If you need a pair of headphones for use in a studio, finding the right option can help elevate your production to the next level. If you need something for live studio recording, you'll want closed-back headphones, as you can monitor the live recording without sound leaking into the microphone. Even wired IEMs have become a more popular choice these days, thanks to their passively isolating fit and consistent audio delivery. On the other hand, many sound engineers may prefer more spacious and immersive open-back headphones for mixing, as they can be more comfortable after a long day in the studio. Many of the best studio headphones also often have a coiled cable to give you enough range to move around your studio.
We've tested over 845 pairs of headphones, and below, you'll find our recommendations for studio use. Also, check out our recommendations for the best DJ headphones, the best headphones for music, the best wired headphones, and the best audiophile headphones.
Quick Look
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one, so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Closed-Back Studio Headphones
The best studio headphones with a closed-back design are the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO. Closed-back headphones offer a few advantages over their open-back counterparts, the most notable of which is a degree of passive isolation from your surroundings. This makes them a great fit for applications like tracking, where you want to focus on the take at hand. They also don't leak much audio, so even quieter vocal takes should remain bleed-free. Unlike their cheaper counterpart, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, these headphones come with a detachable cable design, allowing you to swap out the cable without replacing the headphones.
Their sound profile is generally quite balanced, so they're able to reproduce vocals and instruments clearly and with detail. As with other Beyerdynamic headphones, certain sibilant sounds can be a little piercing, though, depending on their pitch. If you're a fan of a warmer sound, consider the Audeze LCD-S20 instead. These headphones are a little pricier than the Beyerdynamic, but their warmer sound means there's less risk of ear fatigue during longer mixing sessions.
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Best Mid-Range Closed-Back Studio Headphones
Audio Reproduction Accuracy8.3Frequency Response Consistency5.1Noise Isolation5.2Comfort8.0See all our test resultsPeaks/Dips7.9For something a little more wallet-friendly, try the FIIO FT1. These striking closed-back cans come in an array of natural wood finishes and are equipped with comfortable earpads that take the pressure off long tracking sessions. As with other closed-back headphones, they're able to attenuate some external sounds, and they don't leak much audio. Their wired design ensures low-latency playback, and they come with a 1/4" to 1/8" adaptor to suit both professional and consumer-end devices.
Their sound profile loosely follows our target, with some extra bass courtesy of their 60 mm drivers, as well as a detailed mid- and treble-range presentation. The L/R drivers are generally well-matched when it comes to amplitude and frequency, though our unit exhibited some slight phase mismatches that could potentially affect fidelity. These kinds of issues tend to vary between units, though. One issue that's inherent to their design is the way in which their earpads interact with the arms of glasses, resulting in a noticeable drop-off in bass for glasses wearers. This won't affect everyone, though, and you can always look into a set of aftermarket earpads to rectify the issue.
While it's challenging to find such a marriage of fidelity, comfort, and style at this price point, you can always look at the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x as a closed-back alternative. While these veteran headphones are decently comfortable and comply well with our target curve in the bass range, they're hampered by disappointing stereo matching and frequency response consistency issues.
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Best Budget Closed-Back Studio Headphones
If you're on a tight budget or need several pairs of headphones and want an affordable option, it's worth considering the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. These headphones aren't as well-built as the FIIO FT1, but they offer good sound at a lower price. They look similar to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x but have a more plasticky design with a thinner metal frame and exposed cables.
Their sound lacks a bit of low bass for closed-back headphones, but they offer a flat, balanced mid-range response that reproduces voices and instruments clearly and accurately. However, their significant treble roll-off makes sibilants like cymbals and S and T sound dull and lispy. Still, they have consistent audio delivery, so you're more likely to hear the same sound across reseats, and they have a decently comfortable fit for long hours in the studio. If you're dealing with a tight budget or buying a few pairs of headphones in bulk for tracking in a studio, they're decent performers.
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Best Open-Back Studio Headphones
Audio Reproduction Accuracy8.5Frequency Response Consistency8.4Noise Isolation1.4Comfort8.0See all our test resultsPeaks/Dips8.0If you prefer open-backs, the Sennheiser HD 800 S are worth considering. Compared to closed-back headphones, which are better for recording, open-backs are a solid choice for mixing. Thanks to their design, audio leaves the ear cups and interacts with the environment around you, helping create a more immersive and natural soundstage. While the Sennheiser are the best open-back headphones, they come with a hefty price tag, meaning they won't be for everyone. You'll also need a powerful amp to drive them, so if you don't already have one, this can be an additional cost.
These premium open-back headphones have a flat sound profile with an accurate mid-range response that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and accurate. Their treble response is generally flat, with a touch of extra mid-treble that adds presence to vocals. Like most open-back headphones, they struggle to reproduce the thump and rumble of low bass. Their audio cable is detachable, and they come with one extra in the box, along with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.
They also have a sturdy, high-end build and a very comfortable fit. Unfortunately, the pin that keeps the hinges together is prone to coming loose over time, which is annoying, and some may prefer a bit less plastic in the build at their price. The equally high-end HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version don't suffer from this problem and have more low-end thump, but their planar magnetic drivers make them bulkier and heavier. That said, they're still worth considering for mixing.
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Best Mid-Range Open-Back Studio Headphones
Audio Reproduction Accuracy8.3Frequency Response Consistency8.3Noise Isolation1.9Comfort8.0See all our test resultsPeaks/Dips8.2Are you looking for something more affordable? Take a look at the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO. These versatile open-backs create an immersive, open, and natural-seeming soundstage well-suited for mixing and mastering. Their dual-earpad design helps them stand out from the crowd: both sets of pads are comfortable but offer different feels and slightly different frequency responses. Their balanced sound profile causes voices and lead instruments to sound crisp and detailed. Perhaps surprisingly for open-backs, they're also able to output a fair bit of bass, which helps add thump and rumble to kicks and basslines.
Their build quality suffers due to their plastic-heavy construction and flimsy yokes. If you're looking for a pair of open-back cans that feel more durable and feature premium materials, it's worth looking at the Audeze MM-100. These headphones also feature planar magnetic drivers, creating an open and spacious soundstage. However, their bass and treble are both fairly recessed, unlike the Sennheiser. But this can be an advantage if you plan to use them for long mix sessions, as your ears won't become as fatigued over time.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Open-Back Studio Headphones
Audio Reproduction Accuracy8.0Frequency Response Consistency8.3Noise Isolation1.6Comfort8.0See all our test resultsPeaks/Dips7.5The best lower mid-range open-back studio headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 560S. These headphones use dynamic drivers, which are more common for cheaper headphones. Their PRTF measurements indicate that the audio they produce sounds less like an angled reference monitor than the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO. On the plus side, they have a flatter mid-range that more accurately reproduces instruments, and they also have a better peaks and dips performance, meaning they don't deviate much from their flat sound profile. Fans of jazz and pop music will appreciate this flat sound, but techno nerds might wish for more bassy thump. That said, lack of low and mid bass is fairly typical of open-backs.
The Sennheiser are more stable on the head than the HD 490 PRO, which is a bonus if you love to bounce in your seat while mixing a tune. They're lightweight and have a comfortable fit for most people, but their build is even more plastic-heavy than the more expensive HD 490 PRO.
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Best Budget Open-Back Studio Headphones
Audio Reproduction Accuracy7.6Frequency Response Consistency7.7Noise Isolation1.5Comfort8.5See all our test resultsPeaks/Dips7.7The Philips SHP9500 are the best budget studio headphones we've tested. At this price point, there are few choices for open-back headphones. Many of them have a flimsy, plasticky build quality and don't feel very durable. However, the Philips feel decently well-built and are worth considering for their balanced sound profile and immersive soundstage. These cans will suit most genres, although EDM fans might miss the lack of low bass. Like the Sennheiser HD 560S, their mid-range is well-balanced and renders vocals and instruments accurately and with detail. But the Philips have a slightly boosted treble range that can make cymbals sound piercing at times.
Like most open-backs, these comfortable headphones leak a lot of audio, so you'd use them for mixing rather than recording. However, they'll feel pleasant to wear for long sessions, so long as you're not in a noisy environment, since their open design also means they do a bad job blocking out any audio around you.
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Best Studio IEMs
Audio Reproduction Accuracy8.1Frequency Response Consistency9.1Noise Isolation7.9Comfort7.0See all our test resultsPeaks/Dips8.5While IEMs haven't always been a mainstay in studio environments, they've become increasingly popular recently, partly due to their ubiquity in live performance environments. Their noise-isolating seal is a strong asset during tracking, and they leak even less audio than closed-back headphones. If you're looking for the crème de la crème of IEMs, it's tough to topple the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII. These premium in-ears have a warm sound profile, with a powerful sub-bass presentation that pairs well with slightly rolled-off highs and flat mids. They're decently comfortable and come with a range of ear tips, plus they come with a deluxe hard-shell case to protect them in transit. They lack an IP rating against water and dust damage, like some in-ear designs, though.
They're able to offer a great noise isolation performance, despite lacking an ANC system: a major selling point if you want to focus on tracking without introducing any latency into your signal chain. Their price point requires some serious investment, though, so if you're looking for IEMs at a more wallet-friendly price point, consider instead the Meze ALBA. They feature a sound profile that's more aligned with our target curve and a more comfortable fit than the THIEAUDIO, just don't expect the same degree of noise isolation.
Notable Mentions
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AKG K371:
The AKG K361 are closed-backs with a pretty balanced sound profile and a great leakage performance, making them a viable alternative to the FIIO FT1. However, they aren't as comfortable and lack the FIIO's hard-shell case.
See our review -
HiFiMan Sundara 2020:
The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are open-back, planar magnetic headphones. They're comfortable headphones with a well-balanced sound. However, their bass range doesn't extend as low as the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, and they're less stable on the head.
See our review -
Philips Fidelio X2HR:
The Philips Fidelio X2HR are well-built open-back headphones with a wider spatial presentation than the Sennheiser HD 560S. However, their treble isn't as well-controlled, and they're less stable on the head.
See our review -
Superlux HD 681:
The Superlux HD 681 are well-built, semi-open-back headphones. Their semi-open design means they leak less audio than the Philips SHP9500, and they also produce more low-end thump. However, they're less comfortable and well-built than our pick, and their cable isn't detachable, so if you break it, you might need to replace the headphones.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 12, 2025:
This article has undergone a major overhaul to bring it in line with recent Test Benches. We've added a new IEM pick, with the THIEAUDIO Monarch MKIII as the top pick and the Meze ALBA as an alternative. The best closed-back pick is now the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO, and the FIIO FT1 are the mid-range closed-back pick. The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO have replaced the HiFiMan Edition XS as our mid-range open-back pick too, and the AKG K371 have been reinstated as a Notable Mention.
May 02, 2025:
The Sennheiser HD 560S are our new pick for the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Open-Back Studio Headphones' because of their more controlled treble and better peaks and dips performance. The AKG K361 have also replaced the AKG K371 in our Notable Mentions.
Feb 04, 2025:
We've updated some of this text to align with changes made as part of our Test Bench 1.8 update, but we haven't changed our picks.
Nov 12, 2024:
The Philips SHP9500 are back in stock and replace the Superlux HD 681 as our budget open-back pick. The Superlux HD 681 replace the Philips SHP9600 in our Notable Mentions.
Aug 08, 2024: We've checked this article to ensure our picks remain up-to-date and relevant but have made only minor text changes.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best studio headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of our reviews for headphones that are good for balanced sound. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.