Best studio headphones 2023: Expert picks for music production and mixing, tested

When creating a studio set-up, a lot of emphasis is placed on the quality of your monitors and the acoustic properties of your room, but we’d argue that a pair of the best studio headphones is just as important. Any credible producer or mix engineer knows how important it is to A/B a mix on a range of different listening devices, and in many ways your headphones and monitors should be seen as two sides of the same coin.

While slightly controversial, we’ve encountered plenty of producers that prefer using headphones as their primary tool for making creative and mix decisions. However you prefer to work, headphones are essential for assessing stereo image, low-end and fine detail within your mixes. Just like speakers, it’s important to choose the right pair of studio headphones, but that choice will be very personal to you.

In a nutshell, the best studio headphones should be honest and clear - able to reproduce your projects in a way that gives you an accurate sonic picture of every aspect of the frequency range. There are plenty of factors to consider beyond just the sound to consider though - comfort and durability are equally important, and it’s also worth thinking about whether you want a pair that can double up for day-to-day music listening duties, too.

For this guide to the best studio headphones, we’ve rigorously tested every model and have highlighted the strengths, weaknesses and suitability for different musical disciplines below. We've included some expert buying advice at the bottom of this guide, so if you're here to learn more about studio headphones before you buy, we'd recommend starting there.

Best studio headphones: Quick list

Below you’ll find a round-up of our top choices for the best studio headphones available today. You can jump to a more detailed review of every pick, along with our price comparison tool to help you find the best deals.

The best studio headphones available today

Below you'll find full and detailed write-ups for each of the best studio headphones in our list, plus links out to full reviews. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

Best overall

The Focal Listen Professionals are exactly what they say on the tin; ideal for both listening and pro duties. This puts them firmly top of the class in the all-rounder category. Overall, we found the fit to be snug, but not too tight that they made long periods in the mixing saddle unbearable. 

In fact far from it, the longest period of time we had them on for was around three hours, with the main issues just being back pain and the lack of blinking. While many engineers and audio specialists might prefer open-backed designs for their lack of fatigue, the closed-back Listen Pros perform admirably in this regard.

We found the response of these cans to be perfectly balanced, with remarkably neutral, punchy bass with plenty of extension, full, clear mids and sparkling, smooth highs. Complete with a beautiful hard-shell case, we don't think there's a better all-round studio headphone out there at this price.

Read our full Focal Listen Professional review

Best for budget

If you’re in the market for a cheap pair of headphones for everyday studio use, you need to check out the Sennheiser HD-206. Bearing the well-respected Sennheiser name on the headband, the extremely tough and durable HD-206’s are comfortable to wear for extended periods.

Remarkably accurate for the money, the HD-206’s measure up more than favourably to much pricier peers. We found the bass response in particular to be rich and crisp, with plenty of detail also to be found in the mids and highs - making these potentially some of the best guitar amp headphones if you're of the axe shredding persuasion.

The hypoallergenic ear pads are more than adequate for blocking out extraneous noise whether in the studio or out on the move, and at this price, you need never fear recklessly throwing these in your laptop bag. Grab a pair before Sennheiser realise how good they are and raise the price.

Read our full Sennheiser HD-206 review

Best for comfort

Røde has been in the market making more than just microphones for a good while now. With mixers aimed at podcasting and small audio interfaces for content creators, it is little wonder the company should now develop its first pair of headphones, the over-ear NTH-100s. 

Australian firm Røde is known for offering quality at competitive price points, and these debut headphones are no different. Much attention has gone into tuning the earcups - which we found have a distinctive, elongated shape for a more natural fit - and drivers so that they can deliver a fine balance of focus and width in the soundstage.

The NTH-100s are innovative in their design, and offer clear and faithful sound, comfort and quality construction throughout. These are some of the best headphones we’ve tested recently and also position highly in our guide to the best studio headphones under $200/£200.

Read the full Røde NTH-100 review

Best closed-back model

An upgrade both price and features-wise from the DT 770 Pro found elsewhere in this guide, the DT 700 PRO X features an updated look, even squishier earpads and improved sound thanks to a new STELLAR.45 transducer design with a faster response. This enables a detailed transient response and a reliable sound that’s distortion-free even at high sound pressure levels. 

Since the 770 PRO X is available with a single 48Ω impedance rating, these are a worthwhile pick for both studio and everyday applications, while remaining one of the more comfortable cans we’ve tried over long periods. That and the fact that the earpads, headband pad and cables can all be easily replaced - you get a choice of two cables already in the box - make these a solid choice if you want to level up from the 770 Pro.

Read our full Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X review

Best high-end option

We think Sennheiser’s Pro-branded cans sound excellent. There’s complexity that lesser headphones just don’t convey. There’s clarity and balance aplenty too, but not the cold, hard treble-toppy steeliness that’s often mistaken for transparency. Instead, there’s a measured vividness; an equality where the mids, lows and highs co-exist without fighting one another.

Unlike some closed-back headphones that overblow bass frequencies due to build-up of pressure, the HD 400s allow for natural airflow, which not only improves the soundstage but also adds to the comfort when wearing them for long periods.

These are quality headphones that you’ll happily be able to trust when making creative decisions.

Read our full Sennheiser HD 400 Pro review

Best workhorse pair

The Sony MDR series has been around for years and has a solid studio pedigree, borne out by many decades of daily use in the recording and broadcast sectors worldwide. The current incarnation, the MDR-7506 is a brilliant combination of comfort, practicality and value. 

In our experience these are extremely comfortable to wear for extended periods, and are designed to expose what’s wrong with a recording rather than what’s right. On a par with other cans costing twice as much, in action the sound is punchy and clear throughout the spectrum (with a moderate boost in the upper mids), while managing not to be overly-flattering. 

So all in all the fact that these workhorse cans are available for well under a hundred dollars/pounds is not to be sniffed at.

Read our full Sony MDR-7506 review

More options...

So those are our absolute top picks, but there are many more great options to choose from that offer something a little different in terms of features and performance. We've selected some more of our favourites below.

Another long-standing studio favourite of ours, HD-25’s are acclaimed by pros for their ability to handle high sound pressure levels and deliver excellent sound reproduction. A stalwart of the DJ booth thanks to their split headband, rotatable earpieces and reputation for durability, the HD-25s delivers punchy and accurate sound in a lightweight yet robust package. 

Classified as an on-ear design, because the pads are circular and rest on the outside of the ear rather than enclosing it fully, the HD-25 is currently available in three flavours (Light, Standard and Plus) at three price points, for general studio/DJ duties you really can’t go wrong with a pair of Sennheiser HD-25’s.

Read our full Sennheiser HD 25 review

The reissued M50 ('x’ = detachable cable) is a popular model across the audio world, competing directly with big players like Beyerdynamic and AKG. They are comfortable, fold and bend in all the right places, and are relatively light at just 285g.

The sound quality is good overall, though in our tests they did shy away from a detailed, airy HF region. The mids are clear and forward, while the bottom-end extends down without any peaky resonances. As with all the low impedance designs in this guide (these are 38 ohm), they are easily driven beyond our comfort threshold.

Read our full Audio-Technica ATH-M50x review

These all-new Beyerdynamic 'phones bridge the gap between, but do not replace, the other two models in this round-up (the DT 1770 and DT 770 Pro). They feature an updated driver design, detachable cables, a sleeker, more modern look and one fixed impedance rating, making them suitable for a more diverse range of applications. These upgrades are reflected in the higher price point, coming in at roughly $/£100 more than the older PRO models. 

As the open-back member of the squad, the DT 900 PRO X is Beyer’s suggestion as a weapon of choice for critical listening and mastering. They're also some of the best mixing headphones on the block. There's also a closed-back version, the 700 PRO X, that retails for the same cash.

The 900’s are probably the most comfortable full-size cans we’ve tried, but isolation from external noise is not the greatest, as you’d expect from open-back cans. Sound-wise, they have a flattish profile delivering each frequency range without bias or favour. Your ears will be privy to a refreshingly accurate portrayal of what’s actually there, exactly what you want from something that’s marketed as a studio reference monitor headphone. They will do an excellent job of revealing any issues in your own projects, quick to shine a light on any problem areas that may need attention.

Read our full Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X review

Open-back designs like the ATH-R70x tend to be favoured for long mix sessions as they’re generally lighter and less fatiguing than closed-back cans, which is good news as this model has been developed especially as a reference headphone for mixing. Are they the best headphones for mixing? They're certainly up there.

At this price and above we've used models with more apparent 'air', but we don't consider this a deficiency – if anything, it means you’re less likely to end up with a dull mix. Down the other end the response is no less smooth with all the extension you need without the slightest hint of boom or false fatness.

Moving up, the low mids continue unwrinkled, free from cheap scooping back (a voicing often employed to mask uneven response) so you can really hear what's going on, for better or for worse. It's all about the mids and low mids for us, and with the R70x all the juice comes through without complications; everything appears clearly delineated and unmuddled, unless the source is otherwise.

It’s a high-impedance model, so you’ll need a suitable headphone amp to connect them to for best results. 

Read our full Audio-Technica ATH-R70x review 

Beyerdynamic is an audio heavyweight, responsible for the ubiquitous DT 100 tracking cans that were everywhere in the 1980’s and 90’s and are still available today. Their current range is huge, but designed specifically for mixing, the DT 1770s are exceedingly well balanced across the audible spectrum. 

We found the mid range to be free from audible phase shift, allowing the clarity essential for professional use. The sound stage projected into your head is as pleasurable as it is revealing. They provide a highly detailed view into your audio, from left to right, front to back, and even into the corners.

Being a high-impedance design, you’ll need to drive them hard, but from discrete reverb tails tucked behind a busy mid range, to tiny distortions and clips, they reproduce whatever your signal chain is capable of supplying. Audio restoration, mixing and tracking all greatly benefit from the quality the DT 1770s offer.

Read our full Beyerdynamic DT1770 PRO review

Relative newcomers to the pro headphone market, Austrian Audio fielded their latest studio-centric, open-back design in July of 2021 and have already scored a direct hit with critics and customers alike. They deliver excellent, balanced sound that remains neutral yet highly detailed, coupled with solid build quality, all leading to what we found to be an enjoyable listening experience whatever the setting.

Foldable construction for added portability, twin detachable cables of different 3-metre and 1.2-metre lengths to suit a variety of tasks and soft, slow-retention memory foam earpads for extended comfort all add to the appeal.

If you’re in the market for a premium pair of headphones that excels for mixing and critical listening, the Hi-X65’s tick a lot of boxes.

Read our full Austrian Audio Hi-X65 review

KRK are best known in music production circles for their Rokit monitors, which have become ubiquitous in bedroom studios. While their headphones are lesser known, they’re impressive for their price nonetheless.

The company’s top-end KNS 8400s have recently been refreshed, now branded KNS 8402. The headphones have had a stylish visual makeover, with subdued branding and a new metal plate design on the outside of the ear cups. The result is both stylish and professional looking.

Sonically, we found them to have a beautifully smooth high frequency response, very usable low frequency extension, a slightly subdued lower midrange and a present but not hyped upper midrange. Overall, we found them to be impressive for the price, and well tuned for mixing and mastering duties.

Read the full KRK KNS 8402 review

With a pro audio pedigree stretching back decades, Shure is a name you should be able to trust when choosing a set of headphones for your studio. In practice, the premium model SRH1540’s do not disappoint us, delivering excellent acoustic performance, comfort and durability to professionals and audiophiles alike.

Offering an expansive soundstage and immaculate transient detail across the board, with clear, extended highs and warm bass in a lightweight alloy and carbon fibre architecture, the 1540’s are topped off with swish Alcantara leather earpads for supreme comfort and sound isolation.

Though far from the cheapest option on the list, the performance delivered by the 1540’s undoubtedly proves more than sufficient reward for the investment.

Read our full Shure SRH1540 review

Beyerdynamic headphones have been renowned by professionals and amateurs alike, being the to-go studio headphones for producers seeking extremely high build quality and durability. 

Like the DT-1770 models - already featured in this guide - the DT-770s offer a fantastic flat frequency base, allowing you to hear exactly how your mix sounds in intense detail. In addition, the comfortable soft padded headband means you can spend hours labouring over your mix without fatigue, while the rugged design means they are sure to last. 

Coming in at a far more wallet-friendly price point - compared to the DT-1770 - these fantastic headphones offer fantastic value for money and are a great first step into the world of studio headphones. 

Read the full Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO review

Austrian Audio's Hi-X15, is a pair of studio headphones that differs from its expensive stablemates in one major respect. They’re cheaper!

The Hi-X15 is also surprisingly compact and lightweight for over-ear headphones. Rather cleverly, they’re designed to fold flat, or rotate in on themselves so that they can be popped into the included cloth travel bag. And, at just 255g they’re comfortably light on the head or in the hand.

In the flesh, the earpads are simply gorgeous. More than 25mm of thick, squidgy memory foam isolates you from the outside world, and there’s a similarly generous strip lining the top of the headband.

The Hi-X15s use the same 44mm Hi-X driver as the upscale Hi-X55, so, unsurprisingly, the results are impressive. These headphones sound remarkably transparent across their broad 12Hz–24kHz frequency range, with smooth, even mids and a bass response that’s punchy but never oppressive.

The Hi-X15s are good, very good in fact, but they don’t leave a deep impression like a true heavy hitter. They’re ever so slightly woolly, in that they fail to communicate every subtle nuance, every tiny detail. But, come on, for the price they’re fantastic.

Read the full Austrian Audio Hi-X15 review

Best studio headphones: Buying advice

Headphones frequency range and response explained

The frequency range of your headphones is a good indicator of their quality as it shows the breadth of tones they can reproduce, from bass frequencies measured in Hz up to treble measured in kHz. The wider this range, the better, as it shows your headphones are capable of reproducing more of the range of the music you are playing through them. Generally the range of human hearing is 20Hz to 20kHz with the upper figure lowering as we get older.

The frequency response is this range plotted against the output of the ‘phones in dB on a graph, and is also important as it will show any colouration of the headphones i.e. where they might be boosted. Some cheaper sets, for example, might have a boost in the lower frequencies to give them a warmer, deeper sound. With music production, this is not good as you will end up removing bass in your mix to compensate, resulting in your music sounding bass light on other playback systems. 

What you want in your mixing headphones is a flat frequency response to accurately reproduce your music, without colouration. The frequency response is therefore quoted with the range of frequencies (40Hz to 20kHz, for example) and a +/-  figure in dB at the end, which indicates the variation in signal level over that range. The smaller this is, the better (look for something around +/-3dB or less).

Wireless vs wired headphones: what's the difference?

When it comes to headphones aimed at home listening, gaming or other day-to-day uses, wireless Bluetooth connectivity is becoming a pretty much standard feature. So is it time to invest in a set of Bluetooth headphones for the studio too? 

The short answer is no. You’ll notice that our guide here largely avoids wireless headphones, and the simple reason behind that is that wireless connections cause latency – i.e. a delay between the sound playing on your computer and you hearing it. For a whole multitude of reasons, tight timing can be key when recording and creating music, so latency is best avoided. Wireless headphones can also hinder the audio quality too.

While the technology is certainly improving, right now we’d suggest relying on wired listening in the studio. That said, an increasing number of headphones now let you have the best of both, with options for both wired and wireless operation, which could be a great option if you’re looking for a pair to use both in the studio and on the go.

How we test studio headphones

As with studio monitors, we test headphones with a variety of reference tunes – mostly very well produced standards, but some of our own trusted mixes as well. We use these to check frequency response and general overall quality in terms of spatial response and playback, and in terms of how good the 'phones are at delivering a response at low volume levels – the levels you should be mixing at to protect your ears. 

For the best studio monitor headphones we also test how good the isolation is. For mixing you might prefer less intrusion from the outside world so you can focus on the main elements in your music, so isolation is a key factor. 

The weight and comfort of the phones is also an important consideration, as you'll likely be wearing them for long sessions in the studio (although we obviously recommend taking regular breaks). Most of the time, the lighter the better but how the headphones embrace your head is important. Too loose is obviously not good, but too tight can mean too hot.

Read more about how we test music making gear and services at MusicRadar.

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