We would contend that a pair of the best studio headphones is just as crucial when setting up a studio as the calibre of your monitors and the acoustics of your space. Your headphones and monitors should be viewed in many ways as two sides of the same coin since any reputable producer or mix engineer understands how crucial it is to A/B a mix on various listening devices. Our top pick in this article is the Focal Listen Professional headphones.
We’ve come across many producers that prefer using headphones as their main tool for making creative and mix decisions, despite the fact that this is a somewhat controversial viewpoint. Headphones are necessary for evaluating stereo picture, low-end, and fine detail inside a mix regardless of how you want to work. Therefore, correct studio headphones should be chosen, much like speakers, however this is a very subjective decision.
The best studio headphones should be truthful and transparent, capable of accurately reproducing your ideas so that you have a comprehensive understanding of every component of the frequency range. There are many things to think about besides sound, however. Comfort and durability are equally vital, and it’s worth thinking about whether or not you want a set that can serve as your daily listening headphones as well.
This list of the finest headphones for making music comprises our top recommendations to assist you in your decision. Each model has undergone thorough testing, and the pros, cons, and adaptability for various musical genres are emphasised here.
If you’re reading this article to learn more about the best studio headphones, we suggest starting with the list below. Our best recommendations are up next!
17 Best Studio Headphones – The List
A list of our top picks for the best studio headphones available right now can be found below.
1: Focal Listen Professional
The Focal Listen Professionals are perfect for both listening and professional tasks, just as they claim to be. They are now unquestionably at the top of the pack among all-arounders as a result. Overall, we thought the fit was snug but not so tight that it was uncomfortable to sit for extended periods of time in the mixing saddle.
The longest time we left them on was around three hours, and the only problems we had with them were back ache and a lack of blinking. The closed-back Listen Pros perform wonderfully in this area, even though many engineers and audio professionals might favour open-backed versions for their lack of fatigue.
We found these cans to have an incredibly neutral, powerful bass with plenty of extension, rich, clear mids, and sparkling, silky highs. This response was wonderfully balanced. There isn’t a finer all-around studio headphone at this price point, and it comes with a lovely hard-shell box.
2: Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO
Professionals and amateurs alike have come to recognise Beyerdynamic headphones as the go-to studio headphones for producers seeking extremely high build quality and durability.
The DT-770s give a terrific flat frequency foundation, similar to the DT-1770 models, also discussed in this guide, allowing you to hear every nuance of your mix in great detail. Furthermore, the plush, padded headband allows you to work on your mix for hours without getting tired, and the durable construction ensures that they will last.
These wonderful headphones offer fantastic value for money and are an excellent entry point into the world of studio headphones because they cost significantly less than the DT-1770.
3: Austrian Audio Hi-X15
The Hi-X15 studio headphones from Austrian Audio are unique from their pricey stablemates in one key way. They cost less! Surprisingly small and light for over-ear headphones, the Hi-X15 is also. They’re intelligently made to fold flat or spin in on themselves so they can fit inside the fabric travel bag that comes with them. Additionally, at only 255g, they are pleasantly lightweight in the palm or on the head.
The earpads are very stunning. You are separated from the outside world by more than 25mm of thick, squishy memory foam, and the top of the headband is lined with an equally substantial strip. Since the Hi-X15s use the same 44mm Hi-X driver as the more expensive Hi-X55, the results are outstanding, as one might expect. These headphones sound remarkably clear over their wide frequency range of 12 Hz–24kHz, with even, smooth mids and a powerful bass response that is never overpowering.
Although the Hi-X15s are excellent, they don’t have the same impact as a truly heavy hitter. They are only a little bit fuzzy in that they don’t convey every fine distinction or minute detail. But, c’mon, they’re great for the price.
4: KRK KNS 8402
The Rokit monitors from KRK are well known in the music production community because they are so common in home studios. Even though their headphones are less well known, they are outstanding given their price.
The company’s top-tier KNS 8400s recently had an update and are now known as KNS 8402. With understated branding and a fresh metal plate design on the outside of the ear cups, the headphones have undergone a smart visual update. The end result has a fashionable and polished appearance.
They offer a gorgeously smooth high frequency response, a very useful low frequency extension, a little suppressed lower midrange, and a present but not overemphasised upper midrange. Overall, they impressed us for the price and seemed well suited for mixing and mastering tasks.
5: Shure SRH1540
When purchasing a pair of headphones for your studio, Shure is a brand you can rely on thanks to its decades-long pro audio history. The high-end model SRH1540 headphones give superb acoustic performance, comfort, and durability to professionals and audiophiles alike in practice.
The 1540’s are finished with stylish Alcantara leather earpads for unbeatable comfort and sound isolation. They offer a wide soundstage and impeccable transient detail throughout, with clear, extended highs and warm bass in a lightweight aluminium and carbon fibre design. Although not the least expensive choice on the list, the 1540’s performance unquestionably shows that the investment would be more than worthwhile.
6: Beyerdynamic DT1770 PRO
The ubiquitous DT 100 tracking cans that were commonplace in the 1980s and 1990s and are still available today were created by audio heavyweight Beyerdynamic. The DT 1770s have a huge current range, but because they were created expressly for mixing, they are exceptionally well balanced throughout the audible spectrum.
There is no audible phase shift in the mid range, providing for the clarity required for professional use. The sound stage that is being projected into your head is both enjoyable and informative. From left to right, front to back, and even into the corners, they offer a highly detailed perspective into your sounds.
Because of their high impedance, you’ll need to push them hard, but they can duplicate whatever sound your signal chain can make, even discrete reverb tails hidden under a busy midrange and tiny distortions and clips. The DT 1770s’ superior quality is very helpful for audio restoration, mixing, and tracking.
7: Austrian Audio Hi-X65
Austrian Audio, who are relatively new players in the pro headphone market, released its most recent studio-focused, open-back design in July 2021, and they have since received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both customers and critics. They provide great, balanced sound that is both neutral and extremely detailed, and their sturdy construction makes for a satisfying listening experience in any environment.
Twin detachable cables with various 3-metre and 1.2-meter lengths to accommodate a range of jobs, foldable structure for increased portability, and soft, slow-retention memory foam earpads for all-day comfort all contribute to the attraction. The Hi-X65’s check a lot of boxes if you’re looking for a high-end pair of headphones that are excellent for mixing and close listening.
8: Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X
These brand-new Beyerdynamic headphones fill in the gaps between the DT 1770 and DT 770 Pro, but they do not replace them. They are appropriate for a wider variety of applications thanks to their improved driver design, detachable cables, sleeker, more contemporary appearance, and one set impedance rating. The more expensive price tag, which is about $100/£100 more than the earlier PRO models, reflects these upgrades.
Beyer suggests the DT 900 PRO X as a weapon of choice for critical listening and mastering because it is the open-back member of the squad. Additionally, they rank among the top mixing headphones available. The 700 PRO X, a closed-back variant, is also available and costs the same.
The 900’s are arguably the most comfortable full-size cans we’ve tried, but as you might expect from open-back cans, noise isolation is not the best. They have a flattish profile in terms of sound, providing each frequency range impartially. What you want from a product labelled as a studio reference monitor headset will be presented to your ears: a refreshingly realistic picture of what’s actually there. They will do a great job of pointing out any problems in your own projects and be quick to shed light on any potential trouble spots.
9: Audio-Technica ATH-R70x
Because they are typically lighter and less tiring than closed-back cans, open-back designs like the ATH-R70x are preferred for extended mixing sessions. This is good news because this model was created specifically as a reference headphone for mixing. Do these rank among the top headphones for mixing? They definitely rank high.
At this price point and higher, we’ve tested models with more noticeable “air”, but we don’t think this is a weakness; rather, it means you’re less likely to have a boring mix. The response on the opposite end is equally as smooth, providing all the extension you require without even the smallest whiff of boom or fake fatness.
Moving upward, the low mids remain smooth and devoid of cheap scooping back (a voicing technique frequently used to conceal uneven response), allowing you to clearly hear what is happening, for better or worse. For us, the mids and low mids are everything, and the R70x delivers all the power with no issues; everything sounds distinct and unmuddled, unless the source indicates otherwise.
You’ll need a good headphone amp to connect them to in order to get the optimum sound quality from this high-impedance variant.
10: Sennheiser HD-25
Professionals praise HD-25s for their capacity to handle high sound pressure levels and provide great sound reproduction. They are another longtime studio favourite of ours. The HD-25s produce loud and accurate sound in a lightweight yet durable form, making them a mainstay of the DJ booth thanks to their split headband, rotatable earpieces, and reputation for durability.
The Sennheiser HD-25 is currently offered in three flavours (Light, Standard, and Plus) at three price points. For general studio/DJ duties, you really can’t go wrong with a pair of Sennheiser HD-25’s because the pads are circular and rest on the outside of the ear rather than enclosing it completely.
11: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
In the audio industry, the reissued M50 (with a “x” for a detachable cable) is a well-liked model that competes directly with major brands like Beyerdynamic and AKG. They are cosy, fold and bend in the ideal locations, and weigh only 285g, which is not particularly heavy.
Although they avoided a detailed, airy HF area during our tests, the sound quality is generally decent. The bottom-end extends downward without any peaky resonances, while the mids are upfront and clear. These 38 ohm low impedance designs, like all the others in this list, are easily driven above our comfort threshold.
12: Sennheiser HD-206
Check out the Sennheiser HD-206 if you’re looking for a low-cost set of headphones for regular studio use. The incredibly strong and durable HD-206s are comfortable to use for extended periods of time and have the well-known Sennheiser name on the headband.
The HD-206’s are remarkably accurate for the money and compare favourably to much more expensive contemporaries. These could be some of the finest guitar amp headphones if you’re into axe shredding because we found the bass response to be especially rich and crisp, with plenty of detail also present in the mids and highs.
At this price, you don’t have to worry about carelessly tossing these in your laptop bag because the hypoallergenic ear cushions are more than capable of isolating unwanted sounds whether you’re in the studio or on the go. Grab a pair before Sennheiser increases the price after they understand how excellent these are.
13: Sennheiser HD 400 Pro
The Pro-branded headphones by Sennheiser provide great audio quality. Complexity exists that less capable headphones simply can’t capture. There is also enough of clarity and balance, but not the icy, steely steeliness that is frequently misunderstood for transparency. Instead, there is a calibrated vividness; an equality where the midpoints, low points, and high points coexist together.
The HD 400s allow for natural airflow, unlike other closed-back headphones that can overblow bass frequencies as a result of pressure buildup, which not only enhances the soundstage but also increases comfort when wearing them for extended periods. When making creative choices, you can confidently rely on these high-quality headphones.
14: Sony MDR-7506
The Sony MDR series has been around for a while and has a strong studio heritage, which is supported by years of continuous use in the recording and broadcast sectors across the globe. The MDR-7506 in its current guise is an excellent compromise between comfort, usefulness, and affordability.
These, in our experience, are quite comfortable to wear for lengthy periods of time and are intended to highlight a recording’s flaws rather than its strengths. In action, the sound is powerful and clean across the spectrum (with a modest increase in the upper mids), while managing to avoid being overly-flattering, on par with rival cans costing twice as much. Overall, it is not to be sniffed at that these workhorse cans are available for well under 100 dollars.
15: Røde NTH-100 Headphones
Røde has been producing items other than mics for a while now. It seems understandable that the business would now create its first set of headphones, the over-ear NTH-100s, given that it already produces mixers for podcasting and compact audio interfaces for content creators.
Røde, an Australian company, is renowned for providing high-quality products at reasonable prices, and their new headphones are no exception. The earcups, which feature a distinctive, elongated form for a more comfortable fit, and the drivers have both undergone extensive tuning in order to achieve a precise balance of focus and width in the soundstage.
The NTH-100s have clear, true sound, comfort, and high-quality workmanship throughout thanks to their revolutionary design. These are some of the top earbuds we’ve recently tested.
16: Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X
The DT 700 PRO X is an improvement over the DT 770 Pro in terms of pricing and features. It has a revised design, even squishier earpads, and better sound thanks to a new STELLAR.45 transducer with a quicker response. This makes it possible to have a precise transient response and a consistent, distortion-free sound even at loud sound pressure levels.
The 770 PRO X is one of the more comfortable cans we’ve tried over extended periods of time and is available with a single 48 impedance rating, making it a reasonable choice for studio and everyday usage. These are a good option if you want to move up from the 770 Pro because they can all be readily replaced, including the earpads, headband pad and cables (you get a choice of two cords already in the box).
Best studio headphones under 100
Conclusion
The world of studio headphones has been an enthralling voyage through a universe of flawless sound reproduction and immersive audio experiences in the pursuit of sonic perfection. The symphony of features and abilities that characterise these remarkable devices has us spellbound as we come to the end of our investigation into the best studio headphones.
These headphones have excelled in every aspect of audio engineering, from flawless sound clarity to accurate frequency response, satisfying the exacting demands of both professionals and audiophiles. These headphones provide extended hours of musical expertise without compromising on comfort because of their ergonomic features and soft comfort.
We have discovered a symphony of possibilities as a result of our exploration, with each set of studio headphones adding its own distinctive timbre and personality to the audio landscape. The greatest studio headphones maintain the delicate balance between artistic expression and technical polish, whether in the recording studio or the casual listening sanctuary.
The melody of innovation will undoubtedly result in even better compositions in the field of studio headphones as technology continues to progress. These technologies serve as essential allies in the quest for audio quality, whether the user is an aspiring musician or an experienced audio engineer.
The greatest studio headphones stand out as the orchestrators of clarity, accuracy, and inspiration in the big symphony of sound. May we be guided by these extraordinary instruments as we go out on our individual musical exploration trips and embrace the magic they bring to our ears, forever magnifying our awareness of the beauty that exists in every note. To purchase any one of the above headphones would be undoubtedly a good decision.
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A music enthusiast who has taken his passion for music to the next level by starting his own blog. He spends most of his free time listening to new albums, attending concerts, and researching emerging artists.
What sets John apart from other music bloggers is his ability to connect with his readers on a personal level. His writing style is warm and engaging, making it easy for readers to relate to him as both a fellow music lover and someone who truly cares about the art form.
John’s love for music started at a young age when he discovered classic rock through his father’s vinyl collection. Since then, he has expanded his musical horizons to include everything from indie rock to hip hop and beyond.
As a blogger, John has found a way to share his love of music with others while also providing valuable insights into the industry.