The 8 Best Studio Headphones - Fall 2019
Reviews

The best studio headphones we've tested so far are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. They provide excellent value for the price thanks to their studio-friendly design and faithful audio reproduction. They have a durable, comfortable design with large ear cups and a padded headband, which makes them perfect for long studio sessions.

They reproduce audio very accurately without too much leakage, so they're a great choice whether you're recording, mixing, or mastering. They also come with three detachable cable options, one of which is coiled and can stretch up to 10 feet to accommodate for different studio setups. This way, if a cable breaks, you won't have to worry about replacing the headphones entirely.

While these headphones reproduce audio very accurately, they do show a bit of variation in the bass range across different users. This means you might find that they pack a stronger punch than someone else if you get a tighter fit and seal than they do. That said, the differences shouldn't be too noticeable. Even if you do find they have a bit more bass than what we measured, they're still very well-balanced and remain the most versatile studio headphones we've tested so far.

If your studio recording setup is particularly noise-sensitive and you’re looking for in-ear headphones that leak very little sound, get the 1More Triple Driver. Even at loud volumes, they don't leak very much sound, which is important if you’re recording instruments or vocals with a microphone.

These in-ears reproduce audio very accurately so you can hear what you’re recording as intended. They’re very breathable, so you won’t need to worry about feeling overheated while wearing bulky over-ears and they’re also super portable, which is great if you’re always recording on-the-go.

On the downside, their in-ear fit isn’t as comfortable to wear for as long periods as some of the over-ear recommendations on this list. They also don’t feel as well-built as some of the other in-ears we’ve tested, like the KZ AS10, but their earbuds are less bulky which makes them a bit more comfortable for some people. Overall, they’re decent in-ears for critical listening and are a solid choice if you want something with low leakage for studio recording.

Wireless headphones generally aren’t ideal for studio use, but if you’re dead set on a wireless design, then consider the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. It may seem odd to get a gaming headset for studio use, but they sound great and have low wireless latency thanks to their base transmitter, which makes them suitable for mixing and mastering.

These headphones have an impressively neutral audio reproduction, which is important when you’re trying to mix a track just right. Their wireless transmitter is easy to set up, so you don’t have to waste too much time pairing them to your devices, and they have a swappable dual battery system which means you’ll be able to use them wirelessly for as long as you want if you always keep one battery charged.

Though 37 ms of latency should be fine for mixing or mastering, it’ll still be too high for most studio recording. Thankfully, you can use these headphones wired with any regular audio cable to eliminate latency when needed. They’re rather bulky for studio use, but if a wireless design is very important to you, they should still serve you fairly well in the studio.

If you’re trying to keep your headphone expenses to a minimum and aren’t concerned about leakage, the best budget studio headphones that we’ve tested so far are the Superlux HD 681. They’re not as well-built as the other options on this list, but they sound great for their price and have a lightweight design that’s comfortable enough to wear for a while.

These headphones sound great. They have a very well-balanced sound with virtually flawless bass and a very flat and even mid-range. Their mid-range is slightly underemphasized, nudging vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix, but this effect is very subtle. Their treble performance is reasonable, but some may find these headphones sound a bit sibilant. That said, they have a surprisingly decent soundstage thanks to their semi-open design, which can be helpful while mixing.

Unfortunately, they feel very cheaply made. They feel a bit more durable than the even cheaper Koss UR20, but their build quality still doesn’t inspire much confidence. Their ear cup padding is also a bit stiff, which can take some getting used to. If you don’t mind spending a bit more and prefer an entirely open-back design, the better-built and more comfortable Philips SHP9500 may be worth the investment. Their bass performance is less accurate, though, so for studio use, the Superlux are a decent choice overall.