In this article, we are looking at the seven best cheap studio headphones for home recording studios!
Studio headphones have become a crucial recording studio investment. And I say this because of different reasons.
Firstly, they offer accurate sound representation, making them suitable for recording, monitoring, mixing, or referencing your masters.
Next, you can work efficiently in a noisy environment where you do not want to bug others. Closed-back studio headphones do this task of isolating the external noise pretty well. Also, the reverse is true. They do not let inside audio leak out of the earcups.
Related: Can you mix on studio headphones?
Due to their wide range of uses, getting a studio headphone becomes essential, particularly in the early stages of setting up your home studio, be it for recording, editing, or monitoring purposes.
Related: 32 vs 80 vs 250 Ohm Headphones
Best Cheap Studio Headphones
| Best cheap studio headphones | Type | Impedance | Price |
| Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO | closed-back | 80 ohms | view price on amazon |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M40x | closed-back | 35 ohms | view price on amazon |
| Shure SRH440A | closed-back | 44 ohms | view price on amazon |
| Sennheiser HD 280 PRO | closed-back | 64 ohms | view price on amazon |
| AKG Pro Audio K240 | semi-open | 55 ohms | view price on amazon |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M20X | closed-back | 47 ohms | view price on amazon |
| Sony MDR7506 | closed-back | 63 ohms | view price on amazon |
1) Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (80 Ohm) Studio Headphones
Product Features
- 3m coiled cable,
- Impedance – 80 ohms,
- Non-Detachable cable,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 5Hz – 35kHz.
click to view price of Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro on Amazon
A deeper Analysis
First in our list of best cheap studio headphones comes the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro closed-back headphones. I have used these headphones for four years and continue using them.
The build quality you get with these headphones is top-notch. The DT 770 Pro feels very durable and well built. Additionally, the ear cups and the headband provide an extremely comfortable cushioning. The soft cushioning and moderate clamping force make these headphones fit for long recording, monitoring, and mixing sessions.
Not to forget, the sound isolation is quite good, and the headphones dampen the outside noise to a great extent, which means that you can use them to record vocals and mix in noisy places.
Most importantly, these headphones offer a relatively flat frequency response and wide sound stage. It makes them suitable for audio monitoring, recording, and mixing/mastering tasks.
Also Read: Best studio headphones for mixing and mastering!
I know that price of the DT 770 Pro is not cheap to some people, and others may disagree with me on this point. But, the value and versatility that you get is something most studio headphones fail to provide.
Although the DT 770 Pro headphones have some cons, the pros you get with them outweigh all the cons. They offer very high performance and quality for their price, and you’ll never have any regrets seeing them in your studio or in daily life.
Another headphones that compare very similarly to the DT 770 Pro are the ATH M50x. Both these headphones fall in a similar price category. However, I liked the DT 770 Pro more than M50x headphones due to its much wider sound stage and clean frequency response.
Pros
- Great budget option,
- Flat frequency response,
- Comfortable to wear for long hours.
Cons
- Clamping power is a bit high.
2) Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Headphones
Product Features
- Detachable cable,
- Straight 3m cable,
- Impedance – 35 ohms,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 15Hz – 24kHz.
click to view price of Audio-Technica ATH-M40x on Amazon
A deeper Analysis
I have been using both ATH-M40x and M50x for quite a time now. My recent purchase of ATH-M40x helped me draw a clear distinction between these headphones.
The first difference is that the M40x studio headphones are lighter in weight than the M50x. Next, the driver size is 40mm in M40x, which is 45mm in M50x headphones. Also, the ear cup rotation is more in M50x than M40x. You also get a long cable and a short cable in M50x, whereas in M40x, you get only a long cable.
Not to forget, the sound signature of both these headphones is relatively flat. However, the ATH-M40x reproduces a much more accurate sound which is true to the source. It makes great for recording, monitoring, mixing, and mastering audio tracks with high accuracy.
On the other hand, the M50x adds color to the sound, particularly the low end. You can notice the bass response is much emphasized in M50x than in M40x. It makes the M50x great for casual listening as well as studio tasks.
The M40x headphones are an excellent option for those who want to save some money and are willing to compromise on some features and accessories. Keep one thing in mind that you’ll not enjoy casual listening on these headphones as much as the elder variant, M50x.
Pros
- Durable build,
- Good bass response,
- A great portable option,
- 90 degrees rotating ear-cups.
Cons
- Low-end response is slightly boosted,
- Turns hot during long studio sessions,
- The sound isolation is not as great as other budget options.
3) Shure SRH440A Over-Ear Wired Headphones
Product Features
- Detachable cable,
- Straight 3m cable,
- Impedance – 44 ohms,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 10Hz – 22kHz.
click to view price of Shure SRH440A on Amazon
A deeper Analysis
The Shure SRH440A studio headphones are one of the best headphones you’ll find in the price category of under $100. These professional headphones are what you need if you are serious about accurate audio and a highly durable build.
Firstly, the Shure SRH440A looks very professional in an all-black finish which is exactly what I would expect from professional cans.
They feel highly durable and comfortable to wear for extended studio or work hours. The earpad and headband cushioning make these headphones immensely satisfying to wear.
The Shure SRH440A studio headphones are one of the best you can get under $100. They cover a vast frequency range. The treble is quite bright and accurate with a sufficient low-end response. However, the headphones fail to cover the deep low-end frequencies.
Additionally, the closed-back design allows you to get more from these headphones. You can use the Shure SRH440A headphones for audio monitoring, recording, mixing, and mastering. Due to their balanced sound signature, they are also an excellent daily companion.
In short, the Shure SRH440A is one of the best cheap studio headphones that has the capacity to fulfill all your home recording studio and podcasting needs. They are very durable, comfortable, and great for professional audio tasks.
Pros
- Reasonably priced,
- Neutral audio quality,
- Best durability in this price segment,
- One of the best build quality in this price range,
- Comfortable ear-cups and headband cushioning.
Cons
- Extremely flat bass response for daily use,
- The headband heats up after wearing for long hours.
4) Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Over-Ear Monitoring Headphones
Product Features
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 64 ohms,
- Non-Detachable cable,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 8Hz – 25kHz.
click to view price of Sennheiser HD 280 PRO on amazon
A deeper Analysis
Next in our list of best cheap studio headphones come Sennheiser HD280 Pro. These headphones are budget-friendly and offer multiple use cases.
Starting with where you can use them, I am confident that the Sennheiser HD 280 pro is an excellent candidate for operating in either a home recording studio or daily life. After using these headphones for under a year, I am very impressed with how they feel and sit on your head.
They come with a relatively flat sound signature, one that is suitable for a studio environment. What I love about them is the non-sibilant treble response and a reasonable deep low-end response. Overall, the headphones feel very smooth.
Related: Best studio headphones for recording vocals & tracking audio!
Additionally, the comfort is moderate, and cushioning is adequate for budget studio headphones. No complaints whatsoever!
You can hear the outside noise dampened and voices silenced when you wear them. Since the HD 280 Pro headphones are closed-back, they isolate the sound pretty well and prevent audio leaks. It makes them a viable option for recording, podcasting, or monitoring audio.
The only disadvantage with the Sennheiser HD280 Pro is that the cable is non-detachable. So, if the wire breaks, these headphones will stop working. However, the good thing is that the wire quality is very durable.
Pros
- Attractive design,
- Durable headphones,
- Great sound isolation,
- Accurate and clean audio response.
Cons
- The ear-pads are susceptible to heat up after wearing for long hours.
5) AKG Pro Audio K240 Studio Headphones
Product Features
- Detachable cable,
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 55 ohms,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – Semi-open headphones,
- Frequency response – 15Hz – 25kHz.
click to view the price of AKG Pro Audio K240 on amazon
A deeper Analysis
Another reliable and cheap studio headphone that I want to list here is the AKG Pro Audio K240. These semi-open headphones are another budget-friendly option you can consider while building your home recording studio.
One of the best things about the AKG Pro Audio K240 studio headphones is their incredible comfort. They feel light, and one can wear them for hours on end. However, the earpad cushioning does run a little hotter when you wear them for long hours.
Related: Best open-back studio headphones for mixing and mastering!
Next, as the K240 are studio headphones, they are relatively flat and balanced across different frequencies, making them fit for audio monitoring, mixing and video editing.
Additionally, as these are semi-open studio headphones, I don’t recommend recording vocals or instruments using these headphones. The reason is simple: the sound leaking out of these headphones may get picked up by microphones.
Pros
- Expansive sound stage,
- Light-weight and comfortable,
- Good cost to performance ratio,
- Most of the parts can be switched if broken.
Cons
- Low bass response,
- Poor sound isolation,
- Cheap & unreliable build quality.
6) Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Studio Headphones
Product Features
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 47 ohms,
- Non-Detachable cable,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed-back headphones,
- Frequency response – 15Hz – 20kHz.
click to view the price of Audio-Technica ATH-M20X on amazon
A deeper Analysis
When you look under the price segment of under $50, the Audio Technica ATH-M20X studio headphones will find you there. The ATH M20X headphones represent the ATH-M50X flagship model in build, sound signature and comfort.
Related: Best studio headphones under $50!
The ATH-M20X studio headphones, for their price, house a very durable plastic build and ample cushioning around the earcups and headband. However, most people say that the cushioning around earcups and headband is compromised.
The sound signature is highly flat, making them suitable for professional audio requirements. These headphones find their home in tasks like audio recording, monitoring, mix referencing, etc.
Although the ATH-M20X studio headphones do not offer a removable cable option and proper sound isolation, these headphones still offer a good value for money.
Pros
- Very cost effective,
- Sturdy build quality,
- Good sound isolation,
- Flat frequency response.
Cons
- Non-detachable cable,
- Less cushioning around ear-cups and headband.
7) Sony MDR-7506 Monitoring studio headphones
Product Features
- cable length – 2.7m,
- Impedance – 63 ohms,
- Non-Detachable cable,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 10Hz – 20kHz.
click to view the price of Sony MDR-7506 on amazon
A deeper Analysis
For the last 30 years, producers and mixing engineers with a limited budget have opted the Sony MDR7506 for their daily work and studio needs.
So, what makes the Sony MDR7506 a solid budget option?
The 7506 studio headphones feature mostly a plastic build quality and offer good flexibility to fit all types of head sizes and shapes. One thing I like about them is that most of the parts are replaceable, including the headband and the earcups.
Also, the earcups are sufficiently cushioned and soft enough to keep you irritation-free for long hours. Additionally, the headphones are foldable, making them an excellent portable option.
The sound profile remains not entirely neutral, and this is where knowing these headphones become crucial when you want to mix or reference your mixes. There is a slight emphasis on upper-mids and high-end frequencies.
Additionally, the headphones offer good sound isolation, making them suitable for recording, podcasting, editing videos, and referencing audio.
However, a disadvantage of the Sony MDR7506 studio headphones is that they are not entirely flat. They do add a bit of colouration in different frequency ranges. Hence, you need to know them first to reference your mixes and masters.
Pros
- Versatile,
- Solid budget option,
- Good sound isolation,
- replacable headband and earcups.
Cons
- cheap build quality,
- Unattractive design.
Conclusion
We saw from this article that good studio headphones do not need to be expensive. Our list of best cheap studio headphones is a live proof of that.
Nonetheless, all the studio headphones we have mentioned take care of your budget and offer extremely high value for their price.
All in all, I hope you liked this article. Also, if I have missed your favorite studio headphones, kindly mention them in the comments section below.
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