TOP studio headphones for mixing and mastering: how to choose the best, review

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If you have been looking for that indispensable tool for creating unique content in your studio - professional headphones - then this article is for you! When creating music content without a pair of the best studio headphones, it is simply impossible to create a truly worthwhile and interesting product. They are primarily needed in order to get rid of noise and hear every bit in the program. In our short article we will talk about the following points:

what determines the choice of studio headphones;
what types of equipment you can find;
which according to users is considered the best headphones for mixing music.

Let's start setting up our own studio small - by choosing the right equipment.

The content of the article

Review of studio headphones - what you should focus on
Which studio headphones to choose
The best studio headphones - rating

Review of studio headphones - what you should focus on

In the store you will come across a lot of names for the same device: headset, headphones, ear monitors, etc. Don’t worry about buying the wrong thing - it’s all the same product. Ask yourself the main question: “Why do I need studio headphones for mixing and mastering and how am I going to use them?”

Someone might think that this is stupid, because all headphones are used for only one thing - listening to something. I wanted it - I worked in the workshop, I got tired of it - I went to listen to music through my phone. However, this is a fundamentally wrong opinion.

All studio models certainly work for creating and processing musical elements, but there is an important point. Real studio models have a wide range of variations, and they are subject to a number of requirements that ordinary headsets do not meet.

The first is excellent sound insulation. Why do you think a drummer needs headphones? To listen to the track without interference and not be distracted by your own game. It's the same in the studio. The second is increased sound so that you can hear every hundredth of a second of the beat.

Unfortunately, headphones for home studios in the budget segment and with the same functions as other professional devices have not yet been invented. Therefore, in order to choose a truly worthwhile option, start from the priority tasks. For example: to balance musical instruments, control one of them, form a melody on a computer, record a voice, etc. All tasks are different.

If you're looking for an option for recording the melody of a single instrument or voice, then your best studio headphones for mixing are semi-open-back. In them, sounds partially penetrate outside. And the volume of sounds will be so low that they will not accidentally end up in the recording of your track. In such devices, everything is aimed at neglecting the “low-end” and recording good mid-frequency sound. In addition, such headsets are lighter due to the inclusion of lightweight speakers. This allows you to move around the recording room without discomfort for a long time. Another important thing is that the air partially penetrates under the headset - your ears do not sweat, and your head does not strain. When you have to work on a recording for several hours, or even all night, this is a life-saving solution.

If you are looking for monitors for working with music programs, then you should choose full-size models with good noise insulation. You must hear the sound of each instrument and the recording of the soundtrack in order to combine everything into one song without errors.

In theory, everything sounds beautiful, but in practice the question of “how to choose studio headphones” is solved differently. Professionals use the same headsets for both instruments and beatmaking. That's why you can sometimes hear inaccuracies or errors in a new dance track - people just don't bother and try to catch trends.

Which studio headphones to choose

There are quite a few classifications of equipment, but one very important point is the degree of their “openness”. Under this rather “common” term, three large groups of devices should be taken into account: open, semi-open and closed.

In terms of dimensions, almost all monitors are full-size. Closed headsets are the most popular type of headsets, although they have only one area of application - recording mixing. They fit tightly on the ears and do not let sounds through; recording takes place in a completely isolated space. Their main task is to filter out all extraneous sounds.

Open - sound partially penetrates into the room through cracks in the body and between the ears. Convenient for listening to music in the studio and working with programs. These headphones are characterized by smooth sound and high-frequency reproduction. One minus is that all sounds can be heard by strangers. This can be a fatal mistake if the musician accidentally hears additional drums and loses his rhythm.

Semi-open - a universal option, a combination of the first and second branches of headsets. The developers tried to combine all the characteristics and reduce the disadvantages of the device.This is not always possible to put into practice, but the equipment is actively used by both musicians and TV presenters, cameramen and other specialists in the field of music and TV.

The best studio headphones - rating

We have selected several models that will fit perfectly into any studio room. Users noted the following headsets with their reviews:

Sennheiser HD 559

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This option is a budget combination of the best open-back studio headphones and a manufacturer that has never let its consumers down. In terms of their parameters, they balance between professional and amateur, but their price indicates the opposite.

The model is made in black. Users note unprecedented comfort - velor ear pads fit perfectly on any ears. And the well-thought-out design does not cause discomfort when spending several hours in the studio. Main characteristics:

playback range - from 14 to 26 thousand Hz;
impedance - 50 Ohm;
sensitivity - 108 dB.

The monitors are connected to the equipment with a 3-meter cable with a 6.3 mm connector. Among the advantages, the following immediately stand out: balanced sound, convenient assembly, long cable and lack of fatigue when wearing.

AKG K240 Studio

The most inexpensive of the semi-open segment. Oversized headphones, with a weight of only 240 g. Assembly materials are plastic and eco-leather. The ergonomic design and the lack of a folding option are noted, but this is more a plus than a minus. Options:

range - 15-25 thousand Hz;
impedance - 50 Ohm;
maximum power - 200 mW;
sensitivity - 104 dB.

Connection occurs via a 3.5 mm cord. The kit includes an adapter for standard 6.3 mm.Headsets have great potential, because the price and quality of the equipment are only a plus.

Sony MDR-7506

In the rating, we only touched on budget options for each type of studio equipment. In the closed version, the highest quality ones are Sony. It has already become a beloved classic of the studio genre. Although the model was released quite a long time ago, it is still in demand due to its good design and decent assembly.

The set includes a carrying case, because the headphones can be partially folded. Among the technical parameters, the manufacturer indicates: