10 of the Best Home Studio Headphones [2026]

Are you looking for studio headphones for recording or mixing?

Then you’ve come to the right place.

Clearly, for music production, having a good professional audio headset is almost essential. It is simply part of the standard equipment to have in your studio or home studio.

The problem is that there are many different models on the market.

Some are of high quality, and others are not.

Similarly, depending on whether you are looking for headphones for music production in general, headphones for beatmaking, headphones for recording, or headphones for mixing and mastering, you will not be directed towards the same model.

Also, to guide you in your choice, I offer you through this article a selection of 10 of the best studio headphones, with all the necessary tips to avoid a bad choice.

More specifically, we will cover the following topics:

1. My “favorite” studio headphones
2. The uses of studio/monitoring headphones
3. The main criteria for choosing studio headphones
4. The best studio and home studio headphones
5. Comparison table of the best studio headphones
6. Studio headphones FAQ

My “favorite” studio headphones

If you don’t have much time and just want a few quick recommendations, here are my 3 favorites from this article:

Model	My opinion	Click to see the price
Beyerdynamic DT 770	The ultimate closed studio headphone. Not great for mixing but perfect for recording, as it isolates well from the outside.	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass
Audio-Technica M50X	An unbeatable price/quality ratio closed headphone. This is the headphone I use most often (and you can even mix on it without any issues, so it’s great for home studio).	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass
AKG K240 mkII	If your budget is limited and you’re looking for an open headphone for mixing, the K240 is a very good choice even if it’s not perfect (it lacks a bit of bass and detail, but for the price, it remains really qualitative).	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

.tableauEntete.affLinkContainer a.affLink {display:block;}

The uses of studio / monitoring headphones

Of course, a headphone is used to listen to sound.

The sound is generated by two drivers, which are installed in each ear cup of the headphone.

So far, nothing exceptional: a (home) studio headphone, in its principle of operation, is similar to a standard headphone.

However, to be able to choose a monitoring headphone well, it is important to ask the question of usage: indeed, in a studio / home studio context, headphones can be used for various purposes.

A headphone for mixing and mastering?

The first possible use of a headphone in the studio is for mixing and mastering.

In addition, for example, monitoring speakers — or even instead, as good speakers can be quite expensive and thus be a real investment that needs to be planned.

Indeed, contrary to what is sometimes read, it is completely possible to use headphones to mix a track. Certainly, it is not ideal, but it is a possibility.

Overall, there are two different cases.

The basic case is the studio headphones used to mix the entirety of a track. In this case, one tends to look for a fairly flat headphone, which honestly reproduces all frequencies as well as the stereo image.

The other case is mixing the bass. Often, especially in a home studio context, the lack of acoustic treatment in a room makes the bass a difficult element to control with speakers.

In this case, a monitoring headphone can help manage these low frequencies by freeing itself from the acoustic constraints of the room. It can then be interesting, for a home studio user or a sound engineer, to have a headphone dedicated to working on the bass.

In all cases, even if the constraints may be different, it is important to choose a professional quality headphone to work under good conditions.

Certainly, there are cheap headphones that can be a temporary fix, but even if you work in an amateur home studio, I advise you to use professional studio headphones like those presented in this article to simply avoid having a sound that is not usable;

A headphone for studio recording?

For everything related to recording and sound capture, we are on a completely different use, with therefore very different needs.

Imagine that you want to record a singer.

You will give them a headphone, in which they will be able to hear the accompaniment track to sing over.

However, in this case, and unlike a use for mixing, the frequency response of the headphone will be less important. Not negligible, but generally it is not necessary to have something very precise.

On the contrary, you will probably need a well-isolated monitoring headphone from the outside, like the famous DT770 that we see everywhere, to prevent the sound of the accompaniment track from leaking (we talk about “bleed”) and being picked up by the microphones present in the room…

The main criteria for choosing a studio headphone

As always in the world of music production, there are many models of studio headphones.

Some are very good, others very bad.

The problem is that it is a bit difficult to compare them — especially when comments online vary from one forum to another.

Thus, I propose a selection of concrete criteria that will help you (well) choose your next monitoring headphone, whether you need it for music production, recording, or mixing.

Open headphone or closed headphone?

There are basically two types of studio headphones: so-called “open” headphones and so-called “closed” headphones.

For me, this choice between open or closed headphones is really important: it is the very first criterion to consider when buying a monitoring headphone, as it will allow you to immediately eliminate certain models from your list.

The mechanical difference between open headphones and closed headphones

The terms “open headphone” and “closed headphone” primarily refer to a manufacturing specificity that is easy to spot, namely whether the outer shell of the ear cups is closed or not.

Physically, this is generally reflected in:

• either a plastic cover for closed headphones;
• or a metal or plastic grille for open headphones.

The first difference between these two types of audio headphones is therefore visual, as you can see in the image below:

Note: to complicate things a bit, there are also so-called “semi-open” headphones, which are generally closer to “open” headphones.

The sound difference between open and closed headphones

Of course, the existence of open and closed studio headphones is not just a design issue: it greatly impacts the sound properties of the headphones, with all sorts of associated advantages and disadvantages.

Due to their construction, closed headphones like the ATH M50X are very well isolated from external noises — which, I agree, is quite logical.

This allows you to stay immersed in the sound, often with the “bonus” (appreciable or not) of more pronounced bass, since the closed construction tends to create resonances in the space between your ears and the driver of each ear cup.

On the other hand, closed headphones are often associated with a more limited stereo image, meaning a less wide and potentially less precise perception of instruments in space.

For open headphones like the HD650, it’s the complete opposite.

Since the driver is exposed at the back of the ear cups, sound leakage will be significant, in both directions:

• people around you will hear what you are listening to;
• you will hear everything happening around you, which can prevent you from concentrating on the sound.

However, the sound is generally better in the audiophile sense of the term, especially regarding the stereo image, which will be wider and of higher quality (you will be able to more easily “hear” the position of different instruments in space).

Similarly, there is often better transient reproduction, and a bit less saturation.

In terms of frequencies, open headphones are generally flatter, more neutral — but at the expense of often underrepresented bass (which will probably bother some beatmakers…).

Which headphones for which use?

You guessed it: depending on your use, you will sometimes need an open monitoring headphone and sometimes a closed monitoring headphone.

Closed headphones being less prone to sound leakage due to their superior isolation, they make for very good recording headphones.

For example, to listen to an accompaniment while recording your voice.

Indeed, there will be less sound bleed from the headphones into the microphone.

And then, in this type of use, the precision of the stereo image or frequencies is much less important.

On the contrary, open headphones are generally to be avoided for recording, as sound leakage could be picked up by the microphone you are recording with, especially if it is very sensitive.

However, their very good stereo image and relative neutrality regarding frequency response make them very good headphones for mixing and mastering.

Ideally, you will therefore have at least two headphones in your home studio: one for recording and another for mixing.

However, especially for budget reasons, this type of configuration is not always possible — in this case, it may be interesting:

• either to prioritize an open headphone, as it will have a more transparent sound which will be essential during mixing. For recording and monitoring phases, you can always use basic in-ear headphones at first;
• or to get a very good closed headphone, which can thus be used for both mixing and recording.

The frequency response of studio headphones

If you look at the specifications of commercial headphones — whether they are studio headphones or not — you will find that manufacturers always indicate a frequency range, often under the name “frequency response.”

For example:

Frequency response: 10 – 32,000 Hz

This is simply the range of frequencies over which the headphone is capable of emitting sound.

Humans, on average, can hear sounds ranging from 20 to 20,000 Hz. Hence, this is the frequency range we work with for mixing. This is why CDs have a sampling frequency of 44100 Hz.

The problem is that most manufacturers advertise their headphones with bandwidths exceeding this range of 20 to 20,000 Hz.

Here are some examples:

In other words, the information itself is completely useless: a headphone capable of generating sound over a wider frequency range is not a guarantee of quality.

For proof, the Focal headphones, which actually have the narrowest bandwidth, are 8 to 60 times more expensive than the other headphones on the list.

However, I find it much more interesting to look at the frequency curve of the headphones.

Because indeed, no headphone is completely flat: depending on the frequency, the signal is never reproduced at the same volume. Even on professional audio headphones.

There is no perfect headphone.

And as you can see in the following graph, from one headphone to another, the variations can be significant:

Looking at this type of curve can therefore give you an idea of the headphone’s behavior.

You will thus be able to identify whether the bass will be well represented in the headphones you want to buy, or not.

Similarly, if you are looking for studio headphones for mixing, you will likely lean towards headphones with a relatively flat frequency curve. For example, in the graph, the blue curve of the AKG K240 mkII is quite good.

However, keep in mind that the frequency curve does not tell you everything: it provides no information about signal distortion or the clarity with which the signal is reproduced.

In other words, it allows you to identify certain characteristics of the headphones, but it does not tell you if they sound good.

Note: The frequency curves of monitoring headphones are rarely published by the manufacturer, but it is possible to access measurements taken by various sites.

I particularly recommend the site Reference Audio Analyzer, which allows for easy comparison of curves on a graph.

Impedance and Sensitivity of Studio Headphones

On the technical sheets of studio headphones, you generally find values for impedance and sensitivity.

Impedance is an electrical parameter that represents how the headphones will oppose the flow of current. It is measured in ohms (Ω).

Sensitivity, on the other hand, corresponds to a measure of the volume emitted by a headphone for a specific power level. It is measured in dB SPL/mW or dB SPL/V.

These two parameters are important because together they will influence both the output level of the monitoring headphones and their frequency response.

The problem is that again, manufacturers are not always very clear about these two figures:

• the impedance always varying depending on the signal frequency, the value in Ohms displayed on the technical sheets is always an average;
• the unit is not always indicated for sensitivity;
• sensitivity is sometimes simply omitted from the technical sheet;
• etc.

So what to do?

If you want to delve deeper into the subject to ensure that your headphones will best match the rest of your equipment, I recommend reading my detailed article on the impedance and sensitivity of audio headphones.

However, for a simpler and perhaps more pragmatic version, here’s how to choose your headphones based on these two parameters:

Choosing the impedance of your studio headphones

First, let’s agree: there is no good or bad impedance value.

For example, a good headphone can have either a high or low impedance.

However, what is important to understand is that depending on the equipment you will connect your headphones to, the impedance can play a crucial role in the maximum volume that it can provide.

For example, it is very unlikely that a 600 Ohm headphone can be used under good conditions if you connect it to a USB-powered interface or to a phone: very likely, the volume will be (very) low.

With a 32 Ohm headphone, on the other hand, no problem at all…

But then what impedance to choose?

Here is a table that summarizes, in a simplified way, the impedance you should aim for based on your usage.

Choosing the sensitivity of your studio headphones

Sensitivity is a somewhat more complicated subject, especially since (as I mentioned a bit earlier) manufacturers are not always clear about the values they indicate.

As long as you are looking for studio headphones and not an audiophile headphone paired with a specific headphone amplifier, the simplest thing is not to spend too much time looking at this parameter.

Indeed, if you correctly choose the impedance of your monitoring headphones, and if they are among the standard studio models (typically, the headphones from my selection a bit further down in the article) — then you will not encounter any problems.

That said, you may want to connect your headphone(s) to a dedicated amplifier rather than to your audio interface, for example if you need more headphone outputs, or to enjoy better sound quality.

👉 In this case, don’t forget to check out my file on headphone amplifiers.

The comfort of the headphones

Believe it or not, if you buy headphones for mixing or recording in your studio, you will probably keep them on your head for extended periods of time.

It is therefore important to identify if the headphones are comfortable. So pay attention to comments on this aspect to avoid ending up with headphones that are too tight on your head or that are too warm.

Especially if you wear glasses.

Next, beyond the question of comfort when the monitoring headphones are worn on the head, it is also necessary to take into account the practicality of use.

For example:

• some headphones have a detachable cable, others do not;
• some headphones have a very long straight cable, while others offer shorter but coiled cables;
• some headphones are heavier than others;
• etc.

Note that some headphones come with accessories that allow you to customize the experience: choice of multiple cables, additional ear pads in a different material…

The connectivity of studio headphones

Of course, it is important to pay attention to the available connections on the headphones.

To connect your headphones to studio equipment, such as an interface or certain guitar amplifiers, you will need a 6.35 mm jack connection (1/4″ jack). This is the most robust connection, which is why it is used.

However, if you want to connect your headphones to devices like smartphones, it will also be useful to have access to a 3.5 mm jack connection (mini-jack).

Generally, most headphones come with adapters, which greatly simplifies the choice.

Moreover, if you buy one of the headphones I recommend in this article, you should not have any particular problems: they all come with this kind of adapter.

However, pay attention to this “connectivity” aspect if you are considering other models, to avoid unpleasant surprises.

The price of studio headphones

Necessarily, price is always a selection criterion. So I am stating the obvious by saying “take the price into account when choosing your DAW headphones”.

However, I wanted to draw your attention to the fact that there is no absolute relationship between the price and the quality of headphones.

At least, nothing allows you to assert beforehand that a 120 euro headphone is better than an 80 euro headphone.

So what is the real price of a good studio headphone?

Clearly, avoid the low-end, unless you really have no choice.

Sure, there are some headphones like the K240 mkII from AKG that allow for mixing in good conditions at a relatively modest price, but let’s say that to have a good professional studio headphone, you generally need to aim for at least 80 – 150 euros.

Above 150, however, I find that we are moving towards really high-end studio headphones, or audiophile headphones.

Sure, they can provide very good sound quality, and I actually recommend some in this article — but let’s not forget that a headphone is never perfect. So unless budget is not an issue for you, know that there is no major problem in sticking to more standard prices, which will already give you access to very good recording or mixing headphones, more than sufficient if you are just starting out.

The best studio and home studio headphones

To help you in your search, here is a selection of 10 of the best professional studio headphones.

Of course, there are other good headphones, but these are, in my opinion, among the reliable references that will undoubtedly satisfy you.

1. AKG K240 MKII

Brand: AKG
Type: Semi-open
Frequency response: 15 – 25,000 Hz
Impedance: 55 Ohms

My main recommendation for people with a small budget looking for a good headphone for mixing.

With a nice and recognizable design, the K240 MKII from AKG is flexible and quite comfortable: it doesn’t squeeze the head too much, even if you wear glasses.

It comes with additional velvet pads that you can install to replace the already installed faux leather pads to maximize comfort (at least, that’s what I did with mine).

In terms of sound: necessarily, given the price, it can’t be perfect. That said, the AKG K240 MKII offers sound with good definition and is especially well-balanced.

As a result, it may seem a bit dull because it doesn’t try to enhance the sound it delivers — which is a good thing for a headphone dedicated to mixing and mastering.

The bass is present but not overly emphasized, which makes them difficult to adjust in my opinion: you can feel that you are not on a closed headphone.

The stereo image, on the other hand, is good and wide: a real pleasure, even if it lacks a bit of precision in the mids.

In the end, a good open studio headphone, especially for beginners.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the K240 MKII on : Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

2. beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohms

Brand: beyerdynamic
Type: Closed
Frequency response: 5 – 35,000 Hz
Impedance: 80 Ohms

The DT 770 is a classic among classics when it comes to professional studio headphones.

It is truly the ultimate monitoring headphone for the studio and home studio.

The build quality is solid, reinforced by a high-quality metal frame.

The design, also recognizable (“oh look, a beyerdynamic headphone!”), is pleasant and aesthetic: the headphone exudes seriousness.

By default, the DT 770 comes with velour pads that are particularly comfortable: it is therefore pleasant to wear, even if it can slightly squeeze the head over time. Nothing unbearable, though.

In terms of sound, I find it truly magnificent: it’s hard to find anything to criticize about such detailed sound.

Admittedly, the stereo image is more focused than what you might get on an open headphone, but the DT 770 allows for critical listening without any problem.

Its bass reproduction, clean and without distortion, allows for effective checking and mixing of the lower part of the frequency spectrum of your mix.

It also isolates very well from external sounds, making it particularly useful for recording — however, it is one of the closed headphones that I would rather trust for tackling a mix.

And if you want a good professional audio headphone for music production or for non-studio use, the DT 770 from beyerdynamic will also find its place at your home (as a side note, I even bought one for my wife…).

👉 Click here to compare prices for the DT 770 on : Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

3. Audio Technica ATH-M50x

Brand: Audio Technica
Type: Closed
Frequency response: 15 – 28,000 Hz
Impedance: 38 Ohms

Another commonly used headphone in the studio and home studio, which is somewhat of an alternative to the DT 770 mentioned above.

Evolution of the M50, it features a frame with quite a few plastic parts, but very sturdy (unless you mistreat it, of course).

The pads are made of faux leather, and they can get a bit warm over time — without being unbearable, though.

The headphone surrounds the ear well without being too tight and offers good isolation, allowing you to easily focus on the sound.

Finally, to conclude on the physical aspect, it comes with two cables: one is straight, and the other is coiled, allowing you to choose the one that suits you best.

In terms of sound, the rather low impedance allows the M50X to be adapted to most systems: audio interfaces, PCs, smartphones…

The sound is pleasant and lively, with bass that is somewhat emphasized but very clean: no unwanted saturation. Note that this boost in bass makes it a very good headphone for studio recording, as it helps the person recording to feel the rhythm well.

I also find it nice as a DAW headphone for beatmaking or music production in general, as the sound is really pleasant and clear.

The average stereo image and a slight dip in the mids mean that theoretically, it is not supposed to be perfect for mixing — that said, mixes done on this headphone tend to translate well on other listening systems.

That’s why I find this M50X extremely versatile, ultimately: for me, it’s one of the best closed studio headphones in this price range.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the ATH-M50X on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

4. Sennheiser HD 280 PRO

Brand: Sennheiser
Type: Closed
Frequency response: 8 – 25,000 Hz
Impedance: 64 Ohms

A widely used headphone in studios and very interesting for recording, despite some flaws.

In terms of build quality, the HD 280 PRO from Sennheiser checks the boxes: it is made of plastic, but it lasts over time.

It comes with a coiled cable, which is nice despite the fact that it is unfortunately not detachable.

The attenuation is very good (32 dB), which is ideal for avoiding headphone bleed into microphones during recording.

In terms of sound, the HD 280 PRO is really effective for recording but clearly not my first choice for mixing.

It is indeed not quite balanced, with a slight boost in bass on some models but especially underrepresented highs starting from 7 or 8,000 Hz.

As a result, the mids tend to stand out, which can be bothersome for some people but is practical for hearing the sound well when recording in a somewhat noisy context (like drum recording, for example).

Given the very reasonable price, the HD 280 Pro is a good investment if you are looking for a headphone for recording.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the HD 280 PRO on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

5. beyerdynamic DT 880 250 Ohms

Brand: beyerdynamic
Type: Semi-open
Frequency response: 5 – 35,000 Hz
Impedance: 250 Ohms

A quality headphone — somewhat the counterpart of the DT 770 mentioned above, but in a semi-open configuration.

Unsurprisingly, it features the characteristic velour pads that prevent the headphone from getting too hot when worn for a long time, as well as the same sturdy metal frame that inspires confidence.

The whole thing is made in Germany, and you can tell.

Beyond being comfortable, the DT 880 offers a pleasant and very detailed sound, like many of the other DT models from the same brand.

Neutral in the bass and mids, it does have a peak presence in the highs, between 4 and 10 kHz, which makes it a bit bright.

However, it is possible to hear an enormous amount of detail in the sound, and its open design makes it an excellent headphone for mixing and mastering.

Be careful, however, with the 250 Ohm impedance, which is a bit high and may be limiting for USB-powered interfaces or for use on a smartphone.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the DT 880 on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

6. Sennheiser HD 650

Brand: Sennheiser
Type: Open
Frequency response: 10 – 41,000 Hz
Impedance: 300 Ohms

Admittedly a bit expensive, the HD 650 from Sennheiser is nevertheless one of the reference audio headphones.

The build quality is reliable and solid, and the headphone is generally comfortable and lightweight, with velvet pads.

The cable is detachable but features a somewhat unique connector (on the headphone side, of course — on the other side, it is a standard jack plug).

Necessarily, since the HD 650 is an open studio headphone, there is a lot of bleed: it is nearly impossible to use it for recording.

However, for mixing or mastering a track, it is a very good choice as it allows for a lot of precision.

The sound is very neutral, well-balanced. The mids and highs are natural; the bass is present but perhaps not emphasized enough.

The stereo image, on the other hand, is excellent.

Overall, the HD 650 offers a clear and lively sound, and it will allow you to hear a lot of things you might not pay attention to on other headphones — which also makes it a good audiophile headphone.

Be careful, however, with the high impedance, which may not work with all sound cards… but you can definitely feel that this is a professional audio headphone.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the HD 650 on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

7. AKG K702

Brand: AKG
Type: Open
Frequency response: 10 – 39,800 Hz
Impedance: 62 Ohms

Another nice headphone from the AKG brand, made in Austria.

The K702 is particularly comfortable, even if you wear the headphone for a long time or if it is hot.

Notably, the detachable cable and the velvet pads installed by default are appreciated.

Moreover, to fully enjoy the sound of this headphone, it is important to have a good headphone amplifier.

Exit, therefore, and at least in my opinion, USB-powered interfaces — even if the volume seems correct, the sound quality will not be optimal.

If, on the other hand, you have a good headphone amplifier, the sound provided by the K702 is of very good quality, with a wide stereo image and a lot of definition.

In particular, its reproduction of sound depth is very good: it is easily possible to distinguish between a “close” sound and a “distant” sound.

Necessarily, the bass is less present than it would be on a closed headphone, but listening reveals many details, which is ideal for managing the balance of instruments in a mixing context.

In other words, a good studio headphone for mixing and mastering.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the K702 on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

8. Audio Technica ATH-R70Xa

Brand: Audio Technica
Type: Open
Frequency response: 5 – 40,000 Hz
Impedance: 470 Ohms

A rather high-end studio headphone, of professional quality, from Audio Technica, with a relatively high price but still fairly accessible.

The design is modern but particular, especially regarding the headband: not everyone will like it.

The headphone is comfortable, and the cable is detachable, like on the ATH-M50X we talked about earlier.

However, be careful if you buy this headphone: the impedance is very high (470 Ω) — which will prevent it from being used properly with smartphones or USB-powered interfaces.

In my opinion, it competes with the Sennheiser HD 650, the sound is precise and of high quality.

The entire frequency spectrum is balanced, with excellent reproduction of dynamics and details, allowing you to approach mixing and mastering with confidence. The stereo image is quite wide as well, which is appreciated.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the ATH-R70Xa on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

9. Sony MDR 7506

Brand: Sony
Type: Closed
Frequency response: 10 – 20,000 Hz
Impedance: 63 Ohms

An alternative to the HD 280 Pro for recording, although I would give a slight advantage to the latter.

Common in studios, the design is quite basic: it is primarily a functional monitoring headphone.

Since it is closed, there is not too much sound leakage to the outside.

I say “not too much” because there is still a bit.

Clearly, the MDR 7506 is not at all made for mixing, but it is often used for recording.

The sound is focused on the mids/highs, which can quickly become aggressive.

But at the same time, thanks to this excess of slightly bright frequencies, the MDR 7506 fulfills its role as a recording headphone well since it helps to hear the mix over the artistic performance.

Moreover, it is also very practical for detecting certain issues during editing.

A reference headphone, therefore, but with flaws that one must be well aware of before acquiring it.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the MDR 7506 on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

10. OLLO Audio X1

Brand: OLLO Audio
Type: Open
Frequency response: 5 – 22,000 Hz
Impedance: 32 Ohms

Finally, the last option on this list is a very nice open headphone from OLLO Audio.

In fact, I personally use the previous version, the S5X, which I even tested on the Projet Home Studio pages.

The X1 being in the same vein, I find it to be one of the best headphones for mixing in the studio in this price range: the sound is very high quality and offers a wealth of useful details for mixing and mastering.

The frequency response is good, and the headphone even comes with a calibration plugin that allows you to further improve it.

The distortion is almost non-existent, everything sounds very good, and on top of that, the headphone is comfortable!

Sure, it’s not cheap, but if you really want to invest in a very good headphone without going for ultra high-end headphones at €1000, I find that this Ollo X1 is truly an extremely interesting option.

👉 Click here to compare prices for the Ollo X1 on: Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

Comparison table of the best studio headphones

To simplify the choice, I have grouped all the headphones from the selection above into a comparison table.

Tip: you can scroll horizontally through the table using the scrollbar (on PC) or by dragging it left and right (on smartphone).

	AKG K240 MKII	beyerdynamic DT 770	Audio-Technica ATH-M50X	Sennheiser HD 280 PRO	beyerdynamic DT 880	Sennheiser HD 650	AKG K702	Audio-Technica ATH-R70Xa	Sony MDR 7506	OLLO Audio X1
Image
Type	Semi-open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Semi-open	Open	Open	Open	Closed	Open
Frequency response	15 – 25,000 Hz	5 – 35,000 Hz	15 – 28,000 Hz	8 – 25,000 Hz	5 – 35,000 Hz	10 – 41,000 Hz	10 – 39,800 Hz	5 – 40,000 Hz	10 – 20,000 Hz	5 – 22,000 Hz
Impedance	55 Ω	80 Ω	38 Ω	64 Ω	250 Ω	300 Ω	62 Ω	470 Ω	63 Ω	32 Ω
Comment	Very good mixing headphone for a small budget	A reference headphone for recording, but also for mixing	Very good closed headphone for recording or music production	Standard studio headphone for recording	Very good headphone for mixing or mastering	A very commonly used headphone for mixing. Note that the impedance is high	Very effective for mixing and mastering, but requires a good headphone amplifier	Very good open headphone, very detailed	A reference for recording headphones, even if it clearly has its flaws	A high-end headphone for mixing and mastering
See price on	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass	Thomann Amazon Woodbrass

Studio Headphones FAQ

Beyond the studio headphone recommendations above, here are some answers to common questions about studio headphones.

Do you absolutely need two headphones, one open and one closed?

Absolutely? No!

You can very well record and mix, for example, with an Audio Technica M50X, which is a closed headphone.

However, I think that in a home studio aiming for a somewhat “professional”, serious approach, it makes a lot of sense to have both a closed headphone dedicated to recording, and an open headphone dedicated to mixing and mastering due to its greater neutrality and wider stereo image.

Can you use a Bluetooth headphone?

For recording, why not, although it may add latency.

For mixing and mastering, definitely not: it is important to have a high-quality conversion stage to avoid degrading the signal. On this point, I would therefore trust the converters of your audio interface…

Can you use Beats / Bose / [non-studio oriented headphone brand] headphones?

99% of the time, it’s a bad idea.

If you have no choice, no budget, and you already have a pair of Beats headphones and want to make music, of course: use them.

But in principle, it’s better to avoid: commercial headphones aimed primarily at music listening are designed to make music as enjoyable as possible.

In particular, by artificially boosting the bass.

So avoid these headphones, especially for mixing and mastering, and rather opt for a real professional studio headphone.

Is there a break-in period for new headphones?

Just like new speakers or a new car, some headphones need a break-in period.

That is to say, before delivering maximum performance, they require an adaptation time.

For this, the best is to leave the headphone plugged in alone, with music playing on loop and/or pink noise. There is no “standard” duration, but you can consider that for at least the first 20-50 hours of listening, it will not be at its maximum quality level.

Feel free to do this break-in in successive volume steps, rather than subjecting it to high volumes right from the start, which could, at least theoretically, have a negative effect.

Can you use a closed headphone for mixing and mastering?

Ideally, for this type of application, it is best to use open headphones.

As I mentioned earlier in the article, they allow for a wider stereo image and are generally flatter across the frequency spectrum (at the expense of often slightly less present bass).

However, if your budget, for example, does not allow it, you can very well imagine mixing with a closed headphone.

Be careful, though, about the model you choose to avoid ending up with something that is not suitable.

Note: in the selection of closed headphones in this article, I indicate those that can also be used for mixing.

Can you use studio headphones to listen to music?

Yes, you can very well use your studio headphones to listen to music, whether in an audiophile context or simply while commuting to work.

Typically, I regularly use my M50X when I take the train or during calls from my PC.

Depending on the headphone, it is possible that the experience may not be perfect: indeed, studio headphones tend to be quite neutral, whereas some headphones more oriented towards casual listening will be more colored, which will have a positive effect on the music.

Can you use active noise-canceling headphones?

No, for me this type of headphone should be avoided in the studio.

Indeed, since this type of headphone influences the frequency response and simply the sound content that is emitted, it is not recommended to use them in a studio or home studio.

Are there studio headphones with a microphone?

No, to my knowledge, there are no (good) headphones dedicated to studio use that also have a microphone.

What is the best audio headphone for rap / rock / techno…?

In the studio/home studio world, audio headphones are not associated with particular music styles.

Potentially, as long as the headphones provide the right information, you can use them for any genre.

That said, if you make music where the bass is really important, it might be worth investing, for a first model, in headphones that go low enough like the M50X.

In conclusion

There you go, you now have all the necessary information to choose your next professional studio headphones, whether for a DAW-oriented use, beatmaking, recording, or mixing.

👉 If you also need speakers for your studio, check out my detailed guide on monitoring speakers.

Otherwise:

👉 Keep reading by checking out my other home studio equipment recommendations 😉