The Best Studio Headphones for Recording 2024 (Reviews)

Whether you are a singer, a dubber, or you do any work related to studio recording, you should know the importance of headphones. And I know you are here, reading this article because you are interested to know the best studio headphones for recording you might check to buy.

Buying a headphone is kind of difficult especially if you are picky and you have a tight budget. Especially if you are using your headphones for work, it is necessary to have a good one.

Here are the best studio headphones for recording

• Sennheiser HD280PRO
• Sony MDR7506
• Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm
• Direct Sound EX-29
• Shure SRH1540

Sennheiser HD280PRO

There is nothing elegant or glamorous, but the quality is one of a kind especially its dynamic, closed-ear headphones itself. Aside from that, it is lightweight and comfortable to use, thanks to its ergonomic design. Its cord length is 3.3 to 9.8 feet coiled with impedance ensures universal compatibility,

The around-the-ear design with padded ear cups makes Sennheiser HD280PRO very awesome to use. In addition, it has an extended frequency response and warm, natural sound reproduction, thanks to the closed-ear headphones with up to 32 dB attenuation of outside sound. To ensure long life, the headband is padded with soft material and there are built-in ear pads.

Pros

• Produces dynamic sound
• Durable
• With built-in ear pads

Cons

• High notes are sometimes muted

 

Sony MDR7506

Sony is a very well-known company that produces nice smartphones and appliances, this company is also one of the reputable firms that produce good accessories such as headphones. And one of the wired headphones they bost is the MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone.

This tool made up of neodymium magnets and 40mm drivers for powerful, detailed sound. It features a closed-ear design that provides comfort and outstanding reduction of external noises. The cord can be extended up to 9.8-foot while the frequency response is 10Hz to 20 kHz.

One of the most unique features of this Sony headphones is that it can be folded and put inside the soft pouch. This is best for recordings that require travel. This large diaphragm, foldable headphones feature a rugged construction, a secure, highly effective closed-ear design.

Pros

• Foldable
• Good for travel
• Affordable

Cons

• Not good for small ears

 

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm

Luxury features in affordable price – the best description for this headphone of recording. With the choice of either black or gray, the soft, circumaural and replaceable velour ear pads of Beyerdynamic’s product ensures every user the comfort while listening.  Aside from that, it has only one-sided cable so it will really give you convenience.

Thanks to its pure and high-resolution sound feature, DT 770 PRO makes it to the list of good headphones for recordings. It has closed over-ear headphones, a must for professional mixing in the studio. All in all, this headphone is hard-wearing, durable and robust workmanship Made in Germany.

Pros

• FoldableTwo color choices
• Single cable only
• Comfortable to wear

Cons

• Ear pads not durable
• Possible for the cable to flake

 

Direct Sound EX-29

Direct Sound created this headphone for one special goal: provide maximum Sound Isolation. This simple yet elegant design provides great dynamic sound, thanks to the closed-back headphones with closed back drivers. Unlike other headphones for recordings, this device doesn’t require batteries. Straight stereo 1/8″ (3.5 mm) gold-plated with screw-on 1/4″ (6.3 mm) gold-plated adapter.

The overall structure of the DS EX-29 is covered with an IncrediFlex pad with fully adjustable headband and can be foldable for storage. Just like the Sony MDR7506, this headphone is not just good for recordings but for travel and outdoor activities as well. You can choose black and white for this lightweight design for long listening sessions.

Pros

• Foldable
• Incredible sound isolation
• Two color choices

Cons

• No pouch included

 

Shure SRH1540

For the record, this is the most expensive headphone in the list. If you do not care about the budget, then I suggest you buy this because its price really produces a high-end sound like no other. Its 40 mm neodymium drivers deliver superior acoustic performance for an expansive soundstage with clear, extended highs and warm bass.

Shure SRH1540 is lightweight even it has a closed-back, circumaural design that rests comfortably over the ears. Aside from its noise canceling feature, it also highlights ergonomic dual-frame, padded headband design. The cable length is 6 ft or 1.8 m. And to note, this headphone has detachable coiled and straight cables.

Pros

• Durable and lightweight
• Has a long cable
• Noise canceling feature

Cons

• Expensive
• Not good for beginners

 

Buying Guide on Choosing the Best Headphones for Recording

Headphones are devices that can be plugged into a device such as a laptop, smartphones, mp3 players, and other devices that produce sounds. The main purpose of using headphones is to listen to audios without disturbing anyone nearby. You just have to connect your headphones to the musical devices and then play the sound you want to listen to.

Headphones are also known as earphones or depending on the style, sometimes they are also called as earbuds. Nowadays, headphones technically expand its limitations in a more convenient way. In fact, modern-day headphones can be either wireless or wired, sometimes can be connected through WiFi and some through BlueTooth.

Headphones are designed in contrast to loudspeakers that produce a sound that can be heard by anyone in the area. Unlike speakers, headphones offer a more private listening concept. First created in 1910 by the U.S. Navy, early headphones were simple and were used as an earpiece device without complicated electronics.

Wired or Wireless

Wired headphones are the traditional style of the device which requires users to plug it in the musical tool. The length of the wire depends on the manufacturer of the headphones. Today, there are headphone companies that are selling two to three meters. However, this depends on your need.

Wireless headphones come in a wide variety of styles and form factors from over-ear to on-ear to in-ear. This kind of earphones is great for outdoor activities such as sports since they don’t require you to connect to a music player like wired. Instead, wireless technology connects the headphones to your music player, giving you easier movement and fewer muddles.

Features to Look For

This is, obviously, the very first thing you might want to check when buying a new set of headphones for recording. There are headsets that are cheaper than usual, maybe because they do not have the features that you are looking for.

Compatibility

Look for a headset that is compatible with your device or gadget. This is essential since the reason why you are buying the tool is for you to use it. Your money will be wasted if the headset is not compatible with the device you will use.

Battery Life

If you prefer a wireless headset, you might want to consider the battery life of the headphones. Since it is wireless and no plugged-in process needed, you might have to recharge it as time goes by. If you are going to use the headphones for a recording of at least a whole day, then find a better headset that can perform this task. Do not settle with a headset that has a low battery life if you will always need it.

Noise Cancellation

Since your main purpose is to use the new headset for recordings, it has to be especially good in reducing noise on the background. However, do not expect that much if you have a limited budget, a right bass effect is enough.

Headphone Fit

Of course, if you are the one to use the headphones for recording, you better try it at once to know if it will fit you. There are several styles and sizes you can choose from. From over-ear to on-ear and more.

AIMM has in-depth guide on how to choose the best studio headphones. You can check it out here.

 

Our Choice

If you have a lot of budgets and the sky is the limit in terms of money, then you might want to purchase the Sennheiser HD280PRO. It has very high features and it is great to use since its lightweight and comfortable. When you buy this, you’ll get additional cable, replacement ear pads, and a zippered storage case for years of listening enjoyment.

However, if you are in a tight budget, then you might want to have other headphones for recordings. Try the MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm, Sony’s one of the most elegant and dynamic headphones for recordings. These headphones might not be the best for enjoying your music, but surely, there’s a reason these are a standard when it comes to audio production and mixing.