Whether you have a podcast, own a studio, or are an up-and-coming artist, you need a good pair of headphones that will reproduce tracks and audio as intended by its creator. Also, depending on the studio use case, leakage may also be a big deciding factor as well as the durability, comfort, and of course price. The best studio headphones typically do well in all of these aspects and may even come with a coiled cable to give you enough range when moving around in your studio without any latency issues since they are wired.

We've tested more than 268 headphones and below are our recommendations for the best studio headphones to buy in 2019. See also our recommendations for the best DJ headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best audiophile headphones.

1. Best Studio Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

   

   Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   Test Benches:

   • 1.2: Winter 2018
   • 1.1: Summer 2017
   • 1.0: Winter 2017
   • 0.9: Winter 2016

   See changelog and how ratings work

   7.9

   Critical Listening

   What it is: The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

   Score components:

   • 80% Sound
   • 10% Build Quality
   • 7% Comfort
   • 3% Breathability

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations
   Type : Over-ear
   Enclosure : Closed-Back
   Wireless : No
   Noise-Cancelling : No
   Mic : No
   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best studio headphones we’ve reviewed so far are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. They have a great sound and reproduce audio as intended. They are also very well-built, durable, and comfortable with large ear cups and a padded headband, which makes them perfect for long, multiple sessions at the studio.

   Their bass is excellent; providing depth and rumble without being overbearing. Their mid-range is also relatively even and neutral but lends a bit more room to deeper sounds like the punch of kick drums, slightly thinning out vocals and lead instruments. The treble response of the M50x is a bit more uneven, but not significantly so, and is still well-balanced enough to reproduce bright and bass-heavy tracks with a high level of audio fidelity, especially given their price. They also come with a couple cable options, including a coiled cable that can stretch up to 10ft, to accommodate for different studio setups.

   The M50x do get a bit heavy with time and are less breathable and stable than the even better built Beyerdynamic DT 770s. They might not feel totally secure on your head if you’re moving around the studio and your ears will get a bit warm after a while. That said, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are still going to last a very long time and are very good critical listening headphones that are excellent for the studio.

   See our review

2. Better built alternative: Beyerdynamic DT 770

   

   Beyerdynamic DT 770

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   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : No

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : No

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you want a headphone that sounds as good as the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x but with a better and even more durable design, then consider the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. The DT770s are a bit more expensive than the ATH M50x. They also sound slightly brighter overall, which may be an issue for mixing or recording bright tracks. They're a bit tight on some heads so they won't be as comfortable for everyone.

   On the upside, they pack quite a bit of bass that actually sounds more balanced than the slightly hyped low-end of the ATH-M50x. They have a better, more durable metal design that feels easily capable of handling the abuse of a studio-like environment. They also have large well-padded ear cups and a sturdy metal headband that you can stretch out a bit to get a better fit on larger head sizes. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 are a bit less practical overall than the ATH-M50x. They don't fold, they come with fewer accessories, and their cable is not detachable. However, if you find the M50x a bit too plasticky for your taste, then the DT 770 are a great alternative with an equally good, if not better, sound that some may prefer.

   See our review

3. Best Mid-Range Studio Headphones: Shure SRH440

   

   Shure SRH440

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   Test Benches:

   • 1.2: Winter 2018
   • 1.1: Summer 2017
   • 1.0: Winter 2017
   • 0.9: Winter 2016

   See changelog and how ratings work

   7.7

   Critical Listening

   What it is: The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

   Score components:

   • 80% Sound
   • 10% Build Quality
   • 7% Comfort
   • 3% Breathability

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations
   Type : Over-ear
   Enclosure : Closed-Back
   Wireless : No
   Noise-Cancelling : No
   Mic : No
   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like the studio design of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and want something that sounds almost as good but cheaper, then get the Shure SHR440. They have a similar design, look and feel to the ATH M50X but are slightly less durable overall. They also sound a little less balanced, don't have as much bass, and can be a bit sharper on already bright tracks.

   On the upside, you still get a good sound that will reproduce most songs and instrumentals accurately. They also have a durable enough build quality for most studio use cases and they're a bit more comfortable than the M50x. Also since they are below $100, even if they break, they won't be too expensive to replace and you can get a couple if you often have a lot of artists or hosts in your studio.

   Like most studio headphones, they won't be the ideal choice for more casual use, but thanks to their price to performance ratio, they may be a better value for some than the M50x.

   See our review

4. More portable over-ear alternative: Sony MDR-7506

   

   Sony MDR-7506

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : Over-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : No

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : No

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like the over-ear design of the Shure SRH440 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x but want something a bit lighter, more portable, with the same level of audio fidelity, then the Sony MDR-7506 might be for you. They are not as comfortable as the SRH 440 or the M50x. Their build quality is also a little lacking. They have a sturdy metal headband and sufficiently dense earcups to survive most drops, but they just look a little cheaper compared to the higher recommendations on this list. They also do not have a detachable cable like the Beyerdynamic DT 770.

   On the upside, they have a coiled cable that will stretch to 10ft so you can move around in your studio while mixing and editing without fear of losing audio. They also deliver a good, exciting sound that packs a bit more bass and treble than the Shure and Audio-Technica, but this also means they won't be the most neutral and balanced when reproducing tracks. On the other hand, they are more compact than the other over-ear recommendations on this list and they're quite affordable for their sound quality.

   See our review

5. Comfortable earbud alternative: Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear

   

   Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : Earbuds

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : No

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If your studio environment is very sensitive to noise and leakage and you also find that over-ear designs are not very breathable, then consider the Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear. They will not be the ideal choice if you have a lot of artists, guests, or hosts that cycle through your studio sharing the headphones. They also do not have the build quality or durability of the over-ears on this list and they won't sound as spacious or as detailed as some of our top recommendations.

   On the other hand, if you need a headphone that you can mix or edit with and don't want the leakage of what you're listening to bleed into the track recording, then they're a great choice. If you need something compact enough to have on you at all times so you can make some last minute adjustment on your laptop while you're on the go, then they're also a great choice. They won't be the ideal headphones for studio use but their decently balanced sound, compact and comfortable earbud design that you can wear for hours, and very low leakage mean they may be the perfect option for some.

   See our review

6. Best Budget Studio Headphones: Superlux HD 681

   

   Superlux HD 681

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   Test Benches:

   • 1.2: Winter 2018
   • 1.1: Summer 2017
   • 1.0: Winter 2017
   • 0.9: Winter 2016

   See changelog and how ratings work

   7.7

   Critical Listening

   What it is: The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

   Score components:

   • 80% Sound
   • 10% Build Quality
   • 7% Comfort
   • 3% Breathability

   Score distribution:

   See our best recommendations
   Type : Over-ear
   Enclosure : Semi-Open
   Wireless : No
   Noise-Cancelling : No
   Mic : No
   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you need a budget headphone for your studio and sound quality is the most important aspect, then get the Superlux HD 681; they're the best headphones for recording in this price range. Since they have a semi-open design, they won't be the ideal choice for more noise sensitive recording environments. They also look and feel like budget headphones and they are not the most comfortable headphones on this list.

   However, for their price point, they deliver a sound quality that is very hard to beat. They have a deep and powerful bass, a fairly neutral mid-range that does a good job with instruments and vocals and their treble is a little pronounced, making them sound exciting overall but also a bit sharp. Also, since they are so affordable, they're a good choice if you have a podcast with multiple hosts and lots of guests since you can always have a few pairs lying for the same price as one Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. 

   Unfortunately, as somewhat expected for their budget price, they do not have the sturdiest design so they may not last as long as the M50x. Also, the semi-open design can be quite limiting depending on the studio use case. On the upside, they are one of best-measuring headphones and they are below $50.

   See our review

7. Budget in-ear alternative: TIN Audio T2

   

   TIN Audio T2

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : No

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : No

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you prefer the fit and great isolation performance of in-ear headphones and want a cheaper alternative to the Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear, then get the TIN Audio T2. Their in-ear fit may not be as comfortable for everyone and their default cable is fairly short, which may not be ideal for all studio setups. However, these headphones have an impressive build quality, a slick and premium feel, and excellent breathability. They also have a nice braided cable that protects from tangling and come with plush memory earbud tips, as well as regular silicone ones. They sound decent with well-balanced audio reproduction and outstanding leakage performance.

   For their price, the Tin Audio T2, have great bass, an impressive mid-range, and very good treble. The bass and mid-ranges are quite neutral and although the treble is a little recessed, it is still fairly even and still sounds good. Unfortunately, these aren’t the most comfortable in-ear headphones we’ve reviewed. They also can’t offer the same soundstage performance as over-ear or open-back headphones. They’re not ideal for busy studios that require headphones to be shared among multiple artists and are recommended more for personal studio use. That said, if you prefer the fit and isolation of in-ear headphones, the TIN Audio T2 are definitely worth their low price tag.

   See our review