Behringer HPS3000 Headphones Review – True Budget-Friendly Headphones or Not?

Behringer-HPS3000-Headphones

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Current testing methodology is v1.2

Release Date
January 16, 2004
Price
$14.90
Model:
HPS3000
Weight
10.2 oz
Size
8.07 x 6.89 x 3.7 in

If you have a negative view of every Behringer product available in the market, then the HPS3000 is here to change your mind.

While known for its affordability, this brand also has some critics regarding the quality of its products. So when I tried one of their budget headphones, which is the Behringer HPS3000, I just thought of it as a hit-or-miss purchase.

And for me, it’s definitely a hit! Read on to find out why.

Budget Pick

Behringer HPS3000 Headphones

Excellent sound quality for the price with a couple of small limitations

4/5
Price Range: $
Brand: Behringer
Behringer HPS3000 Headphones

TL:DR;

I’ve had these Behringer HSP3000 headphones for a while now and I’m still amazed at how this brand was able to make such impressive studio headphones for such a low price.

For under $15, I got these studio headphones with decent build quality and comfort. They’re not the best out there but considering the price, you get a bit more than what you pay for.

It has an impressive sound quality that can deliver an outstanding full-range frequency performance. It’s definitely a contender in its price range.

The Specs

  • Design:  Closed
  • Fit:  Circumaural
  • Wired:  Yes
  • Noise Isolation:  Passive
  • Frequency Response:  20 Hz to 20 kHz
  • Driver Size:  40mm – typical size
  • Impedance:  32 ohms

What’s in the Box?

  • Headphone
  • ¼-inch plug adapter
  • User Manual

Stuff I like

  • Affordable price
  • Excellent value
  • Impressive sound quality

Stuff I like less

  • Ear cups cannot seal larger ears completely
  • Passive noise isolation
  • Lacks a little bit of bass
  • Thin headphone cable

Comparable products to consider

Samson SR350
Samson SR350

A little bit more expensive but with better sound isolation for a pair of studio headphones under $20.

Comfort

As a person with huge ears, the Behringer HPS3000 can be tiring to wear after a long time. I felt like two to three hours is the maximum duration that you can wear them without any discomfort.

Although they have soft and comfy ear pads, the ear cups do not fit and seal my ears perfectly, which made them feel uncomfortable after I wore them for half a day.

It’s one of the downsides of these budget-friendly headphones, as they don’t come with extra cups in bigger sizes to fit those who have larger ears.

Thankfully, the padded headband can be adjusted to fit a small or large head. This means that kids or adults can use them.

Build Quality

Regarding Behringer HPS3000’s build quality, I believe you get a little more than what you paid for.

Mostly made from plastic, these headphones have a basic and unimpressive design but they still look good. 

If you’re going to use them mostly indoors, for example in a studio, then you can expect that they’ll last longer since there’s minimal risk of damaging them. 

Behringer HPS3000 Ear Cups
Oval-shaped ear cups
Behringer HPS3000 Padded Headband
Padded headband

But if you plan to bring them with you when you travel, you have to think twice because they don’t seem very sturdy. You also have to watch out for the thin cable wire, as it looks like it will easily break when you place the headphones in your bag where it can get tangled with other things. 

With a retail price of less than $20, you can’t expect top-notch build quality. I still believe that these headphones will last long if you’re careful with them.

Sound Quality

For a pair of budget studio headphones, the Behringer HPS3000 does its job outstandingly.

Whether you use these headphones as a monitor, for mixing, or even just for listening to music, their sound quality is excellent for the price.

As monitor headphones, I love how you can clearly hear the vocals while still being able to distinguish the musical instruments in the background. 

I’m also impressed with the natural response, as I can quickly identify where I need to do some tweaking when mixing.

The highs are bright and precise and the mids are crisp, but the bass might be slightly lacking. 

Another downside is that these headphones only have a passive noise cancellation feature. Because of the closed design, so you might still be able to hear some noise from your environment.

Even with the cons, there’s no doubt that these wired headphones are still one of the best models given how affordable they are.

Behringer HPS3000 Wired Headphones
Behringer HPS3000 build design | Make Life Click

Bass

If you’re used to using high-end and expensive studio headphones, you might not love the low-frequency performance that the Behringer HPS3000 can offer you. 

But for budget-friendly headphones, they performed way beyond my expectations.

Listening to some bass riffs from some of the live performances I’ve recorded, I can clearly hear the instrument even though it’s not as tight and punchy as I’d prefer in a flat EQ setting.

They also lack the heavy and boomy sound that I was expecting from the bass drum.

Mids

As a guitar player, I love listening to my own tunes as it allows me to evaluate my skills. Thanks to the Behringer HPS3000, I don’t have to break the bank to be able to do that.

Speaking of mids, the keys are full-sounded with the headphones, perfectly blending with its crisp and clear vocals.

Lastly, the response to percussive instruments, such as the drums, is outstanding. From the snare, tom-toms, and floor toms, you can clearly distinguish the sound by listening to the HPS3000.

Treble

For budget-friendly headphones, their high-frequency performance is not as tiring to listen to compared with other affordable models. 

Honestly, it took me more than four hours before I felt the fatigue of its treble.

As long as you’re using high-quality cymbals with short sustain, you can listen to the HPS3000s all day, even if you use them as your monitor when drumming on your own.

You can also enjoy listening to other bright musical instruments, such as the violin, flute, piccolo, and many more with the Behringer HPS3000. 

So whatever genre you like listening to, these headphones are a great choice, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

Behringer HPS3000 Headphones
Excellent for sound mixing or just listening to music | Make Life Click

Behringer HPS3000 Verdict: Is it Trash Or Treasure?

Even with all the things that I have said, there’s still one question that I haven’t answered yet and that’s whether it’s worth the money.

As an owner of these headphones for more than a year, I never regretted buying the Behringer HPS3000. 

For less than $15, I got decent pair of studio headphones that I can use for monitoring, mixing, and listening to music.

As a musician and a wannabe audio engineer, I’ve tried lots of expensive headphones in the past, and I understand that the Behringer HPS300 can’t match what these high-end headphones offer.

Still, the HPS3000 is one of the best, if not the best, in its price range in the market because of its impressive sound quality.

If you’re on a tight budget, these headphones are definitely worth considering.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ONE?
Behringer HPS3000 High-Performance Studio Headphones Black
Behringer HPS3000

How does Passive Noise Isolation work?

With passive noise isolation, these headphones use their specifically-designed ear cups to seal out the noise from your surroundings.

Can I connect the HPS3000 to any headphone outputs?

The Behringer HPS3000 comes with a 1/8-inch connector, which is perfect for almost all mobile devices. It also has a 1/4-inch plug adapter for devices with a 1/4-inch output socket.

HPS3000 Headphones
Behringer HPS3000 Studio Headphones
Build Quality
Sound Quality
Comfort and Fit
Reader Rating0 Votes
4.4

Elijah is a geodetic engineer but would love to be an audio engineer someday. He has also been a musician for more than half his life. His love for playing music, audio mixing, and production give him the desire to search for the best audio equipment in the market constantly.

This post was last updated on 2024-03-13 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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