Are you in the market for a good pair of studio headphones for your internet radio or podcast studio?
I can recall an experience where I bought cheaply-made headphones. They fit extra-tight making them highly uncomfortable for long periods of use.
I don’t want you making the same mistake and skimping on quality. Get a nice pair of cans, like I later did, and they should be built for monitoring and long periods of wear.
Headphones are must-have equipment in any internet or podcast studio. They help you monitor the audio as the microphone records it. You listen for loudness, background noise, plosives, sibilance, etc., and make corrections.
Before purchasing studio headphones, You Should Know this:
1) Closed-back versus open-back headphones
A closed-back headphone means that it has a solid back case, which restricts airflow and audio bleeding. Unless you’re listening at high volume, the sound is not going to leak and get picked up by a live microphone.
An open-back headphone doesn't have a sealed or solid back case. It has perforations to promote airflow. This design prevents the buildup of air pressure. The sound is natural and spacious as if you're listening on a HiFi system. But they bleed audio into the surrounding.
2) Choose a USB microphone with an audio jack
If you're using a USB microphone for recording, it needs to have a headphone jack. You can monitor the audio with zero latency. With XLR mics, you can connect the headphone to the audio mixer for direct monitoring. Computers are prone to audio interface latency, where there is a slight delay between sound coming in and out.
3) Quality & price
In the headphone realm, the price goes hand-in-hand with sound quality, in most cases, but not all!
And now for the headphone list:
1) Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone
| Price | $99.95 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 10 Hertz to 20 kilohertz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over Year |
| Key feature | Neodymium 40-millimeter drivers & Foldable |
The Sony MDR 7506 boasts a timeless design and has been in continuous production since the 90s. We like that it's precisely engineered for comfortability, strong bass, and crisp & clean sound. It's a great all-around headphone for monitoring at a fair price. On Amazon, it has been reviewed over 12000 times, with an average 4.7-star rating out of 5.
Alternatives:
● Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone (International Model)
● Sony MDR-7506 Professional Folding Headphones
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2) Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 PRO open Studio Headphone
| Price | $162.99 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 5 - 35,000 Hz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over-ear, open |
| Key feature | Great for Stereo & 3D sound |
Looking for a good pair of open-ear studio headphones? The Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones are adapted to mixing and mastering audio. We love that they are durable and robustly built. They have extremely transparent and stereo sound. You get a broad tonal depth, making it easy to detect small changes in the audio. At about $160, they are great value for your money.
Alternatives
Philips Audio Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones
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1) Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Review! Ninja's Headphones. Are they worth it for gaming?
2) Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Studio Headphones Review:
3) AKG Pro Audio K371 Over-Ear, Closed-Back, Foldable Studio Headphones
| Price | $119.00 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 5 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over the ear |
| Key feature | 50mm Drive Size, Pure OFC Voice Coil |
The AKG Pro Audio K371 headphones are perfect for musicians, bloggers, podcasters, engineers, and gamers. Yes, we know; they cover a lot of ground. The best thing is that you can wear them for a long time, thanks to the plush earcups. The rugged construction means they can adapt to the rigors of a mobile lifestyle. Sound specs are pretty impressive. You get titanium-coated 50mm transducers paired with pure OFC voice coils. The earcups can swivel for up to 90 degrees allowing for single-ear listening.
Similar alternatives
● AKG Pro Audio K361
● Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
● AKG Pro Audio K275
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4) Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
| Price | $50 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 15-20,000 Hz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Key feature | Tune for enhanced low-frequency performance |
The ATM-M20X headphones prove that you don't need to fork out hundreds of dollars for a decent pair of studio headphones. They may be less famous than the ATH-M50, but they're packed with great features for a modest price. We like that they are enhanced for low-frequency performance, and the bass is not muddy. The build quality is rugged with a focus on maximum comfort, so you can enjoy many hours of monitoring & mixing without headphone fatigue. With 40mm neodymium drivers, you're getting the industry standard in sound performance.
Alternatives at $50 or below
● AmazonBasics Over-Ear Studio Monitor Headphones - Black
● Edifier H840 Audiophile Over-The-Ear Headphones
● Audio-Technica ATH-AVC200 SonicPro
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5) Shure SRH1540 Premium Closed-Back Headphones
| Price | $499 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 5 - 25.000 Hz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Key feature | 40 mm neodymium drivers & light weight |
| Applications | Professional engineering, Videography, Field Recording, Podcasting |
Sure, the Shure SRH1540s are not the most affordable headphones on this list. But what they lack in price, they make up with superior acoustic performance. We also love that they are comfortable and durable. With carbon fiber and aluminum alloy construction, the SH1540 headphones are extremely lightweight. Alcantara textile was used for the ear pads, making them highly comfortable. The cups provide optimum sound isolation too. Since the cans are meant to last for ages, they ship with replacement ear pads and cables.
Alternatives
● Focal Listen Pro Closed-Back Reference Studio Headphones
● Neumann NDH20 Closed-Back Monitoring Studio headphones
Recommended YouTube Reviews
Shure SRH1540 (Damir Franc)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koHsPTG3KA4
Z Review - Shure SRH1540: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He-a-qKu_XM
6) Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro Studio Headphone
| Price | $599.00 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 5-40,000 Hz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired (XLR) |
| Form Factor | Over-ear, Closed |
| Key feature | Tesla 2.0 Technology |
Hailing from the Great Land of precision engineering, the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 are a handsome pair of reference headphones. They are an upgrade from the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. You get the best of the best at this price range, including a dynamic Tesla neodymium driver. The sound is well-balanced with a precise resolution, spaciousness, and high output pressure level. No expense was spared in terms of build quality and comfort. Though a bit expensive, as one reviewer puts it on Amazon, they are worth their “Weight in Gold.”
Alternatives
● Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
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7) Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus Headphones
| Price | $199.00 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 10 - 24, 000 Hz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Key feature | Bass slider with four spots |
The Beyerdynamic Custom Pros are unlike any other headphones on this list. What's so special about them? You can customize their look by substituting the ear pads, backs, cable, and headband.
Looks alone don't make them special. You can customize the sound profile to your preference. There is a bass sound slider that allows you to vary the bass coming from the headphones; for instance, you can have a flat & transparent sound for monitoring or a bass-heavy sound for casual listening. Some editions ship with a detachable mic, making them suited for gaming or phone calls. So, if you need versatility, these are great headsets for you.
Alternatives
● AKG Pro Audio K553 MKII Over-Ear, Closed-Back, Foldable Studio Headphones
● Fostex T50RP MK3 Professional Studio Headphones, Semi-Open
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8) Audio-Technica BPHS2 Broadcast Stereo Headset
| Price | $349 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 15-28,000 Hz (Headphone); 50-14,000 Hz (Microphone) |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Key feature | Broadcast Stereo Headset |
Searching for an outstanding pair of broadcast headphones? With an integrated microphone, these headsets facilitate live broadcasting and interviews. You may have seen them worn by popular sports commentators like Joe Buck.
The Audio-Technica BPHS2 are the successor of the BPHS1 and are built for live news and sports broadcasting. They capture broadcast-ready sound with no need for post-processing. Premium memory foam earpads allow continuous use for many hours with no discomfort. The dynamic microphone's hyper-cardioid pickup pattern isolates loud noises in noisy broadcast environments. They also use 45 mm, large-aperture drivers from the ATH-M60x Pro.
Alternatives
● Audio-Technica BPHS1
● Sennheiser Headphones, Black (HMD 300 PRO-XQ-2
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9) Sennheiser Pro Audio Sennheiser HD 25 - DJ Headphone
| Price | $149.95 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 30 - 16000 Hz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over-ear closed |
| Key feature | Built for use in high noise environments |
The Sennheiser HD 25s are one of the most popular headphones for DJs. We'll not waste time telling you how great they are. They have a rather interesting backstory. British Airways was launching the Concorde supersonic airliner service, and required headphones to dampen the sonic boom produced as the planes traveled at twice the speed of sound.
Sennheiser developed the HD 25s and supplied them to British Airways from 1989 to 2004. They were not cheaply made airline headphones. The headphones delivered premium sound, and passengers were often disappointed they couldn't take them off the flight. Their popularity grew across the airline industry to the point of being smuggled all across Europe and America, where they landed into the hands of underground DJs.
The HD 25s continue to shine because of their lightweight, comfortability, and adaptability to noisy environments.
Alternatives
● Sennheiser HD280PRO Headphone (new model) $98.49
● Sennheiser HD 205-II Studio Grade DJ Headphones
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1) The BEST DJ Headphones In The World: Sennheiser HD25 Unboxing - Karl Thomas
2) Limited Edition - Sennheiser HD25 DJ Headphones (Full Review):
10) AKG Pro Audio K612 PRO Reference Studio Headphones
| Price | $174.49 |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 12 - 39500 Hz |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Form Factor | Over the ear, open |
| Key feature | HIFI Precision |
The AKG K612 open-back headphones are ideal for mixing and monitoring, thanks to their precise sound reproduction capability. We love the large ear cups that accurately replicate a big sound stage. On the tech side, they have patented varimotion diaphragm tech. The sound is natural, detailed, and clear. For comfortability, users get a self-adjusting headband. AKG K612 boasts 65 years of experience creating great products for engineers, producers, artists, and musicians.
Alternatives:
● Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
● Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR
● Philips Audio Philips SHP9500
● AKG Pro Audio K702
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Conclusion
Hopefully, you've found the best studio headphone for use in your internet radio or podcast studio. Remember that the best monitoring headphones should have hi-precision and be comfortable enough for long use.