The 7 Best Studio Headphones For Mixing And Recording - Summer 2020
Reviews

The best studio headphones we've tested so far are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. These very popular wired over-ears are well-known within the recording community and for good reason. They provide amazing value and feel surprisingly well-built and durable despite their relatively low price point. They're comfortable enough for long recording sessions, with large ear cups and a well-padded headband.

Their sound reproduction is well-balanced and fairly accurate, with a tiny amount of extra bass, but an even and accurate mid-range. They're a good choice for mixing, mastering, or recording as their closed-back design leaks a lot less audio than open-back headphones. Their ear cups can swivel, and they feature a detachable cable, so you don't need to replace the entire headphones should the wire get damaged. They also come with three different cable options, including a coiled one that can stretch up to ten feet so that you can move freely around your studio.

Unfortunately, none of the included cable options feature an in-line remote, so they may not be the best option for casual use if you like to be able to change your music quickly. Also, despite being closed-back headphones, they still leak a bit of audio at higher volumes, so they may not be the best for extremely noise-sensitive recording situations. While this will likely be fine if you're monitoring a recording session from a separate room, it may be an issue if you're recording yourself.

The best studio headphones for recording that we've tested to date are the AKG K371. Thanks to their closed-back design, they leak much less audio than other entries on this list, which might be helpful if you intend to wear them in a recording booth. That also means that they do a slightly better job of blocking out ambient sound, so you won't have to worry about cranking the volume knob completely up to drown out some background chatter.

These headphones have a decently well-balanced sound profile overall, with extremely even bass and mids. Their treble is a little less neutral, however, and some more delicate instrumentals and vocals might be dulled and veiled. Unfortunately, they don't provide the most consistent listening experience either, as bass and treble might be heard differently on separate occasions, especially if you wear glasses or have long hair.

They're also comfortable enough to wear throughout long listening sessions, feel reasonably well-built, and come with a selection of detachable audio cables, including a long coiled wire, which helps make them more suitable for a wide range of environments. Since they don't provide as consistent a listening experience as some of the other choices on this list, they may not be the best-suited product for mixing. However, their very good noise isolation performance means that they aren't a bad choice for recording.

The best studio headphones for mixing we've tested to date are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. Mixing usually takes advantage of open-back headphones thanks to a more spacious soundstage. Since you don't have any recording microphones on, the leakage isn't something to worry about. These headphones are also very comfortable and feel lightweight, even if they have very large and spacious ear cups.

These headphones have an exceptionally neutral sound signature, especially in the mid and treble ranges. Some might feel like they're a bit too bass-light, but nothing a professional EQ can't fix. These also have one of the widest soundstages we've tested so far. They're well-built and should last you for a while as well.

While these are the best audiophile headphones we've ever tested, they are very expensive, and you'll need to get an amplifier to drive them. If you're more on a limited budget, you can check out the HiFiMan Ananda, although there are some reports of quality control issues. However, if you don't mind spending your money to get an amazing listening experience, these headphones are a great choice.

The best studio headphones with a wireless connection that we've tested to date are the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. These headphones use a dedicated wireless transmitter that ensures low enough latency for studio use. They also feature Bluetooth, which you can pair to your phone simultaneously so you can quickly take phone calls without having to reconnect them to your computer after.

These headphones have a very well-balanced and accurate sound profile out-of-the-box. While they tend to sound slightly different to different people, their wireless transmitter features an onboard EQ so you can fine-tune them to sound more natural. Since these headphones are designed for gaming, they have a boom microphone, but it can easily be retracted when you don't need it. Their 15-hour battery will likely be long enough for most mixing marathons, and they come with an extra that can be charged on their base station, so you can quickly swap them out.

While their 37ms of latency will likely be responsive enough for mixing and mastering, a well-trained ear may notice a slight lag while recording instruments or vocals, making a wired pair of headphones a better choice. That being said, if your studio setup requires you to go wireless, these are a good option.

The best studio headphones in the budget category that we've tested so far are the Superlux HD 681. These wired headphones are a very solid value, which a semi open-back design that ensures a listening experience almost as spacious as far more expensive models on this list. They're also comfortable enough to wear throughout long listening sessions and offer a pretty consistent fit, so they should sound similar every time you put them on.

Considering their low price point, these headphones have a very well-balanced sound profile. Bass and mids are reproduced very accurately, which provides a punchy and warm listening experience as well as clear and present vocals. Their treble, unfortunately, is a tad uneven, so some higher frequencies will be heard as sharp and piercing.

They also don't feel especially sturdy or premium, which, again, is to be expected at this price point. If you don't mind a less well-balanced sound profile, the similarly-priced Superlux HD 681 EVO feel a bit more premium. However, the Philips SHP9500 are an even better-built alternative if you don't mind spending more.