Studios are some of the best places for recording vocal or instrumental tracks. We daresay that they ARE the best places for recording! (Well, you would hope so, at least!)
When it comes to using headphones in a studio, having the right set for you is crucial to getting the best experience when you are in the studio, both for recording and for mixing.
While studios often have many different tools when it comes to recording in studios, the simple fact is that when it comes to sound systems, enough isn’t enough!
So, you should always be on the hunt for better headphones whenever possible. Jump to the best Headphones for Podcasting.
But that’s not exactly an easy hunt to undertake, as there are so many high-quality recording headphones out there, it can be kind of dizzying to sort through!
Fortunately, we have managed to do some of the heavy work for you, and have compiled this little guide for you and your searches for the perfect studio headphones.
Here, we will show you some of the best products that you can find in this particular market, as well as discuss with you some of the features that you should be aware of when looking for studio headphones for recording on your own time.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
When it comes to high-quality headphones that are perfect for mixing and recording, we can’t recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X enough.
Is it a popular and perhaps slightly basic option when it comes to studio headphones? Perhaps.
But in the world of studio tech and recording equipment, basic is by no means bad. It’s a perfect baseline for other products and gear to beat.
And Audio-Technica certainly sets a high bar to beat indeed!
The build quality of these studio headphones is excellent and makes this headset very durable too.
So, you can rest easy knowing that these headphones will stay up and running after years of use, as well as even a couple of hard knocks.
And let’s be real: In a recording studio, that’s just an inevitability! It is a great way of seeing that these headphones were built with recording settings and studios in mind.
And, of course, that’s not even mentioning the overall sound quality that these headphones have.
Able to accurately reproduced virtually any sound that they pick up, they are perfect for keeping a recording session going smoothly and without any interruptions.
So, if you’re struggling to pick a headset for the studio, you can’t go wrong with the ATH-M50X!
Pros
- The build quality of these headphones is impressive, allowing them to be reliable and durable, all while looking great.
- The company has a long track record of producing high-quality audio equipment, so the headphones are coming from a reliable source.
- The sound quality of the notes it picks up is even and accurate.
Cons
- Switching sound settings with these headphones may take a while.
Also Available From: Guitar Center
Best Headset Microphone For Recording Audio
Focal Listen Professional Studio Headphones
Of course, there are plenty of other high-quality headphones out there that you can choose from besides the previous example, that can fit a massive range of roles in the recording and sound mixing process.
Focal for example has a set of headphones that make for the ideal jack-of-all-trades headphones that can be used in all of these roles, with their Professional Studio headphones!
The responsiveness of the cans on these headphones is excellent, able to pick up a massive range of tones, whilst also maintaining a punchy bass to them.
Couple that excellent sound quality with a headset frame that is well-made and durable, and you would already have a stellar product on your hands.
However, where we think Focal shines with these headphones is in their comfort.
That might sound a little like a luxury to some, but consider this: if your job is to work in a recording studio, that’s potentially hours on end where you have to be wearing a headset for mixing and recording.
So comfort will be a pretty big deal!
Fortunately, these headphones are renowned for their comfort to wear.
While they may feel a little snug at first, once they are on your head, they remain comfortable to wear for hours on end!
Pros
- The build quality of these headphones makes them reliable and tough.
- These headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
- The sound quality that these headsets produce and the record are immaculate.
Cons
- The silicon sweatband these headphones use can accumulate sweat over time, affecting the smell and feel of these headphones.
Also Available From: Walmart
Sennheiser HD280 Pro
If your sound equipment isn’t being compared to an Audio-Technica, then they’re almost certainly being held up to compare against Sennheiser’s line of audio equipment and headsets.
This particular set, the HD280 Pro, is widely considered to be some of the most reliable headphones that you can get for a recording booth in a studio. Same reason that World famous Podcast hosts like Joe Rogan uses this headphone set .
And it’s not hard to see why. The closed headphone design is form-fitting but still makes for a pretty comfortable set of headphones to wear in the studio during mixing and recording sessions.
Plus, with the ability to pick up plenty of tones while maintaining a strong bass, they perform pretty well too.
Not only that, but their simple design also makes them incredibly robust, making them tough enough for the occasional tumble that is bound to happen in a busy recording booth or studio.
Plus, with how widely used the headphones are, these might be some of the easiest headsets to get a hold of for your studio, both in terms of finding them and purchasing them.
Are they some of the fanciest and highest-tech headphones out there? No, not by a long shot.
But with reliability and clarity like this, you don’t need all that extra gear!
Pros
- Usually amongst the most reasonably priced professional
- Plenty of options for extras and other sound equipment to be bought with these headphones.
- Plenty of comforts to be found with these headphones.
Cons
- The design of these headphones is purely functional. With no extra bells or whistles, they do what they do well, and not much else.
Also Available From: Sennheiser
Sony MDR-7506
Sony is a world-renowned manufacturer when it comes to technology and sound equipment, from speakers to microphones to, you guessed it, headphones as well.
One of their bestselling products in the field, the MDR-7506, is also amongst the best models to choose from when considering your studio recording headphones.
Like many of the best studio headphones, these have a closed-back design, allowing you to focus entirely on the noises that your headphones can pick up, and not have to worry about any of that annoying ambient noise.
And it’ll be quite an impressive noise that you’ll get back from these headphones too, as the sound quality of the headphones themselves are extremely impressive.
The sound profile that you’ll receive from these Sony products is a very neutral tone, whilst still managing to add a little extra rumble and thump to give any vocal performance that little extra boost.
(Don’t worry about the extra bassy tone overwhelming any vocal or instrument performance, however. Your sounds will still come through excellently!)
Plus, they’re pretty comfortable too, o you’ll be able to wear these headphones for long periods without causing any headaches, both metaphorically, and literally!
Pros
- The superb sound quality enriches any tones that it picks up, without drowning out any natural sounds.
- Closed-back design means that ambient noise will not interfere with your recording headphones.
- With plenty of comfort, these headphones support your head whilst you’re busy recording any audio at the studio.
Cons
- These headphones do struggle to block out a lot of ambient sounds.
Also Available From: Sweetwater
Sennheiser HD800S
What, you thought that you’d heard the last of Sennheiser on this list?
Well, think again!
With such an extensive library and range of different headphones for us to pick and choose from, we could hardly leave it at just one set of studio recording headphones by this remarkable company, could we?
One of the first things that you will likely notice when looking at these headphones is the positively huge cups that these headphones have.
These are to house the equally large transducers that these headphones have, which are among the largest drivers that you’ll find on a commercial set of headphones.
These all come together to create an effect that replicates a very large sound stage for the ideal resonance from your audio recordings, all contained within a humble set of headphones.
These headphones easily reproduce the neutral tone that any good recording headphones should be looking for, as well as making sure that both vocals and instruments come through loud and clear.
Plus, with several features of the headphones, from the detachable audio cable to the multiple options for adapters for these headphones, as well as a case to carry them in, you have the whole package right here!
Pros
- Large transducers help create the perfect sound environment.
- These headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear.
- Provides a neutral tone that is perfect for vocals and instrumentation.
- These headphones are surprisingly transport-friendly, especially when compared to many other studio headphones.
Cons
- Despite their otherwise high quality and performance, the amount of plastic used in this product makes it feel cheaper than it is.