The primary reason podcasts have become so astronomically popular over the last few years is because they are first and foremost an audio based platform.
The reliance on being centered around audio means podcasts are extremely easy to listen to while we are doing literally anything from cleaning to exercising, they provide a quick and easy dose of information perfect for our current mood.
Headphones are therefore the most important equipment when it comes to starting or preparing a podcast.
Excellent audio quality is vital to encourage listeners to enjoy the sound of the podcast nice and clearly and will want them returning for more, while bad or muffled audio can really dampen the intended experience, so monitoring audio levels is incredibly important. But Why Do Podcasters Wear Headphones?
Therefore to make choosing the right headphones easier, below we have put together a list taking a look at some of the very best podcasting headphones for monitoring audio on the market right now.
#1 OneOdio Wired Over Ear Headphones – Best Podcast Headphones For Podcasting
These OneOdio headphones are not only extremely comfortable with an over ear soft padded ear cups with a cushioned design, they are also excellent for monitoring sound with their 50mm speaker unit drivers combined with neodymium magnets making for incredibly clear vocals and crips high tones in each ear.
These headphones are also equipped with 90 degree swiveling ear cups allowing for sing ear monitoring at any time, as well as the headphones being self-adjustable and having a flexible headband that can rest on your head for hours without hurting.
The coiled cord is 9.8 feet in length providing a lot of spare distance compared to other wired headphones. A standard 6.35mm plug and 3.5mm plug are also generously included as well as both being completely detachable.
These headphones are fitted with a 3.5mm or 6.35mm audio jack, and with 3 different very detailed color options to choose from, they are an excellent pair of headphones that will let you monitor audio while staying comfortable doing it.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable soft padded foldable ear cushions
- 90 degree swiveling ear cups makes single ear monitoring easy
- Great speaker unit drivers for crisp high level quality
- Excellent bass feature makes them very versatile
- Good cord length (9.8ft)
Cons
- Polymeric headband can bend after prolonged use
#2 Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Over Ear Wired Stereo Headphones
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones are well-made, long-lasting, and have a good sound. They are more flexible and have slightly better bass than the DT 990 PRO or DT 880, because of their closed back headphones design.
Best Studio Headphones For Recording
But, they might not be perfect for quiet places because they let some sound out. Also, they’re a little big and awkward to carry around if you don’t have a bag.
Pros
- Robust and resilient construction.
- Excellent sound output.
- Comfortable with ample padding.
Cons
- Sound leaks at higher volumes.
- Somewhat bulky design.
- Could be too tight for some users.
#3 PHILIPS Over Ear Wired Stereo Headphones
An excellent headphone choice for their very generous price point, these PHILIPS headphones are fitted with 40mm neodymium drivers, providing incredibly clear audio that is never too loud or piercing where you can pick out smaller nuances that may be an issue.
The handy built-in volume control also makes monitoring audio on the go incredibly easy rather than having to open up a separate tab to navigate through extra audio settings.
The cushioned 90 degree swivel ear cups also rest nicely on the ear and are shaped in such a way to prevent audio leakage and to enhance bass performance.
The headphones come featured with a 6.3mm snap-on to easily connect them to any source and they are widely compatible for smartphones, computers, tablets and essentially any device using a 3.5mm or 6.3mm aux port.
For their excellent price point, these headphones offer some great quality which will still allow you to hear your podcast audio extremely clearly so you can seek out any audio disruptions.
Pros
- Very cheap price for great quality
- 40mm neodymium drivers offers great high textured audio
- 90 degree swivel ear cups for single ear monitoring
- Built-in volume system easy to use
Cons
- On ear headphones rather than over ear design
#4 TUNICAL Over-Ear Headphones – Best Sound Quality
These TUNICAL headphones are all about being as high tech and monderised as possible with an incredible isolation ear cup design that provides excellent sound isolation, ensuring no background noise can put you off while you check audio levels.
They feature extremely clear and efficient 45mm drivers and neodymium magnets along with an incredibly accurate built in tuner, allowing for rich, clear, distortion-free sounds where you can check any audio disturbances with accurate precision.
The premium faux leather construction almost makes them extremely easy over the ears as well as being light on top of the head ensuring you don’t get any ear or head aches as the podcast goes on.
For even more comfort, the padded headband is adjustable and can be fitted to any head size, as well as the incredibly comfortable ear cups being easily removable for any replacements.
Alongside some incredibly state of the art headphones, this purchase also comes with a range of additional pieces of equipment to make maintaining and using the headphones even easier including a travel pouch for great portability, a 10ft straight cable and 4ft coiled cable and a 1/4 inch TRS audio adapter.
Pros
- 45mm drivers and neodymium magnets for incredible audio
- Excellent noise reducing from combat ear cup design
- Faux leather rotatable ear cups very comfortable
- Great added additions (travel pouch, 10ft straight cable)
- Adjustable headband and removable ear cups
Cons
- Ear pads can slide and need replacing after prolonged usage
#5 Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80
If you don’t mind spending a bit more for an incredible pair of headphones that you can be sure will serve you extremely well in the long term, alongside giving you some of the clearest high resolution sound possible, these Beyerdynamic over the ear headphones are the perfect choice.
Their 80 OHMS audio capability is often used by music producers and sound technicians due to how high textured and detailed the audio is, along with their spacious reproduction which works remarkably for a pair of closed headphones.
These headphones make audio monitoring easy but also very detailed and articulate so you can track every sound that appears in the studio.
Ultra-low bass sounds are defined and reproduced crisply through these headphones while higher frequencies are translated to an analytical and clear sound which makes monitoring different parts of the audio incredibly easy and distinguishable.
This is not even touching upon the comfortability of these headphones with their robust spring steel headband that provide a tight but secure fit for the wearer with soft and adjustable ear cups making them even easier to wear.
The practical single-sided cable is 3 meters long and with a 250 OHM setting if you want to upgrade and get the very best audio quality possible, this is one of the best podcasting headphones out there.
When it comes to the best overall headsets for podcasting, there’s no denying that the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PROs is one of the best, if not the best, headset on the market.
Their versatility is unmatched by any of their competitors, which is all thanks to their fantastic analytical sound.
Recorded voices are reproduced clearly and accurately, which makes monitoring audio and tuning into conversations so simple, however there was some customer feedback that noted that sibilants could come across as slightly piercing to the ears at times.
However, on the other hand, this does make spotting imperfections in your recorded audio much easier when it comes to mixing and editing.
This headset is a closed-back, and although its passive soundstage still feels rather large, it obviously isn’t as immersive as you would find from an open-back headset.
This headset is also particularly drive-hungry, so really you’ll need to use an amp in order to fully optimize this headset, or you can simply buy this same model of headset with a lower impedance, with 32 ohms and 80 ohms options also available.
The comfort of this headset is incredible and whilst they are well-built, it is worth noting that the cable they use is integrated, so if it happens to get damaged, you’ll need to buy an entirely new headset instead.
Pros
- Perfectly clear 80 OHMS audio for high textured sounds
- Very distinguishable sound intrusions
- Well fitting and secure robust spring headband
- Upgradable to 250 OHMS for maximum audio quality
- Soft, circumaural and replaceable velour ear pads
Cons
- Quite expensive