla technology, the Beyerdynamic Aventho Wired headphones are pretty amazing.
The frequency response along with the sensitivity and impedance are all balanced and perfect. The bass quality is also great which is ideal for casual and professional music producers.
The build quality of these headphones is quite amazing as well. That’s what you’re paying the huge sum for. A really decent design that looks pretty epic on your ears is basically a part of your fashion actually. Beyerdynamic Aventho is one of the few headphones that enhance the overall retro look of a person.
With proper media playback control, you can easily change the volume and playback options. One more thing is that these headphones don’t come with active noise cancellation which is quite a bummer.
These incredible headphones made in Germany are high-quality no doubt but in our opinion, they’re slightly overpriced. That’s something that comes with luxury brands. For high-quality products, you’re going to have to pay the big bucks.
If you don’t have a huge budget for professional headphones you should skip on these ones. But if you’re looking for epic vintage style headphones for a large price, these are definitely the ones to look into.
Pioneer HDJ-X5BT-N
Design: Over-Ear.
Weight: 319g
Frequency Response: 5Hz – 30kHz
Sensitivity: 104 dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms
What We Like: Amazing retro design, comfortable design.
Not So Much: Less playback time than competitor wireless headphones.
The Pioneer HDJ-X5BT-N headphones are beautiful looking, especially the Gold version. But that’s not it. The sound quality and features and specs are also extremely amazing.
When we take a look at the dynamic sound quality, it is amazing and suitable for professional-level music production without a doubt. The overall charging time requirement is around 3 hours for the maximum charge.
A superb frequency response range in these headphones allows you to play all kinds of music on them. Whether you’re a casual listener or a professional HiFi equipment user, these headphones are going to be a great option for a higher than usual price point.
With great sound and exceptional clarity, the only downside that comes with this great pair of headphones is the playback time. In comparison to our top pick, it is 33% lesser with only 20 hours of playback.
If you’re low on budget and you want a more complete all-around option, we’re going to suggest looking through the entire list, especially our top choice. Because these headphones aren’t the most affordable on this list.
Other than that, if you’re willing to pay a good amount of money, Pioneer’s exquisite Bluetooth headphones with great comfort and top-notch sound quality are definitely a great option for you.
Koss Pro-4AA
Design: Over-Ear.
Weight: 538g
Cable Length: 3 m
Frequency Response: 10Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity: 95 dB
Impedance: 16 Ohms.
What We Like: Great design, and amazing noise cancellation.
Not So Much: Incredibly heavy and not quite portable.
With a unique and beautiful retro design, the Koss Pro 4-AA is an amazing Over-Ear headphone set. It’s comfortable, it’s good quality, it has a moderate price tag and great features as well.
A distinct live performance level high-quality sound-producing capability and impressive noise cancellation feature in this pair of headphones make it so amazing and definitely a great contender on our list of the best retro and vintage styled headphones.
But the problem exists within the weight. With around half a kilo on your head for long periods of time, you’re not going to feel very great if you’re not used to heavy headphones.
They do market the comfort of the ear cups and yes they really are comfy and decent but still, the weight of the overall headphones takes away the comfort factor from these headphones in our view.
So, we’d suggest you check the reviews out before you get it for yourself. Or you can try them out if a friend or relative has a pair of these headphones so that you can get an idea of how much they weigh.
If you’re ok with the weight and lack of actual portability, then these are a gorgeous pair of headphones seeking your attention, ready to fulfill all your musical desires and needs.
Sony MDR7506 Professional
Design: Over-Ear.
Weight: 229g
Cable Length: 2.8m
Frequency Response: 10Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity: 106 dB
Impedance: 63 Ohms.
What We Like: Portable, high-quality and great price.
Not So Much: Unchangeable cable.
Sony has been making super high-quality headphones for quite a long time now. Their MDR7506 are no exception in terms of comfort, perfect sound, and great portability all for a cool and moderate price.
The Neodymium magnets and 40-millimeter drivers provide powerful, detailed, and crystal-clear sound. The construction of these headphones is strong and durable but still lightweight.
The closed design of these headphones helps in keeping the sound within the ear cups and there is minimum sound bleed through the headphones.
That’s a part of the reason why we rate these headphones so highly on our list. Just behind the Marshall Major 3, the Sony MDR7506 is perhaps the second-best choice.
They’re collapsible and extremely portable. So, you’re basically carrying high-quality sound blasters in your bag without a problem. One thing that’s not great is the undetachable cable. That could be a problem if the cable gets messed up. If you’re not a fan of that, you can pass on these headphones. But overall, these headphones are really killer.
So, if you’re thinking of buying quality vintage-looking headphones from Sony, there are not many better options than the MDR7506 in the market as of now for such a great price. Definitely keep an eye out for these bad boys.
JLab Audio Rewind Wireless Retro Headphones
Design: Over-Ear.
Weight: 57g
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Impedance: 32 Ohms.
What We Like: Cool retro look, great bang for the buck.
Not So Much: Not great for professional usage.
If you’re looking for a really cool, retro colorful look in your headphones, then JLab has got just the thing for you. The Rewind Wireless Retro headphones are high-quality, cheap headphones for music lovers that want their music on the go.
For an unbelievably low price, the features are as good as they can get. The sound quality is crisp and good in clarity, the overall sound is powerful, dynamic, and great for all kinds of genres.
The EQ3 allows you to change the tune depending upon your liking through the headphones which is a great feature. So, overall, these headphones might be the best cheap headphones you can get anywhere. Plus they’re great in terms of comfort level and overall look as well.
But they’re simply not high-quality enough for professional production. That’s where we draw the line. If you’re a producer, you should go for something a little more advanced and crisp. Something a little more high-quality, detailed, and overall better.
But, if you’re looking for a retro feel, portability, a little bit of color, and walking in a park vibe, then you should definitely go all-in for the JLab Rewind Wireless headphones without a second thought for your casual love of music.
Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones
Design: Over-Ear.
Weight: 271g
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity: 92 dB
Impedance: 28 Ohms.
What We Like: Great design, good sound quality, and functions.
Not So Much: Not very comfortable for long periods of usage.
A great aesthetic leather texture along with amazing classical Marchall design and durability is what you’ll see in the Marshall Monitor headphones before usage. Once you use them, there’s so much more to them.
With a long battery life of 30+ hours with a 3-hour charge requirement, the customer-tuned drivers of the Monitor headphones provide exquisite quality sound and perfect detailed clarity to the users.
Using the control knob, you can control your phone connection and media settings with the buttons without a problem. Overall, these headphones are pretty great and deserve all the respect they get in terms of sound quality.
With HiFi prowess and the signature Marshall high-quality design, these headphones are great in terms of sound and acoustics and are rated very high when it comes to building quality as well.
But the problem with them is a familiar one. The problem is the comfort level. It’s not quite there yet. You might feel a bit weird after wearing these headphones for a long time because of the lack of comfortable design in them.
Other than that, this is a solid pair of headphones and one that you should really look for if you’re thinking of getting a good-quality audio headset.
Symphonized Wraith 2.0 Wood Over-Ear Headphones
Design: Over-Ear.
Weight: 422g
Frequency Response: 18Hz – 22kHz
Sensitivity: 107 dB
Impedance: 32 Ohms.
What We Like: The beautiful handcrafted wooden design and crisp sound quality.
Not So Much: Requires a powerful audio source for peak performance.
In terms of design, the aesthetically soothing handcrafted wood build and vintage look of the Symphonized Wraith 2.0 is amazing. That and the perfect sound quality just combine to make a symphony of wonder – pun intended.
The headphones provide deep bass, powerful acoustics, and an overall epic sound performance all in all. Plus, they’re comfortable and super durable which means they’re going to last quite a while.
Wraith 2.0 also features a built-in mic and remote which is great for the moderate price it comes for. It comes with universal compatibility and can pair with almost all devices.
But the one thing about it that can prove as a problem for some music lovers is that to get the peak audio delivery from it, you’re going to have to use a powerful audio source. This is quite the only problem that you’re going to face with the Wraith 2.0.
However even without, the quality compromises nothing at all if you’re thinking of listening to music here and there.
But for professional recording and listening, you should get a powerful audio interface them. So, if you’re thinking of getting the Symphonized Wraith 2.0, then definitely go for them, you’re going to have a blast with these epic headphones.
Monolith M1060 Magnetic Headphones
Design: Over-Ear
Weight: 389g
Cable Length: 1.8 m
Frequency Response:10Hz – 50kHz
Sensitivity:120 dB
Impedance: 18 Ohms.
What We Like: Wood finish along with pretty great sound quality.
Not So Much: Less comfortable than some of the other headphones on this list.
An unbelievable retro design along with deep and powerful acoustics is what you’re going to get from the Monolith M565c. But there are many more features that you should know about as well.
Over its predecessors, the M565c has come with acoustic enhancements to make sound crispier, pop, and detailed than before. The planar drivers in this pair of headphones are redesigned and engineered to achieve perfection in terms of audio quality.
The headphones are perfect for audiophiles who’re looking to listen to high-quality music in silent environments with active noise cancellation enabled as well. All of these things make the Monolith M565c one of the best retro-styled headphones on this list.
But there’s one issue. The ear holes in the cushion are smaller than other headphones on this list which is a bummer because they could prove to be uncomfortable for some listeners.
If that’s the case, you should choose a different pair for yourself. However, otherwise, these headphones are truly one of the best in the market and you should keep them high on your priority list.
Conclusion
Although all of the headphones in this list are great and come for decent prices, it really depends upon your choice, liking, and usage requirement. One thing we can say is that any of these headphones will be able to give you the right musical experience surely.
In our opinion, the best headphones on this list are without a doubt the Marshall Major III Bluetooth wireless headphones. We assure you that if you get these incredible headphones for yourself, you’re going to have a great time vibing to epic music and if you’re thinking of producing, you’re going to have a blast doing that too.
Last update on 2022-03-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
