Read our reviews of the studio monitor headphones to have the best professional headphones for studios.
Are you undecided about what studio monitor headphones to buy? Are you also part of all those audiophile users (and others) who are having difficulty choosing the monitor headphones that best meet their needs?
Do not panic. On this page, you will find a list always up to date with the best studio monitor headphones.
Our list of the top studio headphones was made on the basis of our personal experiences and those of users, audiophile and non-professional, trying to be as objective as possible, taking into consideration in addition to the quality of the audio, also the quality of construction and the quality/price ratio.
Also, read our other guides on the best Sennheiser headsets, AKG headsets, Apple headsets, and the best wireless TV headphones.
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Different types of studio headphones
First things first, it is important to distinguish between the two main types of studio headphones. Depending on the task you have to do, you will have to choose between open headphones or closed headphones.
If you are looking for the best studio headphones for mixing, you will want to check the models of headphones with the back open. On the other hand, if you need a set of headphones for recording, the best option is closed. Let’s see why this is important.
Open headphones to mix and master
If you are wondering why you need to get the headphones open for proper mixing and mastering, it is because of its ability to create a more natural overall sound. Its open back design allows a certain amount of background noise to be combined with the recorded sounds.
The best mixing headphones have a well-rounded frequency spectrum where all sounds are reproduced equally and no frequency is capable of mastering the overall sound image (a common example would be on the accented lower end, when mixed with closed headphones). Check out some of the best headphones open here.
Closed headphones for recording
When it comes to recording, it is very important to isolate the playback sounds from the headphones while recording an instrument. This is particularly important when recording voices.
The closed headphones have a great capacity of isolation of the noise, reason why they are a natural option for the recording of tracks. For now, you’ve probably noticed a slight inconvenience here, because you really cannot do a great job with recording and mixing with a set of headphones. Of course, it is not impossible to do it in a set, as long as you have enough experience and knowledge.
You will have to be able to determine exactly what frequencies might be fighting for space in the mix. Still, I recommend having a separate set of each one in order to guarantee the best results.
Closed earphones can also be used for live applications, but ear monitors are a better option if you can buy them both. In this post, we discuss the best closed headphones on the market.
The best 6 headphones on the market for a studio
Based on what we have discussed above, take some time to consider what the main purpose of the headset you are planning to purchase will be, before making the purchase. If you are a casual user who only looks for studio quality headphones to listen to music, then I advise you to consider closed models.
Open models can also be used, but we must bear in mind that anyone around them will be able to listen to what they are listening to and that is not something that many of us want. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular studio headphones on the market.
Sennheiser HD 700 Headphone
Set’s look perfectly clear here. These headphones are not for everyone. They are designed for absolute studio professionals looking for the best quality money can offer when it comes to open headphones. The reference headphones are those that reproduce the sound without increasing any of the frequencies to produce a true and unaltered sound image.
While most professional headphones feature a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, this model has an amazing range of 6 Hz – 51 kHz.
One of the key features of this model is the incredibly realistic spatial characteristic of the sound it produces. When listening to a piece well produced with many instruments, it will feel as if it were there among the musicians, being able to determine exactly where the sound comes from, left right, up or down.
This feature is created with Sennheiser’s innovative 56 mm wide transducer, 40 mm aluminum coil and the 42 mm magnet system. They offer incredible sound clarity, first-class craftsmanship and guaranteed quality. In truth, one of the best headphones for music production.
Discover more and the price here
Shure SRH840 Professional Monitoring Headphones
If you are looking for the best headphones for recording, SRH840 will undoubtedly deliver a product of excellent quality. As always with Shure, you can expect a high-quality product, built to last. With an ergonomic ear design and memory foam pads, SRH840 does not strain your ears, even with extended listening, but will provide better acoustic insulation and maximum comfort.
The best recording headphones should always feel comfortable and you will not have problems with SRH840 in that department.
Its dynamic 40mm neodymium drivers create a very different sound scenario with all the frequencies in place neatly. You will not hear an out of tune instrument to find your place in the mix with these headphones. This is a very important aspect to consider when it comes to mixing and mastering, it is necessary to be able to find a range of frequencies for each sound so that it does not interfere with other frequencies. If you want to know about in-ear headphones, click here.
Discover more and the price here
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
ATHM50x is one of the best studio monitor headphones you can find today. They are very popular and with a very good reason. They have a frequency response of 15 – 28 000 Hz, a sensitivity level of 99 dB and a low impedance value of 38 ohms. This makes them a great complete solution for your needs, since they can be executed by any device and you will not need a separate headphone amplifier to power them. The drivers are 45mm with neodymium magnets, as with many of the first class headphones.
For those with an accentuated fashion sense, the red and black color scheme would definitely make you stand out in the crowd (if you’re a DJ, it’s with you that I speak). The glasses rotate 180 degrees, which makes listening to one ear quite simplified. Again, a great feature if you work as a DJ. But do not be fooled that these are just for DJs, these are definitely one of the best monitor headphones in your price range. If you want to know more models for DJs, visit our post the best headphones for DJs.
Discover more and the price here
Sony MDR-7506
You may be surprised to see the Sony brand on our list, since they are not a company focused on hearing aids, but as with many of their products, the quality of the headphones cannot be ignored. One of its best headphone models, the MDR-7506 offers clarity and sound transparency through its 40mm drivers and neodymium magnets, comparable to many of the largest players in the field. It has a very healthy frequency range of 5 Hz – 30 kHz that easily exceeds some of the more expensive models.
Construction quality is excellent, you can almost conclude just by taking a look at the headphones. These things are built to last. The design on the ear guarantees great acoustic isolation and a comfortable fit, while the copper cable without oxygen guarantees the best possible connection without interruptions in the signal. If you are looking for a budget solution, these are one of the best cheap studio monitor headphones for less than $ 100.
Discover more and the price here
Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM3
The WH-1000XM3, which follows the 1000XM2, is Sony’s new headset. Compared with its predecessor: it is lighter, it delivers a better quality sound, it replaces the micro USB port with USB Type-C, and it integrates Google Assistant (since generation 2), just like the Bose QC 35 II. According to the manufacturer, this new model would be 4 times more efficient than the former at the level of active noise reduction.
It embeds touch controls that can turn on the headset, manage listening and active noise reduction. It also incorporates the Quick Attention feature to instantly reduce the volume of your music and be able to follow a conversation without removing the headphones from your head.
Its battery allows to use it for 30 hours, even with the noise reduction activated. It is also compatible with fast charging, which allows it to be used for 8 hours after 15 minutes of charging time.
Discover more and the price here
Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 Special Edition
The first Plantronics BackBeat Pro of the name had already laid the foundation for a complete solution despite some small defects thanks to very good performance for an affordable price. The brand, the leader in telecommunications headsets, has come back to the fore with a new and much more advanced version: the Pro 2.
The BackBeat Pro 2 is adorned with a much more compact design with circum-aural oval earphones more adapted to the shape of the ears and dimensions much less imposing with a weight of 290 grams. It is very functional with multiple controls available on the left earphone (noise reduction) and right (call pickup, smartphone voice assistant) which does not affect the autonomy of the device that remains 25 hours using noise reduction. As for Bluetooth, it is compatible with aptX and AAC codex and it also has an NFC chip.
On the sound side, it remains clean and precise without distortion effects with well-present bass and detailed treble. However, we just regret that the noise reduction is not very effective and it does not have a dedicated application.
Discover more and the price here
Conclusion
I hope I have managed to present you with a reliable source of information based on my previous experience with several studio monitor headphones. Ultimately, everything depends on you and your taste. Some people will like certain models, others will not, even if they are quite expensive and are supposed to be of very high quality. Price does not always mean quality, although in most cases it does.
What happens with any technology nowadays is that it evolves at the speed of light. Every year there are tons of new and improved models coming out, for this reason, it is really hard to keep track of all the changes. This is a great thing, of course, because prices are constantly reduced, even for high-quality products, as new ones take their place. Take your time to read the reviews of a product you like so you do not regret it after the purchase you made. Good luck with your search!