5 Best Headphones for Music Production | 2022 Music Producing Guide

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For Music Production, Recording, Mixing, and Mastering these normal headphones do not work rather it requires the studio headphones. Standard headphones and studio headphones has a lot of variation in them. Standard headphones cannot be used for this professional thing.

For music production it requires a different kind of comfort and durability which cannot be achieved using such normal headphones and hence requires the studio headphones.

For music production, it requires accurate frequencies like the bass accuracy as well as the treble accuracy that you cannot achieved using the standard headphones. For the proper audio signal, studio headphone is the must.

Studio Headphones for Music Production

Studio headphones are best used for the music production cause of its flat frequency response and transparent sound, the sound quality the studio headphones generates has no match.

With the high impedance and headphone amplifier, studio headphones produces high sound quality. Ultimately, it leads to the crystal clear sound excluding all the noise. To transmit your music to various speaker system makes you to set the listing first.

Also, the studio headphones are capable to provide a complete isolation that means there will be no surrounding sound in your ear that can make a bit difficult to hear all the music details. Along with this, there is no leaking into your microphone, thanks to its isolation feature.

And, for the long music sessions you require more comfort and that’s difficult to be attained making use of the standard headphones. Studio headphones are more comfortable cause of its cozy earpads and adjustable headbands.

As the studio headphones provides you high durability, you can use the headphones daily on the regular basis and it won’t affect the headphones’ lifetime.

With the studio headphones comes the 3 kinds-

  • Open-back
  • Closed-back
  • Semi-open

Moving on to these 3 categories of the studio headphones-

1. Open-Back Headphones

Open-back headphones, the headphones with large vented or we can say open-back headphones have mesh-covered earcups through which the air as well as the sound can flow freely without any disturbance or noise.

This mesh-covered design is responsible for preventing the pressure that can affect the sound quality. As compared to the closed-back, this type (open-back) of headphones’ soundstage is more open and airy.

Pros-

  • Amazing sound quality
  • In terms of accuracy or clarity, open-back is pretty good
  • Open and airy soundstage
  • Sweat proof
  • Less sound reflections
  • Low frequency build-up
  • Enough openness to respond quickly and effectively
  • Ears won’t get hot
  • Less audio coloration

Cons-

  • Isolation can be better, less isolation
  • Chances of audio to be leaked out
  • Monitoring at low volume levels is not possible

2. Closed-Back Headphones

The second type of studio headphones is the Closed-Back headphones. These headphones have the large over-ear earpads and are well-known for providing high isolation.

Also, with the closed-back headphones there are no chances of audio to be leaked out while recording as that happens in case of the open-back headphones. With the noise isolation, there will be no surrounding sound except for the music only.

The closed-back headphones are ideal for the low-level monitoring. Basically, all the cons of the open-back headphones are been covered by the closed-back studio headphones for music production.

Pros-

  • This is the best for the music production
  • Be it mixing, mastering, or anything, closed-back headphones are the best
  • High noise isolation
  • No outer surroundings sound
  • You can easily focus on the music details
  • The sound volume won’t disturb others around you
  • Low-level monitoring
  • Lower frequencies enhanced

Cons-

  • The clarity and accuracy is getting affected cause of frequency build-up
  • Inside the earcups you can feel sound pressure and reflections
  • Soundstage is not that much opened up and not so airy
  • More audio coloration
  • Sound seems less natural and more unnatural
  • Ears might get hot

3. Semi-Open Headphones

The semi-open headphones are something like in-between the open-back and closed-back. These kind of studio headphones have maintained a balance between the open and the closed ones.

The semi-open headphones supports the enough airflow that is required so no frequency buildups are here. Also, the headphones features the noise isolation to prevent all the outside environment surrounding sound.

Binding up the natural and transparent sound stage of open-backs and the good focus of the closed-backs, these semi-open headphones are the best choice.

Pros-

  • Best for music production
  • Mastering and Mixing
  • Minimal sound leakage
  • Low frequency buildup
  • Soundstage is quite wide
  • Sound is natural as compared to the closed-back
  • Low ear-fatigue
  • Good isolation

Cons-

  • Audio can be leaked out
  • Low sound reflections, it can be reduce even more

So, this is all about the three types of the studio headphones. Now, Let’s move on to the 5 best headphones for music production as reviewed in 2022.

5 Best Headphones for Music Production

  1. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
  2. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm
  3. Sennheiser HD 650
  4. Shure SRH1540
  5. AKG K240 MKII

1.Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

[https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=21ZXJVU28UOX6&dchild=1&keywords=audio-technica+ath-m50x&qid=1612801097&sprefix=audio-technica%2Caps%2C650&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUTlaOVE0TkRYQkpCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzExMzg0MjZMMDVTNDZORDkzMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTk1ODE5MVdNOVVTMDBIMERMQiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=]

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is available on Amazon at a price value of $149 with so many color options available. There are 5 colors available- Black, Blue, Gun Metal, White, and Purple. All the colors are really amazing.

With this studio headphone you can have both wired and wireless. With the wired headset, you’ll get the microphone cable along with the headphone. Bluetooth connection is available in both the wired as well as the wireless headphone.

The over ear studio headphone claims to give you a sonic performance that is mostly used by the top audio engineers. Not only the top audio engineers but also the pro audio reviewers too.

To be honest and as per the customer reviews, Audio-Technica is loved by all. This headphone falls in the category of the closed-back headphones and hence, this studio headphone ensures high noise isolation and you can easily focus on the music details and there will be no environmental surroundings sound.

Audio Technica is known for its superior sound quality and robustness. Also, this studio headphone has an extended frequency range for an extra sound clarity.

With the Audio Technica ATH-M50x, you get three detachable cables- one coiled cable and two straight cables. The headphone ensures high durability and is quite comfortable.

Along with the package, you’ll also get a carrying pouch for storage. This headphone has a compact design and hence, takes less space. Its circumaural design over the ear ensures noise isolation even in the loud atmosphere.

2.Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm

[https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-770-PRO-Studio-Headphone/dp/B0006NL5SM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=beyerdynamic+dt770+pro+250+ohm&qid=1612802589&sr=8-1]

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 Ohm is ranked on the second in our list of the 5 best headphones for music production. The headphone is available on Amazon at a price value of $159. There are two color choices- Black and Gray.

This is DT 770 Pro with an Impedance of 250 ohms while there are 3 other versions available in 16 ohms, 32 ohms, and 80 ohms. With Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, there is no wireless option available.

This studio headphone is available in wired connection only. For professional studio like mixing, this DT 770 Pro is the best. Its high resolution sound makes it a prefect go for the studio recordings.

When it comes to record for the music production means long music sessions and that requires more comfort, Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 ohms offers you the circumaural earpads that is absolutely soft and easy to replace.

With the package, you’ll get a drawstring bag and 1/4″ adapter. The headphone is praised a lot by the sound engineers. The cozy earpad makes it ideal for the long recording sessions.

The noise isolation is quite high and you won’t hear the surroundings’ sound at all. Also, there is a good balance between bass and treble.

3.Sennheiser HD 650

[https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-650-Professional-Headphone/dp/B08BG5YR2W/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=sennheiser+hd650&qid=1612804303&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExREJITE9RWVBFV1FNJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzMxMDc3WENUOUpQMTdRQTBXJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTEwMTk4OTgxUlBTTkhVTkVKREVIJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==]

Sennheiser HD 650, the open-back studio headphone is available at $376.99 in black color. The headphone is really good in looks and comes with 6-pack cable ties and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Ensures high durability and reliability. Sennheiser HD 650 is considered as the best studio headphone for music production and claimed as an open and dynamic hi-fi stereo headphone.

It’s light weight and cozy earpads makes it a really good headphone for the long recording sessions. Since we’re listing the top 5 headphones for music production all these headphones listed are ideal for the long recording sessions.

With the Sennheiser HD 650, there are no compatibility issues, the headphone can easily connected to the high quality stationary hi-fi components that includes SACD, DVDA, and CD players.

Sennheiser HD 650 is designed with acoustic silk that makes it pretty flexible with almost any of the frequency range. And, if you want something even in more budget then you can look for Sennheiser HD 280 Pro i.e. available on a low price but has all the high end features.

4.Shure SRH1540

[https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SRH1540-Premium-Closed-Back-Headphones/dp/B00FR8DMR8/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Shure+SRH1540&qid=1612805216&sr=8-5]

Shure SRH1540 premium closed-back studio headphone for music production is available on Amazon at a price value of $499. Up till now, this headphone is the highest-budgeted headphone in the list of the best 5 headphones for music production.

With this you’ll get two packaging options offered on Amazon- Old Packaging and New Packaging. The over ear Shure SRH1540 has a 40mm neodymium driver that is responsible for a superior acoustic performance that you can hear the low notes as well as high pitches pretty clearly.

Also, Shure SRH1540 comes in a circumaural design that makes it really very comfortable and hence, the headphone is wearable for long recording session.

The noise isolation keeps away all the background noise out of your ear and you can easily focus on the music details. Along with the package, you’ll get zippered hard case, a 1/4″ adapter, and 2 detachable cables.

5.AKG K240 MKII

[https://www.amazon.com/AKG-Professional-Semi-Open-Headphones-Headphone/dp/B07C9C4GMC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=AKG+K240+MKII&qid=1612806247&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSjE4WEtRMFpXWjBaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjc4NTEwM0ZWUEJGMzNWS1lTWCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzMxNjUyMlM2VjQ3M1M4MkM2WSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=]

AKG K240 MKII, the semi-open stereo headphone is available on Amazon at just $149 with wired connection. This headphone doesn’t features a wireless connection. The over ear AKG K240 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

This is the best selling headphone when it comes to the studio headphones for music production. However, it’s available in such a budgeted price that everyone loves to go with this product.

There’s an amazing balance between bass and treble. AKG K240 MKII uses the advanced transducers to produce solid low end, accurate mids, and transparent highs. This headphone is the best choice for monitoring, mixing, and mastering music composition.

AKG K240 MKII has a 30mm XXL tranducer with varimotion diaphragm. The headphone’s exact dimension is 9.3 * 8.8 * 4.4 inches and it weighs only 2.21 lbs.  Along with the package, you’ll get a 1/8″ stereo mini-plug and 1/4″ adapter.

Summing Up

These are the best 5 studio headphones for the music production. Studio headphones are completely different from the standard headphones and are designed to provide you that quality you’re expecting specifically for music production.

There are many people who thinks that they need to spend a lot when it comes to the headphones for the music production but this is not the case at all. Herein this quick guide, you can have all these headphones in budget and that too with high-end features. I just hope this guide would proved to be useful for you and you get what you’re looking for!

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