Top 12 best studio headphones

It was Nathaniel Bladwin who created the first modern helmet . He designed it in a kitchen in 1919. The Beyerdynamic was then the first to produce it in 1937. The first model from this brand was a moving coil dynamic headphone.

AKG also began designing helmets during World War II. Now, there are several brands that offer them on the market. There are also different models ranging from wired headphones , through in-ear to wireless headphones .

There are also various models depending on your needs ( audio headphones , studio headphones , gaming headphones , etc.). Among the most popular headphones are studio headphones . They are appreciated by audiophiles because they are versatile. You can use them in the studio, but also for listening to your favorite playlists. Do you want to buy one, but you don't know which one to choose? Discover our selection of the best studio headphones.

Selection of the best studio headphones

A sound professional must use good headphones . It is essential for home studio or studio sound. The problem is that there are several models on the market. Which one to choose ? To help you, we offer you a selection of the best studio headphones you will find on the market.

By the way, you can also discover our guide on the essentials to know to get started in a home studio . This guide offers you all the studio equipment such as the computer to centralize the recording studio with the music software to use, the USB audio interface, the MIDI sequencer, the monitoring speakers, as well as the studio headphones and microphones.

👉 Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 Ohm

These studio headphones are part of our selection of the best studio headphones, because they are perfect for professionals . It is offered at a very competitive price. It is robust. The brand has added a metal frame to ensure the longevity of this model.

In terms of design, the Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 bears the signature of the brand and is, like most of its models, very elegant. In terms of comfort, this headset has velor pads . Of course, these tighten the head a little in the long run, but they still remain comfortable .

The helmet is lighter. It weighs only 450g. We can say that it is a little heavy compared to most studio headphones, but it is still suitable. Weight does not impact comfort. It is also part of our selection of the best studio headphones, because it offers quality sound .

The sound is high-resolution, High-Res type with generous bass. They are very heavy and punchy. The highs, for their part, are very present. The headset can and accurate sound .

Like other studio equipment (only the Beyerdynamic M130 ribbon microphone ) that the Beyerdynamic brand has designed, it offers optimal sound results on its products, which guarantee the satisfaction of its customers.

The brand has achieved a feat on the audio side since the sound provided by this headset is very well balanced. In short, it offers realistic sound, without being aggressive. This model is also very stable. There is no perceived distortion , even when the headphones are pushed to the maximum.

Technical characteristics

• Brand: Beyerdynamic
• Type: circumaural
• Impedance: 80 Ohms
• Response frequency: 5 to 35,000 Hz
• Cable length: 3 m
• Weight: 450g

👉 Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro

Among the best studio headphones and earphones on the market, there is this Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro . It is therefore normal that it appears in this selection of the best studio headphones. It is an open type monitoring headphone . It offers all the comfort you need thanks to its pleasant velor pads, which are not sensitive to perspiration.

The headband does not hug the head. We chose it among many others for this selection of the best studio headphones. Compared to the Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80, it is lighter . It only weighs 250g (without the cable). Its circum-aural earpieces can rotate for ergonomic use . It has a 3 m long cable.

The latter is twisted. It is not removable, but it is sturdy. 3.5mm jack type and comes with a 6.35mm adapter. This Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro easily finds its place in our selection of the best studio headphones since it also offers neutral and detailed sound . It uses dynamic drivers that display a frequency range of 5 to 35,000 Hz .

The impedance is 250 Ohms . As for the sensitivity, it is 96 decibels . Concerning the bass and treble, they are slightly accentuated, but without causing distortion and without being shrill.

Technical characteristics

• Brand: Beyerdynamic
• Response frequency: 5 to 35,000 Hz
• Impedance: 250 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 96dB/Mw
• Cable length: 3 m
• Weight: 250g

See also : The best studio microphones of this year. This comparison guide helps you choose the studio microphone according to your needs (voice recording studio, or professional studio). You can then discover in this guide the best brands of microphones to choose, as well as the best models offered by each brand.

👉 Rode NTH-100

The Rode NTH-100 is one of the new over-ear headphones from the Rode brand. The latter designed it especially for sound engineers looking for professional quality headphones . It appears in this selection of the best studio headphones, because this Australian firm has done a good job in terms of design , comfort and sound quality .

The helmet weighs 350 g. It is made of high-end materials including Alcantara and metal . Note that Alcantara is a material generally found in the fashion and automobile industries.

It is renowned for its comfortable texture and great resistance. For the padding, the brand opted for memory foam for the earcups. The helmet is also equipped with a CoolTech gel which has the role of dissipating heat. As for the cable, it is removable.

This model finds its place in this selection of the best studio headphones, because the sound quality is also very satisfactory . It is closed type . It perfectly isolates external noise and ambient noise. These technical characteristics such as low impedance and sensitivity of 110 dB are perfect for pleasant listening.

The sound and signal are never distorted with this model. Treble and bass are also well represented and more realistic sound . Finally, it also features in this selection of the best studio headphones because it comes with all the necessary accessories including a 2.4m cable, colored ear caps and a 3.5mm adapter.

Technical characteristics

• Response frequency: 5 Hz to 35 kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 110 dB/V
• Type: over-ear headphones
• Weight: 350g
• Cable length: 2.4 m

👉 Sennheiser HD 600

Sennheiser H 600 is also in our selection of the best studio headphones. It is a robust and lightweight helmet . It weighs only 260g. It is also comfortable. Its earcups are made of velvet and are very soft. Its pads are padded with foam.

Concerning the structure, it is made of rigid plastic, and the arch is made of padded metal. The headphones are swivelable . The cable used in this model is 3 m long and is removable. It is Y shaped for good polarity . The connection is mini-jack type, but the headset is of course delivered with an adapter.

Concerning the impedance, it is 300 ohms . It's not a telephone headset given the high impedance. This impedance will tend to cause a weak, flat sound . After all, use on a mobile is not really the brand's goal given that it is a studio headset.

It is open type and therefore offers more spatialization compared to a closed helmet. We included it in this selection of the best studio headphones, because it has a little extra that the others don't have: the Loudness Diffusion Correction . It is a sort of equalization for a wide frequency spectrum in an acoustic environment.

As for the bass, it is well balanced and punchy . The mids are more detailed and neutral. The highs, for their part, are well ventilated. In short, these Sennheiser HD600 headphones find their place in our selection of the best studio headphones, because they offer very detailed and neutral sounds , come with everything you need and are very comfortable.

Technical characteristics

• Impedance: 300 Ohms
• Cable length: 3 m
• Weight: 260g
• Frequency response: 12 to 39,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 97 dB/mw
• Type: open cricum-aural

👉 Audeze LCD-X Creator Edition New

Impossible not to mention these over-ear headphones from the Audeze in this selection of the best studio headphones. This is a high-end model. It was designed with the best quality materials. The brand used African rosewood to design it.

The headphones are both stylish and robust, but this design impacts the weight a little. This model weighs 687 g without the cable. Although the headset is a little heavy, it is still comfortable since it has hand-made earpieces . The chosen covering is excellent quality leather.

The padding, meanwhile, is memory foam. The metal headband is also padded and covered with leather. Regarding the cable, it has a length of 2.15 m.

It also deserves its place in our selection of the best studio headphones, given the sound quality offered. These headphones from the Audeze brand offer pure sound consisting of clear and crisp highs , detailed mids and punchy , yet smooth bass. The sound is never distorted whether it is vocals or audio signals from instruments.

Technical characteristics

• Type: circumaural
• Weight: 687 g (without cable)
• Cable length: 2.15 m
• Impedance: 20.5 ohms
• Frequency response: 10 to 50,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 96.69 dB

In addition, you can also consult our test and review on the Bird UM1 . It is a USB condenser microphone with an electret capsule. Discover in this test guide the complete overview of this microphone, its audio processing technology, its technical characteristics, as well as its sound quality and our opinion on the microphone.

👉 Austrian Audio Hi-X60

Austrian Audio Hi-X60 headphones are among the recent models on the market, but they still have their place in this selection of the best studio headphones, because they are of excellent quality. Austrian Audio offers here a closed model that uses a ring magnet and a copper-clad aluminum voice coil for precise and fast frequency response .

The headset has replaceable ear cushions. The shape of the earpieces is oval. This over-ear is compact and lightweight. It is equipped with a twisted cable. Regarding comfort, the headband does not serve the head. The helmet also remains stable after adjustment.

This model weighs 320 g. Certainly, it is heavy compared to other headsets on the market, but since it is very compact, the weight is not felt. The ear cushions are made of memory foam . It also appears in this selection of the best studio headphones, because it offers deep and powerful bass. The sound remains very balanced. There is no distortion either. The impedance is very low (only 20 ohms ). The frequency response is satisfactory ( 5 to 28,000 Hz ).

Technical characteristics

• Weight: 320g
• Impedance: 25 ohms
• Sensitivity: 110 dB
• Frequency response: 5 Hz to 28,000 Hz

👉 Bose SoundLink II over-ear headphones

These are wireless headphones that are somewhat reminiscent of Beats headphones. Its elegant design and high sound performance won us over. This is why we included it in this selection of the best studio headphones. It uses Bluetooth technology and is NFC compatible .

You can use it to listen to playlists in your phone, but you can also use it as studio headphones. This model offers clear sound thanks to active equalization technology and TriPort . These technologies also allow you to enjoy powerful sound.

In terms of manufacturing quality, this model was made with quality materials. It supports shocks and perspiration. The brand designed it with nylon and fiberglass. Added to this is the stainless steel which protects the helmet from corrosion.

It is also one of the headphones that we offer in this selection of the best studio headphones, because it is very comfortable . The headband is covered with an Alcantara microsuede . The weight is well distributed. This wireless headset has a range of up to 9 m.

Connectivity is very stable. Finally, we also offer it to you in this selection of the best studio headphones, because it is easily recharged using a USB cable supplied with it. It will take only 3 hours for a full charge. Battery life can reach 15 hours .

Technical characteristics

• Range: 9 m
• Type: over-ear headphones
• Weight: 200g
• Battery life: 15 hours
• Charging time: 3 hours

👉 Focal Spirit Professional black

Focal Spirit Professional black is quality studio headphones that deserve their place in this selection of the best studio headphones. It is among the favorites of French people looking for a professional headset. It is a model that offers very satisfactory good acoustic insulation . It features a pair of 40mm speakers .

The membrane is made of Mylar and Titanium alloy . The sound is neutral and without distortion. It is also a helmet that is robust. It is equipped with a single-sided spiral cable. Its length is 4 m. The latter is equipped with a gold-plated connector .

The impedance is very low and guarantees optimal sound reproduction . The headset also comes with a detachable cable equipped with a microphone . We have also listed this model in this selection of the best studio headphones, because given these components and the optimal noise reduction, it is therefore possible to use this model as a gaming headset . Added to this is a 3.5 mm mini-jack adapter.

Technical characteristics

• Type: circumaural
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Sensitivity: 102 dB SPL
• Frequency response: 5 Hz – 22 kHz
• Cable length: 4 m
• Weight: 255g

👉 Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Black

If you are looking for Bluetooth headphones , the Marshall Monitor has several quality models. We offer you a model from this brand in this selection of the best studio headphones. This is the Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Black .

It is a wireless Bluetooth headset that can still be transformed into a wired headset using a removable 3.5 mm jack . In wireless mode, it can reach a range of 9 m. This model uses Bluetooth aptX technology . We chose it for this selection of the best studio headphones, because it also offers quality sound.

These over-ear headphones use powerful 40mm . The sensitivity is 92 dB and the frequency response between 20 and 20,000 Hz . The sound provided by this model is clear , neutral and well detailed . It also uses a active noise reduction system .

Otherwise, it also finds its place in this selection of the best studio headphones, because its earpads are comfortable, the covering around them is soft and the headband is well padded. The whole thing weighs only 271 g . It is therefore a very comfortable helmet . It recharges in just 3 hours and can be used for 30 hours if its battery is full.

Technical characteristics

• Frequency response: 20 to 20,000 Hz
• Impedance: 28 ohms
• Weight: 271 g
• Range: 9 m
• Autonomy: 30 h
• Charging time: 3 hours

👉 Parrot Zik wireless headphones

The Parrot Zik wireless headphones are good headphones. This model which was designed by designer Philippe Starck is a Bluetooth headset . It is one of the models that we offer you in this selection of the best studio headphones, because it is one of the headphones that offers excellent value for money.

Of course, it is not within everyone's reach, but given the manufacturing quality, we can say that it is in the affordable price range . We included it in this selection of the best studio headphones, because it also includes several technologies, not to mention the design and comfort offered.

The headset is equipped with a flexible headband covered with foam and synthetic leather. The earcups are bulky , but protect well against perspiration. The exterior of this model is made of matte plastic. On each earpiece, there is a metal vent.

These are studio headphones which have an NFC module and which allow a very stable connection. As for the controls, they are tactile. In terms of audio quality, the Parrot Zik offers pure and detailed sound .

Technical characteristics

• Frequency response: 20 to 22,000 Hz
• Drivers: 40mm
• Battery life: 16 hours
• Weight: 340g
• Battery: Lithium-ion

👉 Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Headphones

Dr. Dre Studio brand have previously received a lot of criticism regarding the manufacturing material and the finish. Now we can mention it in this selection of the best studio headphones, because the brand has made several internal changes. The new version released in 2013 has been improved.

This headset is a noise-canceling model . The noise reduction is very satisfactory. In addition, the finish has been reworked. The plastic chosen in the past is no longer the same. There are no more visible screws or sharp edges. The helmet has gained roundness and looks great.

It has earned its place in this selection of the best studio headphones because the sound quality is also satisfactory . The headset reproduces sound well whether it is vocals or instruments. The sound is also warm and pleasant . If there is harmonic distortion, it is very small.

Concerning comfort, the earcups are padded with soft memory foam. This foam is then covered with a soft faux leather. Comfort is there. The headband, for its part, is covered with soft rubber.

Technical characteristics

• Cable length: 1.3 m
• Type: circumaural
• Hands-free kit: yes
• Detachable cable: yes
• Earpad material: memory foam and faux leather

Other guide : Test and review of the Presonus Revelator microphone . Discover through this guide the presentation and complete overview of this USB microphone, its construction quality, the installation of software for the microphone, its sound quality, its characteristics, as well as our opinion on the Presonus Revelator microphone.

👉Philips SBCHP460/00

This is the last model that we offer you in this selection of the best studio headphones. Like hi-fi headphones, this Philips SBCHP460/00 offers exceptional sound. It's normal if it appears in this selection of the best studio headphones.

It uses 40mm drivers that deliver distortion-free sound. It also provides clear and powerful sound . The frequency response is 15 to 28,000 Hz . The impedance is 32 ohms and the sensitivity is 106 dB . It is a very light model considering that it only weighs 211 g.

It is meanwhile an ergonomic headset . It comes with a 1.2m cable, a 1.8m extension cable, a 24c gold-plated adapter and a 3.5-6.35mm adapter to suit all audio devices . The helmet is foldable for easy use and storage.

Technical characteristics

• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Frequency response: 15 to 28,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 106 dB
• Weight: 211g

How to choose studio headphones?

In addition to this selection of the best studio headphones, we offer you a buying guide to help you select the headphones you need. The best headphones are, first of all, lightweight headphones . Headphones must also have optimal noise reduction, especially if you use them in the studio.

Regarding sound reproduction a clear and neutral surround sound will be perfect. See the bass, treble, stereo, midrange, frequency response, impedance, and others.

As for transducers 40mm models will do the trick. They will be able to provide the power you need. Regarding the type, you can choose over-ear headphones , over-ear headphones in-ear models , etc.

The most important thing is comfort. Models with memory foam are the most comfortable. A padded, adjustable and foldable headband will also be a plus. Finally, you need to choose connectivity.

Do you need a wired headset or a wireless model? A wired headset will provide quality sound , but the cable may get in the way. If you want to choose this type of headset, check the cable length. The port must also be studied for better flexibility (jack socket, USB, etc.).

Regarding wireless headphones , know that there are now Bluetooth headphones capable of providing excellent sounds. These models will make you happy if you prefer portable studio headphones. Just note that Bluetooth headsets have a limited range. Bluetooth headphones can also be subject to interference. They must be recharged in the meantime.

If you want to choose a wireless model, check the range, charging time and battery life. If possible, also opt for an NFC compatible model . It will be easier to use.

With this selection of the best studio headphones you now know how to choose the model you need to listen to music and which are the best headphones you can find on the market.