When it comes to studio purpose the headphones required a few extra capabilities and refinements, and also a set of studio monitoring speakers. Variety of headphones available in the market that is ideal for studio application.
Are you the one who looks for the best headphones for music production? Then you have come to the right place. Here in this buyer’s guide explains the different headphone types to help you choose the right pair of headphones for music production. Let's find out.
What are studio headphones?
Studio headphones, or Headphones for music production, are purposely designed for professional work. These types of headphones are a vital monitoring tool for music production, recording, mixing, and mastering, also this one is used for tape mixing. Studio headphones most often used items in the studio for assessing the stereo image low-end and fine detail within a mix. so they are designed in the form of accuracy, comfort, and durability.
Types of headphones
The whole headphone market has grown to become a large field running with all sorts of brands. So choosing the best or the right one for your needs can be difficult. Here in this post, we'll discuss the most common types of earphones. Let’s get started!
The whole headphone market has grown to become a large field running with all sorts of brands. So choosing the best or the right one for your needs can be difficult. Here in this post, we'll discuss the most common types of earphones. Let’s get started!
- Closed-back Headphones: Closed-back headphones are the most common and are generally more immersive and offer better sound quality. They are the best kind of headphones for working in noisy spaces and mixed-use. And if you're worried about whether others can hear what’s playing, the closed-back modification is the right choice.
- Open-back Headphones: They are the total opposite of closed-back headphones and the earcups allow more airflow. That means the sound can travel in two directions: into your ears and away from them.
- Semi-Open Headphones: Semi-open headphones have an impact on open and closed cans, and they allow enough airflow to prevent frequency buildup by providing isolation for critical listening.
Best Headphones For Music Production available online:
1. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Audio-Technica is one of the most popular companies that has earned the respect of the audio world. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is a professional monitor headphone that was recommended by the top audio engineers and everyday users.
They have 90-degree swiveling earcups for easy one-ear monitoring and a professional-grade earpad and headband for durability and comfort. It delivers exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range and a well-designed harbor of 45mm drivers with oversized copper-clad voice coils.
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Cons
2. Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open Studio Headphones
This one is another favorite amongst pro music producers and sound engineers, which give a more realistic representation of your finished audio composition.
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open Studio Headphones have an authentic broad-range frequency response that performs instantaneously. Also, they provide audio reproduction that is very true to input and crucial for editing and mastering.
This one is the best option that is considered as a budget offering from Beyer. They provide an excellent sound platform with the bass brought down a little and made with the higher frequencies quite soft to avoid any harshness.
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3. Sony MDR7506 Professional
Sony MDR7506 Professional is another impressive set of headphones to consider from Sony which is a little lower priced than other premium headphones. These professional headphones are a staple in recording studios worldwide.
And it has a closed-back ear-cup option that helps to filters the surroundings and gives good isolation and its cups are cushioned and mounted to swivel from a strong supportive headband.
And they also feature a storage case that can compactly fold away for transit. These professional headphones are comfortable during extended sessions and build to withstand the abuse of daily wear.
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4. Sennheiser HD 650 Open-back Headphone
Sennheiser HD 650s was developed from the award-winning HD 600, the HD 650s. It reproduces a balanced and transparent sound with superb detail and also sets standards in comfort and convenience.
With the help of this headphone, the music producers or the recording artists will experience a spacious, natural sound. Moreover, the mixes will translate better on various speaker systems.
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5. Shure SRH1440 Professional Open Back Headphones
Shure SRH1440 Professional headphones that will immerse you in comfort and pro sound quality. It will not only give a great sound quality but it can also be worn for lengthy periods.
This headphone will deliver an expansive soundstage with clear, extended highs and warm bass. Moreover, it has a robust construction developed with aluminum alloy and carbon fiber materials, which ensures lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods.
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6. AKG K240 MKII
It's professional headphones that are long long-time standard in studios and the widely used studio headphones by the pro engineers and musicians for the decades.
The advanced transducers of AKG K240 MKII deliver solid low end, accurate mids, and crystal-clear highs, and the semi-open design provides the airiness of open headphones with the punchy bass response of closed models. It offers a wide frequency range that offers accurate monitoring that is incredibly durable and comfortable.
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7. Focal Listen Professional headphones
This headphone delivers excellent isolation and accurate reference monitoring, and the design gives you a lively experience of semi-open headphones with the isolation of closed-back models.
Also, the large drivers feature low impedance, high sensitivity, and extended frequency response for critical listening. Moreover, the thick memory foam ear cushions and flexible padded headband provide comfort for long studio sessions.
Pros
Cons
What to look at when choosing the best headphones for music production?
From the above section, you may have got some idea about the differences between regular headphones and headphones better suited to studio use. Typically it depends on your setup and the level at which you are working.
Most of the musicians have several sets of headphones for critical listening and they switch between one to the other for editing, mixing, and engineering process. The high-resolution headphones with a flattened/natural/linear is a good choice for analytical listening.
But at the same time if you're the one who spends hours in editing they provide an adequate level of comfort. This can include adjustability, breathability, and plush cushioning.
Are Headphones For Music Production Different from Regular Headphones?
They are like regular headphones but the audio quality in their model-specific manner is great for enjoying your favorite playlist. Moreover, this type of headsets typically boosts the bass in a studio set authenticity.
Studio-quality headphones will typically have a more extensive frequency response monitoring and work at a higher resolution for better fidelity. Moreover, they are better equipped at handling a larger workload that has a higher impedance as well as being low latency.
One of the most important factors that make the headphone for music differ from regular headphones is comfort and durability. Because working in a studio setting can demand more of a headphone set and longer hours from its wearer.
Open-backed versus Closed
Closed-back headphones provide better isolation, so it's a better option for a singer or musician as they can wear and live monitor whilst they record. Moreover, it provides a barrier between the outside world and the ears that means it has less sound leakage.
If you want to do editing and listening analytically then choose for open-backed headphones, because it adds an extra parameter to what you are listening to and creates a sound-image which is also known as the spatial sound that is essential for critiquing and tweaking your work post-recording.
On-Ear vs. Over-Ear
On-Ear Headphones are ideal for individual who is looking for a good level of comfort. This type of headphone sits directly against your ears and it helps to block a decent amount of ambient noise. They are more about balancing your needs between the portability of in-ears and the sound quality over over-ears.
It’s completely travel-friendly because they can even fold up for easy transport and they come up with a hard-shell case to prevent damaging them. According to the quality and price range, they can typically reproduce a wider range of frequencies.
If you're looking for comfortable headphones then go for Over-Ear Headphones. They're big, so they can be worn at home or at work. Some over-ear headphones can be folded up and they even come up with a travel case. By using this it covers up all your entirely so that you don't want to worry about your ears getting sore.
But make sure to get a pair that has a padded headband, comfortable pads on the earcups, that don’t make you sweat. At the same time, some higher-end over-ear headphones can be pretty heavy due to their high-quality materials and internal components.
Budget
Choosing the right headphones for the studio can be a daunting task. There are a variety of brands, styles, and options available, and they come at a wide range of prices. Mostly you'll get what you pay for but at the same time, you've to do the research and check out high-authority reviews. Also, they're really do tend to be much better quality the higher in the price they go.