10 Best Recording Headphones 2020 [Buying Guide]

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How to Choose the Best Recording Headphones

Whether you’re recording your first demo, or you want to listen to albums with the highest quality and clarity, the best recording headphones deliver professional-grade music to your ears! We went out in search of the best, and we found 10 great sets of recording headphones for the discerning audiophiles out there! Before we get into the recording headphones buying guide, here are a few important features you need to know about before investing in your next pair of headphones.

Frequency: Headphone frequency is measured by the total range of sounds they can produce – from the lowest bass to the highest trebles. The larger the frequency range, the more sounds you’ll be able to hear without distortion or loss of quality.

Driver Size: The driver is the diaphragm that works with the magnets and voice coils to vibrate inside your headphones and produce sound. Larger drivers can produce a more powerful sound, which can be important for listening to loud or complex music.

Cord Length: If you plan to use these for recording, proper cord length ensures your headphones can reach recording equipment or give you room to move around! If they are too short, you’ll need extensions or adapters, which may reduce sound quality.

Over Ear: All of the headphones we reviewed here are over ear styles, which is a fairly standard style for recording headphones. This means they use an adjustable headband to sit securely on the head, and the headphone completely covers the ear.

Type: Open and semi-open headphones allow air to circulate around your ears, but they do allow outside noise to leak in, and others can hear your music. Closed headphones block outside sound from coming in and your music from leaking out.

Warranty: The best recording headphones are an investment that should last you through years of recording and listening to music. However, things do happen! A warranty will allow you to get your headphones fixed or replaced if they break or malfunction.

Top 10 Products

Now that you know what to look for in a new set of recording headphones, let’s get into the reviews! We found the top 10 recording headphones out there in a variety of styles, sizes, and prices to make sure everyone can find a pair that fits their budget and needs. If you’re pressed for time, we totally understand! Take a quick look at the Top Pick and Budget Pick first, and then come back to read the rest later!

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones

Our Top Pick for the best recording headphones goes to this stellar pair from Sennheiser, a popular name in professional recording equipment for over 60 years. This pair of recording headphones has a wide frequency range, so you can hear every instrument and sound with the utmost clarity. The open covers allow air to circulate, giving you a more natural sound that’s perfect for studio recording. We like that the ear pads are soft and plush, so your ears won’t get sore or tired after hours of wearing them at home or in the recording booth. The 9.8 foot cord is plenty long enough to reach your recording equipment without the need for extensions. It works with 1/8 inch stereo plugs, and it also comes with an adapter to fit 1/4 inch plugs. These are a worthwhile investment for professional musicians, singers, sound engineers, and audiophiles who want to listen to professional quality music at home or in the studio!

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Audio-Technica Professional Headphones

If you’re not ready to invest a ton of money into recording headphones, we think these headphones from Audio-Technica are the best cheap recording headphones to add to your studio setup! These headphones are a closed style, which is perfect for loud spaces or public areas. Virtually no sound leaks out, and they block just about all outside noise from coming in! The 40mm drivers create beautiful and high-quality sound without much distortion, and they are made to work well with lower bass sounds. You can mix your new demo recording or enjoy your favorite band’s new album as though you’re watching them live – or do both! They come with a 9.8-foot cord and plug adapters, so you can use these wherever you need them. We think these are a great pair of cheap recording headphones for mixing in the studio, or for sound engineers who don’t want to take an expensive pair of headphones on their next road tour!

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Sony Professional Headphones

Another well-known brand in recording and listening equipment is Sony, and these headphones are a great investment for professionals and amateurs alike. These closed headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear, even during long recording sessions or listening parties. The padded headband and cushy ear pads help keep you comfortable while also blocking outside noise while you work. They’re also great for travel because you won’t bother others with your music either! The 40mm drivers produce sounds with a range of 10-20,000 Hz, which is great for recording, mixing, and playbacks in the studio. We like that these headphones are made for taking on the road or packing neatly in your luggage. They fold down to prevent damage and save space, and the coiled cord is easy to pack, too! You can fit it all into the cloth storage pouch that’s included and take them with you on your next tour, vacation, or wherever you like listening to your favorite tunes!

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AKG Studio Headphones

Next up is another inexpensive pair of recording headphones that are great for listening to your favorite bands, mixing in the studio, or recording your own music. These headphones from AKG are semi-open, which means some air and sound can travel in and out of them. This means you can get higher quality sound while listening to mixes and tracks, yes you can still hear what’s going on around you if need be. The extra large ear pads are comfortable and great if you have large ears that don’t fit in other headphones! We like that these headphones have super thin diaphragm on the driver to give you more powerful bass sounds and more accurate trebles for a more natural and accurate overall listening experience. Since you can still hear some outside noise, we think these are great for DJs and live concert sound technicians who need to hear both the music and the roaring crowd at the same time!

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LyxPro HAS-30 Recording Headphones

Thinking about starting your own podcast? How about upgrading your travel headphones for your next vacation? These recording headphones from LyxPro are great for everyday listening and recording needs, whether you’re at home or on the road! We like that the closed ear pads are cushioned and easy to wear for long stretches, while keeping your music from bothering others. The 50mm driver puts out a whopping 15-26,000 Hz of sound, which is great for recording, mixing, and listening. We also like that these headphones come with both a coiled cord and a straight cord, so you can use whichever you prefer while moving around the studio or your bedroom! They also fully fold down and fit into a hard-shell carrying case, so you can take them on the road without worrying about damaging them in your luggage or equipment trunk! These headphones are great for podcasters, YouTube stars, video gamers, and recording artists alike to create high quality content!

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Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Headphones

For professional and amateur DJs, this pair of recording headphones from Audio-Technica will work great for your next gig! The large drivers and wide frequency give you professional-quality sound while you mix up your next playlist or dance mix. The large ear pads are comfortable and fit well over the ear, so you can listen to music without hearing outside noise or bothering others nearby. We also like that these headphones come with 2 different cords (straight and coiled), so you can keep one at home and take one with you to your next club gig or recording session. The headphones also fold up neatly inside their carrying case, safely storing them while you travel to prevent damage. While you’re playing at your next gig, you can swivel the earpiece around to listen with one ear and hear the crowd at the same time. This is a high-quality, durable pair of headphones that take you from the studio to the stage!

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Shure Professional Studio Headphones

This pair of headphones from Shure is truly built to last through years of recording and touring on the road! They produce high-quality sound for mixing and playbacks, and the closed earpieces allow you to record vocals without the microphone picking up what you’re listening to. We like that these headphones are built to last, with replaceable ear covers you can easily swap out when they wear down. They even give you an extra set to keep for later! The coiled cord also fully detaches from your headphones, so you can replace it with a new one if it breaks or wears out, or you can swap it out for a shorter or longer cable as needed. They fold down easily for storing or traveling, and the carrying pouch keeps your headphones and cable safely tucked away in your bag or travel kit. For the price, these headphones produce beautiful sounds and can last through rough use on the road!

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Noontec Hammo Wireless Headphones

Our recording headphones review wouldn’t be complete without at least one wireless option for those who aren’t a fan of wrangling long cords! These closed headphones from Noontec are great for mixing, DJs, home listening, and touring. We like these because they use Bluetooth technology to provide accurate and high-quality sound with virtually no loss or sound delay! You can use them with the cords that are included, or you can switch over to wireless mode to give you more room to move around the studio or stage. The battery can last up to 50 hours, so you don’t have to worry about recharging them in the middle of your recording session, concert, or listening at home! The comfortable headband and cushy ear pads make these easy to wear for long jam sessions. We also like that they fold up neatly into their case to take them on the road, or store them out of sight when you’re not working.

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Tascam TH-02 Studio Headphones

If you’re new to recording or mixing your own material, it’s a good idea to start with a less expensive pair of recording headphones before investing in a more expensive pair. These headphones from Tascam put out an amazing quality sound without costing you a whole lot! This budget pair of headphones puts out a range of 18-22,000 Hz, which is plenty for recording and mixing tasks in the studio or at home. The closed earpiece allows you to listen to playbacks in the studio without bothering anyone, or take them with you on your commute home to listen to your favorite bands without disturbing your neighbors! The earpieces also pivot around for added comfort, or to switch over the listening to one ear while performing. They easily fold down for easy storage and travel, so you can take them wherever you go. We also like the simple, classic design that will look great with any outfit you wear with them!

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OneOdio Studio Headphones

Last up in our search for the top recording headphones is this versatile pair from OneOdio! This pair of headphones is made for long recording, mixing, and mastering sessions while still feeling totally comfortable. The cushioned earpieces and headband are fully adjustable to fit your head, and the closed earpieces eliminate background noise while you’re listening or recording. In addition to being comfortable, they also produce high-quality, rich sound that you will enjoy listening to, even after hours at the mixing table! The 50mm drivers give you clear, crisp sounds with plenty of throbbing bass to balance things out. Our favorite feature, though, has to be the sharing function! These headphones come with 2 sockets, so you can connect to another set of headphones without needing a splitter! They also come with 2 different cables: a 6.3mm cable for recording and mixing equipment, and a 3.5mm cable with a microphone that plugs into your smartphone or television for easy listening!

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About the Author

Kimberly Graf

Expert Researcher and Writer

Kimberly Graf is a researcher and writer for GeekWrapped.com. She covers kitchen, cooking, and home products.

Best Recording Headphones

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones

Audio-Technica Professional Headphones

How to Choose the Best Recording Headphones

Top 10 Products

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones

Audio-Technica Professional Headphones

Sony Professional Headphones

AKG Studio Headphones

LyxPro HAS-30 Recording Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Headphones

Shure Professional Studio Headphones

Noontec Hammo Wireless Headphones

Tascam TH-02 Studio Headphones

OneOdio Studio Headphones

About the Author

TOP PICK

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones