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Are you looking for the best headphones for recording music? Your search may be propelled by a new found love for recording music. Or you may be looking to replace a set that you already have that you think could be better. Regardless of what your reason is, it can get confusing to navigate the vast market and get the right headphones. What you are looking for is natural sound.
In this article, we take a look at some of the top headphones for studio recording. What you should consider, and what you need to be wary of. We will look at whether you should be getting open back headphones or closed-back, wireless or wired, and how much these features matter is your choice. Let’s dig in shall we?
In a Hurry
There are a few features that you need to look for when it comes to looking for the best studio headphones for recording music. The first thing is they need to be closed back, as these work better for recording. One of those is “spill” from the headset into the microphone. This needs to be very low or better yet nonexistent. You also want to check on their noise cancellation capabilities.
The other feature to check on is the fit. This is also a functional feature because uncomfortable headphones mean that you will not want to spend time wearing them which also translates to poor quality work. Recording music can be either recording vocals or instruments or both, you want to make sure that the headset can handle both, efficiently.
OUR TOP PICK
We have done our research and found our top pick to be the Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed Back Headphones. Even though they may not be the most affordable, they have a great sound and will help offer a professional feel and quality to your recording.
Sennheiser HD280 Pro
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones are a closed-back headset that will close off surrounding sounds, thereby making them good for recording music. They are lightweight and comfortable to wear. They may be basic looking, but they deliver good enough quality sound. They work well for amateurs and professional producers alike. Although it’s worth noting that they aren’t the very best, and they will do the basic job.
Pros
- They are affordable
- They are closed-back
- The earpads can be replaced when they wear out
- They can withstand harsh weather
Cons
- You cannot detach the cord
- They are basic and may not be comparable to higher-end headphones
Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones
These headphones are great if you’re just starting. The price is favourable and they will help you quickly get used to operating high-end studio recording headphones. They have a closed-back design which helps isolate sounds effectively. They are sensitive and give a balanced sound. The ear pads rotate 90˚, making them easy to wear and also allowing you to use one ear when you need to.
Pros
- Very affordable
- They have a foldable design, which makes them easy to carry around
- The headband is well stitched and comfortable to wear
- The ear pads are comfortable
Cons
- The cable doesn’t coil, and hence can easily entangle
- The jack has some durability issues
Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones
They are professional studio quality headphones and they also have a hefty price tag to match. They have a closed-back and isolate noise well. They are also lightweight but durable and sturdy. You get consistent performance, regardless of what you are listening to, thanks to the steel driver frame that has a vented centre pole piece which improves linearity and eliminates internal resonance.
Pros
- They are comfortable
- They are well constructed
- They have good quality sound
- They have good sound isolation
Cons
- They are on the high end of the pricing scale
Focal On-Ear Headphone (H5006)
These headphones fit over the ears, comfortably. They are a durable pair of headphones, which have closed ear cups and good sound isolation. They produce clear sound, which allows you to record clearly and have a top-grade product at the end of the day. Whilst it may seem like the pricing is a bit hefty, if you are on a budget, a lot of users say it is worth the money.
Pros
- They have a closed back and isolate sound well, which is great for music recording
- They have comfortable ear cups and headband
- They are good for both casual listening and also for recording music
Cons
- They are on the higher end of the pricing scale
- Like a lot of closed-back headphones, they can be hot to wear for an extended period
OneOdio Pro10 Wired Over-Ear Headphones - Studio Monitor & Mixing DJ Stereo Headsets
These headphones come with 50mm neodymium drivers. They also have a 1/4 to 3.5mm audio jack. one of the other great things about this set is that they are affordable. The drivers give good bass and clear sound. This allows for good recordings. You can tilt the ear cups to 15 ° and they are also made of soft material which makes them comfortable to wear.
Pros
- They are affordable.
- They are comfortable to wear for long periods
- The ear cups can rotate 90 degrees which means that they can be used for single side monitoring
- They are compatible with various devices
- They have good bass
Cons
- They are not as durable as other headsets
- The sound is still not as good as on higher-end headsets.
Final thoughts
Finding headphones that are of good quality, with great sound, and also comfortable to wear, can be a challenge, but not one that’s impossible. We still recommend buying the Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones, because of their superior sound quality. When you record music, you want to make sure that you can hear what you are recording clearly and that there is no spill into the microphone you are using. That is essential for music production, especially when mastering.
The noise cancellation property that comes with closed-back headphones, make them a good choice for recording music. It minimises sound leakage. Try not to be afraid to splurge a little to get the best sound, it may very well be worth it. Happy shopping!
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