Want to know the best headphones for music production? Look no further. These headphones have been selected based on their sound quality, comfort, and price.
Producing music is a passion for many people. You need to have the right equipment to make the best possible recordings. Studio headphones are an essential piece of equipment for any music producer.
They allow you to hear the details of your mix in great clarity and help to provide you with an accurate representation of what your music sounds like.
Read on for the 5 best headphones for music production. Whether you are a professional musician or just starting out, these headphones will help you take your recordings to the next level! Let’s get started!
What to look for when purchasing headphones for music production:
As any music producer knows, having high-quality headphones is essential for getting the best sound possible. But with so many different types and brands on the market, it can be hard to know which ones to buy. So here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for the best headphones for music production.
First, you’ll want to make sure that the headphones are comfortable to wear for long periods. Production can often involve sitting in one spot for hours, so you don’t want your headphones to cause discomfort.
Second, you’ll want to look for headphones with flat frequency response. This means that the headphones will reproduce all frequencies evenly, rather than boosting or attenuating specific frequencies. Finally, you’ll want to choose headphones that have low distortion. This ensures that your sound is accurate and true to the source material. And finally, as a personal recommendation, they should be durable enough to withstand the rigors of frequent use. With all of these factors in mind, now that you know what to look for, let’s look at the best studio headphones for music production!
The Best Headphones for Music Production: The List
Here are the five best headphones for music production, based on sound quality, comfort, and price:
Sony MDR-7506 – Industry Legend
Around for over 30 years, the Sony MDR-7506 has been an old classic and professional-grade headphone popular among music producers. Artists like Mike Shinoda, Paul Van Dyk, and Hans Zimmer have had MDR-7506s in their arsenal since the beginning, and for a good reason. It has a well-balanced sound signature with clear treble and midrange frequencies and a tight bass response.
The Sony MDR-7506 is also very comfortable to wear for long periods, and in addition, the Sony MDR-7506 is very durable. Many producers hold on to these for years and put them through the wringer before replacing them, usually with another pair of MDR-7506s! Best part? They’re very affordable compared to some other headphones on this list.
The Sony MDR-7506 headphones have a frequency response of 10 Hz to 20 kHz and a gold-plated mini-plug connector. The headphones also come with a carrying case and a 1/4″ adapter. Overall, the Sony MDR-7506 is an excellent headphone for music production. We highly recommend these for a new pair of headphones for anyone in the market. For a more in-depth review of why you should choose these, go here.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro – Superior Sound, Excellent Quality
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones are trusted because they sound great and are built to last. Beyerdynamic is a company that manufactures high-quality audio products, and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is an affordable introduction to the Beyerdynamic brand. This particular set of headphones is great for music production because of its superior sound quality. It comes in two versions: a straight 80-ohm version and a coiled cable 250-ohm version. Differences in sound between the two are subtle but noticeable.
The DT 770 Pros have been designed to provide accurate and clear sound. Reviews on Amazon have praised it for not ‘coloring the sound,’ which is essential when looking for an exact sounding mix. Other reviews praise their comfort and durability. They’re a bit more expensive than the Sony MDR750six but well worth the investment. Even better, when you view them on Amazon, they can sometimes be severely marked down.
Sennheiser HD-206 – Studio Reference For Under 50 Dollars
Believe your eyes because this is indeed a pair of decent studio monitor headphones for less than 50 dollars. At an average price of 30-40 on Amazon, these earphones are the cheapest entry on this list. Sennheiser is a trusted name in audio equipment, and the HD-206 studio headphones are a great example of the company’s commitment to quality sound. If you are a bedroom producer and cannot afford to spring for more expensive headphones, you cannot go wrong with the HD-206s. The sound in these is very balanced, and while sure, the sound doesn’t come close to 200+ headphones, you’ll be able to make decent mixes with these.
Sennheiser HD-280 – The Pair I Personally Use
As opposed to the Sennheisers I previously mentioned, these are the studio headphones that I personally use and have been satisfied with since my purchase. These Sennheisers produce a warm natural sound. They’re intended to block out noise so you can focus on your mix without being distracted by outside noises. That last point is worth noting because not only did I have trouble hearing someone speak directly next to me while wearing these, but even my own voice sounded muted.
I felt a little embarrassed after switching to the Sennheiser from using bad headphones to mix a classical piece I was working on. In the Sennheisers, the sound was so clean and accurate that it immediately identified issues in my track that needed to be addressed. The other headphones were coloring my mix in all the wrong ways. Comfort-wise, these are a must-have because of their lightweight and pleasant feel, and I’d strongly suggest them to anybody looking for a decent pair.
Focal Listen Professional Closed-Back Circul-aural Headphones – Best Under 300
Focal’s Listen Professional Closed-Back Circul-aural Headphones are great headphones for music production. Focal claims its headphone technology is backed up by its years of producing high-quality transducers. The fruits of their labor and research manifest in the Focal Listen Professional. From their product description:
“The speaker driver has been given a 100% Mylar suspension, whereas the central dome is composed of a Mylar-titanium alloy to provide more rigidity and extended frequency response in the upper end of the spectrum. Thus, the moving part is extremely light, enabling the transducer to exceed 40kHz on a flat baffle. The reproduction of the bass and sub-bass registers also received a great deal of attention. The team of engineers managed to combine two factors which are hardly compatible: a tuning frequency which is as low as possible and extremely low distortion (0.3% at 1kHz – 100dB).”
The listen professional earphones have excellent build quality, sound, durability, and the ability to wear them for hours with minor ear strain. These are currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Several users claim that they’re the best pair of headphones they’ve ever owned, with one user claiming that these are the ‘best under $500’.
Although their comfort has been praised by most reviewers, not everyone agrees on that point. Most customers seem to adore these headphones, but there are a few isolated gripes about their comfort. Therefore, if you have a big head like I do (I can’t wear most caps – if that gives you an idea!), be cautious that they may not meet your needs.
The Best Headphones for Music Production: Conclusion
No matter which headphones you choose to master your mix, you’ll be safe with these tried-and-true headphones. Any of these would make a fantastic addition to your studio. With the correct pair of headphones, you’ll be able to take your music production to new heights!
Do you have a favorite pair of headphones? Do you feel we made a mistake in our recommendations of the best headphones for music production? Let us know in the comments below! We hope this list was helpful and that you found the right pair of headphones for your needs. As always, thanks for reading, and happy mixing!
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