It might be a difficult task to choose the best headphones for music production due to their existing diversity. The main aspect of choosing studio headphones, of course, is the sound itself.
The first thing to decide when looking for headphones is the task that they will be aimed to cope with. There are two main action points – recording and mixing (most modern units are versatile). In addition, some studio monitor headphones can be equipped with a microphone or without it. If the headphones are equipped with a microphone, then their sound insulation is of great importance. This property of the headphones is one of the main technical characteristics and therefore must comply with the requirements in order to avoid emissions of sound into the microphone. In the case of conventional headphones (without a microphone), this factor is not so important.
Studio headphones can be divided into 2 main types – closed and open. It’s better to choose the closed professional headphones for recording, as their advantage is in sound insulation, which allows you to hear only the sound coming from them. The open headphones are used for mixing, as they sound more natural due to their design. It should be mentioned that there is one more type – semi-open headphones that also began to appear on the market.
To help the customers take their pick, we tested several well-known devices that are worth a professional’s attention.
Headphones for Music Production Reviews
Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone
The construction is complemented with different materials (the metal headphone cups, a headband is covered in faux leather, and the ear pads are vinyl) and is neatly assembled. As a result, there is nothing to complain about – there are no creaks, backlashes, the whole device fits comfortably on the head, moreover, the headband is easily adjustable. The design is complex. The music production headphones can be folded inward cups or you can fold them out – just like in the DJ models. I like that the sound of the headphones is analytical. The low-frequency register is somewhat forced, but at the same time, you can feel the depth of the bass. There’s a wide dynamic range, so it is pleasant to listen to classical music because even the smallest details of the compositions are intercepted.
Pros
- It is easy to distinguish the left earphone from the right one – the blue and red nameplates with inscriptions L and R are located on the headband.
- The cord comes from one ear cup and is long enough for comfortable usage in the studio (9.8 ft).
- Headphones are very sensitive to the source and quality of the recording and greatly demonstrate any defects for further fixing.
Cons
- The blurry sound is felt on compound recordings.
- It gets hot and influences on ears while producing uncomfortable feelings (ears perspire).
- The ear pads themselves put a lot of pressure on the ears.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
Such popular recording headphones are made in the classic design for the company with an adjustable headband and swivel cups for easy mixing. Inside the cups, there are 1.7-inch drivers with a CCAW voice coil made of aluminum and clad with copper. There are a few low frequencies, but the bass is deep and fast. A slight boost of the midbass does not lead to a turbid sound, but there is a loss of detail on compositions saturated with the low-frequency register. Mid frequencies sound natural, not sharp and there is no sibilance on vocals. I can hear a transparent and detailed sound. The dynamic range is wide; this is good for any genre, including rock and pop music. There’s high overload capacity, combined with a wide dynamic range, which makes the listening at high volumes comfortable.
Pros
- The headphone cord is solid, so the risk of tearing is minimized.
- Thick and soft ear pads rotate in two directions, due to which the headphones fold up and are convenient to store.
- The sound balance is accurate and the stereo sound is truly surrounded.
Cons
- Since these are full-sized closed headphones, your ears will sweat in them on hot days.
- The cable cannot be replaced without disassembling the headphones (it’s twisted with a multicore conductor).
AKG K240STUDIO Semi-Open Over-Ear Studio Headphones
The headphones are made of hard plastic and metal, and the wire is comprised of high-quality oxygen-free copper for increased wear resistance. Despite the sufficient dimensionality, the headphones have a comfortable fit due to the quality headband upholstery, ear pads, and an automatic mechanism for adjusting the size of the headband. The leather ear pads have a very uneven sound picture. It’s enough to slightly shift the cup relative to the ear and the sound changes noticeably, especially the midrange frequencies. I really like that the Mini XLR (M) jack on the left earphone is located in a convenient place for the cable connecting. It’s comfortable to use the unit, as it weighs only 8.5 ounces and doesn’t put pressure on ears. The natural transmission of live instruments, drums, and vocals is decent. Every owner has the possibility to enjoy dense bass, high-fidelity mid-range, and clear treble. Perhaps, the AKG K240STUDIO aren’t the best headphones for music production, but this device is a good choice for those who want to get acquainted with the professional sound equipment.
Pros
- The semi-open design gives the listener the possibility to use it without any discomfort.
- Detailed sound is sufficient to detect recording jambs.
- The cable is equipped with a standard acoustic 3.5mm stereo plug and so there’s no problem with the connection.
Cons
- Echoes appear while listening to music in ear pads.
- The stranded cable is too heavy and thick, it gets in the way at hand and squeezes, pulling the headphones.
Sennheiser HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone
If you are looking for professional headphones, which are focused on studio and home usage rather than everyday wear, the Sennheiser HD 650 is a good choice. It’s made in a simple classic style. The headband is complemented with a profiled foam pillow (at the place of contact with the head), that brings some comfort when using. It weighs only 9.1 ounces and such peculiarity makes it smooth to use it while producing music. Throughout the entire range of reproduced frequencies, the sound is clear and detailed. The tones of wind instruments are transmitted unpainted and quite reliably. The tops in the flat response headphones are not bright, but they are common and readable. At the same time, the basses are slightly amplified in comparison with reality, all this sums up in a rather warm sound.
Pros
- The headphone depth on the head is adjustable on both sides.
- Cable length is 118 inches and it’s enough for studio usage.
- The ear pads are large to completely cover your ears.
Cons
- While inexpensive audio interfaces using, some quality may be lost (due to the lack of power).
- The cable in this model connects to both cups, not one, so it cannot be laid behind the neck, and with active movements of the head, it touches the face.
beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open Studio Headphones
The unit’s body frame materials are impressive, including high-quality black metal, a stitched headband with leatherette and matte plastic. All structural elements can be replaced if necessary. There’s also an adjustable spring steel headband and soft ear pads for optimal comfort. The DT 1990 Pro comes with two pairs of velour ear pads with different sound characteristics. When using one pair, the headphones provide a neutral, analytic sound, and on the other – a warmer sound with a lot of basses. The frequency response of the DT 1990 in the main range 0.1-1.5 kHz is more even, so they do not color the sound of voice and instruments. In the range of 2-7 kHz, they have a significant increase, the sound of strings and wind instruments is very clear, but also sibilants and extraneous sounds are emphasized in the recordings of acoustic instruments. The Beyerdynamic probably aren’t the best music production headphones, but the device is a good choice for professionals and comes with two types of cable (straight and spiral) that may be useful for various tasks.
Pros
- The headphones confidently hold on to the head and do not tire the neck.
- The customer gets a hard case that is quite bulky for mobile use, but it protects the headphones.
- The embossed sound is pleasing, which is greatly demonstrated on multi-instrumental compositions with a pronounced rhythm.
Cons
- It may hurt the hearing if the user is sensitive to high pitch sound.
- There are some distortions at high volumes.
AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones
This model is an improved version of the tested earlier the AKG K240STUDIO. The unit is supplemented with a branded headband with a self-adjusting screed. The proper size of the headphones is set automatically according to the listener. Comfort and convenience are caused by the presence of two variable ear pads options (circular-aural), filled with soundproof acoustic foam rubber. If you accidentally touch the earpiece with your hand or shoulder, the flexible headband will pull it back in position. A gold-plated mini-jack adapter comes with the headphones in order to create compatibility with various sound sources. I can highlight a good surround sound, wide acoustic panorama, clear sounding of instruments, and decent vocals. The bass is reproduced tightly and resiliently, the mid-frequency range is accurate and with the proper timbre color, the upper register turned out to be clean and clear.
Pros
- It’s possible to get a good sound with low-power sound sources (due to its reduced impedance and improved sensitivity).
- There are faux leather ear pads and extra velvet ear pads that are comfortable for usage.
Cons
- They are large and don’t fold; it’s hard to call them portable.
- The cord connection is thin and looks fragile.
Shure SRH440 Professional Studio Headphones
The model belongs to the circumaural headphones and almost not felt on the head. Remarkably, the wire is durable, replaceable, and theoretically can be torn only because of extremely careless handling. When adjusting the length of the headband to a minimum and folding the headphones, the wire forms 2 loops, making the owner to inadvertently hook something and tear it. The headphones have a folding construction, so they take up half as much space and can be hidden in the attached case when folded. The sound “out of the box” is harsh and somewhat bright at high frequencies. The middle is traditionally good for dynamic emitters. However, sometimes a certain detachment of sound is felt, especially on vocals. The bass is soft, springy, pleasant, and powerful. Weight distribution of frequencies gives excellent pressure and drive, but at the same time, the sound does not lose its unity and harmony.
Pros
- Comfortable to wear around your neck if you don’t often lower your head down.
- I like that the headband size is adjustable by sliding mechanisms.
- The headband is not really massive, covered with leatherette on all sides.
Cons
- There’s a pressure on the top of the headband, which causes painful feelings.
- The construction is made of thin plastic.
Buyer’s Guide
What are Studio Headphones?
Studio headphones, in contrast to household models, transmit almost undistorted and unpainted sound. The smooth, transparent, and clear sound of the audio material during production allows you to hear a lot of the smallest details and nuances that may not be visible on studio monitors. Although when used in everyday life, this particular feature of producer headphones may be displeased by the ordinary user (because the ears are sweating in ear pads and it’s uncomfortable to sleep in them due to the construction).
These headphones are used by radio hosts, as well as by artists when recording phonograms, or sound engineers during mixing the phonogram and mastering. They are useful when checking the technical quality of an audio signal: for example, some technical flaws (including small non-linear distortions, rare weak clicks, low-level noise, etc.) that can be heard only in such headphones. It should be noted that high-quality headphones for music production do not replace studio monitors but complement them. The main advantages of such earphones are the absence of the acoustic features influence and the extraneous noise exclusion.
They are useful for the following reasons:
- Individual instruments and vocals recording.
- Sound monitoring when recording various instruments (guitar, drums, vocals, etc.).
- Quality music creating under the metronome (if the musician is inexperienced).
The units are able to improve the music recording by the band, as the presence of headphones for all musicians allows them to better interact with the other members during recording.
How to Pair Beats Studio Wireless Headphones?
Pay attention that the Power button is the key to the Beats pairing, so if you don’t know about its location, it’s better to consult the start guide or manual. First of all, you have to be sure that the device is discoverable. It’s possible to make it while pressing the Power button for a few seconds. The Bluetooth LED blinking will become the signal, which implies the device’s readiness to be paired.
The detailed guide is the following:
- Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on. Open the App Drawer → Settings → Wireless and Network → Bluetooth.
- Choose the Pair new device option.
- Take a look at the appeared available units and select Beats Wireless.
- The Beat will be shown as connected after the successful pairing.
In some cases, you will need to enter a PIN code. Often this is a straightforward combination of “0000” or “1234”. Sometimes, a more complex PIN can be used, and then it must be indicated in the instruction for your Bluetooth studio headphones. If you want to disconnect the Bluetooth connection, you should press and hold the B button and in a case of reconnection to the last device, it’s better to push and release the mentioned button.
How to Charge Beats Studio Wireless Headphones?
Bluetooth headphone charging options differ only in the design features and connectors. Most models have a micro-USB connector, the rest – Type-C, etc.
The general charging instruction for all models looks like this:
- Take a micro USB charging cable (usually it is included into the headphones set).
- Connect one end of the cable to the headphones (the connector may vary).
- The other end, with a USB plug, insert into the USB connector on the computer.
- You should wait as much as indicated in the instruction (usually nearly 1-2 hours).
- The studio device is regarded as fully charged only after the status of the LED on the headphones changing.
Pay attention that the magnitude of the current strength and voltage (see the manual or on the charging cable) must match, otherwise, charging problems may occur (the process will take much longer than indicated or will not happen at all).