For aspiring music producers, one of the questions that they ask the most is about the best headphones for mixing. While it is not entirely ideal to use headphones only for mixing, using one while producing music is still necessary. Whether for portability, convenience, or just noise considerations, getting a pair of headphones would be of great help to you. This is exactly why you should look for the right product that would suit your preference.
Since there are a lot of mixing headphones on the market, choosing the best mixing headphones might be quite difficult. In this article, we carefully evaluate the best mixing and mastering headphones that you can buy for yourself or you favorite audiophile.
Best Headphones for Mixing, Mastering, and Music Production
1. Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones are often called the industry standard in close-backed recording headphones. They are used by professionals and have premium sound quality at a moderate price range. They are one of the most popular studio headphones around and feature unparalleled sound quality.
These headphones offer extended frequency response and warm, natural sound reproduction. The close-backed design with up to 32 dB attenuation of outside sound provides aggressive noise isolation. They have a frequency response from 8 to 25000 Hz.
2. Sony MDR-7506 Professional Headphones
Sony is another very popular recording headphone brand. The MDR7506 model features powerful, detailed sound enabled by the neodymium magnets and 40-millimeter drivers. They feature rugged construction and the 9.8 ft cord should give you plenty of give. These are a favorite of DJs.
3. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones feature advanced build quality and engineering. It is designed for studio mixing and tracking. Built with proprietary 45-millimeter large-aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, these studio headphones provide exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range with deep accurate bass response Moreover, this product is tuned for enhanced low-frequency performance. What we love about it are the circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation even in loud environments.
4. Shure SRH1840 – Lightweight Worldclass Headphones
Shure makes amazing microphones and with the Shure SRH1840 they made a great headphone, too. The individually matched 40 mm neodymium drivers provide unparalleled acoustic performance with smooth, extended high-end and accurate bass on the low-end. Since these are open-backed headphones, they allow for a more natural listening experience which means they are ideal for mastering since you get a good idea of the stereo field around you. The replaceable velour ear cups are extremely comfortable for hours of mixing and mastering.
5. OneOdio Wired Over Ear Headphones
Commencing our list of the best headphones for mixing is the OneOdio Wired Over Ear Headphones. It features soft padded ear cushions that are designed to monitor headphones comfort and even noise isolation. You can adjust and stretch the headband for you to find your desired angle. You will surely enjoy its clear sound and comfort.
6. Beyerdynamic 990 PRO Headphones – Wide Frequency Response
The Beyerdynamic 990 PRO open studio headphones are open over-ear headphones that are ideal for professional mixing, editing, and mastering. Thanks to its strong bass and treble sounds, this product is perfect for studio applications. The soft and circumaural velour ear pads would ensure high-wearing comfort.
7. OneOdio Over Ear Headphone
You can enjoy clear sound and comfort with OneOdio Over Ear Headphone. This product features soft padded ear cushions that are designed to monitor headphones comfort and even noise isolation. You can adjust and stretch the headband for you to find your desired angle. This product comes with an audio jack.
8. AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone
The AKG K1000 headphones have been a favorite of audiophiles for years and now they came out with the AKG K 701 headphones. These studio headphones are a great choice when you are looking for some old-school style while mixing. It features a Varimotion diaphragm that delivers a wide dynamic range, high sound level, and increased sensitivity. Its semi-open design provides a solid bass range. The 3D Form ear pads ergonomically fit around your ears.
9. OneOdio A71 Wired Over Ear Headphones
With OneOdio A71 Wired Over Ear Headphones, you can enjoy clear sound and comfort. This product features soft padded ear cushions that are designed to monitor headphones comfort and even noise isolation. You can adjust and stretch the headband for you to find your desired angle. This product comes with an audio jack.
10. OneOdio Pro-50 Over Ear Headphones
With OneOdio Pro-50 Over Ear Headphones, you can actually hear every detail. Its voice coil and driver diagram deliver professional-quality sound. Its memory-protein earmuffs, combined with its soft leather headband, are designed to disperse pressure and heat build-up. This headphone features reversible housing and a rugged headband for free-style monitoring.
11. Tascam TH-MX2 Closed-Back Studio Mixing Headphones
The Tascam TH-MX2 Closed-Back Studio Mixing Headphones feature a lightweight and closed-back design. This product consists of a tightly stitched and padded headband and ear bands for stylish comfort. It also has a stainless steel framework and a set of adjustable arms, adding to its durability and functionality.
12. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio Mixing Headphones
Due to its high-quality and high-resolution sound, we think that the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio Mixing Headphones are also a great choice. This product is a closed over-ear headphone, making it ideal for professional monitoring, mixing, and recording. The headphones come in a set that includes a straight stereo cable, a drawstring bag, and an extension cable, among others.
13. LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over Ear Professional Headphones
Completing our list is the LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over Ear Professional Headphones. These are pro-grade back over-ear headphones that have been designed for live monitoring and mixing. The NdFeB Magnet system of this product offers an immediate dynamic response. In addition to this, this product also features telescoping stainless steel arms with a sizing scale.
14. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X – Best Budget Studio Headphones
Completing our list is the Audio-Technica ATH-M20X studio headphones which are our most budget-friendly studio headphone option on this list. Coming in at under $50, these headphones by Audio-Technica still deliver a punch in sound quality. They feature over-ear cups that swivel over a range of 15°, a padded headband, and a 3 foot side-exiting cord. A great option if you’re looking for cheaper studio headphones that are still quality.
What to Look For in Headphones for Mixing
Before you buy the best studio headphones for mixing, it is only important that you would get to be acquainted with the features that should be present in an ideal headphone that is meant for mixing. This way, you can conveniently choose the right product that would allow you to listen precisely and accurately the music that you will be mixing. In addition to this, getting to know these three features will allow you to gauge what product truly has the best quality. Without further ado, here are three of the many features that you should look for when picking the best headphones for mixing.
Comfort
For starters, you should look for headphones that could provide you with the comfort that you would need. This is one of the most important features that you should consider because it may directly affect your workflow. When you have a pair of headphones that will make your feel uncomfortable, you may only feel fatigued and irritated. Your productivity will surely be affected by uncomfortable headphones. Hence, we suggest that you make sure that the padding material of the ear pads should be soft and plush so that it would be great to wear on your ears. Also, try to avoid using headphones that may cause heat build-up in your ears, especially if you will be working for a longer period. Also, you have to ensure that the headphones are not clamped too much that you would feel its heaviness. Therefore, choose the headphones that do not fit your head too tightly.
Sound Quality
If you want to produce quality music, make sure that the sound quality of your headphones should also be top-notch. While it is really rare to find one, you should look for headphones that would provide the most natural sound. By producing a natural sound, your headphones should be able to deliver all the frequencies at a minimal coloration. A precise and clear sound is then produced with this kind of setup. There are a few things you want to watch out for for in terms of sound quality.
Impedance
Headphone impedance is usually in the 8-600 ohm range, with most consumer headphones having 32-ohm impedance. The higher the impedance, the better the sound quality and accuracy of the sound, but more power that is required to run them. If it is too high, you will need to add external headphone amplifiers to amplify the power to the required levels.
Frequency
Human ears can hear frequencies between 20 Hz to 20 kHz. All of the headphones on this list cover that range and some exceed it.
Type of Headphone
Finally, you should also consider the type of headphones you will be buying. The best headphones for mixing come in two types: open back and closed back. Both of these headphones are great for mixing, but they have their own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Open-back headphones
Open-back headphones allow some sound to leak out while you are playing your music. However, you may not be able to determine which noise comes from the external sound or the vocals. Open-back designs are a great option for long mixing and recording sessions since they are lighter and less fatiguing compared to closed-back designs.
Closed-back headphones
Closed-back headphones deliver better sound isolation which is great for hearing what the sound really sounds like. They provide the most realistic sound, especially if the recorded sound will be amplified on large speakers such at a theater, club, or even home studios.
The three features that we have just discussed above are just some of the many things that you should put in mind when you are looking through various headphones for mixing. Knowing these characteristics will always be relevant to you as the buyer so that you can easily identify what products have the best quality.
Conclusion
Whether you are a professional music producer or an amateur sound mixer, having a good pair of headphones is really a must. This way, you can create the ideal music based on your liking. The best headphones for mixing come with excellent features that would immensely help you while producing music. They do not only serve their purpose of bringing clear and precise sound, but they would also make you a better music producer or even sound mixer in the long run.
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