5 classic headphones that are still better than most pairs you can buy today

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Headphones are weird. With almost any other type of gadget, newer almost always means better. You could say an older device meant more in context than a current model, but chipsets, displays, sensors, and the like are eternally marching forward. Nobody would take a phone from 2010 over a phone from 2016.

With headphones, though, the old-school can endure. It’s not common, but good sound can’t be measured in the same terms as processing speed or pixel density.

To prove it, we rounded up a few vintage headphones that still hold up today. They don’t have any extra features, and it may not be long before they’re put out to pasture for good, but they remain good buys for anyone who digs the retro.

Koss PortaPro

That people continue to rock the Koss PortaPro, despite it looking entirely like something that was sold alongside the Super Nintendo and Sony Walkman, is a testament to its quality. The PortaPro’s Back to the Future aesthetic isn’t for everyone, and that flimsy headband is known to bite hair, but its sweet and spacious sound is much more agreeable. Same goes for the lifetime warranty that comes with every pair. The only major caveat here is that its younger sibling, the Koss SportaPro, brings similar benefits for about $20 less.

Koss PortaPro, $44.62, available at Amazon.

Sony MDR-7506

The Sony MDR-7506 has been a fixture among radio DJs since the early 90s, but you don’t have to be a professional to enjoy its natural-sounding, beautifully balanced profile. Some may find that sound a bit thin, but these are reference cans, and they work well across genres as a result. They wouldn’t have lasted this long if they weren’t comfortable and built like a tank, either. For $80, the MDR-7506 is just a tremendous value. It’s also earned a spot in our best full-size headphones guide.

Sony MDR-7506, $79.99, available at Amazon.

Sennheiser HD 600

It’s hard to find headphones more beloved among audiophiles than the ones in Sennheiser’s HD 600 series. The HD 600 here has been an excellent companion for home theaters or high-end audio setups since the late 90s, and it continues to play smooth, big, and clean. Its easygoing sound, combined with the fact that the whole thing is open-backed, means the HD 600 aren’t particularly mobile. Pair it with the right gear, though, and it still makes for a relaxing listen.

Sennheiser HD 600, $349.95, available at Amazon.
Sennheiser HD 600, $399.95 (w/ $150 Amazon gift card), available at Amazon.