Top 10 Studio Headphones for Music Production, Mixing & Mastering in 2021
When monitoring your latest mixes, we believe that a set of the best studio headphones should always be present. Any good music producer will tell you that they monitor with whatever system they can get their hands on, whether it’s a pair of studio monitors, a Bluetooth speaker, or even a vehicle radio. And, of course, the greatest studio headphones their money will allow.
Headphones (sometimes known as “cans”) are arguably one of the most often utilized equipment in the studio. They’re a must-have tool for evaluating a mix’s stereo picture, low-end, and fine detail. It’s essential to pick the appropriate set of studio headphones, just like it’s crucial to choose the perfect pair of studio monitors, but it’s a highly personal decision.
The finest monitor headphones for you in the studio will be those that you can mix on and generate a product that will sound completely spectacular on any system you play it on. As a result, your decision will be totally subjective. Perhaps you’re searching for a pair that you can use purely for mixing or something that you can use for regular music listening as well. Or maybe you’re a road dog searching for a pair of workhorse cans that can withstand the challenges of life on the road.
This guide to the finest studio headphones offers our top selections to assist you in making your decision. We’ve gone through each model and noted its merits, limitations, and appropriateness for various musical genres below.
1. Focal Listen Professional Studio Headphones
The Focal Listen Professionals do exactly what they say on the package; they are perfect for both listening and professional activities. This places them firmly at the top of the all-rounder class. Overall, the fit is snug, but not so tight that lengthy durations in the mixing saddle are agonizing. In reality, the longest duration we had them on was about three hours, with the major concerns being back pain and a lack of blinking. While many engineers and audio professionals favor open-backed designs because they are less tiring, the closed Listen Pros perform wonderfully in this respect.
2. Sennheiser HD-206 Studio Headphones
If you’re looking for a low-cost pair of studio headphones, go no further than the Sennheiser HD-206. The very robust and durable HD-206s, which bear the well-known Sennheiser brand on the headband, is pleasant to use for lengthy periods of time. The HD-206’s are quite accurate for the price, and they compare favorably to much more expensive competitors. The bass response is very deep and crisp, with lots of clarity in the mids and highs.
3. Audio-Technica ATH-R70x
Open-back designs, such as the ATH-R70x, are preferred for extended mix sessions because they are lighter and less tiring than closed-back cans, which is excellent news because this model was created specifically as a reference headphone for mixing. We’ve tried models with more obvious ‘air’ at this price and above, but we don’t consider this a deficit – if anything, it means you’re less likely to wind up with a boring mix. Down the other end, the response is just as smooth, with all the extension you need and not a trace of boom or phony fatness.
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4. Sony MDR-7506 Studio Headphones
Open-back designs, such as the ATH-R70x, are preferred for extended mix sessions because they are lighter and less tiring than closed-back cans, which is excellent news because this model was created specifically as a reference headphone for mixing. We’ve tried models with more obvious ‘air’ at this price and above, but we don’t consider this a deficit – if anything, it means you’re less likely to wind up with a boring mix. Down the other end, the response is just as smooth, with all the extension you need and not a trace of boom or phoney fatness.
5. Leaf Hush Anc Wireless Headphones
One of the greatest headphones for music creation in this price range is the Leaf hush wireless headphones with a 40mm drive size. It has 25 hours of playtime in regular mode and 20 hours of playtime when noise canceling is turned on after 2.5 hours of charging. It has a lightweight design and a leather cushion and headband. The ability to activate and deactivate noise-canceling enhances your ultimate immersive music experience. The protein leather cushion’s soft shape makes it perfect for lengthy periods of usage. It also includes AUX support if you want to go wired for endless playing. The best part about this product is that Leaf has its own patented technology app which gives users a choice to customize their audio experience according to their hearing capacity.
6. Sennheiser HD-25
Another long-standing studio favorite, HD-25s is praised by experts for their ability to tolerate high sound pressure levels while still delivering outstanding sound reproduction. The HD-25 is a booth mainstay owing to its split headband, rotatable earpieces, and reputation for durability. It offers powerful and precise sound in a lightweight yet sturdy design. The HD-25 is classified as an on-ear design because the pads are circular and rest on the outside of the ear rather than completely enclosing it.
7. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Headphones
The reintroduced M50 (‘x’ = detachable cable) is a popular model in the audio market, competing directly with Beyerdynamic and AKG. They are comfy, fold and flex in all the appropriate places, and are quite light (285g). The overall sound quality is decent, however, they avoid a detailed, airy HF area. The mids are clear and upfront and the bottom end extends down without any peaky resonances. They are readily driven past our comfort threshold, as are all the low impedance designs here (these are 38 ohms).
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8. Adam Studio Pro SP-5
Adam Audio is well-known for its high-quality studio monitor speakers. The SP-5 is their first effort into the headphone industry, but they’re shaping up to be just as appealing as its speaker settings. The SP-5s are designed to provide a balanced and dynamic response for mixing and monitoring. The 40mm gold-plated diaphragm provides a broad response with a good transient response and low distortion. It enables it to specify direction and distances, as well as location information, which is becoming increasingly popular in music mixing for games and other media.
9. Status Audio CB-1
Status Audio and its CB-1 closed-back studio headphones are giving the Sonys a run for their money. It’s as if they looked at the MDR-7506 and felt they could do everything better for the same price. And they got it right. The CB-1s have bigger 50mm drivers that produce a broader response with a more defined high-end. The ear cups are overstuffed and thick, providing a more comfortable fit and better isolation. The headband is more comfortable on the head, especially after a lengthy workout.
10. Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro
Beyerdynamic, another manufacturer that might easily have more than one pair on our list, is heading up in price. But you’ve got plenty of options down here, so it’s time to look at something a little different. The DT 1770 Pro Tesla studio reference headphones are intended for use in mixing, mastering, and monitoring applications. They are elegantly modest and employ the most recent Tesla driver technology to infuse all of Beyerdynamic’s expertise into a benchmark set of headphones. The incredibly efficient drivers and carefully selected acoustic fabric provide distortion-free audio even at high levels, thanks to a 3-layer membrane that inhibits undesirable vibrations. They’re made with high-tech materials all over and are so comfy you’ll forget you’re wearing them.
Author Bio – Vivek Roy is an enthusiastic Tech and gadget blogger from India. He loves to share tips and news from all around the world. For more information about him visit his website Leaf Studios.