Here are our top picks for the best studio headphones for mixing and music production specially designed for professional musicians or audio recreationists. These headphones are specially designed to produce a flat frequency response to allow you to hear all the details in the music with absolute clarity, and are optimized for home or studio monitoring. They are great for professional audio applications such as recording studios, radio stations, home studios and film making with superb audio clarity. If you are a professional musician looking for a set of studio headphones that will deliver incredibly accurate sound and detailed instrumental reproduction for studio recording or for your home studio, we are sure that you will love these best studio headphones which are now selling at a very good prices. Be sure to check out our top picks for the best studio headphones below!
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How We Choose
Our Top Picks
Studio Headphones vs Regular Headphones
How We Choose
Studio headphones are designed to provide accurate professional monitoring for mixing and sound recording. We select the very best studio headphones in the industry that are widely recommended and used by professionals. Our editors have tested over a hundred studio headphones to determine which ones are the best based on a combination of factors including sound performance, design, price and durability. The very best studio headphones can deliver crystal clear sound reproduction with a flat and neutral frequency response for accurate monitoring and provide very organic and natural sound without any leakage. Some of these headphones can also be configured for single-side monitoring and come with all the accessories to connect to studio equipment. Be sure to check out our top picks for the best studio headphones available today below!
#1 Best Overall: Sony MDR7506 Professional Studio Headphones
The Sony MDR7506s are some of the best studio headphones you can find on a budget that are highly value for money. These headphones deliver incredible sound clarity with their 40mm drivers and neodymium magnets for detailed sound reproduction with a wide frequency response of 10 Hz to 20 kHz. It features a closed-ear design which provides great comfort in the studio and reduces external noise interference; the headphone also has plenty of headband padding which makes it comfortable to wear for extended periods. These are large diaphragm foldable headphones which have a durable construction, gold connectors and a professional grade OFC cord. It also comes with a 9.8-foot coiled cord which provides a lot of room for working in a studio without the need to detach any cabling. The Sony MDR7056s also come with an included Stereo UniMatch plug for use in both ¼” inch and 1/8” applications. We have no doubt that the Sony MDR7506s are among the very best studio headphones you can find that delivers clean and very accurate sound, and are perfect for professional musicians that need a highly accurate headphone for studio recording.
The Sony MDR7506 has an incredibly detailed and accurate sound with a generally flat frequency range. The headphone produces very clear midrange, crisp highs and a nice low-end without the bass being too overpowering or muddying into the midrange. The headphones are not bass heavy but can produce solid low-end frequencies with great bass impact that stays exactly where it should be as bass. The tonal balance of these headphones leans towards a brighter sound signature with a nice emphasis on the highs and upper midrange. This is great because the sound really brings up the finer details in the music that other headphones will not normally pick up. The sound quality on these headphones is excellent – it sounds detailed, accurate and a little bright without any harshness. You’ll definitely notice the difference while listening to symphonic and instrumental music on these headphones – they can really bring up the subtle notes and details in the music without coloring the sound. With these headphones you get natural and organic sound which sounds very accurate and is really perfect for studio recording use.
One key advantage that the Sony MDR7506 has over other studio headphones is their incredibly comfortable design with the padded headband. The headphone is light and portable and you can easily wear these headphones for hours on end in the recording studio without feeling ear fatigued. It also comes with a nice coiled extension which does not tangle and is more compact to carry around – do note that the cord is not detachable from the headphone. The coiled extension is a good 9.8 feet long which gives you plenty of room to walk around in the studio while wearing these headphones; the cable is also nice and thick, with a gold plated headphone jack that is also thick and high quality. We also liked the fact that these headphones come with a soft case for protective storage which you can use to fold up and store the headphones safely. We would recommend giving these headphones at least 4 hours of break in time before the sound really starts to come through nice and clean.
The Verdict? The Sony MDR7506 is hands down one of the best studio headphones you can find that delivers incredibly detailed and accurate sound. It is a headphone specially designed to produce accurate and detailed sound for professional musicians and studio recording. The 40mm drivers have a slightly bright sound signature that leans towards the highs and upper midrange. The bass response is pretty good and hits with a certain degree of impact but does not feel overwhelming. We would say that these headphones have an overall very balanced tonal signature that does not sound harsh or bleed into the other frequencies. This makes the Sony MDR7506 perfect for recording music in a studio as you can literally hear all the subtle details in the music with nice clarity and accuracy. It’s also one of the most comfortable headphones that we have tested with smooth cushion padding at the top and a large diaphragm, making it suitable for wearing it for extended periods of time. We have no doubt that the Sony MDR7506 is one of the best studio headphones you can find on the market and we highly recommend them.
#2 Best Sound Quality: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Headphones
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is one of the best studio headphones you can find that delivers superb sound clarity and performance. These headphones are capable of producing exceptional sound clarity through an extended frequency range with a nice bass response and are great for studio recording use. It is equipped with proprietary 45 mm large aperture drivers and copper-clad aluminium wire voice coils for distinct sound clarity and detail. The headphones feature circumaural design contours around the ears for sound isolation in noisy environments, and comes with 90 degree swivelling earcups with professional-grade earpads for extra comfort. This makes wearing the headphones easy to wear for prolonged periods of time without feeling ear fatigued. They also come with three detachable cables – a 3m coiled cable, 3m straight cable and 1.2m straight cable – for convenient connectivity and a protective carrying pouch. If you are looking one of the best studio headphones for music mixing and recording, the ATH-M50x easily comes out on the top of this list.
The sound quality that you get out of the ATH-M50x is excellent – they can reproduce music performances and soundtracks with great accuracy and clarity. They pump out pretty high volumes without any distortion which is great. The highs are crisp and well defined and definitely present throughout the music, with detailed midrange that sounds natural and organic. The bass that you get from these headphones is true bass that stays exactly where it should be in the lower frequency ranges and does not muddy into the midrange. The bass is not overpowering, which makes listening to rock and pop beats quite manageable especially when doing a studio recording. The acoustic drivers on these headphones are so detailed that they will almost inevitable expose any flaws in the stereo recording – you can pick up minor details in the music which you may not hear from other headphones. This is great from a studio recording perspective as you can literally hear the quality of the recording stream through these headphones. The ATH-M50xs are really sensitive headphones that will deliver sound quality depending on what you feed them which is definitely to your advantage.
The ATH-M50x has some key attributes that gives it a slight advantage over the Sony MDR7506. They are extremely comfortable headphones with padded ear-cups and a headband that rests comfortably on top of the head without causing listening fatigue. The headband is also adjustable depending on your head size which is great. The 90 degree swivelling earcups allow you to rest the headphones around your neck when not in use. It also comes with a removable cord which is a huge advantage over the Sony MDR7506 in the event that the cord gets damage – you can simply replace it with one of the included cords and you are good to go. The sound isolation on these headphones is good enough to drown out ambient background noise but falls short of total noise cancellation. The ear-cups go over the ears which make them really comfortable to wear for long periods of time without exerting too much force on the head. You can tell that the ATH-M50x is a solid piece of audio equipment and feels very durable with its hardened plastic frame.
The Verdict? The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is definitely one of the best studio headphones you can find that have some of the clearest and most detailed sound quality of all the headphones we have tested. They are capable of producing very crisp and clear music that stays true to the audio recording – the headphone drivers are very sensitive and will expose the flaws in the audio recording if you feed a low quality signal through it. The ATH-M50x also brings out the subtle and usually unnoticeable details in the music which is great for studio recording or mixing; unlike other headphones, they can pick up the minor details in the music which is great. The bass response on these headphones is good but not overpowering; the bass does not sound muddy or interfere with the other frequency ranges which is good. They have a brighter sound signature that leans more towards the highs and upper midrange frequency range. The headphone comfort is excellent and great for long periods of use. It’s hands down one of the best studio headphones you can find now selling at a very good price point and we highly recommend them.
#3 Best Soundstage: AKG K240 Professional Studio Headphones
The AKG K240 Studio are some of the best studio headphones in the music industry and an upgrade from its predecessor the AKG K240 Monitors. These are semi-open headphones equipped with XXL transducers in acoustically tuned vented enclosures with circumaural pads to deliver crystal clear sound clarity. They are equipped with low impedance 55-ohm drivers that provide much higher volumes when used with studio recording and other studio gear, and are professional grade headphones for home studio use. They also come with circumaural pads which cover your ears nicely and provide smooth, well-balanced articulate highs and midrange with good bass response. The K240 Studios are specially designed to deliver even wider dynamic range and higher sensitivity than its K240 Monitor predecessor; the large size of the upgraded transducers makes the overall sound more life-like with good soundstage to capture the details in the music. The self-adjusting headband also features a flexible steel structure to provide an optimal fit for your head with extra comfort. Overall, the AKG K240s have proven themselves to be one of the best studio headphones with very good musical sound reproduction and definitely come highly recommended.
The K240 studio headphones are semi-open and may bleed some music into your environment – this is a consideration to take into account if you want to use these headphones for podcasts or audio recordings. Despite this, they produce phenomenally clear and detailed sound with excellent soundstage. They have a pretty airy and open sound signature due to the semi-open design which gives you a better sense of spatial imaging especially with classical and instrumental genres. The headphones have a nice flat frequency response without sounding dull – they have clear instrument separation and sound really good for mixing. The headphones also have a good emphasis on the midrange which may be a good thing depending on your musical tastes. Jazz instruments sounded stunningly clear with very good attention to detail. The low-end bass response is nice and well defined and stays exactly where it needs to be without bleeding into the midrange. Apart from their semi-open design, the K240 Studio headphones are really great headphones for studio mixing and recording considering how accurate they sound.
The AKG K240 Studio headphones look really stunning straight out of the box and feel like they are made of premium acoustic components. Despite its stunning appearance, it is actually quite a lightweight headphone which does not exert a lot of pressure when worn on the head; they may get a little flimsy due to their lightweight design. The self-adjusting headband features a flexible steel structure that goes over the headband but we felt that the design could be constructed in a way that would make it more durable – the headband structure is flexible which allows for some bending although we would advise against bending it too much. The gimbal-type suspension ensures that the earcups of the AKG Studio will conform to the shape and size of your ears without causing ear fatigue. We liked the fact that the AKG Studio headphones use a detachable input cable for easy replacement if necessary; the cable and headphones use mini XLR connectors for a secure mechanical connection. The cable is made of OFC material and has gold plated plugs on both ends which are very nice.
The Verdict? The AKG K240s are some of the best studio headphones that provide high sensitivity and wide dynamic range for studio mixing and podcasts. The key advantage that the K240s have over other headphones is the high-definition sound performance that you get while using these headphones – they will pick up virtually every single minute detail in the music and are very sensitive to the quality of the audio track. The acoustic drivers produce crisp highs and have an emphasis on the midrange. The bass response is pretty good and tight but not overwhelming. The K240s provide decent soundstage with their semi-open design and are great for jazz and instrumental music. That being said, do note that the semi-open design means that some sound can leak out during the studio recording which is a factor to consider. Overall they have a very nice and sleek design, although we have some reservations about the durability of the steel headbands. Apart from this, they are some of the very best studio headphones you can find with great hi-fidelity sound performance and are highly value for money.
#4 Best Frequency Range: Sony MDRV6 Studio Headphones
The Sony MDRV6s are some of the best studio headphones designed for monitoring your recordings and for high-fidelity listening. They are equipped with high performance 40mm drivers with neodymium magnets for powerful detailed sound reproduction and deep bass response down to 5 Hz. It features a circumaural design which reduces external noise and provides over-ear comfort for extended periods of listening. The headphone is equipped with a 10-foot oxygen free copper cord which ends in a 3.5mm plug – it also comes with a ¼” adapter. It also comes with a copper-clad aluminium voice coil for improved power handling. Where the MDRV6 really shines is in its wide frequency response from 5 Hz to 30 kHz which is very wide indeed and can present the entire sound spectrum with great clarity. It’s among the very best studio headphones that you can find which can play the natural and original sound of the recording with impeccable precision and come highly recommended for musicians and podcast recordings.
The sound quality of the Sony MDRV6 is top notch – it has an uncolored and flat sound signature which really brings out the natural and original sound recording with pristine clarity. Listening to the MDRV6 headphones is a surreal experience in itself – you will hear details in the music which you never thought were present before. You can literally rediscover your soundtracks and music with these headphones. They have a very analytical sound signature and the entire sound spectrum is perfectly presented with its wide frequency range. The highs and midrange are crisp and clear, the treble sounds bright without any harshness, and the bass response is pretty good without sounding too overpowering. The MDRV6 will handle virtually any genre of music with ease and produce very detailed high quality sound; jazz and instrumental music sound phenomenally clean and wide with these headphones. Do note that because the MDRV6 are highly sensitive headphones, they are really unforgiving on the music source and will expose any flaws in a poor recording. They bring out the best in very good recordings too, so be sure to feed them high quality music files for the best experience.
The MDRV6 has a very nice and sleek design that wraps comfortably around the head without causing ear fatigue. That being said, the ear pads can get rather hot after prolonged periods of wearing and you should take this in account with these headphones. These headphones have low-impedance acoustic drivers that do not require much power to be driven, although we would recommend having a DAC amplifier to drive the sound as this would drastically improve sound quality. We would also recommend using lossless audio formats such as FLAC and ALAC if you plan to listen to music with these headphones as they will truly bring out the subtle details in the music beautifully. The headphones come with oxygen-free copper cords that have a good 10 feet of length and can be stretched up to 13 feet if necessary. The earcups are also foldable which makes it easily portable and compact. They have a very functional no-frills design that works and does not get in the way of your listening experience.
The Verdict? The Sony MDRV6 have extremely pure sound quality and are some of the best studio headphones we have tested that really delivers superb neutral sound. They produce crystal clear sound performance that stays true to the original recording – the sound comes across as uncolored, natural and pure. They are ideal for those who need a set of headphones for studio recordings, mixing or for podcasts where you can hear the original soundtrack in its entirety without any coloration. These headphones produce crisp highs, nice bass response with a subtle emphasis on the midrange. Their sound quality is simply legendary and unmatched at this incredible price point. As far as audio quality goes, the MDRV6 are virtually at the top with crystal clear sound performance and a pure sound signature. They also come with a nice and sleek design which feels comfortable when worn on the head without exerting too much pressure due to its wider headband structure. We have no doubt that the Sony MDRV6 are some of the best studio headphones you can find at a very good price point so don’t forget to check them out!
#5 Best Dynamic Sound: Behringer HPS3000 Studio Headphones
The Behringer HPS3000s are a stunning set of studio headphones with pristine sound clarity and an ultra-wide frequency range. These best studio headphones have a wide dynamic range, high-definition bass response and very crisp and transparent highs. The oval-shaped ear cups contain high-resolution cobalt capsules that deliver crystal clear and detailed sound. It also comes with single-sided cord with oxygen-free copper wires which resists tangling and provides maximum durability. It also comes with a ¼” TRS adapter for the 1/8” TRS connector which makes it compatible with your mp3 music devices and mixing console. The optimized oval-shaped ear cups are lined with soft padded foam which make them really comfortable to wear; it also has an ultra-rugged headband construction which makes the entire headphone pretty durable. Overall, the Behringer HPS3000s are some of the best studio headphones that look and sound absolutely stunning and definitely comes up close to the top of this list.
The HPS3000s produces very good sound quality with excellent clarity. They have full range sound and are capable of producing crisp highs, very good midrange and a nice low-end response. We tested this headphone with all kinds of music genres from electronic to country folk and thoroughly loved how clear and accurate these headphones sounded. The sound quality was incredibly clear, detailed and crisp – they will easily pick up every single detail in the music and are very sensitive to the source material. Vocal performances sounded pristine with these headphones with very crisp and detailed sound; instrumental music was spectacular and the clarity was exceedingly good. Using the HPS3000s in the recording studio allows you to listen to the recording as it is without any coloration or artificial decoding; you get the original recording laid bare before your ears. The bass response on the HPS3000s is surprisingly good and does not get in the way of the other frequencies or muddy into the midrange – it has impact but stays where it should be. The highs and treble response feels transparent and very enjoyable to listen to; the sound does not come across as harsh at all which is great.
The HPS3000s have a very sleek and stunning looking design that feels very premium. The entire headphone feels sturdy and durable and is made of thick plastic to boost its rugged construction factor. They are also very comfortable headphones to wear – the padding on the headband is nice and comfy, while the oval-shaped earpads rest on the ears without causing ear fatigue after extended periods of listening. The cable length is length enough for use in a recording studio and gives plenty of room for manoeuvrability. We particularly liked the fact that the headphones came with a 1/8” connector and a ¼” adapter for versatility – you can connect the headphones directly to your mixing console with this setup. You can tell that everything in the HPS3000s are very well designed and nicely thought out – the components feel very high quality and durable. It’s a great investment if you are looking for an excellent studio headphone for recording mixes or podcasts.
The Verdict? The Behringer HPS3000s are some of the best studio headphones available on the market that delivers very pristine dynamic sound. The headphones have a very wide frequency range which sounds very good; the highs and midrange are crisp and clear, and the bass response feels solid without being overwhelming. The HPS3000s have sensitive acoustic drivers that will pick up virtually every single detail in the recording which is great for studio mixing. The high-resolution cobalt capsules deliver very detailed sound that can get very loud without any distortion or coloration. We also liked the padded oval shaped ear cups which are very comfortable to wear and reduce ear fatigue during long studio sessions. The additional TRS adapters were an added plus, and the oxygen-free copper cable was nice and long. The HPS3000s also have a very nice and sleek design which feels durable and will last a long time. If you are looking for one of the best studio headphones to invest in for the long term, the Behringer HPS3000s are definitely a great choice.
#6 Best Neutral Sound: Sennheiser HD280 Pro Studio Headphone
The Sennheiser HD280 is hands down one of the best studio headphones that is definitely worth checking out. It is a dynamic, closed-ear headphone which provides perfectly flat and neutral sound that comes across as warm and natural. The headphones weigh a mere 285g and feature an ergonomic design for maximum comfort; the cord length is between 3.3 to 9.8 feet long. The HD280 has an over-the-ear design with padded ear cups for passive noise isolation; they can block up to 32 dB of ambient background noise. The ear pads, headband padding and audio cord are easily replaceable which makes it very convenient if any of these parts get worn out. The bottom line with the HD280 is that they are some of the best studio headphones that produce very accurate and analytical sound; they are not the kind of headphones you would want for extra bass response but rather for studio recording and podcast applications.
The HD280s sound very crisp and natural with plenty of volume when paired with a decent headphone amplifier. It produces a very flat signal with great analytical clarity; the neutral sound is very enjoyable to listen to and feels very high quality in a studio recording set. While the bass response is practically hard to hear unless you tweak the EQ settings, you can otherwise hear detailed layers of music in your sound that you never noticed were there before. This makes the HD280s great for studio recording and listening to vocal performances. The treble response on the headphones is not harsh and does not produce any ear fatigue after prolonged listening. Orchestra and piano music sounded sweet and well defined with these headphones – they can bring up the subtle notes in the music and present them in an incredibly clear and full fashion. The sound signature of the HD280 is best described as leaning towards the highs and upper midrange frequencies. These headphones are great if you need a set of high-clarity headphones for studio work; they also work well for casual music listening but definitely lack a low-end frequency response so they won’t really emphasis the bass in electronic dance music or pop.
Despite its relatively lightweight of 285grams or 0.56lbs, we found that the Sennheiser HD280 is slightly bulky in size and not really suitable for portable applications. They are perfect for studio work but not your ideal headphone for carrying it around with you while travelling. The HD280 features a nice closed-ear design which provides some degree of passive noise isolation of around 32 dB. Despite the closed-ear design they also have pretty good soundstage and imaging which is very nice. The headphone jack adapter works like a charm and the coiled cables can stretch up to 9.8 feet which is ideal for studio work to give some distance for manoeuvrability. The around-the-ear design of the HD280 is really nice and the padded cups feel soft and comfy when worn over the ears. The headband padding is also soft and does not exert much pressure on the head which makes it very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The HD280s are some of the very best studio headphones that do not cause ear fatigue at all after extended use and are ideal for studio work.
The Verdict? If you are looking for one of the best studio headphones that have excellent neutral and detailed sound, the Sennheiser HD280s are definitely the ones you should get. They are ideal headphones for studio work with a very crisp and analytical flat frequency for you to hear every single detail in the music; you will enjoy listening to instrumental and vocal performances with pristine clarity on the HD280s. That being said, the Sennheiser HD280s clearly lack bass response and low-end frequencies which make it less appealing for electronic dance music or bass-heavy music genres. It is a very comfortable set of headphones with very nice padding on the ear cans and on the headband – you can wear these headphones for hours on end without feeling any fatigue. We also liked the fact that the HD280s come with an extendable coiled cord of up to 9.8 feet which gives plenty of room for manoeuvrability. They are some of the best studio headphones for studio recording and podcast work now available at a very good price at the time of writing, so don’t forget to check them out!
#7 Best Budget: Tascam TH-02 Studio Headphones
The Tascam TH-02 are hands down one of the best studio headphones you can find on a budget. The TH-02 are closed-back, stylish headphones that delivers very crisp and bright sound – you can expect to hear crisp highs, clear midrange and decent bass response on these headphones. They are especially sensitive to the quality of the audio recording and will be able to pick up minute details in the sound for studio work. The TH-02 features plush cushioned ear cuffs and a padded headband for comfort; you can literally wear these headphones for hours on end without feeling fatigued. They are designed as closed-back headphones which provide some passive noise isolation and block out external ambient background noise, making them ideal for recording podcasts or music in a studio. The long extended wiring connector also provides decent manoeuvrability which is great. If you are looking for a set of best studio headphones to work with on a budget price, the Tascam TH-02 are definitely the ones you should consider.
The sound performance of the TH-02 is very detailed and clear. It produces very bright highs, nice midrange and good bass response that feels punchy and impactful. The sound quality is mostly good for studio use but not of audiophile quality. The TH-02 does not produce a flat neutral frequency range and we noticed some coloration in the low-mid range frequencies with some muddiness. To some extent, the degree of sound quality that you get with the TH-02 may vary depending on the type of audio recording setup. We found that vocal performances sounded nice and smooth without any harshness in the trebles, while instrumental music came across as well defined. Rock and pop music was nicely reproduced but we felt a little coloration on the lower end frequencies which made it sound a little unnatural. Despite this, the TH-02s are very sensitive headphones and will really perform based on the quality of the audio recording fed through them – they will easily pick up any flaws in the music recording which make them suitable for studio use. While they are not the ideal headphones with a flat and neutral frequency for studio work, they do sound pretty clear and really make up for it in terms of overall value.
The TH-02s come with plush cushion padding and a padded headband which makes wearing them really comfortable. The entire frame of the headphone is made of hardened plastic which gives it a measure of durability. Both the left and right ear cups offer a full 90 degree rotation which makes the TH-02 flexible to wear and holster around your neck. We also liked the fact that the TH-02 headphones are foldable which may them very compact and easy to carry around. The TH-02s feature a very simple and minimalist design that looks pretty sleek when worn; they are also relatively lightweight and do not exert much pressure on the head or ears which is great for extended periods of use. The headphones come with a snap-on 1/8” 3.5mm to ¼” 6.3mm audio adapter. The cable length goes up to a good 9.8 feet when fully extended which gives you plenty of room to walk around while testing out these headphones.
The Verdict? The Tascam TH-02s are one of the best studio headphones that are highly value for money and some of the very best you can find on a budget. They produce crisp highs, nice midrange and decent bass response with a more ‘fun’ sound signature – they do not have a flat or neutral frequency response. The bass response on these headphones is good but can feel slightly colored; the midrange and treble frequencies are well defined. Vocal performances sounded detailed, bright and clear, with very nice attention to detail. We also liked how the TH-02 reproduces instrumental music with distinct clarity; they are pretty sensitive headphones that will pick up every single detail in the sound recording. They are also relatively lightweight to wear and come with a nice cable length of 9.8 feet which provides plenty of room to manoeuvre around. The padded ear cups and headband also make them nice and comfy to wear for extended periods of time. While the TH-02s are not the best studio headphones around, they certainly represent great value for money and are ideal for those looking for a very decent set of headphones at a budget price.
#8 Best Value: Audio Technica ATH-M20x Studio Headphones
The Audio Technica ATH-M20x is one of the best studio headphones you can find that represents a great value for money investment. The sound quality, design and ease of use are top-notch for the price that you pay for these headphones. The ATH-M20x comes with advanced build quality and engineering, and is designed for studio tracking, mixing and monitoring. It is equipped with 40mm drivers and copper-clad aluminium wire voice coils for enhanced audio quality. They are also specially tuned for enhanced low-frequency response and produce a much smoother bass response from other studio headphones. They also feature circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in noisy environments for superior comfort. The headphone connects to your mixing device via a convenient single-side cable exit. If you are looking for one of the best studio headphones you can find that delivers great value for the price, the Audio Technica ATH-M20x is virtually unbeatable.
The sound performance on the ATH-M20x is pretty amazing, with crisp clear highs, nice midrange and good low end bass response. They produce really beautiful and smooth sound and are adaptable to EQ equalizing for a higher treble or bass response. We found that the sound signature of the ATH-M20x is not as flat and neutral as the M50x. The M20x does have more bass response and less emphasis on the upper range frequencies with an overall warmer sound signature. The volume on the M20x can be cranked up very loud without any distortion when paired with a decent headphone amplifier. Vocal performances sounded very clean and crisp, with great attention to detail. Instrumental music sounded very airy with decent soundstage and musical separation. That being said, we found that the M20x lacks some clarity in the upper frequency ranges due to the emphasis on the bass and low-end. This can be overcome by tweaking the EQ settings on your audio device to get more emphasis on the frequencies that you want. Overall they are great headphones to have in the studio for mixing and have a generally warm and crisp sound that is enjoyable to listen to.
The ATH-M20x are primarily used for studio music production or desktop use; they are not headphones that you want to carry around with you and are not built for portability. The build quality of the ATH-M20x is excellent and feels like a solid piece of audio equipment. The cable is very long and provides plenty of length for manoeuvrability in the office or studio. The circumaural design around the ears helps to isolate sound pretty well and keeps outside noise at bay. They are very good headphones to have for recording podcasts and music because of how quiet they are and do not leak any sound. The padding on the ear cups and headband are very comfortable to wear and you can put these headphones on for an extended period of time without feeling fatigued; your ears may start to sweat due to the heat after a few hours so this is something to take note. The headphones are also foldable for easy storage and the cord is retractable.
The Verdict? If you are looking for a no-frills studio headphone with excellent sound performance on a budget, the Audio Technica ATH-M20x is definitely the one to get. It’s one of the best studio headphones you can find that delivers incredible value for what you pay for. The sound performance of the ATH-M20x is very crisp and clear, with nice sparkle and good emphasis on the low end frequencies. It can produce plenty of volume without distortion when connected to a good amplifier. They are also designed for studio monitoring and are sensitive to the audio recordings fed through them so you will be able to notice the finer details in your music while wearing these headphones. The M20x are slightly larger headphones and best suited for studio recording and desktop applications – they are not the kind of headphones you would want to carry around due to their bulky size. At this price range, the ATH-M20x represents a great value investment and we highly recommend them.
#9 Best Closed-Back Headphone: LyxPro HAS-10 Studio Headphones
The LyxPro HAS-10 is one of the best studio headphones that are designed for professional studio monitoring with superb quality sound. They are designed to provide professional musicians with a comfortable and affordable headphone for monitoring and mixing music. The HAS-10s are designed with a professional-grade closed back over-ear design for superb sound isolation and reduce leakage. They are equipped with a powerful NdFeB magnetic system with 45mm neodymium magnetic drivers which provides dynamic full range sound and crisp sounding vocals and instruments. It has a nice sensitivity rating of 98db and a frequency range of 10 Hz to 26 kHz which is really good. You can crank up the volume on the HAS-10 headphones and they will not produce any audible distortion. In terms of sound performance, the HAS-10s are right at the top with superb sound quality and audio reproduction. They are some of the best studio headphones with a well-balanced and crisp sound designed for professional musicians and home studio use.
We were highly impressed with how good the LyxPro HAS-10 headphones sounded at such a good price point. The HAS-10 has a nice neutral and flat frequency response with plenty of clarity and detail for studio mixing. The vocals that came through the headphone sounded very clean and crisp, with nice treble response that felt bright with a nice sparkle at the top frequency ranges. The bass feels punchy, tight and clean and does not bleed into the midrange frequencies which is a good thing. Acoustic guitar and piano performances sounded very nice and accurate with great attention to detail. Although these headphones have a closed-back design which makes it less airy, the music comes across as very natural and has a room-filling effect when recorded in the studio. The HAS-10 speakers perform equally well at high or low volumes with the same level of consistency in sound quality, although with a greater emphasis on the midrange at higher volumes. Overall, we would say that the HAS-10 has a very nice balanced sound signature that produces very clear and good notes with decent bass response; the wide frequency range enables full-range sound. If you use the HAS-10 headphones for professional recording, you will be impressed by how clear and crisp these headphones sound in real life.
The LyxPro HAS-10 has a very sleek and elegant design that makes it look like a very high quality set of headphones. They feature leather-stitched headband coupled with foam and leather ear pads for maximum comfort – the entire headphone weighs a mere 0.65 lbs which is really lightweight and comfortable when worn on the head. It also features a skeletal construction of stainless steel which makes them feel sturdy and durable. The HAS-10 comes with 180 degree rotatable ear cups which allow for single-ear listening and come with telescoping arms with a sizing scale to fit different head sizes. The included 3m cable features a single sided connection to prevent the wire from tangling. The headphones have a closed-back design and have very low to minimal amount of sound leakage which is great for audio recording. The sound isolation is great and also blocks outside noise from coming in which makes listening in noisy spaces very comfortable with the HAS-10. They are hugely comfortable headphones to have in the studio and we absolutely love them.
The Verdict? The LyxPro HAS-10 without a doubt one of the best studio headphones that deliver exceptional value for money. They are an amazing set of closed-back headphones that delivers full-range sound with a wide frequency response between 10 Hz to 26 kHz. Vocal performances and instrumental music sounded crisp and clear with very good attention to detail. You can also crank up the volume on the HAS-10 headphones and not get any distortion which is really good. They provide very clean and clear sound for audio mixing and recording; the sound isolation helps to keep outside noise away and prevents leakage into the microphone. The HAS-10 headphones feature a very solid and well-built construction that looks amazing from any angle; the leather cushions and padding also make them very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. They have a neutral frequency range but does produce some pretty good bass which is an added plus. We have no doubt that the LyxPro HAS-10 is one of the best studio headphones you can find and we highly recommend them.
#10 Best for Studio Monitoring: Brainwavz HM5 Studio Headphones
The Brainwavz HM5s are among the very best studio headphones with exceptionally accurate sound reproduction. They have a neutral sound signature that will play music exactly how it is intended to sound without any coloration or enhancements – they have a very natural and organic sound. The HM5 features an over the ear design which provides a good seal around your ears to prevent sound leakage and better sound isolation. They also come with two detachable cables – a short 1.3m cable for use with a portable device and a 3m longer cable for studio equipment. They come with large 43mm CCAW drivers with a 64ohm impedance and a sensitivity of 105 dB. The headphones sound exceptionally clear and well defined when connected to a portable headphone amplifier. They also have a wide frequency range of 10 Hz to 26.5 kHz and can reproduce the entire sound spectrum with great clarity and detail. They are some of the best studio headphones you can find that delivers very crisp sound for professional studio monitoring. At the time of writing, the Brainwavz HM5s are now selling at a very good price, so don’t forget to check them out!
The sound from the Brainwavz HM5s is exceedingly natural and organic. They have a pretty neutral and flat frequency range which is great for professional monitoring – they also provide quite a nice soundstage as compared to other closed-back headphones. The highs and midrange on the HM5s are crisp and clear, with nice treble response and sparkle in the upper midrange frequencies. You can use these headphones to listen to a wide variety of music genres from jazz, acoustic to rock and they will perform beautifully. They might even pick up details in the music which you may not have noticed before. The acoustic drivers deliver very clear full-range sound with nice instrumental positioning; you can hear where each instrument is coming from with good separation. Vocal performances sounded lifelike and natural – the subtle notes and voices are beautifully presented without distortion. We also liked the fact that the highs on these headphones are beautiful and not too bright. The midrange is perfectly balanced with the low-end bass response without any signs of bloated bass or the bass muddying into the midrange frequencies. Do note that because these headphones have a rather high impedance of 64 ohms they will require a headphone amplifier to produce the best sound performance.
The Brainwavz HM5s have a pretty solid build construction and are made from reinforced plastic with a metal frame. They are nicely padded with huge comfortable ear-pads. The metallic finish on the ear cups make the headphone look very refined with a durable construction. The ear cups are very comfortable to wear but they may fit tightly on your head straight out of the box – you will need to put on the headphones for a period of time to get them to loosen up the slack. This may be an issue if you are not used to having pressure on your ears and head. That being said, these headphones are much more lightweight than they look and have a very aesthetically pleasing appearance. The headphones come with all the accessories that you need to setup with your studio recording system. They come with two sets of cables (one 4 feet and the other 10 feet long) with a solid build quality. It also comes with a gold-plated ¼” adapter that screws onto the cables for use with amplifiers. We liked the fact that the HM5s come with an extra pair of earpads and a large hard casing for storage which is definitely a nice added touch.
The Verdict? The Brainwavz HM5s are hands down some of the best studio headphones you can find for professional monitoring and studio recording. They produce exceedingly good sound quality with a flat and neutral frequency response for maximum clarity. We were surprised at how clear and loud the sound from these headphones felt – vocal performances were organically reproduced and you can hear virtually every single detail and subtle note in the music. The headphones have pretty crisp highs and detailed midrange without sounding too bright. The bass response is perfect and not overwhelming; it does not muddy into the midrange frequencies and stays where it should be. The headphones feature plush ear padding which makes wearing them very comfortable. That being said, they can feel pretty tight straight out of the box and need time to loosen up. They may cause some discomfort after prolonged periods of time due to the pressure. Despite this, these headphones look very sleek and durable with nice metallic finishes on the sides. They produce exceptionally clear and natural sound and are some of the very best studio headphones you can get for professional monitoring and studio recording.
#11 Best Reference Headphones: Samson SR850 Studio Headphones
The Samson SR850s are semi-open-back reference headphones and some of the best studio headphones for mixing and music production. They are designed with an over-ear design for maximum sound isolation and feature 50mm drivers for crystal clear sound reproduction with a wide dynamic range of 10 Hz to 30 kHz. The acoustic drivers are designed to deliver solid bass response, ultra-clear highs and detailed midrange for accurate headphone monitoring. It also comes with a self-adjusting headband for a secure and natural fit which provides great comfort for extended studio sessions. The headphones have an impedance of 32 ohms and may require a decent headphone amplifier to drive them, although they also work perfectly well with most mobile devices. They also come with 1/8” to ¼” gold plated adapters which are included in the entire package. If you are looking for one of the best studio headphones with reference quality music for mixing, the Samson SR850s are an excellent choice.
The sound performance of the Samson SR850s is amazing and pristine. We were pretty surprised at how clear and detailed the audio sounded from these studio headphones – while the bass is not overwhelming, the 50mm drivers are capable of producing tight and punchy bass at the low-end without muddying into the midranges. Listening to music and vocal performances on the SR850s was a sublime experience with great attention to detail and very nice soundstage. You can literally hear all the instruments in the song being played out before you with great clarity; you will definitely be able to pick up subtle details in the music which you have not noticed before. We liked the fact that you can crank up these headphones on your DAC amplifier up to maximum volume without getting any distortion. We would describe the sound signature on the SR850s as having a slightly V-shaped sound with crisp extended highs and a nice low-end with its 50mm drivers. The level of detail that you get on these headphones is simply top-notch at every volume level. The SR850s are also pretty sensitive studio headphones to the audio recording stream fed through them and will definitely expose the flaws in a poor recording. This makes them ideal for studio monitoring.
The Samson SR850s looks very premium and classic; they are very comfortable to wear for long editing or studio music sessions. The self-adjusting band works really well to lighten the tension on the ears. The over ear design with the velour padding provides good sound isolation and goes nicely over the ear which makes it very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time together. The cable length that came with the SR850s is nice and long and gives you plenty of room to manoeuvre about around your equipment. It also comes with an 1/8” to ¼” gold plated adapter for added convenience. Do note that these headphones are semi-open and may leak a little sound and let sound in as well, but we found that this did not affect the quality of any studio recording. It’s really a no-frills studio headphone that delivers superb sound clarity and stereo imaging, and one of the best reference headphones to have especially if you are into mixing and music production.
The Verdict? The Samson SR850s are some of the best studio headphones you can find at a very good price point that delivers superb reference quality sound. We were impressed by how detailed and clean the sound from the SR850s was – you can crisp highs, very smooth midrange and nice bass response. The 50mm driver works very well in pumping out powerful sound that can get really loud without any distortion; the level of detail that you get with the SR850s is just top-notch at any volume level. The SR850s have a slightly V-shaped sound signature with crisp extended highs that make music and vocal performances really shine. Listening to the SR850s will really let you appreciate what a good reference studio headphone should sound like. They also have a very comfortable and classic looking design that is no-frills and performance-orientated. The ear pads are very comfortable to wear and provide decent sound isolation; do note that the semi-open design may cause sound to leak although this was hardly noticeable in the recording studio. The Samson SR850s are well and truly some of the best studio headphones available today and we definitely recommend them for mixing and music production.
#12 Best Open Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 990 Studio Headphones
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros are some of the best studio headphones with an open over-ear design for impressive spaciousness and wide stereo imaging. These headphones are specially designed for studio applications and produce transparent and spacious sound with good bass response. They are highly sensitive headphones that can pick up virtually every single detail in the audio recording which makes them ideal for studio mixing and music production. The open design of the DT 990 Pros offers refined stereo imaging and graduated tonal depth; it also has a mild bass and treble boost which makes the sound feel more rich and full. The headphones come with soft, circumaural and replaceable velour ear pads for maximum comfort – the over the ear design makes them suitable for extended periods of use without causing ear fatigue. It also comes with a 3.0m single-sided coiled cable that does not tangle easily and perfect for studio manoeuvrability. If you are looking for one of the best studio headphones around with great spacious sound, the DT 990 Pros are definitely the ones to look out for.
The sound performance of the DT 990 Pros is spacious and dynamic. It produces very good details and clarity with a good degree of imaging. In terms of frequency range, the DT 990 Pros have a V-shaped sound signature and are tuned to emphasize the low-end and high frequency ranges. They produce decent bass impact without sacrificing the dynamics, and have a good mid-range speaker with good imaging. Compared to other studio headphones, we found that the DT 990 Pros have a much better low-end response and has smoother more extended highs. Listening to vocal performances on the DT 990s felt like sitting in a real life concert hall with very good attention to detail and spatial imaging – the sound feels open and spacious in part due to its open-back design. It has excellent soundstage and you would be able to hear an instrument or subtle note that you may not have noticed in the recording before – the soundstage is much wider than we expected and very pleasant to listen to. Do note that the DT 990 Pros have a pretty high impedance rating of 250 ohms and will require a reasonably good headphone amplifier to drive them. We would also recommend a period of 10 hours of break in with the DT 990s for the sound to warm up and come off smoothly.
The build quality and design of the DT 990 Pros are simply top-notch. The headphone is made entirely of ABS plastic while the headband and forks holding the cans are made of durable aluminium. The headband is covered with a nice layer of padding which makes it very comfortable to wear on the top of the head; they are surprisingly light and comfortable despite their slightly larger over-the ear size. The earpads feel very soft and have a lot of cushion padding around them; they feel as though you are wearing pillows around your ears which are really nice. It has a very premium feel about it and you feel that you are getting a really quality German made product. The headphones also come with a coiled cable that is a nice 3m in length with a 1/8” jack, and comes with a screw-on ¼” jack. The DT990 Pros have an open design which may leak some sound and allow external noise in; the trade-off is that you get really good soundstage with the DT 990s that are great for visualizing music and vocal performances.
The Verdict? The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros are hands down some of the best studio headphones you can find with an open-back design. They are designed to provide an extremely wide soundstage with great clarity and detail. We found that the DT 990 Pros have a slightly V-shaped sound signature, with bright sparkling trebles and decent low-end bass response. The bass that you get with these headphones is not bloated, and feels punchy and tight with a good kick. You will also need a reasonably good headphone amplifier to go with the DT 990 Pros due to its higher impedance or else the sound quality will not be good. Listening to music performances and vocals on the DT990 Pros brings home to life what a real concert should sound like, with very detailed soundstage and great attention to detail; you will be able to hear things in the music that you might never have noticed or previously came across as dull. The headphones also feature a very comfortable and premium design that looks and feels high quality. It’s a German-made headphone and one of the best studio headphones we have come across with an open-back design that we highly recommend.
#13 Best for Mixing: Status Audio CB-1 Studio Headphones
The Status Audio CB-1s are some of the best studio headphones with a full closed-back design and specially made for professional musicians for mixing and recording. These headphones come with integrated 50mm drivers which deliver analytical neutral sound signature for you to hear every single detail in the music with pristine clarity. They also feature an ergonomic ear-pad that is very comfortable to wear for long recording sessions without causing ear fatigue. The headphones come with two detachable cables, both coiled and straight, with a twist-lock function to prevent tangling. The CB-1s are also foldable for easy portability which makes them easy to carry around. These headphones are specially designed for music producers, mixing and recording engineers and professional musicians who need a cost-effective headphone that delivers sound performance on point. They are one of the best studio headphones that deliver very good sound performance and represent a great value investment if you need a quality set of headphones at a very good price.
The Status Audio CB-1s have a very refined sound quality and crisp performance. They produce a flat frequency response which is great for audio recording and mixing; the level of clarity and detail that you get with these headphones is very distinct and clear. The low end response sounds crisp and rich, and perfectly balanced with the midrange and upper frequency ranges. The headphones are also easy to drive and can be powered directly from a mobile device, although they will definitely benefit with the addition of a DAC for better sound performance. The playback quality on these headphones is very crisp and clear; they are quite sensitive to their audio source and will expose flaws in poor recordings. Vocal performances came across as very nicely defined and reproduced with great precision. Instrumental and jazz music sounded beautifully refined with decent separation and a nice sparkle at the upper frequency ranges. It’s an incredible headphone to have if you need a set of reliable headphones in the studio that will reproduce music according to its original content with any coloration or artificial enhancements.
The Status Audio CB-1 have a nice and classy design that looks durable; the headband can be bent around without showing any signs of fatigue or cracking. The padding on the ear cans are well stitched up and very comfortable when worn – it has an over the ear design that goes over the ears and prevents sound from escaping. The cushioning on the headband and cans are well padded and comfy. The CB-1s have pretty good sound isolation with their closed back design; the headphones do not leak any sound into the microphone during recording sessions even at high volumes. You can sing into the microphone while wearing these headphones and the sound will not leak through which is perfect for mixing and recording. The cables and ¼” adapter that came with these headphones are of great quality and are gold plated, which provides the best signal processing quality and durability. There are also springs behind the jacks which reduce strain on the cords themselves. We also liked the fact that these headphones have a 3.5mm input jack with a twist lock feature to prevent tangling which is a nice added touch.
The Verdict? The Status Audio CB-1s are some of the best studio headphones you can find that produce very clean sound and are exceedingly comfortable to wear. They produce a practically flat frequency response which makes them ideal for recording and mixing – the level of sound clarity and precision that you get with these headphones is simply top-notch. They are also pretty sensitive headphones with low impedance and can be powered by a mobile device; they will reproduce audio recordings with great clarity and fidelity and can expose flaws in poor quality recordings. We also liked the sound isolation and closed back design which prevents any sound leakage; this is essential to get the cleanest audio recording in the studio without any leakage into the microphone. The padding on the cans and headband is very plush and comfy, and you can wear these headphones for hours on end without feeling ear fatigued. They are some of the very best studio headphones you can find that represent great value for money and we highly recommend them.
#14 Best Sound Clarity: Shure SRH440 Professional Studio Headphones
The Shure SRH440s are one of the best studio headphones you can find that produce unparalleled audio clarity for home and studio recording. These headphones are optimized for home and studio recording use and reproduce accurate audio performance across an extended frequency range. The impedance, power handling and sensitivity on these headphones are calibrated for professional audio devices such as DJ mixers and mixing consoles for optimal sound performance. The SRH440s come with a 40mm neodymium driver which is designed for reference monitoring and accurate listening. It also features a closed-back, circumaural design for superior sound isolation in noisy environments. The closed-back design of the SRH440s prevents sound leakage into the microphone which helps to ensure audio clarity in sound recordings. The headphones also come with an adjustable and collapsible headband for extra comfort and portability; the replaceable ear-cup padding is convenient in the event that it gets worn out. If you are a professional musician or mixer, the SRH440s are definitely one of the best studio headphones you can get at a very good price.
The sound performance of the Shure SRH440s is excellent – they have phenomenal frequency response that covers the entire sound spectrum very well. You get really crisp highs, detailed midrange and a good low-end response that feels solid but not overwhelming. The frequency response on the SRH440s is pretty flat and neutral and brings up the details in the easily. Listening to instrumental and classical music with these headphones is a pretty enjoyable experience and you can pick up details in the recording which you might not have noticed before. The headphones are very sensitive to the original source material and the sound quality that you get with the SRH440s is very dependent on what you feed them. They can be powered through a mobile device although we would recommend using a DAC amplifier to get that extra sound quality. The headphones are specially calibrated for use with DJ mixers and mixing consoles and are perfect for home or studio use. The volume on the SRH440s can go very loud without producing any distortion; you can very clean and crystal clear sound that feels very analytical in nature without over-emphasizing one frequency range over the other.
The SRH440s are some of the most comfortable studio headphones we have ever tried on. They come with a detachable coiled cable that stretches up to 10 feet and gives plenty of room for manoeuvrability. The headband and ear cans have plenty of padding which make them feel very comfortable to wear; they also fit snugly on the head with very little leakage due to its closed back design. You can listen to music at high volumes without having to worry about the sound leaking into the microphone while recording. The headband itself is adjustable and retractable The headphone itself looks and feels very premium, and is designed for durability for everyday studio use. We liked the fact that the ear-cup pads are designed to be replaceable and the coiled cable is detachable which means that you can easily replace them if they are damaged or worn out. The headphones come with a nice carry bag which protects them while taking them on the go.
The Verdict? The SRH440s are some of the best studio headphones that you can find now selling at a very good price point. They are closed-back headphones that are designed to deliver neutral and clear sound with very good sound isolation. This is ideal if you need a set of headphones for mixing or studio recording without the sound leaking into the microphone. The sound performance is very crisp and clear, with nice sparkling treble ranges that feel smooth without any harshness. The SRH440s also features a circumaural design with very soft and comfy padding that makes this headphone very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time in the studio. The headphone comes with a detachable coiled cable that can stretch up to 10 feet, and includes a threated ¼” gold-plated adapter with a nice carrying bag. They are some of the best studio headphones you can find that delivers great value for money and we highly recommend them for professional musicians and studio mixing.
#15 Best Organic Sound: KRK KNS8400 Studio Headphones
The KRK KNS8400s are some of the best studio headphones you can find that produce stunning analytical clarity with an organic frequency response. They are designed as closed-back, circumaural headphones with a wide frequency response for full-range sound and produce very accurate monitoring. The acoustic drivers on the KNS 8400 are highly sensitive to the quality of the recording and will be able to pick up every single minor detail in the sound. This makes the KNS 8400 ideal if you need a set of headphones to differentiate between pitch, timbre and tonal performance in the music mix. They also come with sound isolating memory foam with in-ear cushions that comfy to your head shape and provide a very comfortable listening experience. They do not leak sound which is ideal if you need to record voice or music over a microphone. It provides a very natural frequency response that gives you reference audio quality and are optimized for professional musicians. If you are looking to get one of the best studio headphones that produce full-range organic sound, the KRK KNS 8400s are the ones to check out.
The KNS 8400s are full-sized closed –back headphones that sound way above their price range. The frequency range on the KNS 8400s is superb and they can practically play out the entire frequency range without sounding colored or artificial. They have a nice neutral frequency with great extension; they have the capability to go down to a stunning 5 Hz and produce tight low-end response without muddying into the other midrange frequencies. While these headphones may seem to have less bass response due to the analytical nature of these headphones, you really hear what the artists intended the original recording to be with as little coloration and artificial low-end enhancements as possible. The highs and upper midrange frequencies are reproduced with great detail and a little sparkle on the KNS 8400s which is really nice. Classical music performances sounded brilliant on these headphones with great attention to detail; percussion performances sounded on point with exceptional clarity. Drums will come across as impactful and punchy without being bloated. Vocal performances are crisp and lifelike and very organic sounding – it feels as though the vocalist is standing right in front of you while listening to the KNS 8400s. In short, the KNS 8400s will be able to reproduce the kind of music quality that the artist or audio engineer intended.
The KNS 8400s have very comfortable ear cups that feature plush padding that feels very soft on the ears. The padding on the headband feels nice and comfy when worn over the head and is adjustable to fit your head size; it has a circumaural design that goes over the ears nicely. The noise isolation on the KNS 8400s is superb with its closed-back design and does not leak any sound into the microphone during audio recordings. The headphones will also block out ambient background noise which is great for quiet listening. The ear pads are replaceable which is great in the event they get worn out after extended use; the cable wiring with these headphones is of a good length which gives some room for manoeuvrability in the studio. The design of the KNS 8400s is simplistic but classy all around – they are well and truly some of the best quality headphones you can find for professional monitoring at a very good price point.
The Verdict? The KNS 8400s are one of the best studio headphones that offer an incredibly natural frequency response and provide organic reference sound that feels natural and uncolored. They have a flat and neutral frequency sound that feels very smooth and crisp; they really bring out the details in vocal performances and classical music. They are pretty sensitive headphones that will pick up subtle notes and details in the music, and will definitely expose the flaws in poor recorded soundtracks. The headphones provide excellent reference sound for professional monitoring and have the capability of going down to 5 Hz without the bass sounding too bloated or muddying into the midrange. The highs and midrange on the KNS 8400s are bright with a nice sparkle to them. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to classical and jazz music on these headphones and they sounded very smooth without any hint of harshness. The sound isolation from the closed back design is great too, which prevents audio leakage into recording microphones. Overall, the KNS 8400s are really some of the best studio headphones you can find with a fully organic frequency range and optimized for professional musicians who need the detailed monitoring capabilities of these headphones.
#16 Most Comfortable: LyxPro HAS-30 Studio Headphones
The LyxPro HAS-30 are some of the most comfortable studio headphones we have come across with superb sound performance for professional monitoring. These best studio headphones come with a premium leather headband with comfortable ear-cups that feel very comfortable to wear for prolonged periods of time in the recording studio without causing ear fatigue. The ear-cups are large and goes around the ear which provides a spacious and nice listening experience. The closed-back design also provides very good sound isolation which prevents music from leaking into the microphone; it also prevents outside noise from coming in for quiet listening in noisy environments. It comes equipped with 50mm drivers with 100 dB sensitivity and a wide 15 Hz to 26 kHz frequency response – the sound quality that you get with these headphones is crisp and top-notch. It also offers a double design for easy storage and comes with two removable cables with a 3.5mm to ¼” adapter for versatility. If you are looking for one of the best studio headphones that excel in comfort and sound quality, you should seriously consider the LyxPro HAS-30 headphones.
The sound quality on the HAS-30 headphones is incredibly smooth and detailed with its 50mm drivers and 100 dB sensitivity. The acoustic drivers are capable of pumping out rich clear sound that feels natural and lifelike – the ear cups are large and go over the ears which give a more spacious feel to the sound. The headphones have a flat and neutral sounding balance that makes it ideal for professional monitoring and studio recording. Vocal performances sounded very clean and crisp, with detailed sound reproduction that felt very smooth and enjoyable to listen to. The highs are crisp and bright, and add a level of sparkle to the music which makes it very smooth to listen to. The bass response is surprisingly punchy and impactful; it does not bleed into the midrange or sound bloated. You can crank up the volume on the HAS-30 headphones and they will perform equally well without any distortion, although they may start to sound more mid-range dominant at higher volumes. They are a set of headphones that really reproduce the sound recording exactly as the artists intended it to sound without any coloration or artificial enhancements. They are no-frills headphones that really get a lot of things right when it comes to reference sound quality.
The HAS-30 are among the most comfortable studio headphones that we have tested. The ear cushions on the cans are well-stitched and plush, and rest very nicely on the ears without causing any ear fatigue. The leather headband feels very soft and comfortable on the headphone and does not exert too much pressure on the ears. They are also pretty lightweight headphones which makes them great for prolonged studio sessions without weighing down on your head and ears. The great thing about the HAS-30 headphones is that they have a very low amount of sound leakage – they are ideal for studio recordings where the sound would not be captured by the microphone. The sound isolation also muffles outside background noise which provides a rather quiet listening experience. We also liked the fact that the ear cups can flip upside-down for one-ear monitoring if required. It also comes with a nice cord of good length and a 3.5mm to 1/4” adapter. We also liked the fact that the HAS-30 offers a foldable design for easy storage and comes with a nice carrying case to keep the headphones safe. We would recommend at least 15 to 20 hours of break in with the HAS-30 headphones before the sound starts to come out rich and fully refined.
The Verdict? The LyxPro HAS-30 are some of the best studio headphones you can find that provides an unparalleled level of comfort. They come with plush ear cushions which fit snugly over your ears while providing excellent sound isolation from external noises. It also has very little to no leakage which makes them perfect for studio recording applications. The sound performance on the HAS-30 is incredibly detailed and very refined, with crisp highs, detailed midrange and punchy bass. The highs have a bright sparkle to them which adds a nice layer of detail to the music; you can hear subtle notes in classical recordings and instrumental performances which you may not have noticed before. The headphones are very sensitive to the quality of the audio recording and will expose flaws in poor quality audio – this makes them great for professional monitoring to get a sense of the quality, pitch and tonal balance in the music. The headphones also come with 2 removable cables (straight and coiled) with durable connectors and a 3.5mm to ¼” adapter. The HAS-30s are some of the best studio headphones you can find for comfort and clarity at a value price point, so don’t forget to check them out!
#17 Best for Recording: Akai Professional Project 50X Studio Headphones
The Akai Professional Project 50X are some of the best studio headphones you can find for professional recording and podcasts. They are specially designed for high-end studio monitoring and work very well as personal-listening headphones for audio recordings. The have a closed-back design with very good noise isolation to prevent sound leakage into the studio microphone. They also feature 50mm dynamic drivers which delivers very crisp full range sound and impactful bass response; the frequency response on the Project 50X headphones is a wide 10 Hz to 30 kHz. The headphones feature a collapsible design for increased portability and come with a leatherette travel pouch for you to carry the headphones around without any hassle. They also feature swivelling ear cups for convenient monitoring with two styles of 6-foot detachable cables, and comes with a 1/8” to ¼” adapter easy connectivity to a wide variety of music equipment. They are some of the best studio headphones you can find at a very good price point and we highly recommend them.
The sound performance on the Akai Project 50X headphones is exceptionally clear. The 50mm neodymium drivers produce very nice and clear sound for studio monitoring; you get a very wide frequency response range from 10 Hz to 30,000 Hz. You can practically hear all the vocals and instruments clearly with these headphones – they are pretty sensitive to the audio source which means that they will pick up every single detail in your studio recording. The sound is not bass-heavy but they do deliver a pretty solid low-end that does not overwhelm the midrange frequencies. We would describe the sound signature of the 50X headphones as warm and leaning slightly towards the low-end frequencies; they do not feel entirely neutral sounding which may or may not be a good thing depending on your musical preferences. They are fine for studio recordings and do perform really well for recordings and mixing. We liked the fact that the Akai Project 50X headphones can replicate audio recordings with pristine accuracy and without leaking any sound during studio sessions.
The Akai Project 50X headphones have a rather low impedance of around 32 ohms which means that they can be driven by mobile devices and mp3 players straight out of the box. We would recommend giving a period of burn in of approximately 6-8 hours before the sound starts to settle in. The headphones have a very sleek and aesthetically appealing design; they come with soft padded ear cups with an adjustable headband which provides very good comfort. You can wear these headphones for hours in the recording studio without feeling ear fatigue. We also liked the fact that the headphones come with two detachable cables – straight and coiled – both have a nice length of 6 feet each. This provides plenty of manoeuvrability in the studio and they do not tangle easily. The headphones also come with a 3.5mm connector with a screw-on ¼” adapter for mixing devices and audio equipment.
The Verdict? The Akai Project 50X are some of the best studio headphones for live recording and podcasts. They present the sound as accurately as possible and have a full-range frequency response of 10 Hz to 30 kHz. They can reproduce the entire sound spectrum with detailed clarity and precision; they are sensitive headphones that will really pick up the finer details in your audio recordings. The sound signature of the Project 50X leans slightly towards the low-end frequency ranges and has a much fuller and richer bass response. While we would not describe the Project 50X headphones as having a purely neutral frequency, they produce very organic and natural sound that is enhanced by a nice and refined low-end. Listening to vocal performances on the Project 50X was a pretty sublime experience, with crystal clear detail and very crisp highs. The 50X headphones are also very comfortable to wear with the soft ear pads and do not cause fatigue after extended use. They are some of the best studio headphones you can find for recording and are now selling at a very good price point at the time of writing.
#18 Best for Hi-Fi Listening: Status Audio OB-1 Studio Headphones
The Status Audio OB-1 are a dynamic set of best studio headphones with an open back design to produce very clear and organic sound. These headphones produce crystal clear sound with their 42mm drivers with exceptional detail and accuracy. The OB-1 features an ergonomic over-ear design and is built for hours of prolonged use without causing any ear fatigue. The headphones are great for hi-fi listening and will be able to pick up almost every single subtle detail in the sound with a good deal of stereo separation; they provide very good soundstage with their open-back design. This makes the sound come across as more natural and organic without any artificial enhancements or coloration. The OB-1 headphones also come with a 3 meter fixed straight cable which provides plenty of room for manoeuvrability for studio recording sessions. They are some of the best studio headphones you can find with a very attractive looking and durable design and we highly recommend them.
The Status Audio OB-1 has an audio profile that is essentially flat and neutral – this makes the sound quality as clear and neutral as possible for studio monitoring. The open-back design allows the headphone to generate pretty good soundstage during audio reproduction; listening to instrumental music and orchestra performances feel like you are sitting in a real life orchestra hall. The sound that comes from the acoustic drivers feel spacious, airy and organic. The OB-1 headphones do not color the midranges and upper frequencies so what you hear is essentially a pure version of what the audio recording is supposed to sound like. The bass on the OB-1 is present but certainly does not color the midranges or sound overwhelming. Do note that because the OB-1 headphones have an open-back design, they will leak sound if played at very high volumes through the acoustic drivers. You can also hear your own voice while doing recordings with the OB-1 which may or may not be a good thing depending on what you intend to use these headphones for. For professional monitoring purposes, the Status Audio OB-1 delivers crystal clear sound with a spacious quality and soundstage rarely seen in other comparable headphones at this price range.
The Status Audio OB-1 headphones have a pretty solid build quality and design that feels very high quality. The headphone has very nice padding on the headband and comes with soft velour pads on the ear cups which make wearing them very comfortable. The headband length is also adjustable and does not exert much pressure on your ears while wearing them; you can keep these headphones on for a long studio recording session without feeling fatigued. The headphones are relatively lightweight and easy to carry around; do note that the headphones are not entirely collapsible which means that they take up more space if you want to travel around with them. We liked the fact that the Status Audio OB-1 headphones come with a 3m straight cable which is long enough for studio monitoring use. Do note that the cable is fixed to one side of the headphones which can pose a slight disadvantage in the event that the cable is damaged because they are not removable. Apart from this, the Status Audio OB-1 headphones have a very aesthetically appealing design that we liked and feel very comfortable to wear.
The Verdict? The Status Audio OB-1 are among the very best studio headphones for hi-fi listening and spacious sound reproduction. They have an open-back design which provides very good soundstage for quality listening. The 42mm acoustic drivers deliver very crisp and natural sound with a practically flat and neutral tone. Vocal performances sounded crystal clear over the OB-1 headphones and you get distinct clarity with great attention to detail; the headphones will pick up subtle details in the music which you might not have noticed before. They can get pretty loud without any distortion but do note that they may leak sound due to the open-back design. You can also hear yourself during audio recordings while wearing the OB-1 headphones which may or may not be a good thing .The headphones feature a very comfortable ergonomic design and does not exert much pressure on the ears which is a good thing. It also comes with a 3m long straight cable which gives plenty of room to move around but the cable is fixed permanently to the headphones which is a slight disadvantage especially if the cable gets damaged. That being said, they are some of the best studio headphones you can find at a very good price point and we definitely highly recommend them if you are looking for a much cheaper option.
#19 Most Well-Balanced: OneOdio Studio Headphones
The OneOdio Studio monitor headphones are some of the best studio headphones that strike an excellent balance between sound quality and comfort. These headphones produce very balanced sound with crisp highs and detailed midrange and nice vocals. They are equipped with 50mm acoustic drivers with neodymium magnets to provide crystal clear hi-fi level sound that sounds natural and uncolored. The OneOdio headphones also come with high quality padded ear cushions which are specifically designed for maximum comfort and noise isolation; the headband is adjustable and stretchable to provide the best fit on your head. The headphones come with a long 9.8 foot cord with a standard-sized 6.3mm plug and 3.5mm adapter that is completely detachable. They also come with 90 degree swivelling earcups for single-side monitoring. The OneOdio Studio headphones have a very stylish appearance that looks pretty amazing from almost any angle. If you are looking for one of the best studio headphones that have a very well balanced sound quality, the OneOdio Studio monitor headphones are a great choice.
The sound quality of the OneOdio Studio headphones is fantastic and rival that of its more expensive counterparts. The 50mm drivers produce full-range sound and can accurately reproduce the notes in practically the entire sound spectrum. The bass response from these headphones is nice and punchy but does not overwhelm or bleed into the midrange; the sound that you get is very full and balanced. Vocal performances sounded very crisp and clear with nice attention to detail. Despite the lack of soundstage due to its closed-back design, classical and instrumental music sounded crystal clear with a nice sparkle at the treble range. The headphones are quite sensitive to the audio source and will expose the flaws in poor quality recordings. You can also crank up the volume on these headphones and hear very clear sound without any distortion which is great. That being said, we would recommend using a DAC amplifier with these headphones to get the best sound performance. The sound signature of these headphones leans slightly towards the low-end and midrange frequencies; they have a warm sound that does not compromise the clarity of the upper frequency ranges and is very nice to listen to.
The OneOdio headphones have a pretty solid build quality and durable design. They are made of hardened plastic that feels sturdy enough for extended use; there is also a metal band that runs through the entire headband portion to give it a more rigid feel. They are very comfortable headphones with both ear cups lined with memory foam and pleather; the headband also comes with soft padding which does not exert much pressure on the head. You can wear these headphones for hours on end in the recording studio without feeling much ear fatigue, although we would recommend using these headphones for some time to get them to loosen up. We liked the closed-back design of the OneOdio headphones which helps to prevent sound leakage and keeps the music tightly sealed. This is important to get a clear recording in the studio without any sound leaking into the microphone. The sound isolation also prevents outside noises from coming into the headphone which provides a really comfortable listening experience. The 9.8 foot long DJ style cable provides plenty of room for manoeuvrability; it also comes with 6.3mm plug and 3.5mm plug for added versatility.
The Verdict? The OneOdio headphones are some of the most well balanced headphones you can find for studio use. These best studio headphones sound excellent and produce sound quality that can rival high-end headphones with crisp and detailed clarity. The bass response from these headphones feels nice and punchy and does not bleed into the midranges. They produce excellent vocal sound with plenty of detail and clarity; the 50mm drivers are capable of producing close to Hi-Fi sound with a full-range frequency response. They are perfect for audio recordings and do not leak any sound into the studio microphone due to their closed-back design. The headphones also come with a nice 9.8 feet long cable with a standard sized 6.3mm plug and 3.5mm plug for versatility. The plugs are completely detachable which means that you can switch between audio devices and equipment when necessary. They are also very comfortable headphones with padded ear cushions, although it may take some time for the headphones to loosen up and exert less pressure when worn. Overall, the OneOdio headphones are some of the best studio headphones you can find now selling at a very good price point and we highly recommend them.
#20 Best Musical Accuracy: Koss Pro-4S Studio Headphones
The Koss Pro-4S is one of the best studio headphones that really defines what musically accurate studio headphones should sound like. They produce flat and unbiased accurate sound that is great for professional studio monitoring and mixing – the headphones are precisely tuned to convey the sound produced in the studio without any coloration or artificial enhancements. The Koss Pro-4S features a durable aluminium construction and feels very comfortable to wear with its soft ear pads and adjustable headband. It features a contour sealing cushion with D-shaped design that closes gaps around the ear to improve sound isolation and fit. The headphone allows you to choose either left or right cord entry with a unique pass-through feature – the detachable cord works from either side and gives you more options when connecting to these headphones. Overall, the Koss Pro-4S are some of the best studio headphones that have superb musical accuracy and produce clean and crisp sound for studio monitoring and audio recording use.
The sound quality on the Koss Pro-4S is very clear and crisp. The bass on these headphones is smooth and refined, and does not bleed into the midrange frequencies. They have a pretty flat and neutral frequency response which is perfect for accurate music listening. The headphones also produce pretty good stereo imaging that gives you a general idea of where the instruments and vocal sounds are coming from. Vocal performances on these headphones sound loud and clear, with great attention to detail with a nice sparkle on the upper frequency ranges. The headphones have a closed-back design which blocks outside noise from coming in; it also prevents sound leakage which makes them ideal for recording use. The sound from these headphones stays true to the audio recording and feels very natural and organic without any coloration; they have a nice layer of musical separation for you to pick up the subtle notes and details in the music. It also has the unique ability to capture the room ambiance of where the sound is recorded and it reflects with its dynamic sound performance.
The Koss Pro-4S have a very sleek and minimalist design that looks nice when worn on the head. It features a D-shaped over the ear design that covers the entire ear without any gaps to minimise sound leakage. They are pretty large full-size headphones and will fit well on those who have larger ears. The amount of pressure exerted by the headband is just nice and does not cause listening fatigue after prolonged use. The headphones are constructed out of solid aluminium which makes it comfortable and lightweight, and does not weight you down in a long studio recording session. The headphones also come with a attachable cord and a 1/4” adapter with both mini and standard plugs. The Pro-4S headphones prevent ambient background noise from coming in which provides a very quiet listening experience; the D-shape over the ear design does the job of isolating sound very well which adds to a superb listening experience.
The Verdict? The Koss Pro-4S are some of the best studio headphones that provide excellent musical accuracy and comfort. They are constructed of aluminium and are very lightweight and comfortable to wear. It also features a unique D-shaped design that goes over the entire ear without leaving any gaps for sound leakage. The level of sound isolation that you get with the Pro-4S is really on another level. The sound performance of the Pro-4S is excellent, with crisp highs, detailed midrange and punchy bass that sounds natural and not overwhelming. They have a pretty flat and neutral frequency range which makes it ideal for professional studio monitoring and recording use. They also produce pretty good full-range sound across the frequency spectrum although the midrange starts to flatten out at higher volumes. That being said, that are some of the best studio headphones you can find now selling at a very good price and represent a great value investment for the superb sound performance.
Studio Headphones vs Regular Headphones – Check out our top picks
There are many differences between studio headphones and regular headphones. The key difference is that studio headphones are specially configured to deliver a flat and neutral frequency response to emphasize the details in the music. Studio headphones are primarily designed for audio clarity to allow the audio engineer to pick up subtle details in the music and make adjustments where necessary. This requires the headphone drivers to be specially configured to deliver the right tonal balance, pitch and sound quality without any coloration or artificial enhancements. There are some studio headphones that come with an open-back design to provide a better soundstage – they are designed to replicate the natural sound from a real life orchestra or vocal performance with spacious sound and detailed separation.
Regular headphones, by contrast, may vary in terms of frequency response and may emphasize one frequency range over another. For example, bass-orientated headphones will artificially enhance the low-end frequency with deeper bass response; this results in a warmer sound signature but often compromising the highs and upper midrange frequencies. Other headphones are designed to have a brighter sound signature with an emphasis on the highs and upper midrange frequencies, but sacrifice the bass response as a result. What studio headphones aim to do is to provide as neutral a sound as possible without compromising one frequency range over another. They are built for you to experience the sound and audio recording as it is and present it in the most natural way possible. Therefore, if you are looking for a headphone with deeper bass and punchy beats, studio headphones are probably not the type of headphones you should get. If you are looking for a set of headphones that will bring out the natural and organic vocal sounds for audio recordings and mixing, then you should consider getting a pair of studio headphones for professional monitoring.
Generally speaking, if you are looking for a set of headphones that can deliver booming and bass heavy music, studio headphones are not the type of headphones you should get. This includes music genres such as electronic dance music, rock and pop. We would recommend considering other regular headphones that are designed to suit your particular musical taste and music genre. If you want a pair of headphones that emphasize detail and clarity, then you should consider getting studio headphones. Studio headphones are particularly good for orchestra, classical, instrumental and vocal performances as well as podcasts.
The very best studio headphones in the professional monitoring category have a very wide frequency response – usually between 10 Hz to 30 kHz – to provide as wide a sound spectrum as possible. This allows you to listen to all the details in the music with the greatest possible clarity. A flat and neutral frequency response means that the sound is geared towards a more analytical signature; it will not emphasis one frequency range over another but present the sound as naturally and organically as possible. We would also recommend pairing studio headphones with a good headphone amplifier to drive the headphone to provide optimal sound performance. This is particularly true for higher impedance headphones that require more power to drive them.