In this article, we are looking at some of the best studio headphones for recording vocals.
But first, let us see what studio headphones are and the places they find their use.
In short, a studio headphone is a type of headphone that finds its uses in professional audio monitoring and reproduction. Such headphones are used extensively in recording or mixing/mastering studios where you want to hear audio as accurately as possible without any bias.
Also read: Can you mix on headphones?
A remarkable thing about such headphones is that they do not alter the sound coming out of them. Hence, they find their use for mixing, tracking and recording purposes.
Now, without any further due, let’s proceed and see some of the best studio headphones for recording vocals.
Buying guide for best studio headphones for recording vocals
Before we look at nine best studio headphones for recording vocals, let us define what makes a headphone suitable for recording purposes.
Here are few things to keep in mind while choosing studio reference monitoring headphones for tracking purposes.
1) Closed vs Open back studio headphones
When buying studio headphones for tracking purposes, you first need to decide which type is best.
So, should you go for open or closed-back headphones?
Firstly, let us know the primary difference between these headphones.
Open-back headphones are made up of perforated material that lets air and the sound mix together to give an immersive sound. This, however, creates a problem for producers like us who want to track vocals because the sound bleeds through the headphones, which the microphones can catch up with during recording sessions.
Related: 32 vs 80 vs 250 Ohm Headphones
But, you can easily avoid this problem by keeping the headphone volume levels low enough so that the sound does not leak out of the headphones.
On the other hand, closed-back headphones are perfect for tracking vocals or instruments. They provide proper sound isolation, and the sound stays within the ear-cups, thereby reducing the audio leak.
2) Sound Staging
The second important thing to look for is the sound staging of monitoring headphones. Sound staging refers to, in simple words, how well can you differentiate different audio signals in audio. This feature becomes crucial for mixing as well as tracking purposes.
A headphone with good sound staging is immersive and has depth. You can easily differentiate the depth of each sound within the space created by the headphones.
3) Sound Isolation
The next crucial thing that comes to mind while discussing studio headphones for recording purposes is proper sound isolation.
Proper sound isolation becomes another important aspect because it ensures no sound leaks from the headphones into the microphone while recording.
It is common to see good recordings get spoiled when the microphone picks up sound from headphones that do not adequately isolate the sound.
4) Comfort
Looking for comfort is one of the crucial features to look in headphones. For this, look for headphones with ear-cups with proper cushioning. Such headphones will allow you to record vocals for longer periods of time and hence your studio hours will become more productive.
5) Budget
Last but not least, you need to look out for your spending capacity and not be carried away by expensive studio headphones or gear.
You do not need to spend a fortune on headphones to get things done. Look deeply where your needs lie. Do you need headphones for mixing, tracking purposes, or both?
9 Best Studio Headphones for Recording Vocals
Here are the nine best studio reference headphones for recording or tracking vocals.
1) Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Over-Ear Studio Headphones
Product Specifications
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 80 ohms,
- 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
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro studio headphones have been a prevalent choice among many audio professionals. The reason is simple: they have everything that budget studio headphones can offer.
These studio headphones pack a deep and punchy bass with a ton of high-end detail. They are incredibly versatile and can be used for monitoring, tracking, or mixing purposes.
The thing that impresses me about them is the sound stage. For closed-back headphones, they reproduce an expansive and immersive sound stage. Their sub response is good and not misleading.
Even for high-end frequencies, their sound is crystal clear and easily distinguishable. And in no way ear fatiguing.
Related: Best Studio Headphones for mixing and mastering!
Not to forget, the DT 770 Pro are closed-back headphones and accomplish the task of sound isolation quite remarkably. The headphones snuggle tightly to your ear without any discomfort and the protective cushioning isolates the audio from leaking out of the ear-cups.
The build material is solid, and cushioning is comfortable enough to work with them for long studio hours. Additionally, the cable is 3m long, which covers a home studio well enough.
Pros
- Perfect sound isolation,
- Flat frequency response,
- Covers a wide frequency range,
- Great for recording vocals as well as for mixing purposes.
Cons
- Non replaceable cables,
- A bit tricky to remove ear-pads while replacing,
- Cable length might be short or not long enough for some studios,
- 250 ohm variant requires more power to produce all the sound frequencies.
2) Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
Product Specifications
- Detachable cable,
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 38 ohms,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 15Hz – 28kHz.
click to view price of Audio-Technica ATH-M50X on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
The Audio Technica AT M50x is one of the best studio headphones under $200. I have had these studio headphones for over a year now, and I have loved how they sound and fit my ears.
These headphones pack super durable build quality, have the same attention to detail, and are portable due to their foldable design.
The M50x feels a little more comfortable to wear during long studio sessions compared to its predecessor M50.
Furthermore, the sound isolation is proper, and the sound does not leak out of the ear-cups during recording sessions. Hence, you can also use them at high volumes. Not to forget, these headphones make an excellent choice for audio referencing and mixing your songs.
The headphones look pretty good with a silver-black color scheme, are highly flexible, and are well built to last a reasonable amount of time.
Coming to the sound profile of the AT M50x, these headphones do not disappoint for studio use. They pack a good bass response and a lot of high-end detail comparable to the DT 770 Pro.
However, the sound feels a bit closed and not very spacious, making them suitable for tracking purposes. Also, the sub-bass frequencies are altered to some extent but are unnoticeable.
Pros
- Foldable design,
- A lot of cable options,
- Detachable/replaceable cable,
- Comfortable and soft cushioning,
- Can also be used for mixing, tracking, and casual listening.
Cons
- Sound is not highly spacious as DT 770 & feels right in your ear,
- High frequencies are somewhat ear fatiguing when used for longer hours.
3) AKG Pro Audio K271 MKII Studio Headphones
Product Specifications
- Detachable cable,
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 55 ohms,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 16Hz – 28kHz.
click to view price of AKG Pro Audio K271 on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
The AKG K702 studio headphones are ultra-lightweight due to their plastic build quality. They are super comfortable for long studio or work hours, and they do not clamp on your head too tightly, and the ear-pads cover whole of the ear.
What makes them stand apart is their neutral sound. What that means is nothing is overtly emphasized, and you hear audio as it is. The base isn’t overpowered, and the highs are crystal clear, recommended for studio vocal recordings.
Furthermore, the sound profile is excellent, with no compression of high-end frequencies whatsoever. The bass response is limited, and the overall sound profile focuses on mid and high-mid frequencies. Hence, making them suitable for recording vocals or playback artists.
You can instantly compare them with the studio mentioned above headphones based on sound quality and transient response.
Pros
- Highly comfortable,
- Neutral sounding headphones,
- No compression on high end frequencies.
Cons
- Build quality may feel cheap,
- Ear fatiguing high frequencies.
4) Sennheiser Professional HD 280 PRO Over-Ear Monitoring Headphones
Product Specifications
- 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 Professional HD 280 on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
The Sennheiser HD280 Pro studio headphones have it all sorted out when it comes to comfort. You can tune into your studio recordings and mixing sessions for long studio hours, thanks to big ear-cups and soft-cushioning material. It is one of the best cheap studio headphones you can get without compromising on audio and build quality.
You can put these headphones on and forget about the external noise as they isolate the sound remarkably. This feature becomes essential whenever you want to record vocals and mix your songs in environments with a lot of buzz.
Another important thing is sound staging and how well they represent audio in 3D space!
The sound staging is exactly what i expected from a budget studio headphone. It is neither too immersive nor too closed. In short, a perfect blend of both.
When I was listening to my previous mixes on these headphones, the bass was a little overwhelming. But, for a price under $100, who am I to complain.
Lastly, I see a drawback with these headphones: the cable isn’t detachable.
Is Sennheiser HD280 Pro good for mixing?
If you are looking to mix on budget studio headphones, then, Sennheiser HD280 Pro is one of the go-to choices of many budget mix engineers. They cover a wide frequency range and are good when it comes to reproducing accurate and bias free audio.
However, I would also recommend checking out the AT M30x studio headphones.
Pros
- Portable and foldable,
- Great for vocal recordings,
- Compact and fit properly on the ears,
- Isolate the sound within the ear cups pretty well.
Cons
- Overpowered low-end,
- The headphones squeeze a little tighter.
5) Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
Product Specifications
- Detachable cable,
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 47 ohms,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 15Hz – 20kHz.
click to view price of Audio-Technica ATH-M30x on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
Another suitable choice for recording vocals and tracking audio is the ATH-M30x. These headphones fall within budget and compete well with other budget headphones mentioned in this article.
Speaking of the build quality, the M30x studio headphones are made of solid plastic, and the design looks quite exceptional. However, a place where they fall behind in comfort compared to M50x is the ear-pad cushioning.
The earpad cushion is a bit thin and could have been better. However, these are pretty comfortable headphones to wear at longer stretches.
Not to forget, the headphones isolate the outside noise pretty well and prevent most of the sound leaks, making them an appropriate candidate for studio recordings.
Additionally, the frequency response is flat and natural-sounding, making them perfect for recording vocals, tracking audio, and mixing purposes. They do not add any bias to the sound quality and accurately reproduce the sound as it is captured from the source.
Although they lack a detachable cable and folding capacity like the ATH-M50x studio headphones, they still sound fantastic and ideal entry-level monitoring headphones.
Pros
- comfortable cushioning,
- A good cost to performance ratio,
- Multi-purpose studio headphones.
Cons
- Non-Detachable cable,
- The bass response is a bit dim,
- The design can be tight for some people.
6) Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone
Product Specifications
- 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 price of Sony MDR7506 on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
It’s been 30 years since Sony MDR 7506 closed-back monitoring headphones were released. However, these headphones still are pretty popular in studio and recording environments. Continue reading whether you should invest in these or not!
The design of MDR 7506 is quite basic, and the build material is primarily plastic with soft cushioning around the ear cups, which is quite comfortable. However, the padding could have been better.
The headphones are foldable and compact, making them an excellent portable option. The cable is non-detachable but durable and can cover a home studio setup decently.
Speaking of sound quality, these headphones focus on mid and high-end frequencies while the low-end ones remain dim. This makes them suitable for music production, recording vocals, or instruments where you do not need to track bass.
Lastly, I want to mention a few disadvantages associated with them. One is that the high-end is a bit harsh, and secondly, they are ear fatiguing, making them not fit for long studio sessions or mixing sessions. But, these headphones get the job done quite well for recording vocals.
Pros
- Great sound isolation,
- Comfortable to wear for long hours,
- Recommended for tracking purposes.
Cons
- Unbalanced sound profile.
7) Beyerdynamic DT 240 PRO monitoring headphone
Product Specifications
- cable length – 2.7m,
- Impedance – 34 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 240 PRO on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
The Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro feels quite premium when you hold it despite its plastic and fake leather build material. These monitoring headphones are compact, portable, and suitable for recording in studio environments.
Since these headphones are supra-aural, you will find them pressing against your ear instead of covering them. However, the Beyerdynamic has done an excellent job in making the ear cushioning soft and thick so that you don’t get uncomfortable during lengthier studio sessions.
Additionally, the sound isolation is relatively moderate. However, at higher volumes, a bit of sound escapes into the environment.
The headphones focus on low and mid-range frequencies while keeping the higher ones relatively smooth and bare.
Lastly, the sound stage remains closed due to its design and is not very immersive compared to the DT 770 Pro model.
Therefore, I recommend these headphones for basic tracking purposes and not mixing your songs.
Pros
- super compact,
- durable build quality,
- budget friendly option,
- Proper sound isolation.
Cons
- Does not cover the whole ear,
- Not the same sound signature as DT 770 pro.
8) Audio Technica M20x Studio Headphones
Product Specifications
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 47 ohms,
- Non-Detachable cable,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – closed back headphones,
- Frequency response – 10Hz – 20kHz.
click to view price of Audio Technica M20x on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
The Audio Technica ATH M20x is one of the best studio headphones you can buy for under $50 for recording vocals. They come in an all-black design, are incredibly lightweight, and have a plastic body material.
Related: Best studio headphones under $50!
In terms of sound quality, they are not as punchy and clear as the ATH M50x, but they sound great in their price segment. I don’t think you can get any better sound quality than these headphones in this budget.
The sound quality is pretty flat and suitable for tasks like recording vocals, podcasts, video editing, and gaming purposes.
Additionally, the earcups lack softness compared to the M50x model and are relatively firm rather than tender. Hence, you will need to remove them in long studio sessions or recordings from time to time.
The wire is extended and non-detachable, creating a mess and a lot of striking noise captured by mics during recordings.
The sound dampening or isolation is quite good and on par with AT M50x—no complaints in this department.
Overall, I would say that these headphones sound good and do their job pretty well when it comes to mixing and recording on a tight budget.
Pros
- Easily adjustable,
- Proper sound isolation,
- Closed back headphones cover whole ear.
Cons
- A bit heavy,
- The earcups start to heat up during lengthy studio sessions.
9) Samson Technologies SR850 Semi Open-Back Studio Headphones
Product Specifications
- cable length – 3m,
- Impedance – 32 ohms,
- Non-Detachable cable,
- 3.5 mm TRS Jack connector,
- Type – Semi-open headphones,
- Frequency response – 10Hz – 30kHz.
click to view price of Samson Technologies SR850 on amazon
A Deeper Analysis
The Samson SR850 studio reference headphones are one of the highly budget-friendly options. These headphones have a frequency response ranging between 10Hz to 30KHz and can reproduce most of the frequencies in an audio track.
The sound quality is highly detailed, with clear, high, and deep low-end responses. The mids, however, could have been better.
Since these are semi-open-back studio headphones, the sound is not isolated properly within these studio headphones. Be ready for some audio leaks with this set of headphones.
So, why go for Samson SR 850 Studio headphones?
These are super affordable headphones for anyone starting in music production, mixing, recording, or tracking purposes. The sound staging is well tamed and is somewhat immersive due to the semi-open-back design.
Not to forget, these headphones are suitable for recording, mixing, and monitoring purposes.
Pros
- Good Stereo imaging,
- Fit for mixing and mastering,
- Great sound stage for such a low price,
- Lightweight and comfortable ear cushioning pads.
Cons
- Non detachable cables,
- The bass is overpowered,
- A bit of sound bleeds out of the headphones.
Conclusion
All in all, these were some of the best studio headphones for recording vocals.
Since I have mentioned all the product features, pros and cons, I hope you’ll have an easy time figuring out which headphones you need for tracking purposes.
Additionally, if you want an open and immersive sound quality, check out our list of best open back studio headphones for mixing and mastering.
However, if you have any other questions, let me know in the comments, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
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