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Overview
Studio headphones are part of the basic equipment for anyone who produces and has the highest demands on a detailed sound image.
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, you’ll find the most important studio headphones here.
On this site you will find everything from In-Ear, On-Ear, Over-Ear Studio Headphones, as well as detailed information and testimonials about studio headphones.
While headphones for private use usually have too much bass, studio models must have a balanced sound image. Otherwise, producers would not notice whether the current work has too strong or too weak bass. However, there are many other factors that influence the studio suitability of a headphone – especially the wearing comfort and the quality or naturalness of the sound.
Also the connection and the workmanship, as well as the material of the headphones are different with studio-suited products than with regular headphones. Due to the high demands of professional users, the sound has to be first-class and the padding material has to be comfortable and comfortable even when worn for hours on end. We’ll show you what to look for and which models are right for your needs.
Especially when it comes to connectors, there is often confusion among potential buyers: Studio headphones often have a 6.3 mm jack connector. This format provides a better sound quality than the small 3.5mm consumer headphones. At the same time, however, an appropriate device with a connector for this format is needed to be able to use the headphones. A USB audio interface is recommended here. In our guide you will learn more about the use of professional studio headphones on a conventional computer / PC.
Buy studio headphones, what to watch out for.
If you want to buy studio headphones, you first have to deal with certain key figures and abbreviations. Here we describe the most important abbreviations, factors and their meaning.
Abbreviations and factors
- Sound level (dB)
What does the sound level (decibel = dB) of a headphone say? Put simply, it is the volume the headphones can produce. In the normal range we are between 96dB – 106dB. For comparison a jet jet has about 150db, so it’s very loud and dangerous to health! - Frequency
What does the frequency range (Hertz = Hz) of a headphone say?
The frequency range is given in Hz or kHz and usually looks like this:
30 Hz – 20,000 kHz. A quick explanation: 30 Hz are for the low tones (subs, bassline), in the normal case 30 Hz are already enormously low and should make the headphones vibrate cones already properly. Everything below 30 Hz will no longer be heard but only felt. 20.000 kHz are for the high tones, this number will probably tickle your eardrum. The higher the frequency spectrum, the more sound is covered. - Processing & Quality
One of the basic factors for good studio headphones is the workmanship and quality of the materials used.
A few quality questions and how to recognize them:
What about the flexibility of the headphones?
What materials are used? - Duration of wearing
The wearing comfort of a studio headphone is an important factor in ensuring that it doesn’t feel uncomfortable even during longer sessions. There are 2 types of headphones: over-ear and on-ear.
Over and On- Ear have another difference, the ear padding: leather or velour. - Weight
The headphones should support you and not burden you. Therefore the weight also plays a role in the purchase. If you are planning longer studio sessions, the weight will also play an important role. - Spare parts
Unfortunately, it can happen very often, in the heat of battle, that a cable break occurs, small parts come loose or the studio headphone padding has worn out appearances. Many manufacturers offer spare parts for these problems. - Warranty
Many manufacturers very often give more than the statutory warranty period. Of course, this can also be a plus point for the quality requirements of the respective manufacturer. - Optics
And last but not least the optics, this depends on your taste.
Over Ear, On Ear or In Ear headphones?
In the studio, there are many different ways to choose which headphones to use. In practice, however, only Over Ear headphones come into question because they effectively shield background noise. But what are In Ear and On Ear headphones suitable for? In this guide we show you which users benefit most from which type of headphones.
The classic Over Ear headphones, where the earcups completely enclose the ears, are the perfect studio headphones par excellence. Whether with cable or as a Bluetooth model: Over Ear devices have numerous advantages that are revealed in the studio for music production or high-quality music enjoyment. Not only is the sound quality completely different from other types of headphones, but the wearing comfort and versatility are also unchallenged.
The large earcups allow large diaphragms and high-quality transducers to be accommodated in the devices. Modern Bluetooth models also have a control directly on the ear cups, which can be used to control playback devices. The earpieces are often made of fabric or leather, as are the earpieces. Particularly good models also have interchangeable components or detachable cables – this headphone type is perfect for demanding and / or professional users.
This type of headphones is currently very popular again. The so-called On Ear Headphones are headphones that have a smaller capsule than Over Ear headphones and therefore do not completely span the ear. Instead, the ear shells sit directly on the ear, so that pain or discomfort after prolonged wearing can occur with sensitive ears. However, the good thing is that On Ear headphones are very light and compact, and the price of these models is usually far below that of Studio Over Ear headphones.
The fully developed earcup allows the use of large capsules, which is a clear advantage over small In Ear headphones or Ear Buds. On Ear headphones are usually sold with upbeat designs that can be worn around the neck – often seen on public transport where they are used by teenagers. More expensive models are often only worn as status symbols, because Over Ear models are too big and bulky to be worn around the neck.
In Ear headphones are usually delivered with smartphones or mobile players. The shell itself is inserted directly into the ear canal and remains firmly in place thanks to a rubber coating. This prevents the headphones from slipping out of the ear during sports or strenuous movements. The sound quality of In Ear headphones today is very good and, with good models, can even compete with the sound quality of On Ear headphones.
The biggest problem is the small size of this type of headphones. The small dimensions mean that very little material can be used and the diaphragm is relatively small. Full basses are usually generated with technical amplification, but the full and voluminous sound of Over Ear headphones can’t be achieved with such an In Ear product. This type of headphones is perfect for in between. Occasional users and sportsmen will appreciate the good seat firmness.
The In Ear headphones that are common today are actually only a very popular form of Ear Buds. These are headphones that are simply inserted lightly into the earcups without the earcups even entering the ear canal. Here there is a relatively low risk of music being too loud for the ears, but this headphone variant hardly shields background noise and the sound quality that reaches the listener is underground compared to high-quality In Ear or Over Ear models.