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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Superlux HD681 — biggest strength: 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers with a 10Hz–30kHz frequency range, semi-open, over-ear design built for detail, dynamics and a wide soundstage.
• Superlux HD681 — biggest trade-off: semi-open means sound leaks in and out, there is no microphone and no inline controls, and the 2.5m straight cable is long for walking around.
• ARTIX Headphones — biggest strength: a plug-and-play 3.5mm wired headset with a built-in inline mic, on-cable volume control and a foldable, rugged build that travels well.
• ARTIX Headphones — biggest trade-off: a narrower 20Hz–20,000Hz range, 40mm drivers and on-ear fit mean less low-end depth and less spacious imaging than the Superlux.
• Pick Superlux HD681 if you mainly listen, mix or game at a desk and care about sound quality first.
• Pick ARTIX Headphones if you need a mic, portability and a headset that survives being tossed in a school bag.
The HD681 is a wired, over-ear headphone built around a pair of 50mm neodymium dynamic drivers. The headline spec is the frequency range: 10Hz up to 30kHz, which is wider at both ends than the ARTIX's 20Hz–20,000Hz. In plain terms, that wider window is the design reason the HD681 is described as capturing detail, resolution and dynamics — and it is why Superlux positions it for monitoring, stage and studio work rather than casual listening. The low end in particular is tuned for depth, which is what makes it a natural fit for large-ensemble classical, film scores and other dynamic material where you want to feel the bass rather than just hear it.
It's also built for long sits. There's a self-adjusting headband and soft leather earpads on a lightweight frame — a combination aimed squarely at multi-hour sessions. Impedance is 32 ohms with 98 dB sensitivity, so it's easy to drive from a phone, laptop or interface without extra amplification. The cable is a 2.5-metre single-sided straight run with a screw-on gold-plated 3.5mm plug, which is great at a desk and awkward anywhere else. There is no microphone and no volume control on the cable, and the semi-open enclosure deliberately lets air (and sound) move.
ARTIX Headphones: Who It's For
The ARTIX is a different animal: a wired 3.5mm headset aimed at kids and adults who need one headphone for everything. It uses 40mm dynamic drivers with a 20Hz–20,000Hz range and 88 dB sensitivity at 32 ohms — standard full-range coverage rather than an extended, studio-flavoured response. The design is on-ear with oval earpieces in a metal-and-plastic build, and it folds. That foldable hinge plus the rugged construction is the whole pitch: it survives backpacks, school buses and kitchen tables.
The practical features are what separate it. There's an inline microphone for work calls, video meetings, podcasts and gaming, plus on-cable controls with an inline remote (volume control works on mobile devices only, so bear that in mind on a PC). It's plug-and-play over 3.5mm with PC, Mac, PS4/PS5 and Xbox, so there's no pairing, charging or setup. Cushioned ear cups and an adjustable headband are there for all-day wear, and the isolation is described as noise isolation — a passive seal that quietens a commute or a noisy classroom rather than active noise cancellation. Colour is Champagne, and it ships with a one-year warranty.
Who should buy it: students and school-age kids, parents buying for a term, remote workers who live on calls, travellers, and anyone who wants a single wired headset that works with a laptop, tablet, Chromebook or console. Who should skip it: listeners chasing deep bass extension, a wide soundstage or critical detail — that's not what a 40mm on-ear with a 20Hz–20kHz range is designed to deliver. I'd also steer away if you want genuinely open, airy sound, because the ARTIX is a closed, isolating on-ear design.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best sound quality and detail → Superlux HD681. The 50mm drivers and 10Hz–30kHz range are simply a wider, more resolving platform than 40mm and 20Hz–20,000Hz.
• Best for calls, classes and meetings → ARTIX Headphones. It's the only one of the two with a built-in inline mic.
• Best for travel and school bags → ARTIX Headphones. Foldable, on-ear and described as rugged, versus a fixed over-ear frame with a 2.5m cable.
• Best for console and cross-device gaming with voice chat → ARTIX Headphones. Plug-and-play 3.5mm with PC, Mac, PS4/PS5 and Xbox, plus a mic.
• Best for long desk sessions → Superlux HD681. Self-adjusting headband and soft leather earpads on a lightweight build, designed for long sessions without discomfort.
• Best for blocking out a noisy room → ARTIX Headphones. Passive sound isolation and a closed on-ear fit; the Superlux is semi-open and leaks both ways.
• Best for a single do-everything wired headset → ARTIX Headphones. Mic, inline controls, folding build and broad device support in one package.
• Best for amplification-free use → either. Both are 32 ohms, so neither needs a dedicated amp.
If I were buying for myself and my priority was how the music actually sounds, I'd take the Superlux HD681. The 50mm drivers, the 10Hz–30kHz range, the semi-open soundstage and the long-session comfort add up to a headphone designed for listening rather than for checking boxes. I'd only switch to the ARTIX if I needed a microphone, a folding frame I could throw in a bag, or one cable that works across a laptop, tablet and console. Buy the Superlux for sound; buy the ARTIX for the features around the sound. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since budget headphones move around a lot.
how to make cheap headphones sound better
Start with fit and seal — a proper seal on an on-ear or over-ear model like these protects the low end. Use a good source and a clean 3.5mm connection, and on the Superlux HD681 take advantage of its wide 10Hz–30kHz range by feeding it well-recorded material. Beyond that, a modest headphone amp isn't needed here since both are 32 ohms.
how to get cheap headphones
Look for wired 3.5mm models, which avoid the cost of batteries, Bluetooth chips and charging circuits. Both headphones here are wired, 32-ohm designs that run straight off a phone, laptop or console jack, so you skip pairing and charging entirely. Then decide whether you need a mic and folding portability or better drivers.
what budget headphones
Budget headphones generally split into two camps: sound-first sets like the Superlux HD681, with 50mm drivers, a 10Hz–30kHz range and a semi-open over-ear design, and feature-first sets like the ARTIX, with a built-in inline mic, on-cable controls, a foldable on-ear frame and broad device compatibility. Which one counts as "budget" for you depends on whether you care more about audio quality or about the mic and portability.
how long do cheap headphones last
It comes down to build and how you treat them. The ARTIX is described as rugged with a foldable frame and carries a one-year warranty, which suits daily bag life. The Superlux HD681 is a fixed over-ear with a screw-on gold-plated plug and a durable 2.5m single-sided cable — good for desk use, less so for being crushed in a backpack.
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