Best Studio Headphones Compared

What headphones are best to use for every different situation when in the studio?

In this guide we’ll break down our take on the best headphones for music production, recording, mixing and more for various budgets – but all of our picks are great choices under $500.

We’ll get into why we like each pair, what they’re best used for and some general tips on buying and using headphones for professional use.

Let’s jump right in to our take on the best studio headphones out there.

The Top 5 Headphones for Studio Use:

1. Focal Listen Professional (Best headphones for music production work all-around)
2. KRK KNS-8402 (Best headphones for making beats)
3. AudioTechnica ATH-M50x (Best headphones for recording and tracking)
4. Sennheiser HD 600 (Best headphones for mixing and mastering)
5. Focal Sphere S (Best in ear option)

Below we get more into each of these headphones and how they compare on several criteria.

Quick Comparison Chart

	Listen Pro	KNS-8402	ATH-M50x	HD 600	Sphere S
Overall Rating	7.6/10	6/10	6.3/10	7.3/10	7/10
Headphone Type	Closed Back	Closed Back	Closed Back	Open Back	In-Ear
Comfort	8/10	7/10	7/10	8/10	7/10
Sound Neutrality	7/10	6/10	7/10	9/10	7/10
Mobility	8/10	5/10	5/10	5/10	7/10
Biggest Advantage	Quality + versatility combo	Really lets you feel the music	Neutral sound for a good price	Amazingly balanced and neutral sound for the price	Great bass, detail and clarity for earbuds
Biggest Disadvantage	Closed back not ideal for mixing	Hyped sound, not very neutral	Closed back makes it less ideal for mixing	Open back – not suitable for recording/tracking	No longer in active production/marketing
Best Use Case?	All around music production tasks	Beat making	Recording and tracking	Mixing and mastering	General music production work on the go
Price	$299 USD	$149 USD	$169 USD	$399.95 USD	Check Price on Amazon
	Read More or Try It Today!	Read More or Try it Today!	Read More or Try it Today!	Read More or Try it Today!	Read More or Try it Today!

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Best Closed Back Studio Headphones

As mentioned above closed back headphones don’t bleed any audio, making them the best headphones for beat making, music production, recording and tracking. A good pair of closed back headphones will give you a decently neutral sound and won’t ruin any recordings (unless they’re at extremely high volume levels – but even then the bleed is minimal).

Below we’ll give you our top pick for each use case and reasons why we think they’re the best.

Best Headphones for Music Production

When we’re talking about music production headphones, we think of tasks like audio editing, sound design, vocal comping, etc. The ideal pair will have a good balance between neutrality/detail, feeling/vibe and comfort.

Although this area can definitely include beat making as a task, we have our pick for the best beat making headphones separately below since vibe/feeling is much more important in that use case.

Focal Listen Pro

The Focal Listen Professionals are a great pair of closed-back headphones for a variety of different studio uses. It’s not so pricey as to be prohibitive, and gives a very good translation of audio while being fairly comfortable to wear. Focal is a trusted name in audio and these music production headphones are a great addition to their product line.

BEST USED FOR: Suitable for multiple studio tasks – beat making, sound design, comping, recording, basic mixing. Decent, but NOT great for professional mixing purposes.

Highlights

• Pricing: $299 USD at Sweetwater
• Materials: 40mm Mylar and titanium drivers w/ microfiber covered memory foam
• Low Impedance: 32 ohms
• Frequency Response: 5hz – 22Khz
• Cable Length: 16 feet (coiled), detachable
• Plug Type: 1/8″ (comes w/ 1/4″ adapter)
• Case Type: Hard case

Key Factors

• Comfort: 8/10 – decently comfortable, longer periods aren’t too bad considering they’re closed back
• Sound + Tonal Quality: 7/10 – clear and balanced, very good frequency spectrum reproduction
• Mobility: 8/10 – longest cable of all the top picks – great to move around in studio, hard case great for travel

The Good:

1. Good build quality
2. Great comfort
3. Not overly fatiguing to listen for longer periods
4. THEY LOOK DOPE!
5. Great sound for price range
6. Great for mobility and travel (long cable + hard shell case)

The Bad:

1. Not much at this price point

Overall Recommendation:

This is a great pair of headphones for any general music production tasks. I don’t think they’re the BEST at any one task in particular, however. If you need a high quality set of headphones that you can use to do some beat making, audio editing, sound design, basic mixing, some recording, etc., these can work great for you.

These definitely aren’t ideal for mixing, and they can be a bit pricey for buying multiple sets (for example, when recording multiple artists in the studio). So they’re not the best for those types of recording situations.

But if you’re a self-produced artist that wears multiple hats in the studio these are a great choice for you. If you mostly record one input at a time (for example vocals and guitar) and also do some basic mixing these headphones are a highly recommended option!

Best Headphones for Making Beats

When you’re looking for a pair of headphones to make beats with, it’s got a lot to do with vibe. You want to feel the music, more than just hearing every nuanced detail. Of course, you want a detailed enough sound that you can make decent production decisions in the moment, but I find you also want some hype to the sound.

KRK KNS-8402

KRK are well known, especially in the beat making community, for their great sounding studio monitors (the Rokit series). The KNS 8402 headphones are a newer product but they have a very similar sound profile to the monitors. They definitely have a more hyped vs. neutral sound, especially in the low end.

BEST USED FOR: Best used as a pair of beat making headphones. Suitable for general music production but not as detailed or mobile as something like the Focals. OK for mix referencing, but NOT for professional mixing tasks.

Highlights

• Pricing: $149 USD at Sweetwater
• Materials: 40mm 1.57-inch low-weight neodymium driver w/ memory foam earpads
• Low Impedance: 36 ohms
• Frequency Response: 5hz – 23Khz
• Cable Length: 8.2 ft detachable cable
• Plug Type: 1/8″
• Case Type: Leather-like fabric with drawstring

Key Factors

• Comfort: 7/10 – quite comfortable to wear, earpads feel great. Closed back so can be fatiguing after long periods
• Sound + Tonal Quality: 6/10 – great sound across spectrum with a bit of hype in the low end, best to “feel” the music
• Mobility: 5/10 – not particularly mobile/travel friendly, but not the worst either

The Good:

1. Hyped low end really helps you feel the music when creating
2. Look good
3. Mids and Highs are decently bright and detailed
4. Very affordable for the quality of sound

The Bad:

1. Cable isn’t all that long making moving around the studio more cumbersome
2. Volume control on detachable cord can be finicky
3. Fatiguing during long period of use

Overall Recommendation:

If you’re primarily looking for something for beat making, this would be my #1 recommendation. I love these headphones and use them myself for beat making. This is a great pair of headphones for their price range. They look great, sound great and are pretty durable, despite the plasticky build quality.

But their lack of precise detail and nuance doesn’t make them ideal for detailed music production tasks, especially mixing. They’re ok for a quick mix-check, but I wouldn’t do any full mixing on these. They’re OK for recording/tracking as well, depending on the person’s sound preference when recording. The slightly heavier low end isn’t everyone’s favorite when singing. And at higher volumes, you will get a bit of audio leaking out.

I even enjoy listening to music in these headphones in the studio because the hyped sound helps get into the music. However, they’re kind of underwhelming when plugged into a smartphone – even one with a hi-fi DAC inside (digital audio converter).

Best Headphones for Recording & Tracking

When looking for a pair of headphones for recording or tracking (whether they’re vocals or instruments) the most important considerations are sound leakage and enough detail while still providing a bright sound so the artist can get into their performance. It’s a tough thing to balance, and if you need multiple pairs to record multiple performers, price can be a huge determining factor.

Audio Technica ATH-M50x

Literally EVERY studio headphone gear guide or round-up you’ll find online will probably feature this pair – and for good reason. They are an affordable, professional set of headphones that can work for multiple uses. But their price and decent level of detail and clarity have made them a favorite among many music production professionals and amateurs alike.

BEST USED FOR: Best used for general music production tasks, especially recording and tracking (both vocals and instruments). Not great for professional mixing, but a decent pair of mix-check headphones.

Highlights

• Pricing: $169 USD at Sweetwater
• Materials: 45mm neodymium drivers
• Low Impedance: 38 ohms
• Frequency Response: 15Hz – 28Khz
• Cable Length: 9.8 foot straight cable
• Plug Type: 1/8″ (w/ 1/4″ adapter included)
• Case Type: Fabric with drawstring

Key Factors

• Comfort: 7/10 – decently comfortable, but closed back makes it fatiguing over long periods
• Sound + Tonal Quality: 6.5/10 – very good translation of frequency spectrum for the price
• Mobility: 5/10 – not particularly mobile or travel friendly

The Good:

1. Less hyped sound that KRKs
2. Affordability vs. quality makes it a great option for recording
3. An industry favorite (tried and true) option
4. Bigger drivers than other options
5. Pretty comfortable to wear

The Bad:

1. Short cable length can make it inconvenient in some studios
2. Neutrality/flatter response than KRKs makes it less ideal for beat making
3. High end can seem a bit subdued

Overall Recommendation:

If you’re looking for a workhorse pair of headphones that are GREAT for recording and tracking, these are a TOP option. Although the cable is relatively short (just buy an extension), it’s got a detailed enough sound and flat enough response to help any artist feel their performance while tracking.

It’s also a great option to use for general studio use, though it’s not the best option for beat making since it’s a less hyped and more neutral sound than the KRKs. But if you can only buy one pair of headphones and you do lots of beat making as well as recording, these are a great bet.

However, despite their neutral sound and flat response, they’re still NOT the best option for mixing headphones. They can be great for a rough mix or a mix check, but they’re definitely not reference headphones you can rely on for a precise mix. They are however detailed enough for sound design and audio editing.

Best Open Back Studio Headphones

Open back headphones are usually best suited to mixing because their design makes them bleed a lot of audio into the natural environment. That’s why you never want to record using open backs – the audio you’re listening to WILL bleed into the microphone, potentially ruining your recording.

Below are our favorite open back headphone options for studio use.

Best Headphones for Mixing and Mastering

When it comes to the best mixing and mastering headphones you want to get as flat, neutral and transparent as possible. NO HYPE. That defeats the entire purpose. You need to be able to hear details and nuances as much as possible. That’s the main criteria for a good set. And this is one of those areas when sometimes price does equal quality. And believe me, the sky’s the limit here.

Sennheiser HD 600

Sennheiser is another legendary brand in the pro audio world and their HD line of headphones are absolutely phenomenal for the price. They are not a new model of headphones and have been around for a while, but they are a favorite on forums like GearSpace along with the HD 650s. They’ve got a neutral, smooth, punchy and very clear sound.

BEST USED FOR: These headphones are perfect for professional mixing purposes and are a highly recommended option. But they’re not at all suitable for recording and tracking purposes.

Although the HD 600’s are not the BEST Sennheisers out there for mixing (they have higher end models like the $1800 HD 800s), the price vs. quality of these headphones makes it KILLER value.

Highlights

• Pricing: $299.95 USD at Sweetwater
• Materials: 42mm neodymium drivers w/ velour earpads
• High Impedance: 300 ohms
• Frequency Response: 12Hz – 39Khz
• Cable Length: 9.8 foot straight, detachable
• Plug Type: 1/8″ (w/ 1/4″ adapter)
• Case Type: No case

Key Factors

• Comfort: 8/10 – comfortable to wear and open back makes it less fatiguing over longer periods
• Sound + Tonal Quality: 8/10 – amazing neutrality and balance for the price range
• Mobility: 5/10 – not particularly made to be mobile around the studio or travel friendly

The Good:

1. Amazing clarity, detail and balance for the price tag
2. Great soundstage
3. Perfect for professional mixing tasks
4. Comfortable velour earpads
5. Easy to wear for longer periods without overwhelming fatigue

The Bad:

1. Mid-ranged price often not affordable for those starting out
2. High end is a bit subtler/subdued compared to HD 650s (might not be a bad thing for some)
3. Not particularly mobile/travel friendly
4. A bit bulky
5. Not at all suitable for recording/tracking – lots of audio bleed

Overall Recommendation:

If your main tasks in the studio revolve around mixing (or even audio editing/sound design) or tasks where you need to hear every detail in a clear and neutral way, but don’t want to break the bank, the Sennheiser HD 600’s are an absolutely phenomenal choice. They are our pick for best mixing headphones for under $500.

They can also be great for all around studio work like beat making and production tasks, but because they’re not at all hyped they’re not as “enjoyable” to listen to for some people. It’s probably easier to “feel the beat” or vibe out with bright highs and hyped up lows. So it will work, but probably isn’t the ideal option.

In terms of recording and tracking tasks, they’re NOT a good option at all. There is just way too much audio bleed, these being an open back variety, and they’re far too expensive to buy multiple pairs. So if you’re doing a lot of recording, as well as mixing, you’ll need another pair for your tracking tasks.

Honorable Mentions for the Best Mixing Headphones

Below are some AMAZING options but they didn’t make our “top picks” for any of the categories above for a variety of reasons. We tried to balance quality, cost and use case to give you a list of music making headphones that would be great for the widest range of people.

But here are some other options we absolutely love:

Best Headphones for Mixing Under $1000

Neumann NDH 30

Neumann is a legendary company in the audio world with amazing products that sound great. They are THE standard when it comes to microphones and they did a damn good job with these reference headphones.

They have stunning clarity and balance for the price. They are the perfect mixing headphones coming in under $1000. They are more pricey than the Sennheisers we recommend above, but it’s worth it for the additional sound quality if you can afford it.

Because they’re open back headphones, they’re NOT a good choice for recording or tracking.

Highlights

• Pricing: $649 USD at Sweetwater
• Materials: 38mm neodymium drivers with memory foam earpads
• High Impedance: 120 ohms
• Frequency Response: 12Hz – 34Khz
• Cable Length: 9.8 foot, detachable
• Plug Type: 1/8″ with 1/4″ adapter

The Good:

1. Totally linear/neutral sound – perfect for professional mixing tasks
2. Comfortable to wear for longer periods
3. Clear sound throughout frequency spectrum and great soundstage

The Bad:

1. Higher priced than other very good options
2. Not the most stylish looking

Best Headphones for Mixing Under $200

Grado SR-125x

Grado is a lesser cited audio company in the production world, but they are more known in the audiophile/hi-fi world. So, they’re not exactly “made for” pro audio but they are an amazing sounding product line. They really are reference headphones for a low cost.

In fact, the Grado SR-125’s are the FIRST pair of music production headphones I ever purchased – even before I could afford studio monitors. And listening to music was an amazing experience with them, and they were detailed enough that I could do some real mixing on them (with some caveats – namely the low end).

If you don’t have a lot to spend but need a great entry-level pair of clear and detailed headphones for mixing the Grado SR-125x is a GREAT choice to use.

Again, because they’re open back headphones they’re not suitable for recording or tracking.

Highlights

• Pricing: $175 USD on Amazon
• Materials: 44mm magnetic drivers with hard foam earpads
• Low Impedance: 38 ohms
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20Khz

The Good:

1. SUPER RICH high end and detail – beautiful reverb & vocals
2. Clear and balanced with a good sound stage
3. Nearly distortion free sound reproduction

The Bad:

1. Get very uncomfortable to wear fairly quickly
2. Low end and bass response is underwhelming, but clear

Best In Ear Headphones for Studio Use

Sometimes in-ear studio-grade headphones are just much more convenient to use – especially when making music on the go. Plus, it’s always a good idea to reference your music in a pair of in ear headphones since that’s how a majority of people hear music nowadays.

We have one top pick for the best in-ears below:

FOCAL Sphere S

Here’s another Focal pick – the often lauded Sphere S in ear headphones. It’s difficult to find a really great sounding pair of earbuds, but Focal has done a pretty spectacular job. These little traditional looking in ear headphones weren’t designed for studio use, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work great in lots of different applications, especially in a pinch.

BEST USED FOR: Doing quick all-around music production work – beat making, production, sound design, mix tweaks/checks, etc. – when you’re travelling or out and about. NOT good enough for finely detailed professional mix decisions.

Unfortunately, it looks like the company isn’t making these anymore, but you may still be able to find them on Amazon.

Highlights

• Pricing: Check Current Price on Amazon
• Materials: 10.8 inch Mylar drivers w/ silicone or memory foam buds
• Low Impedance: 16 ohms
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20Khz
• Cable Length: standard wired earbud length
• Plug Type: 1/8″
• Case Type: hard fabric zip-up case

Key Factors

• Comfort: 7/10 – decent comfort for in ears, with the correct earbud tip they can be easy to wear with good fit
• Sound + Tonal Quality: 7/10 – some of the best ear buds I’ve heard
• Mobility: 7/10 – absolutely great for travel, throw it in your pocket on the go. NOT great for moving around the studio

The Good:

1. Great sound and build quality for the price
2. Great bass response for ear buds (use the memory foam buds)
3. Clear highs and mids
4. Decently wide soundstage
5. VERY travel friendly
6. Perfect earbuds for both studio tasks and listening for pleasure

The Bad:

1. Not neutral enough for important mix decisions
2. Not mobile (short standard length cord
3. No 1/4″ adapter – needed for many audio interfaces

Overall Recommendation:

The Focal Sphere S is probably one of the better earbuds I’ve ever heard. For the price, the quality is great. If you’re looking for an affordable set of earbuds that work well in most general music production tasks, these are a great choice. They’re not perfect by any means, but they sound great. They’re definitely good enough for on-the-go beat making, audio editing, rough mixes and more.

If you’re a producer that uses a laptop all over the place and wants an easy-to-carry set of headphones that do a decently faithful reproduction of your music, you should definitely try to get a pair of these.

But they’re not the best for certain studio tasks – namely recording and tracking. If you’re recording vocals, they might work fine, but once you step up to a drum set, these just won’t do the trick. There’s no noise isolation and the volume can’t necessarily get loud enough to hear over the drum kit. There are definitely better options for those types of in-ear monitors.

Buyers Guide Details and Criteria

Read more about why we chose our favorites the way we did

Different Types of Headphones

Let’s talk about the main types of headphones out there – closed back and open back. Closed back headphones leak very little or no audio out to the surrounding environment. Open back varieties can leak lots of audio into the surrounding environment.

Each have their own uses and are best for specific situations.

Depending on whether you’re recording audio, mixing and mastering (learn more) or even just making beats/producing, you’ll want to use a specific pair that’s best suited towards that task.

Generally speaking, here’s when to use each type:

• Closed Back:
  • best for recording/tracking, good for production/beat making/editing, can be used for mixing/mastering
  • more fatiguing to wear for long periods
• Open Back:
  • best for mixing/mastering, good for production/beat making/editing, NOT SUITABLE for recording/tracking
  • easier to wear for longer periods

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