If you are looking to get into recording or producing music or other audio, then you may want to look into getting a pair or two of studio-quality headphones. The technical details can seem a little intimidating at first, but this buying guide can help you with the absolute basics of what the terms mean and how to choose the best headphones for you.
Buying Guide
How to choose the best studio headphones.
Closed-back vs Open-back
If you see a pair of headphones that says it has an open or closed-back, this is talking about the outsides of the headphones, opposite to where your ears would be when wearing them. Nearly all of the products in the list below are closed-back headphones.
Open-back headphones allow the sound to escape, giving the user a more natural experience when hearing the sounds. Closed-back headphones keep the sound out of the air, which can be better for recording or listening for specific sounds.
Driver
If you have ever taken apart a speaker or a pair of headphones, the driver is the metal ring that is behind the fabric, and it is what creates the sound. Measured in millimeters and the higher the number, the better the sound quality. The average driver for the best budget studio headphones are usually around 45mm.
OHMs
To put it simply, the more OHMs a pair of headphones or even a speaker has, the higher the sound quality will be. Some of the cheaper-quality headphones and earbuds can have only 8 OHMs or even fewer. On the opposite end, some studio headphones that are used by the professionals can have as many as 600 OHMs or more, but these can usually cost thousands of dollars.
Easy to find headphones that are above the average and are still cost-efficient usually have anywhere from 20 to 100 or more OHMs.
Material
This has less to do with the band and more with the 'ear muffs' part of the headphones, which is usually always made with either a leather or a mesh material. Both can be comfortable to use, but each has a problem if you wear them for too long.
Wearing headphones with leather for a few hours or more at a time can cause your ears to become irritated from the heat, and taking them off can feel like peeling away from a leather chair in the summer.
Mesh material can cause a sharp stinging feeling in the skin the longer you wear them, and if you plan to go out shortly after using them, be prepared to get a few looks because of the pattern marks on your head.
Cables
Not all headphones come with the standard-sized audio jack. Some actually have larger cables so that they can be plugged into an amp, speaker, or other devices. So, always check the jack size, and if it is not the standard size, make sure it does or does not come with an adapter.
Extras
Some headphones come with a few extra features like changeable or fold-able headbands while others can come with audio cable adapters for certain devices like a guitar amp. These extras usually do not add too much to the cost of the headphones or affect the sound quality.
What are the advantages of studio headphones?
Unlike regular headphones, studio headphones are usually higher quality between the sound and the body of the headphones. This is what makes them more useful because of the clear and accurate sounds that come through.
Things to look for that differentiate them.
Other than the traits listed above, the only major difference between them is the year that they were made in. Newer ones typically have better sound quality, especially when it comes to the bass. However, as long as you are buying an older model that is an unused pair, they can still last for several months or years if they are cared for.
What is the best way to use them?
Make sure the cables do not get tangled or stressed when you are unplugging them or are storing them. This is one of the easiest ways to damage them quickly. Keeping them on a stand or hook where they cannot be dropped or lost can help keep them working longer.
Top 10 Best Budget Studio Headphones
These are possibly the most popular pair of headphones that are out right now, probably because of their most notable feature: the earpieces can swivel and rest at a ninety-degree angle while around your neck.
The specs also have a thing or two since it has the common 45mm studio driver, has up to 38 OHMs, and can produce 98 dB, which is almost as loud as a vacuum cleaner and/or lawn mower. The earpads and inner headband are lightly padded and covered with a leather-like material that is a little on the cheaper side but can be comfortable.
Overall, these headphones can maintain a good sound quality for several years, but the earpads will most likely have to be replaced. Luckily, replacement pads are easy to find and can be very affordable, but actually replacing them might be the tricky part. If you have never done it before, you may want to take them to an electronics store or music shop and ask them to.
Pros
Cons
It is hard to find anyone who has never heard of Beats and their headphones, especially after they have quickly risen in popularity for their average and professional use several years ago. If you have not heard of them, know that they are one of the most expensive brands, but they do have some of the highest quality products.
Unlike many of the other headphones out there, these are actually battery-powered and charged through a USB cable, and one full charge can last more than twenty hours. Because they are wireless, they connect through Bluetooth, which means that you will need an adapter for your computer if your computer does not have Bluetooth.
In terms of specs, this has pretty decent quality for a pair of headphones that can still play sound up to 30 feet away from the source. Like the last pair, these have up to 32 OHMs and can get pretty loud. Unfortunately, the ear pads can get easily damaged.
What stands out the most about these is that they are available in over a dozen colors, although many are either regularly out of stock or only available for other models.