Christmas Shopping 2020: Where To Get Affordable, High Quality Headphones

While a lot of people would define 2020 as the year-we'd-rather-not-look-back-on, many are still choosing to wrap up these challenging past 12 months in one way or another. One of the first ones is Spotify, who gave its full rundown of its most streamed artists, albums, and songs in its annual Wrapped 2020. And the musical narrative of 2020 seems to be about diversity and accessibility.

The Weeknd dominated with his single “Blinding Lights” getting the most streams globally, while his album “After Hours” landed at the #2 spot in both local and global lists. As for most streamed artist globally, Bad Bunny takes the spot, followed by Drake and J Balvin, while Billie Eilish nabbed the most played female artist, same as last year. Taylor Swift came second, while Ariana Grande place third.

It's not entirely a boy's club with female artists making an impact: There's Dua Lipa’s disco album “Future Nostalgia," which came out at the start of the pandemic, and Lady Gaga who followed in May with “Chromatica.” Taylor Swift, meanwhile, helped us find beauty in solitude by dropping “Folklore.” For many of us however, the highlights are our own personalized Spotify Wrapped data, comprising of the artists that we loved the most and perhaps got us through this hard year more than once.

Music accessibility

For many reasons, one of the few things that have been constant throughout this year is music, and the fact that it’s now more accessible for both artists and listeners. It’s especially more easy for listeners to find new artists and music to listen to, what with the rise of the age of streaming, where paying a monthly fee for continuous unlimited service is the norm.

And it’s even made more accessible now thanks to a wider variety of options when it comes to equipment. while audiophile earphones and headsets are still expensive for good reasons, anyone can now get good quality headphones without breaking the bank or burning a hole through their pockets.

In fact, much like pieces of art, the budget models work just as well as the ones that connoisseurs often spend a fortune on. And while you can’t compare finger painting to Picasso, there’s still a happy medium to be found in between, much like headphones. These days, you don’t have to shell out a lot to find a good pair, as you can find a lot of great options at the sub-$100 category.

One of our favorites is the ColorBuds from 1More, which is a small audio brand that has a mind for affordability. At less than $100, you’ll get an AirPod-beating 6 hours of battery life, high-quality audio, and comfortable ear tips. Heck, the earphones are even waterproof. Tuned by Grammy-award winning sound engineer Luca Bignardi, 1More earphones are great quality for the price, and with their current selection on sale, you’re they're offering even better deals.

If wireless isn’t for you, 1More also provides classic in-ear headphones, portable BT speakers, and even gaming headphones, all of which are currently on sale. Check out their full selection here.

Another favorite of ours is the Sennheiser HD 4.40s, which are wireless headphones that provide crisp and clear audio. And if they are a bit bulky for your liking, options like the Grado SR80 should fit the bill. Handmade in Brooklyn, these headphones are lightweight and open-back, and provide some of the best soundstaging you’ll find for the price.

As the year nears its end, it’s safe to say that while 2020 hasn’t exactly been easy, the music we have in our lives has definitely made it easier. This, in part, to modern advances making such pieces of art more accessible to everyone. And as 2021 looms around the corner, it’s also guaranteed that the music we played this year will help us get through the next one, and so on.