Best Headphones for Music Production
A good pair of headphones can be a key part to any producer’s gear collection. Headphones are useful in music production during the mixing and mastering stages. They can provide the listener with a second reference to compliment a pair of studio monitors. They are also useful to vocalists and instrumentalists during recording and tracking. In this guide, we’ll go over how dynamic (moving-coil) headphones work, their advantages and specific applications, and finally cover the best headphones for music production in 2019.
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Last Update: November 6th, 2019
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Top 3
10 of the Best Headphones for Music Production
Sony MDR-7506
The Sony MDR-7506 is a great choice for headphones geared towards music production, and at a very reasonable price. They contain neodymium rare-earth magnets, have a long cord that stretches to nearly 10 ft, and can be adapted to and from 1/8″ TRS to 1/4″ TRS with a threaded gold-plated adapter. Construction materials are decent, but not the greatest and may not stand up to rough use.
Bass response is slightly exaggerated, with mids and low treble being mostly flat. There is a peak at around 10 kHz, which can make vocal sibilance stand out a bit. They are good at isolating treble sounds, but lack in mid and bass noise isolation. They are moderately sized and will fit people with smaller heads. Check out the full review here.
Features & Specs
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ 40 mm drivers
♦ 9.8 ft long coiled cable, not detatchable
♦ 1/8″ gold-plated TRS connector with 1/4″ threaded adapter
♦ 10 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response
♦ Foldable
♦ Closed-back design
♦ 63 Ω – No amplifier needed
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x
The Audio-Technica ATH-M30x is like the little brother to the M50x we’ll cover later. This pair has smaller drivers and a smaller frequency response range. Like most of the others on this list, these headphones have a 10 ft coiled cable with 1/8″ TRS connector that can be adapted to 1/4″ with the included gold-plated adapter. Building materials are decent but nothing special. 47 Ω impedance is low enough so you won’t need an amp.
Frequency-wise, bass and mids response is great, being almost completely flat. Unfortunately,they fall short in the treble range. There is a very noticeable dip at about 5 kHz. This will really effect how your vocals sound on these headphones. All of this being said, the ATH-M30x is considerable less expensive pair of headphones than some on this list.
Features & Specs
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ 40 mm drivers
♦ Copper-clad aluminum voice coil
♦ 9.8 ft long coiled cable, not detatchable
♦ 1/8″ gold-plated TRS connector with 1/4″ threaded adapter
♦ 15 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response
♦ Foldable
♦ Closed-back design
♦ 47 Ω – No amplifier needed
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pros are perfect for those on a budget, with price comparable to the Sony MDR-7506s we covered above. They have a long coiled cord that stretches to nearly 10 ft, and the connector can be adapted to and from 1/8″ TRS to 1/4″ TRS with a threaded gold-plated adapter. Construction materials are mediocre at best, which may be reflected in the price. Much of the parts such as the padding can be replaced if they wear out, however. These headphones are low-impedance and will not require amplification.
Low-bass response is moderately exaggerated, and high-bass has a small dip at at around 190 Hz. Mids are overall mostly flat, with low-mids being slightly overemphasized. Low-treble is lacking slightly, but overall treble response is evenly balanced. These headphones are bulkier than normal but do fold making them less-than-ideal for portability, but it’s still doable.
Features & Specs
♦ Rare-earth magnets
♦ 9.8 ft long coiled cable, not detatchable
♦ 1/8″ gold-plated TRS connector with 1/4″ threaded adapter
♦ 8 Hz – 25 kHz frequency response
♦ Foldable
♦ Closed-back design
♦ 64 Ω – No amplifier needed
Sony MDR-V6
The Sony MDR-V6 are a step up from the MDR-7506 mentioned earlier. These have an extended frequency response range, use copper clad-aluminum for their voice coil wiring, and oxygen-free copper in the cable. They are also foldable, have a smaller frame, and are great for on-the-go musicians and producers alike.
Bass response from about 40 Hz to roughly 150 Hz is flat but well above zero, adding to an exaggerated low-end much like the MDR-7506. There is a slight peak between 400 – 500 Hz, but other than that, mid-range is flat. On the high end of the spectrum, there is a pronounced cut at 6 kHz with may take away from vocal sibilance. A large peak is also present at roughly 10 kHz.
Features & Specs
♦ 40 mm drivers
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ Copper-clad aluminum voice coil
♦ 9.8 ft long coiled cable, not detachable, oxygen-free copper conductors
♦ 1/8″ TRS silver-plated connector with 1/4″ threaded adapter
♦ 5 Hz – 30 kHz frequency response
♦ Foldable
♦ Closed-back design
♦ 63 Ω – No amplifier needed
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x (Best Headphones for Music Production – Budget)
The ATH-M50x headphones from Audio-Technica are seen by many mix engineers as top-notch. These come with three detachable cords in varying lengths. All connectors are gold-plated for enhanced corrosion resistance. The ATH-M50x have an extended frequency response and large 45 mm drivers for a full spectrum of sound. Construction materials are high-quality and built to last.
The bass response is mostly flat, with a slight increase in high-bass. Mids and high-mids are mostly flat. Treble response varies moderately with frequency. There are peaks at 5 kHz and 10 kHz which can add considerably to sibilant noises and brighten things up a bit. These headphones are relatively big and well suited for people with larger heads.
Features & Specs
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ 45 mm drivers
♦ Copper-clad aluminum voice coil
♦ .8 ft long coiled cable, detatchable
♦ 1/8″ gold-plated TRS connector
♦ 15 Hz – 28 kHz frequency response
♦ Foldable
♦ Closed-back design
♦ 38 Ω – No amplifier needed
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro – 250 Ohm
The 250 Ω version of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is a formidable set of headphones geared towards professional studio use. They contain neodymium rare-earth magnets and have a long coiled cord that stretches to nearly 10 ft. The user can adapt to and from 1/8″ TRS to 1/4″ TRS with a threaded gold-plated adapter. Construction materials are high-quality with a big emphasis on comfort. The DT 770 Pro also boasts similar pulse characteristics to high-end electrostatic headphones. These headphones will require amplification due to their high 250 Ω impedance.
Bass and mids are overall very flat, with low-bass reaching all the way down to 5 Hz. Treble response is somewhat erratic, with a peak at around 9 kHz and a dip at around 3.4 kHz. They are bulkier than normal and less suited for mobility and portability.
Features & Specs
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ 45 mm drivers
♦ 9.8 ft long coiled cable, not detatchable
♦ 1/8″ gold-plated TRS connector with 1/4″ threaded adapter
♦ 5 Hz – 35 kHz frequency response
♦ Not foldable
♦ Closed-back design
♦ 250 Ω – Amplifier required
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro – 250 Ohm
The 250 Ω version of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is nearly identical to the 770s above, with the only real difference being their open-back design. They contain neodymium rare-earth magnets and have a long coiled cord that stretches to nearly 10 ft. The user can also adapt to and from 1/8″ TRS to 1/4″ TRS with a threaded gold-plated adapter. Like the 770s, construction materials are high-quality with a big emphasis on comfort. These headphones will require amplification due to their high 250 Ω impedance.
Bass and mids are overall very flat, with low-bass reaching all the way down to 5 Hz. Treble response is somewhat erratic. They are bulkier than normal and less suited for mobility and portability. Their open design give them a considerable advantage over the 770s in the stereo imaging department.
Features & Specs
♦ 45 mm drivers
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ 9.8 ft long coiled cable, not detachable
♦ 1/4″ gold-plated TRS connector with threaded 1/8″ adapter
♦ 5 Hz – 35 kHz frequency response
♦ Not foldable
♦ Open-back design
♦ 250 Ω – Amplifier required
♦ 2-year warranty
Sennheiser HD 650 (Best Headphones for Music Production – Mid range)
The Sennheiser HD 650s are wonderful mid-high end headphones for music production. These have a 300 Ω impedance and will require an amp. They come with a detachable OFC cable designed to have very low handling noise, eliminating inaccuracies that may stem from movement in the cable. They also come with a 2-year warranty.
Bass response is very good overall, but low-bass is lacking slightly which may be noticeable in tracks with big bass presence. Mid response is almost perfectly flat, and low- to mid- treble are mostly flat. High-treble begins to taper off a bit at around 5 kHz, which will effect primarily vocals and drum overheads.
Features & Specs
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ Aluminum voice coil
♦ 9.8 ft long straight cable, detachable, OFC conductors
♦ 1/4″ gold-plated TRS connector with 1/8″ jack adapter
♦ 15 Hz – 41 kHz frequency response
♦ Not foldable
♦ Open-back design
♦ 300 Ω – Amplifier required
♦ 2-year warranty
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
The DT 1990 Pro from Beyerdynamic is up there with the HD 800 S mentioned next in terms of build quality, response, and comfort, but come at a more moderate price. They come with a single sided, detachable XLR cable with mini-XLR connectors. Like many of the others on this list, the ear pads are replaceable. This pair comes with two sets of ear pads, with differing sound characteristics.
Bass response is very flat with a slight increase in high-bass/low-mids. Mid-range is also mostly flat, with a slight dip at around 1 kHz. Treble is flat up to roughly 5 kHz. Higher than that, there are two pronounced peaks at 7 kHz and 9 kHz and an overall bump between 6 kHz – 10 kHz. This can make instruments or vocals in this range sound overly bright. Stereo imaging and soundstage on these headphones is very good due to their open-back design. These, like the HD 800 S, also posses very little harmonic distortion.
Features & Specs
♦ 45 mm drivers
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ Aluminum voice coil
♦ 1x 9.8 ft long straight cable, detachable, mini-XLR
♦ 1x 16.4 ft long coiled cable, detachable, mini-XLR
♦ Gold-plated mini stereo jack (1/8″) & 1/4″ adapter
♦ 5 Hz – 40 kHz frequency response
♦ Not foldable
♦ Open-back design
♦ 250 Ω – Amplifier required
Sennheiser HD 800 S (Best Headphones for Music Production – High-end)
This pair of Sennies may possibly be best headphones for music production on this list in terms of build quality, response, and comfort, but it comes at a very steep price and will require an amp. These are only feasibly suitable for very high-end studios and audio applications. They come with a detachable OFC cable designed to have very low handling noise, eliminating inaccuracies in audio reproduction. They also come with a 2-year warranty.
Bass response is very good overall, but low-bass is lacking slightly which may be noticeable in tracks with prominent bass presence. Mid response is almost perfectly flat. Treble is mostly flat and overall capable of great audio reproduction. Stereo imaging and soundstage on these headphones is also phenomenal, and they have very little harmonic distortion.
Features & Specs
♦ 56 mm drivers
♦ Neodymium magnets
♦ Aluminum voice coil
♦ 2x 9.8 ft long straight cables, detachable
♦ 1/4″ gold-plated TRS connector and a balanced XLR-4 connector
♦ 15 Hz – 51 kHz frequency response
♦ Not foldable
♦ Open-back design
♦ 300 Ω – Amplifier required
♦ 2-year warranty
Best Headphones for Music Production Buying Guide
Advantages
As a second reference, studio headphones have several advantages over a second pair of studio monitors:
- Room and desk space can be precious. They can provide a second reference without taking up as much additional real estate as a second pair of monitors.
- Can be portable – on-the-go music production is a great capability to have
- Noise attenuation (or elimination) regardless of outside environment. Room acoustics and background noise play less of a role when you’re mixing with closed headphones
- Good for checking panning settings
- Closed-back headphones eliminate feedback when recording
- Very low noise when mixing – your neighbors will love you for this.
Disadvantages
- Can only be used for limited amounts of time do to ear fatigue and soreness
- Low-end response can be inaccurate in cheaper models
- Stereo imaging is limited with closed headphones.
- Not advised for an entire mix – headphones should be used mainly to reference something made with studio monitors!
How Do Dynamic Headphones Work?
Dynamic or moving-coil headphones are just a pair of electrostatic transducers, so basically small speakers that are mounted to your ears! Like speakers, they convert an electrical signal into sound.
Each side contains a permanent magnet mounted to the frame. A coil of wires called the voice coil is suspended in the magnet’s magnetic field by a diaphragm. The as the electrical signal is passed through the coil, it creates an induced magnetic field that reacts with the permanent magnetic field to move the diaphragm. The movement displaces air and creates sound.
What Goes Into Making the Best Headphones for Music Production?
Headphone design has many factors and variables that need to be considered when making a purchase. Below is a list of some of these factors and a description of what they are.
Build Quality & Materials
Ear cups
Padding material should be comfortable, durable, and easy and inexpensive to replace. Padding thickness should be thick enough to create an acoustic barrier between the listeners ears and the surrounding environment. The best padding material is memory foam. It molds to the wearers head, providing comfort. It is excellent for noise isolation and inexpensive to replace.
The padding should also be covered in a durable, but comfortable material. The ear cups experience the most wear, so leather is a common choice. However, it can get uncomfortable if the wearer begins to sweat. Some other common materials are velour, alcantara, and lamb skin. Alcantara is a nice synthetic material commonly found in luxury car interiors. It’s the best choice here.
Cable
Cable conductors should ideally be balanced and shielded from radio-frequency radiation and noise interference. This prevents any electromagnetic interference from distorting the sound. Conductors should also be made of copper. Oxygen-free copper (OFC) is more of a marketing gimmick than anything, and doesn’t significantly effect conductance, so therefore it isn’t necessary.
Replaceable and removable cables are preferable. Some headphones come with several types of cables which can be swapped out depending on the situation at hand. If you’ll be monitoring far away from the output source, a coiled cable may be the choice for you. They can stretch a considerable amount. If you buy aftermarket cables, make sure the connectors match the headphones. Some headphones use mini XLR or Y-type cable 2-pin connectors instead of the standard 1/4″ TRS cable and connector.
Connectors
Connectors should be designed to eliminate and minimize stress at the interface between the connector and cable conductor. Connectors should ideally be gold or silver-nickel alloy plated to prevent corrosion that may impede the signal. Below is a gold-plated 1/8″ to 1/4″ threaded TRS adapter that comes standard with many a pair of headphones.
Headband
The headband should be some type of strong metal, usually stainless steel, that will resist breaking under high stress when the wearer bends and contorts it. The headband should be lightly padded and covered with leather or some type of durable synthetic material such as leather.
You’re also going to want to find a comfortable set that fits properly, and the springiness of the headband has a lot to do with this. Buying online makes it hard to gauge whether or not the headphones you want to buy will fit well. We can check forums and reviews on e-commerce and gear review sites to get an idea, though.
Frames
The frame is the component that holds the magnet. The frames should be made of a strong and lightweight material such as anodized aluminum or high-strength plastic. They should also be sufficiently thick so that they will not crack when dropped, stepped on, or sat on.
Magnets
The magnets are very important because they provide the magnetic field that interacts with the voice coil. We want magnets with a high strength-to-weight ratio that will not lose their field strength over time. For this application, the best headphones for music production will use rare-earth magnets like neodymium or samarium-cobalt.
Voice coil
Weight reduction is very important when it comes to voice coil design. Lighter weight means more precise movement, and that in turn translates to better and more accurate sound. One way to reduce weight is by using CCAW (copper-clad aluminum wire) for the voice coil conductor. Aluminum weighs significantly less than copper, but has only 61 percent of the conductivity. The skin effect allows the wire to achieve nearly the same resistance as pure copper, though.

Copper-clad aluminum wire
Another weight reduction design choice is the use of thinner wires. This, however, will require more windings, which increases the impedance. Part of the reason high-end monitoring headphones have such high impedance values is because of the number of windings used in the voice coil. They will need a separate amplifier for optimal performance.
Impedance
Electrical impedance is the resistance to current flow in an electrical circuit. As a rule of thumb, higher impedance means better sound reproduction quality. High impedance is a side effect of weight reduction in the voice coil. Considerations need to be made for amplification when purchasing a high-impedance pair of music production headphones. Low-impedance models can be used with smaller consumer devices like smartphones or MP3 players.
Frequency Response
Ideally, we want our music production headphones to have a completely flat frequency response. This means that the audio signal coming in should be reproduced with as little change in gain across the frequency spectrum as possible. Frequency response is very important because it tells us how the headphones will color the sound. Some manufacturers will provide frequency response data to you on their website. Some like to keep it a secret. Independent frequency response testing is available online.
Noise Isolation
If we’re going with closed-back headphones, we want our them to eliminate as much outside noise as possible. Noise isolation will be dependent on padding material, thickness and fitment. For recording and tracking, noise isolation is paramount. Open-back designs are not designed with noise isolation in mind due to their ability to let noise in and out of the ear cup.
Fatigue & Breatheability
Shrillness and harshness, especially at higher frequencies, coupled with long periods of listening can cause whats called listener fatigue. Headphones with an exaggerated treble response can limit the amount of continuous time that they can be used. Most high-end headphones are built with comfort in mind. As a general rule, you get what you pay for when it comes to comfort.
Best Headphones for Music Production: Uses & Other Considerations
These are the more subjective items to consider when purchasing a pair of headphones for music production. You’ll need to think about each one and the situations you’ll be in while using your headphones to make a choice that is right for you and your specific needs.
- Size – How big is is your head?
- Foldability – Will you be carrying them from place to place, or mostly using them in a stationary studio?
- Cable length – Will your connection point be far from you when you use them?
- Open or closed
- Open-back
- Better suited for monitoring, mixing, and mastering
- Less suited for recording (the sound inside the headphones is allowed to escape)
- Better imaging and soundstage than closed headphones
- Usually more expensive
- Requires a noise-free environment (sound is let into headphones)
- Closed-back
- Good all around for monitoring
- Better suited for recording
- Poor imaging and soundstage in comparison to open-back
- Can be used in moderately noisy environments
- Fairly priced, but can get expensive as well
- Open-back
- Amped or not amped – Depending on the impedance and the type of audio interface you are using, you may or may not need to buy a separate amplifier for your music production headphones. Many studio-grade Thunderbolt interfaces have great headphone amps built in, so that’s another thing to look into. This in turn will effect overall price of your purchase.
- Price – What can you afford? What level of quality are you willing to pay for?
These factors along with the prices were all accounted for while formulating this list of the best headphones for music production in 2019. Without further ado, let’s take a look.
Concluding Remarks
Ultimately, your decision here will mostly be based on price and application. Cost-wise, it’s what level of quality you’re willing to pay for. As we’ve seen, there is a wide range of capabilities across the board on our list of best headphones for music production. Application-wise, the main decision will be between open-back and closed-back headphones:
- Open-back for those of you in a VERY quiet environment such as an acoustically treated studio – remember, noise can pass freely through the headphone frames. These are not suitable for recording, since the mic will pick up feedback from the headphones.
- Closed-back for general studio use and those of us without acoustic treatment who are in noisier environments. These are better for vocalists to wear when recording because they create an acoustic barrier between the drivers and the mic.
That wraps it up for this review. Thank you for reading, and I hope this list helps you make a great choice for your music production headphone purchase!
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