Reliability plays a huge role when working in a studio. One has to make sure that the mixes sound 100% authentic and accurate. To get the best results, you need to have the best equipment at hand. If you can get your hands on the headphones designed specifically for mixing, then you will get the best results.
Most people don’t have the option to play music with the help of studio monitors. When this occurs, you can get a pair of headphones dedicated to mixing. You will love owning a pair of mixing headphones because it helps you have an extra frame of reference. Majority of us listen to music with the help of a headphone. For this reason, you need to make sure that your music sounds good when hearing with a headphone as well as speakers. Professionals often notice that the music sounds different when heard on a monitor and then headphones.
Quick Answer | List Of Top 8 Headphones For Mixing
Best Headphones For Mixing
1. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Over-Ear Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
This product from Audio-Technica is one of the most professionally used headphones. It comes with a clear and accurate sound. When it comes to comfort and noise cancellation, it’s incredible in providing space to your ear with their over-ear feature.
The treble and bass are so well controlled that these make the headphones a top-notch one and fully balanced in terms of audio experience. The clarity provided is exceptional with an extended frequency range.
These headphones come with a lightweight design and don’t create pressure on certain points. With the comfortable design they provide, these can be worn for long hours without any discomfort.
Pros:
1. 45mm large-aperture drivers with rare magnets and copper-free aluminum wire voice coils.
2. Professional-grade earpads and 90-degree swiveling earcups
3. Comes with a detachable cable.
Why Do We Recommend it?
This pair undoubtedly provides an excellent quality sound. Moreover, its stylish design and highly durable material never cease to catch attention.
2. Sony MDR-7506 On-Ear Professional Headphones
Sony has come up with this high-quality headphone, which is perfect for high level editing and mixing purposes. It provides a crystal clear sound and high clarity voice.
It is suitable to be used in broadcasts and studio recordings. It comes with a 40mm PET diaphragm and neodymium magnet which exceed the requirements of a digital audio source.
These headphones are designed in an incredible way to make u feel comfortable always for even a prolonged period of time. With its lightweight design and soft earpads, it comes in an over-ear form to prevent any kind of noise from the surroundings.
Pros:
1. Stereo unmatch plug providing ¼” and ⅛” applications
2. Gold connectors and OFC cord help in a reliable and stable connection
3. A supportive and protective soft case
Why Do We Recommend It?
These headphones provide an unmatched sound quality and comfort. It is formulated with highly durable material and comes with a microphone.
3. Sony MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil
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For many years now Sony has provided customers with some of the best gadgets and equipment required for musical purposes. With the MDRV6 studio monitor headphones, Sony has proven their expertise again. You will find this headphone with utmost comfort and studio monitor quality. Also, you won’t see any over the top design with this headphone and it purely just gets the job done. You have the option to connect this headphone with a regular AUX jack or connect the ¼ inch adapter for a larger console.
This headphone also has a noise cancellation feature to keep the excessive sound out. The frequency ranges from 5Hz to 30kHz. With the frequency range, you won’t miss a beat or harmony while you mix or master music. The headphone has a comfortable and portable design, making it easier to carry anywhere you go. The adjustable headphone and cushioned ear cups make it easier for you to wear for a longer period of time.
Pros:
1. It has a minimal design.
2. The headphone comes with a great frequency range.
3. Comfortable to wear.
Why Do We Like It?
The large frequency range helps a lot while mixing and mastering music and the noise cancellation feature helps to keep unwanted sounds out.
4. AKG Pro Audio K240 STUDIO Over-Ear, Semi-Open, Professional Studio Headphones
If you want an open back headphone for the studio then opt for this headphone by AKG. For a reason, professionals often opt for this headphone for mixing and mastering music in the studio. With the semi open back design, your ears get some extra space to breathe, and the music sounds perfect. The headphone comes with a transducer to provide balanced sound quality.
You will get a wide range of frequencies offered by this headphone. The frequency varies from 15Hz to 25000Hz. AKG made these headphones just for the studio. As we open the open back design provides extra comfort, and you can wear the headset for a long period of time. Also, the cushioned ear pads and an adjustable headset adds to the comfort provided by the headphone.
Pros
1. The headphone has a unique, patented design.
2. This headphone by AKG provides studio quality sound.
3. You will get an open back headphone.
Why Do We Like It?
The open back style headphone allows ambient sound to get in, which adds a special feature, and some professionals love it. With this headphone, you will have an amazing time mixing and mastering.
5. Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Noise-Cancelling, with Alexa Voice Control
Most people love to use Bose products as they provide some of the best musical equipment available in the market. With the release of Bose products, the company has changed the way music distributed all around the home. The company, with the help of these headphones, wants to accomplish the same thing in the studio. This headphone comes with noise cancellation feature, Bluetooth pairing and voice command. Also, it is a wireless headphone; hence you can easily carry it around without any problem. The headphone will block all the outside noise and let you focus on mastering and mixing. You will get a balanced sound when using the headphone, and after completion, it becomes unapproachable. Also, as a customer, you will notice the versatility of the headphone as you can use it for everyday use apart from mixing.
Pros
1. The headphone provides Bose quality sound making it one of the best.
2. You get the voice command feature with this headphone.
3. Connect it to Bluetooth easily.
Why Do We Like It?
Most professionals love to use this headphone as it provides great comfort and noise cancellation.
6. Behringer HPS3000 Studio Headphones
Most musicians love to use the headphones by Behringer. For many years the company has provided its customers with high-quality equipment. Likewise, this headphone for mixing and mastering also comes with some of the best features and build. You will notice that this headphone comes with an ultra-dynamic frequency range. For this frequency range you can listen to the deepest of lows and at the same time also enjoy the highs without any problem.
The high-efficiency cobalt capsule present in each headphone will provide the users with a great listening experience. You can also listen with a single ear as the headphones have rotating reversible ear cups. Every user will love to use this headphone for mixing and mastering comfortably.
Pros
1. The tangle-free cord present in the headphone makes it convenient.
2. You can comfortably wear this product for a long time.
3. The headphone has an ultra-dynamic frequency range.
Why Do We Like It?
If you compare this headphone with high-end studio headphones, then it will stand out. The company designed this product by keeping DJs in mind, and they can do mixing and mastering easily.
7. LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over Ear Professional Studio Monitor And Mixing Headphones
If you want versatility along with high-quality sound then opt for this closed back headphone. With the help of this headphone, you can easily do your work in a loud environment as well as inside the studio. The 45mm neodymium driver will help you get a balanced sound and also great frequency response, which you mostly experience with studio headphones. The headphone comes with leather ear pads and a padded headset that sits comfortably on your head so you can wear it for a longer period of time. Also, users get the option to adjust the steel shell for extra comfort and a better fit. If you want to do single ear mixing, then this is a great choice as the ear cups rotate 180-degrees.
Pros
1. The headphone has a very straightforward design.
2. You can easily use this headphone for live venues.
3. Experience high-quality sound when using this headphone
Why Do We Like It?
The headphone has a simple design, which makes it easier to work within the studio and live venue. You can easily use this product for a long time as it has great durability.
8. Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones
Users have loved this closed back headphone as it delivers top-notch sound. If you want an affordable headphone for mixing and mastering, then this is the best deal available in the market. You will notice that the headphone delivers a balanced sound, which makes it easier for you to hear the bass and the treble flows easily in your ears.
With this headphone, you will have a different listening experience. You will understand the audio quality better with this headphone and easily get on with mastering and mixing the music. The ear cups and headset have cushioned padding, which makes it comfortable to wear. The 90-degree rotating ear cups can help you understand instrumental isolation. You can easily fold the headphone and carry it around. The company created this headphone for studio use, but you can also use it for everyday purposes.
Pros
1. For all those who want a budget-friendly option, this is the right one.
2. You will get a well-balanced sound for the studio.
3. The headphone has good durability, and you can carry it easily by folding.
Why Do We Like It?
The headphone provides a great frequency range and helps with mixing and mastering. At this price range, the headphone offers some of the best features.
Buyer’s Guide For Mixing
For those who want to use the headphones for mixing and mastering, then you need to keep in mind that certain features that you should look for in your product. You need to focus on the sound quality of the product as it will help you mix the music properly. Also, comforts play a huge part. If you don’t use a comfortable headphone, then there is a chance you will take it off after an hour of continuous usage. Try to choose a headphone which you can wear all day long without any interruption to pay attention to the recording. You need to focus and give your total attention when you mix or master music.
With the buyer’s guide below, we will help you select some of the best headphones available in the market for mixing and mastering.
1. Sound Quality
When it comes to mixing headphones, you need to get a product that offers amazing sound quality. The sound quality plays a major part in these headphones. Without good sound quality headphones, you won’t have the opportunity to create great mixes for your clients and musicians. Most of the experts opt for a headphone for mixing as it helps to approach the music better and also balance the shimmering treble and booming bass response. You also need to pay attention to the frequency response. Many audio engineers opt for a mixing headphone to balance the sound that they can’t in studio monitors. You will notice the difference in music when you hear it on a studio monitor and on a headphone. But people like to use both headphones and speakers to listen to music; hence you need to make sure it sounds good in both mediums.
2. Comfort
Engineers need to wear headphones for a longer period of time each day to mix the music. When you start to work, you often forget about everything going around you. To help you indulge in your work without any irritation or interruption, you need to opt for a headphone that provides ultimate comfort. Make sure you choose a headphone that consists of high-quality material and won’t wear out after a limited number of users. When you find these in the headphone, you can mix for hours without any hassle.
3. Design
First, you need to understand whether you want an open back headphone or a closed back headphone. With the help of closed back headphones, you can hear the sound properly without outside noise bleeding. But when you use an open back headphone, it offers ambient noise. For this reason, engineers often prefer closed back headphones. With the help of closed back headphones, you can block all the unwanted noise, which is a necessary luxury when creating good mixes. However, many claims that open back headphones provide better sound quality than closed back headphones. Hence it depends on your taste which headphone you want to choose. Also, keep in mind whether you want detachable cable or not. If you have the tendency to move around a lot, then opt for a removable cable headphone. With this feature, you can easily listen to music wherever you go.
4. Style
Many mixers do not give much attention to the style of the headphone they use. Those who want to use the headphone just in the studio will prefer a straightforward design without any extra bling. But if you want to carry the headphone places, then you need to pay attention to its look and choose a particular style.
5. Durability
You will use the headphone in high movement recording environment when mixing music, so you need to pay attention to the durability. Most instruments and musical accessories consist of high-quality material as it goes through a lot of abuse. When a recording happens, there is a chance that your headphone will fall over many times. But if you want your headphone to last a longer period of time, and then pay attention to its overall build. You need to make sure the headphone provides comfort to you while mixing. Try to get one with memory foam ear pads and can withstand sweat. Also, the build should be of sturdy material.
6. Warranty
Try to opt for a headphone that comes with a good warranty. The products that come with a great warranty often make a better deal for people. You do not need to worry whether the headphone will have a manufacturing defect or you break it by mistake. The warranty will have you covered and help you resume with mixing and mastering.
What Are The Advantages Of Mixing With A Headphone?
When using a headphone for mixing it comes with some of the advantages. In this article, we will discuss the advantages of using headphones.
1. Cost-Efficient
When you go to buy a studio monitor for mixing you will notice they cost a lot of money. Although a good pair of headphones can cost a lot of money but it will cost less than a studio monitor. For this reason, most of the time, professionals opt for headphones, and they can find them in a wide price range. The price of a good headphone can start from less than $20 and go up to $500. Compared to this, an entry-level studio monitor will cost three times more money. Try to get a good pair of headphones to help with mixing and mastering.
2. Portable
If you get a headphone for mixing and mastering you can carry it around along with your laptop and get the job done. You can’t do that with a studio monitor. But with the headphones, you can easily work from anywhere you want. If you travel a lot for work, then having a pair of headphone will help you get the job done.
3. Silent Environment To Work At Any Time
Most of the professionals opt for headphones for this particular reason. If you want to work at any time of the day, then having a headphone plays an advantage. You don’t get the option to do that when you use a studio monitor. But with the headphones, you can indulge in mixing and mastering in the comfort of your bedroom. Also, if you get disturbed with outside noise, wearing a closed back headphone can eliminate all the unwanted noise and let you work in peace.
4. Listen To Details
Although many professionals would comment on how studio monitors can beat headphones, the latter has some great advantages. With the help of the headphones, you can listen to all the little details. The headphones cover our ears and help us focus on the minute details and nuances of a mix. Although you can listen to details with studio monitors but the headphones create a different sensation in our ears that you can experience with a monitor several feet aways. Hence with the help of the headset, you can listen closely and pay more attention to all the finer details.
5. Privacy
If you want privacy while mixing then having a headphone works amazingly. Many people don’t have the confidence to work while others can listen to it. With the help of headphones, you can maintain privacy without any problem. If you don’t know whether your mixing sounds good, and have doubts about other listening, just put on a pair of headphones. You can work discreetly with the help of headphones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Should I Use A Headphone Or Studio Monitor For Mixing?
Most of the time users have this question whether they should a headphone or studio monitor. Although they can use both but headphones help you detect minute details of the mix.
2. Are All The Headphones For Mixing Costly?
Customers can find headphones for mixing at various price points starting from as low as below $20.
3. Do These Headphones Provide Good Sound Quality?
As a professional, you would want to opt for equipment for mixing that provides you with good sound quality. The headphones have a wide frequency range and great sound quality.
4. What Are The Advantages Of Mixing With A Headphone?
When you mix with a headphone you can listen to all the finer details. Also when listening to the music single-sided it can help you get a better idea about the mixing.
Conclusion
You can mix with the help of headphones and get some of the best results. Most importantly, you can carry it around without any problem and work anywhere you want. Also, if you have a problem with others listening to your work, the headphones will allow you to get some privacy. Block the unwanted noise when you work with the help of headphones made for mixing and mastering.