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5 Best Studio Headphones for Home Recording Studios

5 Best Studio Headphones for Home Recording Studios

It’s not that easy to monitor and mix music. If you want to listen to the music you mix in a comfortable and natural way then using studio monitors is the way to go, but the problem here is the accuracy.

And if accuracy is the problem, then a pair of quality studio headphones will be of great help. Of course, you don’t have to buy premium studio monitors if you need to hear every single detail. A quality pair of headphones will let you hear every detail as well, whether it is the background noise or minor changes in the volume. cheap studio monitors won’t catch these details.

If you are starting out, headphones will help you do the job no matter whether you are a music producer or just lacking funds. Although we won’t tell you that you can rely solely on headphones for mixing and mastering music, it is good to know that the will be that extra tool which will make you produce better mixes.

Which one to choose: Closed-back vs. Open-back

Open-back and closed-back headphones are the headphones that are the most frequently used in home and professional studios.  When we compare these two types of headphones we have to say that open-back and semi-open headphones will let you hear music in a more natural way because they aren’t sealed like the closed-back ones. The Closed-back headphones are sealed and enable noise cancellation which affects how we hear the music.

If you have to choose between these two, take the following into account:

  • Closed-back headphones are better if you need them to track music while you are recording. The thing you really need to avoid is to get the microphone record some of the sounds which leaks from the headphones.
  • Will you use the headphones for mixing and mastering or for relaxed listening to music? In this situation, semi-open or open-back headphones are a better choice because of the more natural sound you receive. At the same time, they are more comfortable in case you need to have them on your ears for a longer period of time.

Mixing and Mastering on Headphones: What we like and hate about it

When we speak about mixing and mastering, we have to say that no matter which headphones you choose you will always find some good and bad sides of it. The good sides of mixing music using headphones are that you can focus on details (pitch, distortion, volume and so on) plus they are cheaper than studio monitors.

The bad side of mixing with headphones is if you mix for a longer period of time they start to be quite uncomfortable. The noise-canceling makes the way you hear music a bit unnatural which can have its effect on other devices.  And now, let’s take a look at which headphones you may consider in case you need new ones.

Check below my list of best headphones for your home studio:

Beyerdynamic dt 770 pro

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro

A great choice if you need a good pair of closed-back headphones for mixing and mastering. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro comes in three different impedances. Which impedance you will choose (30, 80, and 250 ohms) greatly depends on whether you are going to use them for monitoring or you plan to use them while you travel.

After all, all three models will sound great and will handle all your mixing and mastering activities. They are very comfortable at the same time thanks to the ear pads they have.

Audio Technica ATH-M50X

Audio Technica ATH-M50X

This model is probably the best selling product lately mainly because of the clear sound in the mids and highs. The bass is another thing worth mentioning here, but let’s just say – it’s accurate and deep. Some of the features that made this product sell so much and made it popular amongst DJ’s is the 90-degree swiveling ear cup design. There are also three detachable cables.

What we like about this product is a great, well-balanced sound. The design is very good and the possibility to replace the cups and cables simply adds to its value. And last but not least, they are closed-back headphones which makes them great for tracking, DJ-ing, and recording.

Sennheiser HD 650

Sennheiser HD 650

Unlike the previous two, the Sennheiser HD 650 are high-end open-back headphones. Although the price may be too much for some people, you actually get what you pay for. The titanium-sliver finish ensures a well-balanced sound specially designed for high-resolution monitoring. mixing and mastering engineers and audiophiles love this model.

One thing to keep in mind is that others can hear what you are listening to at the moment because these are open-back. On the other side, we can say that these are the most comfortable headphones for studio monitoring. We especially love the smooth bass and clear mids and highs. On the other hand, we don’t recommend them for recording sessions.

Grado SRE80 Prestige Series

Grado SRE80 Prestige

Although these headphones are not as popular as some of the brands mentioned above we are speaking about a great pair of headphones which will definitely last for a longer period of time thanks to its design and build. Another good thing is the price which can put these headphones in the affordable category. They are quite comfortable at the same time so you won’t have problems during the long mixing sessions. As for the sound, we can say that you get a flat response with a pinch of brightness. This provides a natural listening experience.

When we talk about the design, there are people who love it and those who hate it. There is no one in between. If you are planning to use them for sound editing these are the ones for you.

Bose Quietcomfort 35 ii

Although these headphones are not as popular as some of the brands mentioned above we are speaking about a great pair of headphones which will definitely last for a longer period of time thanks to its design and build. Another good thing is the price which can put these headphones in the affordable category. They are quite comfortable at the same time so you won’t have problems during the long mixing sessions. As for the sound, we can say that you get a flat response with a pinch of brightness. This provides a natural listening experience.

When we talk about the design, there are people who love it and those who hate it. There is no one in between. If you are planning to use them for sound editing these are the ones for you.

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