In this Samson SR850 review, we’ll determine whether it’s possible to get pro studio sound from sub-$50 headphones.
Samson SR850 Review
At the time of writing, the SR850s are on sale for $35. That makes them among the least expensive — perhaps the most inexpensive — studio headphones on the market. At full price ($50), they compete with a few different AKG models, but the sale cost is incredibly low. By design, the SR850s are a semi-open back headphone, meaning they’re a hybrid between fully closed and fully open headphones.
First Impressions
These feel like a budget-friendly pair of headphones out of the box. Included paperwork is minimal, and there are no accessories except for a 1/4″ adapter. Construction is almost all plastic, though luckily it doesn’t feel like they’d fall apart if you looked at them funny. These are reasonably solid for the price, and as long as you treat them well, they should last a good while without issue.
How Do They Sound?
The Samson SR850s feature 50mm drivers responsible for a 10 Hz to 30 kHz frequency response. Unfortunately Samson doesn’t provide the actual frequency response graph, but all of their marketing material touts them as fairly flat and neutral, with nice bass extension and clear highs.
From the first listening experience, we’d say that’s an accurate depiction. If you’re listening to studio headphones for the first time and finding them underwhelming, then that means they’re pretty flat. Consumer headphones hype certain frequencies to make music more exciting and fun to listen to; studio headphones try to represent only what’s already in the mix.
Overall, the SR850s are convincing sonically. The highs are open and airy without harshness. The midrange is clear and forward. The bass is punchy and solid without appearing hyped or overwhelming. Even the stereo image is great, thanks to the semi-open design letting some air flow in and around the drivers. That’s arguably the headphones’s greatest asset — being semi-open gives them a neutral frequency response with quality imaging. However, the tradeoff is a significant amount of headphone bleed which true closed back headphones minimize.
How Comfortable Are They?
The self-adjusting headband makes getting the right fit easy for the average head. They’ll naturally conform and settle on the ears without having to readjust much. Unfortunately, those with larger heads might find these difficult to wear.
The SR850s are quite light at around 9 ounces, and the velour earcups are a higher-end feature not often found in this price bracket. There’s nothing fancy about the fit, yet they’re comfortable enough for longer sessions without being fatiguing.
Unique Features
Truth be told, these are a very straightforward, no-frills studio headphone. The cable isn’t detachable, they don’t come with a case, and the build quality is adequate — not stellar. One feature I really like is the low 32-ohm impedance. You can drive these with just about any device, and you obviously don’t need a powerful headphone amp to get the best quality out of them. For reference, I consider the AKG K240s the most direct competitor to the Samson SR850s, and those have a 55-ohm impedance.
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Closing Thoughts: Are the SR850s the Best Budget Closed Back Headphones?
The Samson SR850s are a very good budget headphone. Personally, I would save a few extra dollars and go with the AKG K240s, but these are a great starter pair of headphones. To reiterate, these are semi-open, which means they don’t provide the same isolation as fully closed back headphones. They do, however, balance the frequency response and open up the soundstage for optimal sound reproduction.
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