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Top 6 of the Best Headphones Today
In order to enjoy the soothing effects of music and feel its up-beating bits, a professional musician or simply those ordinary music listeners need to understand the importance of selecting the best headphones.
Bose headphones have been considered as the best kind of listening gear before but most teens love the usefulness of Beats by Dre these days. However, do they really deserve to be called the best? Are they really good enough for any home or professional studio use? Finding the answers can’t be determined straightly by seeing them alone. Many manufacturers producing various different studio headphones and all of them need a deeper investigation.
To make a vigorous exploration, there is one thing you can do – make a detailed review inside and out. Does it sound difficult to you? This article can help you make it and will assist you as well on how to buy the best studio headphones you ever dreamed of.
How to Pick the Best
To understand better how to buy the best and how can you say that what you get is really the best, follow these measures:
+ FREQUENCY RESPONSE: The best frequency response of good headphones ranging from 20-20,000Hz, so if you’re planning to get the perfect pair of gear choose the one that sticks to this range. However, some headphones extend the range at both ends to provide deeper responses.
+ SOUND STAGING AND IMAGING: Sound staging and imaging represent the ability of headphones to make precise sonic stage and image right just within your mind. If a headphone distracts you a lot due to bad performance then change that one. The good imaging and sound staging headphones make a great impression.
+ IMPEDANCE: Impedance signifies the amount of power needed to drive a pair of headphones in the right way. Headphones with low-impedance require less power to drive, it can easily be used with devices that have weaker amp. On the other hand, too much amplification is subjected to blow-outs.
+ DRIVERS: Drivers are used to converting the electrical signal fed of the headphones into an audible sound signal perceived by the human ear. Drives can be the most common moving coil, balanced armature, planar magnetic and other kinds. There are many different drivers of headphones; therefore, it is best to audit headphones first before buying.
Selecting the best headphones for studio recording is not as easy as you think because you might get devastated by hundreds of choices around. To make the decision easier for you, we have compiled some of the best studio headphones together with their detailed reviews and its valuable features.
Checklist before Buying Headphones
In order to get the right headphones for the right users, there should be a well-detailed checklist. A checklist can help you find the best one with ease and it can help you stick to your plan. Thus, your mind will become focus on something you really want no matter what.
>>> CLOSE AND OPEN BACK CONSIDERATIONS: Always remember that if you consider getting over-the-ear headphones because it is the most common today, this kind falls into two categories: the open-back and the close-back. The two has big differences so choose well.
>>> SIZE: Of course, don’t forget to consider the size because not all headphones are suitable for you. If you just buy anything, you will never get the kind of comfort you want.
>>> CORD STYLE: Whether you want a straight or coiled headphone cable, make sure that the kind you want would not bothers you. Coiled offers you flexibility while straight one stays out of the way.
>>> SOUND LEAK: Always check the headphone before buying because when the sound leaks it can give you problems on recording and it can annoy the people around you as well.
>>> PRICE: For whatever types you want, make sure you can afford it.
6 Best Studio Headphones Review
Why You Should Choose These Headphones
Well, all of these above-listed headphones are packed with fantastic features. They are made with resilient materials to give you assurance they will last longer while providing you excellent coziness. These headphones are specifically created for professional use. In fact, they have been popular for many years because they provide exceptionally great result in recording, mixing and monitoring.
There are many other reasons why you need to choose these headphones, consider the following:
- They are made with closed-back design for excellent noise cancellation capability. This design makes them a perfect choice for recording and great for accurate monitoring during the recording process.
- All of these headphones are made of high-quality and durable materials. They have lightweight structure as well with long lasting performance.
- These headphones are featured with ultra-soft ear pads and headbands for incredible comfort. This will let you enjoy listening without giving an annoying feeling even how long the work will be.
- All these headphones are also good for home or studio use due to their superior audio performance, soundstage and extended warm bass.
- Some parts of these headphones are replaceable so you do not have to worry if you want your gear to stay.
Tips for Buying
| AKG K712 Pro | Lightweight, portable, great sound, comfortable | May feel flimsy at first |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | Precise, extended frequency range, accurate bass response | Proprietary cable connectors |
| Sony MDR7520 | Wide frequency response, good power handling capacity, excellent sound quality | Cable replacement issue |
| Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro | Improved bass response, rugged construction, excellent isolation | May feel hot when wear in summer |
| Shure SRH1540 | Tangle-free cable, superior acoustic performance, durable | Longer cable |
| Sennheiser HD380 Pro | Lightweight, comfortable, tough, replaceable parts | Ear pads issue |
1 – AKG K712 PRO
Overall:
The AKG K712 Pro headphone is perfect for precision listening, mixing and mastering. It is an over-ear type for maximum wearing comfort while enjoying a fatigue-free mixing and mastering. Headphones like this have a genuine soft leather headband. Soft leathers are important for lightweight and comfortable of many different users. The transducers of this device are carefully selected o give exceptional consistency and precise localization.
The AKG K712 Pro headphone also comes with a professional mini XLR connector for fast cable replacement.
Features and Value:
Great features of AKG K712 Pro include over-ear design for maximum wearing comfort even for longer sessions. It also used sophisticated open technology for spacious and fresh sound. Another great thing of this headphone is the revolutionary flat wire voice coil. This coil is great for incredible impulse and treble response. The gear is also packed with improved low-end performance in order to make sound imaging more powerful.
Review Summary:
If you want to search how the AKG K712 Pro headphone had gone, the result will surprise you. This headphone offers clean and crisp effect with no sound coloring or the so called bass mud. The coziness is amazing. The sound stage is wide and the perfect mids are warm. Headphone like this also has fair high-impedance and both noise cancelling and noise isolating great. This is why it was rated high by most headphone users worldwide.
Prices/ Reviews: AKG K712 PRO
2 – AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-M50X
Overall:
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is a professional studio monitor headphone. It has outstanding sound isolation even in noisy environments. This headphone has measurably lower impedance. Impedance is the electrical resistance of the gear. So when the impedance is lower, it will be easy for the user to get higher volume yet consumes less power.
Its driver unit is significantly bigger. The driver unit is the component of the device that produces sound and because this headphone has bigger driver, it is more powerful and capable in producing better bass as well.
Features and Value:
One reason why Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is great for studio recording is it provides exceptional clarity. Such clarity can be experienced throughout an extended frequency range that comes along with deep bass and accurate bass response. It also has circumaural design contours placed around the ears to achieve an excellent sound isolation. With its 90 degrees swiveling ear cups, you can do monitoring easily with durable and comfortable ear pad and headband materials.
Review Summary:
Most top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers love audio-technica ATH-M50X due to its critically acclaimed sonic performance. Its over-the-ear design provides exceptional coziness with ear cups that fully enclose the ears. This is why most buyers found no any sound leakage. The sound quality is crisp and the audio-technica ATH-M50X headphones are solidly built with great ergonomics. Most customer reviews found it a winner. You can see it for yourself.
Prices/ Reviews: AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-M50X
3 – SONY MDR7520
Overall:
The Sony MDR7520 is a professional headphone especially created for studio purposes. It is a closed-back or closed-ear type for great mixing and mastering. Having a design like this offer potential advantages for it is good for sound isolation and lower the levels of leakage. Closed-back models are a popular choice for most recording artists and recording engineers. Sony MDR7520 headphones work well on acoustic or low key, laid-back styles.
Features and Value:
This close-ear design headphone has 50mm high definition driver unit with LCP diaphragm that helps reproduce frequencies in an amazingly wide band. It has wide frequency response and high power handling capacity which means it will work with many types of customers and other professional music gears. The Sony MDR7520 headphone is made with a well-built housing with stereo Unimatch plug, gold connectors, OFC cord and packed with a soft case.
Review Summary:
This headphone scores highly on isolation and leakage. It offers clear, detailed and precise sound that even and ordinary user could appreciate. Despite of producing clarity, it gives a fatigue-free listening. The bass is tight and warm enough without any obvious coloration. This is a very good mirror for both tracking and mixing with nicely low impedance. This is what most users have been looking for in a headphone. The result? Excellent ratings.
Prices/ Reviews: SONY MDR7520
4 – BEYERDYNAMIC DT770 PRO
Overall:
Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro headphone is a closed reference type for full control and monitoring applications. It has been designed for critical music and sound monitoring. It is packed with single-sided cable that would make headphone handling easy. Byerdynamic products have been used by millions of audio professionals. This series has been designed to address listening in a wide variety of environments.
It has solidly built housing and it was optimized for use with portable devices. Headphones like this can deal can help you focus even in noisy surroundings.
Features and Value:
This headphone has closed diffuse-field system technology for advanced bass response. It offer high and mid-range reproduction with rugged headband construction. Its single-sided cable soft ear jack will help users feel an exceptionally comfortable experience. The 250 ohms DT770 Pro headphone is great for mixing applications in any home or professional studio. It has a superior quality sound and every parts of this kind are replaceable.
Review Summary:
You can see nearly thousands of different customer reviews of DT770 Pro headphone online and most of them give 5-star ratings. One reason that makes this one amazing is its capability of providing headphone users an extraordinary feel and experience in a very reasonable price. Sound quality is great, it blocks outside sound very well and it offers a comfortable fit. Compared to some other headphone products, it has better sound isolation and passive noise reproduction.
Prices/ Reviews: BEYERDYNAMIC DT770 PRO
5 – SHURE SRH1540
Overall:
The Shure SRH1540 headphone is a closed-back type. It delivers superior acoustic performance and featured expansive soundstage for clear and warm bass. This kind has been developed with aluminum alloy and being constructed with carbon fiber. It is lightweight and durable with highly comfortable ear pads. It is great for sound isolation and it has additional dual-exit cable to make you can have undisturbed listening enjoyment for years.
Features and Value:
This headphone utilizes 40 mm neodymium drivers that deliver superior acoustic performance. The neodymium magnets are more powerful than ferrite magnets and they are essential creating more bass and clearly high notes. Its ergonomic dual-frame padded headband is lightweight and truly adjustable for longer hours of comfortable use.
The Shure SRH1540 headphone is made with lightweight and durable materials with steel driver frame that is center pole vented to improve linearity and reduce internal resonance. Such kind of driver frame can also help in consistency of performance at all listening levels.
Review Summary:
Most listeners especially those professional audio engineers, musicians and audiophiles appreciate the superior audio performance of Shure SRH1540 headphones as well as its comfort, durability and clarity. These headphones have balanced sound, very lightweight and they are impressively sealed in both sound and comfort. They are also packed with tangle-free cable making them one of the most in demand headphone in the market.
Prices/ Reviews: SHURE SRH1540
6 – SENNHEISER HD380 PRO
Overall:
The Sennheiser HD380 Pro is a professional monitoring headphone which is designed to exceed the demand of the different quality headphone needs. This headphone offers an extended frequency response with enhanced sound pressure level in order to provide users an accurate sound reproduction. Headphones like this are lightweight, secure and have rugged design for comfortable listening experience even when the recording session takes too long.
Features and Value:
Having a headphone with excellent passive attenuation for ambient noise is what most recording engineer need the most. It is exceptionally lightweight and comfortable for any extended use. It has replaceable single-sided coiled cable being packed together with a jack connector and screw type adapter. The headphone also includes slimline carrying case and compatible many latest generation tablets.
Review Summary:
The sound quality, isolation, comfort, fit and durability is excellent. The shell case is hard and it has a good price. It also has a very good controlled bass, clear mids and decent highs with much clear linear sound. The Sennheiser HD380 Pro is the best closed cans for monitoring and recording live music. Most customers love the build quality, comfort and feel.
Prices/ Reviews: SENNHEISER HD380 PRO
How to Take Good Care Of Headphones
+ Using:
- Avoid too high or too low temperature.
- Avoid pulling on the end plug but snatch on the cable to remove them instead.
- Liquid and high humidity should be avoided.
- Consider the size of your eartips and make sure you have headphones that truly fit your ears comfortably.
- Wipe your headphones after use.
- Check for dirt and damage regularly.
- Replace certain parts if necessary.
+ Cleaning:
- Electronics and water don’t usually mix well so use only some soft cloths in cleaning. You can also try using a little soap.
- Use a small toothbrush or toothpick to get those hidden bits of dirt and grime.
- Dub down your gear with a towel afterwards.
- Focus your attention in those parts that come in contact of your ears more often.
- Always follow the headphone cleaning guideline for safer and better maintenance.
+ Storing:
- Store in a clean and dry place to avoid moist and further damages.
- Avoid extreme temperatures. Never leave your equipment sweltering or freezing somewhere.
- Follow official instructions if your headphone is foldable to reduce wear and tear.
- Use the case to keep the headphone organized.
- Cover them with cloth before putting in the case for proper storage.
Types of Headphones
You need to consider different types of headphones because there are different types of people. They are like shoes: it does not fit to everyone. Different headphones are designed for different users and of course, different purposes. Choosing the right headphones does not need you to be an expert audio enthusiast, having some knowledge about their different kinds is enough.
There is an element of utility, an element of comfort and an element of style. There is a multitude of headphone configurations and figuring out which one to buy is pretty much confusing. Headphones come in different shapes and sizes but there is commonly 5 basic types of it, here are them:
+ ON-EAR HEADPHONES: On-ear headphones or ear-pad headphones have pads that rest and seal on the outer part of the ears. They are also called as “supra-aural headphones”. The pads can sometimes be a donut-shaped or a flat pad that’s covering a donut shaped foam with holes. It can also be just foam pads. Generally, this type is less expensive, smaller and lighter. It is easy to carry and convenient for transportation as well.
+ OVER-EAR HEADPHONES: The over-ear headphones or the supra-Concha headphones have pads that rest on the inner bowl of the ears. It is also called around-the-ear headphones with feature ear cups that surround the entire ears. The ear cups or the cushions are often made of foam and covered by different materials such as leather. This headphone is meant to block out ambient noise. However, some people tackle about heaviness issue.
+ IN-EAR HEADPHONES: In-ear or insert headphones commonly have a small tip that seals in the ear canal. Many Smart phones include this type of headphone today as a standard offering inside the box so it is the kind that stands in the peak of popularity. This type offers an excellent price and performance ratio. It provides the highest amount of isolation and this kind of headphone is very good at providing quality listening.
+ EAR-BUDS OR EARPHONES: Ear-buds also called intra-concha earphones that rest in the inner bowls of the ears. Most earphones are considered open but there are some earphones that sound horrible to use and more likely to cause damage. Earphones are more common to use for exercise, sports, and other active applications.
+ WIRELESS HEADPHONES: Wireless headphones or earphones can be categorized as infrared headphones, radio-frequency headphones or Bluetooth headphones. Wireless headphones are great for outdoor use but they are also great for indoor use. This kind of headphones offers better sound fidelity and allows you to take the pair everywhere. The absence of wire makes people carry the gear anywhere with ease.
Conclusion
All the headphones above are the 6 best headphones in the market with a proven track of record already. These headphones offer amazingly great features, uses and advantages for three main purposes – recording, monitoring and mixing. If you are looking for headphones with excellent reviews inside and out, consider the tips above. All these are highly recommended for wise users. If you are one of them, get yours!
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