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    The Best Studio Headphones for Home Recording in 2021 – A Complete Guide

    Discover the difference between closed-back, open-back and semi-open headphones and find out which are best for recording and mixing. Includes a video tutorial.

    January 4, 2021

    Which are the best headphones to use in your home recording studio? You probably already own a set of headphones and are wondering if they are suitable. This is our complete up-to-date guide for which are the best studio headphones in 2021.

    If you are on a tight budget then headphones aren’t necessarily the first thing that you’re going to have to upgrade. It is more important to purchase a suitable recording interface and microphone – or a USB microphone with headphone port.

    And if your main aim is to produce a podcast or voiceover, you may be less concerned with direct monitoring and more interested in investing in good quality recording.

    But when you are ready to invest in a pair of studio quality headphones there are a few things that you need to think about.

    In this guide we are going to look at the differences between closed back and open back headphones and which of the two are most suitable for recording and mixing. Let’s look quickly at the best budget, mid-price and top of the range headphones in each class, then find out more about the differences.

    Table of contents

    • The Best Open-Back Headphones
      • Budget Open-Back
      • Mid-Price Open-Back
      • High-End Open Back
    • The Best Closed-Back Headphones
      • Mega Value Closed-Back
      • Budget Closed-Back
      • Mid-Price Closed-Back
      • High End Closed-Back
    • What Is The Difference Between Closed-Back, Open-Back and Semi-Open?
    • Closed-Back Headphones In More Detail
    • Open-Back Headphones in More Detail
    • The Semi-Open-Back Compromise
    • What Are the Best Selling Studio Headphones?
    • Further Reading and Info on Home Recording Studio Setup

    [This content may contain affiliate links. For more information, read our disclosure policy here.]

    The Best Open-Back Headphones

    Budget Open-Back

    Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro-250 Professional Open Headphones
    Buy this product from Amazon
    Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro-250 Professional Open Headphones

    Mid-Price Open-Back

    Audio Technica ATH-R70x Professional Open-Back Reference Headphones
    Buy this product from Amazon
    Audio Technica ATH-R70x Professional Open-Back Reference Headphones

    High-End Open Back

    Buy this product from Amazon
    Sennheiser HD-660S Hi-Res Open-Back Professional Headphone

    The Best Closed-Back Headphones

    Mega Value Closed-Back

    Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Monitor Headphones
    Buy this product from Amazon
    Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Monitor Headphones

    Budget Closed-Back

    Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones
    Buy this product from Amazon
    Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones

    Mid-Price Closed-Back

    Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
    Buy this product from Amazon
    Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

    High End Closed-Back

    Shure SRH1540 Closed Back Headphones
    Buy this product from Amazon
    Shure SRH1540 Closed Back Headphones

    What Is The Difference Between Closed-Back, Open-Back and Semi-Open?

    This distinction between the two main types addresses the design of the part of the headphone that covers the area behind the driver in a straight line away from the side of your head.

    Recording studios and professional recording engineers generally own more than one set of ‘phones: there are 2 very specific types of headphones for 2 very specific purposes, plus a compromise if you can only afford one pair:

    • Closed Back Headphones are generally used for recording tracks
    • Open Back Headphones are generally used for mixing
    • Semi-Open-Back are a hybrid solution you can use for both recording and mixing

    Some really high-end open headphones do also have good sound insulation, but these will almost certainly be beyond the budget of many home recording studio setups. This means you may have to choose one pair that is most suitable for your needs now, then purchase another pair when budget allows. Or compromise with a pair of semi-open headphones instead.

    Now let’s take a closer look at each type.

    Closed-Back Headphones In More Detail

    When you are recording tracks in your studio you want to make sure they have maximum sound isolation. This is so you can direct monitor the headphones mix as you play, sing or speak without the sound being re-recorded into the live mic, and ruining the take.

    In other words, when you are trying to record vocals or acoustic guitar (for example) over a backing track, you do not want any “bleed” – ie you don’t want to be making a recording of the sound coming out of the headphones back into the mic.

    A pair of good quality closed headphones will be essential to get a recording without bleed unless you can afford the most expensive open headphones which do have good sound insulation as well as superb reference quality. Most people starting out are not on that kind of budget.

    Good example of closed back headphones are: Sennheiser HD280 Pro and Sony MDR-7506. Or for the budget conscious, the well reviewed and exceptionally well-price Status Audio CB-1 Closed-Back Studio Monitor Headphones are excellent for good sound isolation combined with an excellent critical listening experience.

    The unfortunate side-effect of closed back headphones is that as the sound isolation goes up, the sound quality often goes down.

    Why? Closed headphones prevent sound from escaping. The downside of this design is that it traps pressure inside the headphone, which creates false low frequencies. These bass frequencies are fine for most professional uses (and even desirable in consumer products), but less desirable for critical listening.

    This is not so much of a problem for tracking, since it’s NOT a high priority when recording.

    These type of headphones would be a good choice if you were pairing them up with a USB microphone. If you are looking to purchase both headphones and a USB mic then you could read our comprehensive guide to choosing a USB Mic where we have listed all the main features of the most popular mics and uploaded raw recordings of each one to help you decide.

    But when it comes to mixing, where reference quality monitoring is THE priority, then open back headphones are the ideal option.

    Open-Back Headphones in More Detail

    Open-back headphones are essentially almost the opposite of closed-back, because optimal sound quality is the most important thing often at the expense of isolation.

    Ideally, mixing is best done on studio monitors, but this is not always possible and in today’s world of mobile recording and budget home studios, headphone mixing has become widely accepted in the process of music production and audio recording.

    For critical listening, headphones with an open back often provide a more accurate frequency balance, with the trade off of providing less isolation – in other words great for working on your mix but as discussed before, less good for recording acoustic instruments and voice.

    Good examples of open-back headphones are: Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro and AKG K 702.

    There is clearly a bit of a trade-off between the ideal headphones critical listening and and the best headphones for recording.

    Extremely well engineered open-back headphones provide almost the same isolation as high quality closed back headphones, and if you can afford them that would be one solution, but it is a luxury you’ll have to pay for.

    So either you probably need to think about investing in two sets of headphones, one for recording, one for mixing, or go for a compromise.

    The Semi-Open-Back Compromise

    As a reasonable compromise for those on more of a budget, and especially if you can only afford one pair of headphones, there are some excellent “semi-open-back” headphones that are affordable, well balanced, and provide enough isolation for professional tracking applications.

    In the long run you may well need want than one set of headphones for recording and mixing. But in the short run you could check out the semi-open designs as a good halfway solution.

    Good examples of semi-open headphones are: AKG K240 and PreSonus HD7.

    What Are the Best Selling Studio Headphones?

    Which are the most popular headphones on the market? Below are the current top 6 bestselling recording studio headphones:

    SaleBestseller No. 1
    Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, Black
    Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, Black
    • Advanced build quality and engineering Designed for studio tracking and mixing
    • 40 millimeter drivers with rare earth magnets and copper clad aluminum wire voice coils
    • Tune for enhanced low frequency performance
    $69.00 −$25.01
    Buy on Amazon
    SaleBestseller No. 2
    OneOdio Wired Over Ear Headphones Studio Monitor & Mixing DJ Stereo Headsets with 50mm Neodymium...
    OneOdio Wired Over Ear Headphones Studio Monitor & Mixing DJ Stereo Headsets with 50mm Neodymium...
    • BASS SOUND: Enjoy clear sound and comfort with the OneOdio Studio monitor headphones. Large, 50 millimeter speaker unit drivers combined with neodymium magnets;...
    • BUILT TO STAY COMFORTABLE: The soft padded ear cushions are designed for monitor headphones comfort and noise isolation. The headband is adjustable and...
    • NO MORE ADAPTER: DJ style coiled cord (9.8Ft Stretched) easily reaches from the TV or stereo to your chair. A standard-sized 6.35mm plug and a 3.5mm plug are...
    $32.99 −$2.00
    Buy on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 3
    beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm Over-Ear Studio Headphones in Black. Closed Construction, Wired for...
    beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm Over-Ear Studio Headphones in Black. Closed Construction, Wired for...
    • Closed over-ear headphones for professional mixing in the studio
    • Perfect for studio recordings thanks to their pure and high-resolution sound
    • The soft, circumaural and repalceable velour ear pads ensure high wearing comfort
    Buy on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 4
    Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, Black, Professional Grade,...
    Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, Black, Professional Grade,...
    • Critically acclaimed sonic performance praised by top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers
    • Proprietary 45 millimeter large aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper clad aluminum wire voice coils
    • Exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range with deep accurate bass response
    Buy on Amazon
    Bestseller No. 5
    Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone
    Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone
    • Neodymium magnets and 40 millimeter drivers for powerful, detailed sound
    • Closed ear design provides comfort and outstanding reduction of external noises
    • 9.8 foot cord ends in gold plated plug and it is not detachable; 1/4 inch adapter included
    Buy on Amazon
    SaleBestseller No. 6
    Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones, Black
    Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones, Black
    • Ensure you buy genuine Tascam products. Products from sellers which say ‘fulfilled by Amazon’ under the price might not be an authorized Tascam reseller,...
    • Foldable design for easy, compact transport
    • Tightly-stitched, padded headband and ear pads for stylish comfort
    $29.99 −$3.00
    Buy on Amazon

    Last updated on 2021-02-26 / Affiliate links / Images via Amazon Product Advertising API



    The above is a short list of the most popular studio headphones on Amazon right now. If you follow the links you can check out the specs, now that you know a bit more about which sort of headphones you might need. Also useful to see the user review and hopefully find the best headphones within your budget for your own recording situation.

    Further Reading and Info on Home Recording Studio Setup

    Have we covered everything you need to know about what to look out for when choosing headphones for your home recording studio? You might find the following posts useful reading on your journey as you build your home recording studio.

    • Home Recording Studio Setup For Beginners
    • How To Record Keyboard and Vocals at the Same Time
    • All-In-One Recording Studio Software And Equipment Review
    • How To Make Your First Recording In A DAW – Step By Step Guide
    • Audio Technica AT2020USB Plus Review with Video and Audio
    Best Studio Headphones For Home Recording
     

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    [This content may contain affiliate links. For more information, read our disclosure policy here.]

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