It’s fair to say that studio headphones are one of a producer’s most important pieces of equipment. You need to pick the right pair. If you need something for live studio recording, you’ll want closed-back headphones, to monitor the live recording without sound leaking into the microphone. On the other hand, for mixing, many producers want spacious open-back headphones for a long day spent in the studio. And, with so many options out there, it can seem like a daunting task to pick the right ones. So how do you determine the best studio headphones for your needs?
We’ve evaluated several pairs and have highlighted our favorites. So let’s jump into it.
*Disclosure: There are some affiliate links below and as an Amazon associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. However, these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.
Sony MDR-7506
This product has been a staple in recording studios, DJ booths and radio stations for over 30 years. They are extremely comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, and are designed to expose what’s wrong with a recording session.
By design there is virtually no distance between the ears and the foam that covers the drivers. While the vinyl wrapped ear cups can heat up, the fit works well with just the right amount of clamp and hardly any pressure from the foam suffused headband. Strangely the fit feels a little similar to on-ear headphones; the driver (covered by thin foam) rests almost on your ear. Meanwhile, the ear cup sits partly around the ear, but also a little on the ear too.
The fact that these are available for the price they are is somewhat of a miracle. They deserve to be on the list for best studio headphones. The only knock we can think of is that the long coiled cable is a bit heavy.
Feature Recap:
Type: Over-ear; Enclosure: Closed-back; Wireless: No; Transducer: Dynamic; Noise Canceling: No; Mic: No
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
These are amongst the best all-around, closed-back studio headphones that aren’t a fortune. They are extremely comfortable to wear and offer a superb sound. They feature an updated look and improved sound thanks to a new STELLAR 45 transducer design with a faster response. This enables a detailed transient response and distortion-free sound.
This bundle also comes with a 1.8m Straight Stereo Cable, 3m Straight Stereo Cable, Beyerdynamic Drawstring Bag, 5ft Headphone Extension Cable, Headphone Splitter, 6.35mm (1/4″) Stereo Jack Plug, Bottle of Headphone Cleaning Solution, 6AVE Cleaning Cloth, 2-Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty
Feature Recap:
Type: Over-ear; Enclosure: Closed-back; Wireless: No; Noise Canceling: No; Mic: No
AKG K371
This is a great pick for anyone whose job requires frequent travel. Despite the over-ear design, this package is slim and portable: the ear cups flip up and into the headband. What’s more, it’s great for DJs, as you can rotate either ear cup backward and up to keep one ear on the crowd.
The neutral-leaning frequency response is a necessity for creating an accurate product. The midrange frequency response nearly meets the platonic ideal, making this a pristine pair of headphones for vocal-heavy recordings. What’s more, AKG supplies you with three cables, two straight and one coiled, so no matter your environment, you’ll have something that works with you.
Feature Recap:
Type: Over-ear; Enclosure: Closed-back; Wireless: No; Noise Canceling: No; Mic: No
HiFiMan Arya
The HiFiMan Arya have our pick for best upper mid-range open-back studio headphones. You may prefer planar magnetic headphones if you’re looking for an immersive passive soundstage for mixing. They have large drivers that are better able to represent the stereo image, and as a result, their soundstage seems natural, wide, and spacious. However, they’re heavier and a lot bulkier than some other headphones.
These over-ears have a very neutral sound profile with a touch of extra brightness, which can help bring out imperfections in your mixes. Mids are well-balanced too, so vocals and instruments reproduce clearly. Thanks to their ski-band headband design, they can distribute their weight on your head so that you can stay comfortable during long listening sessions.
Feature Recap:
Type: Over-ear; Enclosure: Open-back; Wireless: No; Transducer: Planar Magnetic; Noise Canceling: No; Mic: No
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The best studio headphones with a closed-back design are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Closed-back headphones are well-suited for tasks like recording audio as their design helps block out some background noise. However, they still bleed some audio at high volumes, so they may not be the best for extremely noise-sensitive recording situations.
Audio-Technica tuned these to have a more neutral frequency response than most consumer headsets. However, they actually come with a bass amplification. That makes them ideal for someone that wants a bit more emotion from their instrumentation while in the studio. It also makes them great for listening to music on the way home. The ear cups sit flat and provide a decent amount of isolation and they swivel up to 90 degrees.
They also come with three different cable options, including a coiled one that can stretch up to 10 feet so that you can move freely around your studio.
Feature Recap:
Type: Over-ear; Enclosure: Closed-back; Wireless: No; Noise Canceling: No; Mic: No
Sennheiser HD-800 S
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best open-back studio headphones on the market right now. However, they also come with a heavy price tag, so they aren’t for everyone. You’ll also need a powerful amp to drive them, so if you don’t already have one, this can be an additional cost. These headphones are best for mixing rather than recording.
Thanks to their design, audio leaves the ear cups and interacts with the environment around you, helping create a more immersive and natural soundstage than their closed-back counterparts. These premium open-back headphones have a very neutral sound profile, with an accurate mid-range response that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and accurate. Their treble response is also very well-balanced, without being piercing or harsh.
Feature Recap:
Type: Over-ear; Enclosure: Open-back; Wireless: No; Transducer: Dynamic; Noise Canceling: No; Mic: No
