Skip to content

Best Headphones for Mixing and Mastering 2024

A set of the best studio headphones, in our opinion, is a must have while monitoring your latest mixes or recording in the studio. Any good music producer will tell you that they monitor using as many various systems as possible, including studio monitors, Bluetooth speakers, and even vehicle stereos. And, of course, the highest-quality studio headphones they can afford.

A good set of studio headphones is perhaps the most used item in a producer’s studio. They’re a must-have tool for evaluating a mix’s stereo image, low-end, and fine detail. It’s crucial to choose the proper pair of studio headphones, much like studio monitors, but it’s a very personal decision. The ideal monitor headphones for you in the studio will be those that allow you to mix and create the most epic sounding outcome imaginable. Perhaps you’re seeking for studio headphones that you can use only for mixing, or something that you can use for everyday music listening. Studio headphones, which are typically made to a higher level than most general-listening cans, are also a good option if you’re searching for a pair of workhorse cans that can handle life on the go.

Focal Listen Pro Closed-Back Reference Studio Headphones

Focal Listen Professional
  • Exclusive cone technology offering acoustic transparency and excellent...
  • Precision and neutrality.
  • Total control over the audio spectrum.

The professionals at Focal Listen are exactly what they say on the tin; ideal for both listening and professional tasks. This places them decidedly at the top of the category in the versatile category. Overall, the fit is snug, but not too tight, making the saddle’s long blending periods excruciating.

Focal is one of the best manufacturers of high-end audio, both in monitors and in headphones. The Listen Professional headphones are a long-awaited successor to the popular Spirit Professional model. They feature rugged drivers, passive noise isolation, and even smartphone compatibility. This makes them the most versatile mixing headphones. Listen The professional headphones are made with low-distortion Mylar and titanium drivers, giving you world-class sound with ease. Titanium-coated domed Mylar suspension helps break down bass and expands frequency range. You get powerful bass with low distortion, super high highs, and crisp mid frequencies. The frequency response range is 5 Hz to 22 kHz, which is ideal for mixing and mastering.

The earphones are made of heat-sensitive high-density memory foam and microfiber covered earphones, and the earphones feature a silicone-lined headband that conforms to your head to provide a listening experience. study for long periods of time. hour. Two oxygen-free copper cables are included. One of them has a remote control and microphone for use with your smartphone, allowing you to make calls or control your music in an instant. The Listen Professional headphones are great for mixing and mastering, but they fold up easily and are compact and portable, making them an ideal choice for mixing and mastering on the go.

In fact, far from that, the longest time we had them was around three hours, and the main issues were back pain and lack of blinking. While many engineers and sound specialists may prefer open designs for their lack of fatigue, closed Listen Pros perform admirably in this regard. We found the response of these cans to be perfectly balanced, with remarkably neutral and punchy bass with plenty of extension, full, clear mids, and bright, smooth highs. Complete with a nice hardshell case, we don’t think there’s a better full studio headphone at this price point.

Focal’s Professional Listen headphones are a great choice for the producer who wants versatile headphones. These are very balanced headphones, with high-quality audio components, but they also fold up for travel and are compatible with smartphones. These are the Best Headphones for Mixing and Mastering in 2023.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 ohm Over-Ear Studio...
  • Open over-ear headphones, ideal for professional mixing, mastering and...
  • Perfect for studio applications thanks to their transparent, spacious,...
  • The soft, circumaural and replaceable velour ear pads ensure high wearing...

The DT-990 Pro is a set of dynamic headphones designed for studio and monitoring applications. The spring-loaded steel headband, constructed of soft padded material, provides a comfortable and secure fit. The soft ear cushions built around the ear cups also provide comfort and are replaceable.

The DT 990 PRO has a very nice sound with rich, bright bass, clear mids, and very high treble. The DT 990s also emit three-dimensional sound, accurately reproducing every detail of each instrument in a large spatial image. They also have a very wide frequency response range from 5Hz to 35kHz. Design-wise, the headband is stiffer, but puts less pressure on the head. It is also soft and padded to make it more comfortable. The ear pads are also quite soft and can be easily replaced. DT 990 PROs are delivered with a coiled cable.

The lightweight diaphragm and voice coil have the same pulse characteristic as electrostatic headphones with matching frequency response. These headphones come with a single sided coiled cable fitted with a 1/8 “stereo plug with a 1/4” adapter. These are the best studio headphones in 2023.

Sennheiser HD 650

Sale
Sennheiser Consumer Audio HD 650 - Audiophile...
  • Specially designed acoustic silk ensures precision damping over the entire...
  • Improved frequency response is 10 39,500 Hertz ( 10 dB)
  • Hand selected matched driver elements; Highly optimized magnet systems for...

The HD 650s are headphones designed for audiophiles, making them very useful for mixing and monitoring. The aluminum coils in these headphones ensure fast transient response across the entire frequency spectrum. They offer detailed sound reproduction and low harmonic distortion, making them suitable for SEO. The detachable oxygen-free copper cable also allows for low sensitivity to handling noise.

They are designed to deliver the authentic and natural sound reproduction you expect from high-end open reference class headphones, at a fraction of the price you will pay for other options with comparable performance. The lightweight aluminum voice coils provide a highly accurate transient response and the full-range drivers produce an extended frequency response from 10Hz to 39.5kHz.

Lightweight aluminum voice coils are generally the standard for general studio headphones, and since they have an open design and an excellent reputation for their even frequency distribution, this is the benchmark for most recording professionals. the headphones. If you can afford it, these things are monstrous. You probably want a headphone amp to use them optimally, so keep in mind that you’ll need to spend some money on that as well. There’s really no downside here, other than some people wondering if the size of the ears is small, but beggars can’t choose and I wouldn’t worry too much about that.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio...
  • Critically acclaimed sonic performance praised by top audio engineers and...
  • Proprietary 45 millimeter large aperture drivers with rare earth magnets...
  • Exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range with deep...

ATH-M50x are the most popular studio headphones in the music industry. They are of great value to customers in the market. Excellent sound quality, exceptional value. Well balanced sound. Bass, mids, highs, everything is perfect for studio professionals. Build quality is very good. All the best headphones for mixing and mastering under $ 150.

No list of studio headphones would be complete without mentioning the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones. Offering a lot for your money, the ATH-M50x strikes an excellent balance between faithful sound reproduction and isolating sound from the surrounding environment. They feature 45mm neodymium drivers with a frequency response of 15Hz to 28kHz.

The relaunched M50 (“x” = detachable cable) is a popular model in the audio world, competing directly with Beyerdynamic and AKG. They’re comfortable, they fold and fold in the right places, and they’re relatively light (285g). Sound quality is good overall, although they filter out a detailed and airy HF region. The mids are clear and forward, while the low end extends downward without any resonance peaks. As with all the low impedance models here (it’s 38 ohms), our comfort threshold is easily exceeded.

Shure SRH1840 Professional Open Back Headphones

Shure SRH1840 Professional Open Back Headphones...
  • Individually matched 40 mm neodymium drivers for unparalleled acoustic...
  • Open-back, circumaural design for exceptionally natural sound, wide stereo...
  • Lightweight construction featuring aircraft-grade aluminum alloy yoke and...

Shure is no stranger to making high-quality products. These are designed not only to sound excellent, but also to be comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They have an open-back over-ear design. High-density foam is used in the earpads, which are coated in velour with an imitation leather surround. The headband is made of a flexible steel band with an aluminum alloy yoke and is not overly cushioned. It’s completely adjustable.

These materials guarantee that they will be light and pleasant to wear for long periods of time. One oddity must be resolved. These headphones are nine and a half ounces in weight, not just over two pounds as other websites claim. The 40mm neodymium drivers in these headphones provide lots of high-end frequencies as well as a concise and clear bass. 10 – 30000 Hz is the frequency response. They have dual detachable oxygen-free cables and an 18-inch gold-plated stereo mini-jack.

The overall sound produced by these phones is one of their best features. The bass is well-defined and well-balanced. It’s not overly loud in the mix, but it has a good sound to it. The high-frequency extension is effective without being overpowering, leaving the mids balanced and present. You can only admire the build quality. They are both comfy and powerful. Shure is known for making long-lasting products. Microphones are usually the culprits. That concept appears to extend to headphones as well.

If we’re looking for something to criticize, we don’t care for the twin exit cable, which is prone to tangling. However, there are few drawbacks, and these headphones are of great quality. And if you want headphones with a quick transient response, they could be the ones for you. They are priced similarly to the majority of the others in our evaluation.

AKG K 701 – Open-Back Reference Class Stereo Headphones with Varimotion and Flat-Wire Voice Coil Technology

Sale
AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone...
  • Revolutionary flat-wire voice
  • Extremely accurate and detailed sound with excellent transient response
  • Built to last with premium components and unbreakable metal arches without...

For more than a decade, the AKG K 701 Ultra Reference Class Stereo Headphone has been available. That says a lot about how good it is. They have a distinct appearance. AKG has made no attempt to impress with their design or to make them appear fashionable. These are professional headphones.

Despite the fact that certain parts appear to be metal, they are largely constructed of plastic. Plastic is significantly lighter. This makes them very light and ideal for long days of use. However, despite what some may consider to be unfavorable feedback, these have stood the test of time. Because they are good at what they do, so forget about the flash and shine and marketing hoopla that certain brands insist on – these will get the job done.

Despite their enormous appearance, they are extremely pleasant to wear thanks to their velour-covered soft foam ear pads. They’re open-backed, over-ear headphones with AKG’s flat-wire voice coil. The frequency response ranges from 10-39000 Hz. A 14 inch to 1/8 inch stereo adapter is included.

They excel at sound, which is why you bought them. Despite not being given any special emphasis, the bottom end is amazing in terms of clarity. They’ll pick up anything that should or shouldn’t be there. If you’re in the market for new headphones, wait until you’ve heard them. They are just amazing!

beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO Studio open Reference Headphones

beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open Studio Headphones
  • Open studio reference class headphones for mixing and mastering, Made in...
  • 250 ohms, 45 mm dynamic Tesla neodymium drivers
  • Single sided, detachable cable with mini-XLR connectors

Designed and built for individuals who require a well-balanced sound. They’re ideal for mixing and mastering in the studio. They’re an over-ear open-backed design with two distinct listening modes: well-balanced sound or a more analytical style. What you choose will be determined by how you want to use them. The choices are altered simply switching out the included earpads.

The sound, on the other hand, has room and a natural feel to it. They’re great for critical listening as reference phones. They have 45-millimeter neodymium drivers that deliver a clear sound. They have a good frequency range of 5-40,000 Hz and an SPL of 102dB. As previously stated, the sound is clean and bright. However, the bass is incredibly detailed and articulated. The detailed and rich midrange is a great advantage. It’s crucial for the area where the snare drum and vocals are usually found.

The cord is detachable and attaches to the headphones on one side. Beyer thoughtfully includes both curly and straight cables so you can choose. The included ear pads and headband are made of high-quality foam. They are wrapped in a high-quality cloth, ensuring little fatigue throughout long sessions. You can change the ear pads and headband as needed during working hours due to the range of sounds available.

These are professional-grade headphones. They are unlikely to appeal to the average consumer. The sound quality is excellent, and these are at the top of the list. This qualifies them as one of the most precise mixing and mastering headphones available.

They have a fairly high price tag. Engineers, on the other hand, will identify their excellence and expect nothing less. These are fantastic examples of what is available for studio work. They perform on a magnificent sound stage. It will be difficult to come up with much better. They are packaged in a sturdy case.

Sony MDR-7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone

Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm...
  • Neodymium magnets and 40 millimeter drivers for powerful, detailed...
  • Closed ear design provides comfort and outstanding reduction of external...
  • 9.8 foot cord ends in gold plated plug and it is not detachable; 1/4 inch...

The Sony MDR series has been around for a long time and has a great studio pedigree, as evidenced by decades of use in the recording and broadcast industries around the world. The MDR-7506 is a fantastic combination of comfort, practicality, and value in its current version.

In our opinion, these are quite comfortable to wear for long lengths of time and are meant to highlight the flaws in a recording rather than the positive aspects. In action, the sound is powerful and clear throughout the spectrum (with a little bump in the upper mids), while not being excessively pleasing.

They have a well-balanced sound in the bass and a nice clear midrange. In the high frequencies, though, they can be a little harsh. While not ideal for casual listening, it does highlight intricacies and mistakes in a recording. For many years, audio professionals and technicians have relied on the MDR-7506 headphones. Because of the long, coiled cable, they aren’t especially flashy or appropriate for commuting. With a foldable ear cup design and integrated carrying pouch, they’re nonetheless fairly portable.

Headphones are designed to be lightweight and fit most head sizes. The earpads aren’t the thickest on the market, but they should be comfortable for a few hours of use. Overall, the fact that these workhorse cans can be had for less than a hundred dollars/pound is not to be overlooked.