20 Best Headphones For Home Studio (2023 Updated)

Alright, where even to begin because I have so many things I’d like to say about the M40X’s. To begin with, after reading numerous reviews on various sites, I had assumed (and in my case, wrongfully so) that the M40X were a clear winner in the audio quality department.

I figured that at $99, these must be a bargain, so I ordered one. Now keep in mind that I’m an audiophile and I periodically do quite a bit of blogging/reviews on various gear. Over the past 6 months I’ve been writing/covering various DAC’s and budget headphones (those below $200).

So ordering the M40X’s seemed like a no-brainer. When they arrived, I was impressed to see the product box they were packaged in. No need to describe everything because there is a wealth of information out there telling you what you’ll get.

I immediately set about to burning-in/warming-up the M40’x by allowing a period of 24 hours playing different test music, white noise, frequency sweeps from 20 HZ to 20,000 kHz, etc. As an aside, it is always good (in my strongest opinion) that breaking in any audio gear (break-in time may vary between different audio components) is essential as the true nature of the sound quality typically reveals itself after this warm-up period.

Let the testing begin. So I plugged the M40X’s into the following gear for evaluation purposes: iFi ZenDAC, the Fiio K50 Pro, the Soundavo HP-DAC-1, FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mk II, and the Schiit Modi 3+ coupled with the excellent tube-based xDuoo MT-602 Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier.

Because of all the positive reviews of the M40X, I was expecting an audiophile’s delight – but alas, that was definitely not the case. Initial observations resulted in audio reproduction that was thin, severely lacked lower bass capabilities, and overall music reproduction that sounded colored in the Midrange department.

I listened further for hours on end, plugging the M40X’s into all of the DAC/Amp combinations mentioned above. Although the sound signatures changed ever so slightly (due to the personalities of the DAC/Amp units), overall, the horrible sound I initially heard from the M40X’s was still there.

Next, I decided to change pads – and to make a long story short, I tried 8 different ear pad arrangements, models ranging from those advertised for the M40X’s by Brainwavz and a half dozen other pad makers.

Some actually made the sound worse (characterized by thin, lack of dynamics, no bass, and heavy colorations present with the likes of brass instruments and certain strings in large orchestras). Others improved the sound a bit – but not much – and in one pad scenario by a Brainwavz model – the music has a nasal quality to it.

I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Now mind you, I’ve long since developed critical listening skills over the past 50 years of being an audiophile – but I’m also reasonable when it comes to expectations.

So here is what I heard in a nutshell: 1. Bass – sorely lacking – or the EQ may have been scaled back at the factory. To bring it up somewhat (when using the iFi ZenDAC), I had to depress the TrueBass button which elevated the low frequencies – but even then, it was clear that the headphones were just not capable of allowing a lower reach.

This resulted in music having less body. 2. Midrange – Now here is where it gets interesting. I tend to listen to large orchestra music (i. e. classical, big-band jazz, Latin jazz, and other large ensemble genres).

I’ve long since found that to truly evaluate audio gear, evaluate different instruments as to accuracy, coloration, etc. The M40x’s seemed to provide a thinner sound in this region with instruments such as French Horn, Trombone, and some other brass having a colored, almost nasal quality to the sounds with certain recordings.

The best way to describe it is to say that some instruments had noticeably incorrect timbres to them. 3. Higher treble frequencies – Not as open as many of the competitors, yet not harsh. Not enough air around the instrumentation.

4. Sound-staging/Depth – Here is where I was really disappointed. Because of their closed back design, the M40X’s had a tighter, more constrained sound stage (definitely not as wide as some of the competition).

Depth (front to rear separation) was marginal at best. If anyone is looking in this price range, let me state, save your money and invest in the far superior Philips SHP-9500’s instead! Although the SHP-9500’s sound very nice right out of the box, and if you are willing to experiment (meaning, removing the stock pads which are glued on to the removable ear-pad rings) by trying different after-market pads, you will be rewarded with audio qualities that punch far, far above its weight.

So Alas, I had to send the M40X’s back for a refund. Now keep in mind, the headphones I judged these against were the following (all plugged into the same DAC/Amp combinations mentioned above): 1. Philips SHP-9500 – $20 cheaper than the Audio Technica’s and far superior in every way.

2. Brainwavz HM5’s – $20-$40 less expensive than the Audio Technica’s and far superior. 3. Status Audio CB-1’s – $40-$50 less expensive than the Audio Technica’s – Audio performance elevated substantially with the right ear-pad change.

4. Sivga 007 – Same price range as the Audio Technica’s, however, far superior with audiophile sound qualities. 5. Drop HiFiMan HE-35X – Approx $20 less expensive than the Audio Technica’s and have superb audiophile sound qualities, improved even more with pad changes.

6. 1MORE Triple Driver Over-Ear Headphones – $39 more expensive than the Audio Technica’s, yet vastly superior. Very comfortable – even though you cannot change the ear pads at all. 7. Koss KPH-30i – Now here is where it gets interesting, the $20 (sometimes $30) Koss budget headphones are ridiculous inexpensive, yet punch higher than many headphones in the $100 – $300 range.

Now go figure. The KPH-30i’s make mince-meal of the Audio Technica’s. So that’s it folks. This Audio Technica ATH-M40X set of headphones is the first set of cans that I’ve purchased in a long, long time that I’ve had to send back because of complete dissatisfaction.

I cannot recommend these, although I realize that hearing is a very subjective thing and many may enjoy them. And I realize that all reviews are subjective in nature. If you’re a serious audiophile, I strongly suggest steering clear of these.

Invest your money elsewhere – like those headphones I recommended above.

I got the new 840’s last night, overnight shipping was sweet. The new design is great, and while they felt more “consumery” out of the box – this is not so. The new headphones are lighter in weight, clearer sounding, overall more comfortable, and the swivel mechanism for the ear-cups is much more robust in design where the previous version was bit less stable.

I’m still breaking them in, but so far they sound great! Sonic image is nice and wide, spatially detailed, very smooth overall and not as dark as the previous model, the low end is very forward still but tighter sounding, and the midrange is right where it needs to be, vocals are clean and present with exceptional realism.

Not to mention the isolation the closed back design offers is a beautiful thing! Highly recommend the latest version, it even comes with a straight cable.

My dad is a preacher and I found cds of recordings of his sermons. Along with his speeches, I also listen to different recordings and use these headphones for precise listening. I find they’re comfortable but I really purchases these because I know how great Shure’s warranty is for customers.

I was a huge audiophile growing up and used their in ear buds for years, whenever they needed support or help, shures warranty came through for me. So I purchased these headphones for quality but also because the warranty will ensure, they would last.

#sweepstakes.

The best headphones I have ever owned! In short, I have listened to everything, from Beethoven to the Buzzcocks on these. The SRH440’s have been true performers, and have delivered a nice flat dynamic listening experience.

These are certainly not bass heavy, but deliver great output that is true to the original music source you are listening from. These headphones are extremely comfortable, light and very well made. In addition, inside the box , you get a carry pouch for your cans, headphone jack supplied, and a separate coiled detachable wire which locks into one side.

I use these headphones for general audio listening through either my phone or hi-fi, and highly recommend the Shure SRH440 headphones to lovers of music everywhere. I award the full 5 stars for these.

Sound quality is ok for this price range. However the BIG Negative is that the phones are so tight around your head you feel like a tight band is forcing a headache on you. Really, really uncomfortable.

The earpiece is too small, does not cover your whole ear and does not block any outside noise. The wiring is very cheap and nasty – protruding wires go from the head band to the speakers on the outside – a very clumsy design just asking for the wire to snap off at any time you aren’t super careful with this bad design feature.

I needed a long corded headphone and unfortunately chose the wrong one. I’ve also got a Behringer HPX2000 which is a bit cheaper, but every thing wrong with the HPS5000 is ok with the HPX2000. Good fit, comfortable, more secure wiring, bigger ear cups, and slightly better sound even, more dynamic.

In this price range choose the HPX2000.

These are not studio quality headphones. In my experience with Behringer’s guitar pedals they do make some good quality gear. I have been amazed at the quality of their effects pedals at really low price points.

I (stupidly) assumed that these headphones would be similar value for money. They are not. In this case you get what you pay for. I have a pair of AKG K44 headphones (which I would consider a budget line) and they outperform these by a long way in terms of frequency response.

I wanted these to impress me so much but they fall very short.

I bought these as a cheap pair of beater headphones, not impressed at all, the sound is lacking in brightness and warmth. Bass lacks punch and the treble sounds tinny. Frequency response seem to be all over the place, do yourself a favour and spend an extra $10-$20 and get yourself a set of Superlux hd 681, 681b or 681 evo, they are a million times better for marginally more money.

Built: Not problem with the built for this price range. They seem solid for a pair of plastic built headphones. Comfort: They clamp a little more since these are on ear. If you don’t like high clamping force, this could be a problem for you.

I wear glasses, and I don’t find them uncomfortable even after a couple hours of use. Sound: Sound signature is quite balanced across spectrum. It has a slight warmth to it, and not analytical like the DT1990.

I was pretty impressed with the treble and bass extension of these headphones. I have not heard another headphones under $100 have better extension than these. Overall, I highly recommend these headphones as long as you don’t mind the on-ear design and the clamp force.

If you don’t like the coiled cable, it’s not hard to find a after market cable. The other great thing I forgot to mention is that you can plug the cable into either earcups.

These phones are an evolution of the DT100s and as such are excellent. The DT100 is an industry standard for a reason; they sound good and are extremely well built. If its style and portability you are after, then look elsewhere; I have Bose phones for that.

These are high impedance at 250 ohm and probably at the limit of iwhatevers can drive. Used with a Bluetooth headphone amp also gets around Apples refusal to accept anything that isnt Beats. Sat at home listening to movies or music, these aim to replicate the source to the best of their ability.

My Dad had DT100s in the 1970s and spares are still available today. Its a pity some very well known brands fail to support products less than 5 years old. in that case, it was just the ear cushions! In summary, big, very adjustable and solid.

They will last for years and outlast any trends. If you value repairable product over replaceable ones, these are for you.

I had these DT150’s before and sold them. Regretted it ever since. I’ve had Sennheiser HD 650, Denon D5000 & D7200, to name but a few. I purchased the Beyerdynamic DT250 last week. and promptly returned them.

They are, as described on the box , flat response, but emphasis on mids with quite a lot of siblant top end. No where near the quality build of the DT150’s either. I listen to dance, rock, techno, reggae, R&B.

The DT150’S are punchy, especially picking up the low bass end without sounding like Beats or. Skullcandy crushers. yes, I’ve even tried those! Of all the headphones I still have, these are the ones I end up using more than any others.

I’m happy again now that I’ve got the DT150’S back in my collection.

The ATH-M70x headphones are a great sounding pair of closed backs. They are fairly neutral and provide excellent clarity. That is where the pros stop, however. The other pair of headphones in the line(M50x) are built like tanks.

They can fold every which way and can take quite the beating. So for 300 dollars you would expect their “flagship” model to have on par if not better build quality. Absolutely not. The m70x may be comfortable but it is extremely fragile and weak, specifically near the swivel.

My pair of m70x’s has had BOTH of the cups break off more than 3 times, getting them repaired by audio technica each time. Its not like they broke from a very high height onto wood floor or something.

They broke falling from ONE FOOT onto SOFT CARPET. That is inexcusable build quality. TL;DR: These headphones sound amazing, but they are so fragile that you can expect them to break. Unless audio technica fixes this issue with the swivels, DO NOT BUY.

I bought these headphones primarily for sound isolation while recording. The closed-back design does indeed prevent nearly all the sound coming from the headphones from bleeding into the microphone. They are also reasonably comfortable, but not nearly as comfortable for long periods as say, Bose QuietComfort headphones, that I used to wear for 8-14 hours on long intercontinental plane rides with zero head fatigue.

Aside from the reasonably good functional and comfort aspects, these headphones have two other issues: uneven frequency response, and long-term durability. These are closed-back headphones. If you’re looking for really even frequency response for mixing or critical listening, I don’t know of any closed-back headphones that will come anywhere close to a good pair of open-back headphones.

The value of the closed-back design is to isolate what you’re hearing through the cans from bleeding back into the microphone, and/or from keeping loud room noise from bleeding into what you’re hearing.

The frequency response through these headphones has that typical congested sound of closed-back headphones. I would not recommend them for adjusting mix levels. If you do, you will be surprised how unbalanced your mix sounds through loudspeakers, in your car, etc.

But the most surprising and biggest issue is the durability. I have only used these headphones in my modest home studio for a couple of years. I treat them with care – never throwing them around or blasting excessively loud music through them.

While recently recording some acoustic guitar, I realized the bass response was missing, in both channels. At first I thought it was my headphone pre-amp, but when I plugged in a pair of trusty old Grados into the same output jack, the sound was normal.

It seems the low-frequency drivers in both channels of the ATH-M70x has died – they are now like listening to a loudspeaker that lost its woofer, and all you hear is upper midrange and tweeter response.

In summary, if you need great-sounding headphones, these weren’t that great even when new. Go for some open-back headphones for that purpose. If you need sound isolation, while these work well for that, I believe there are better-sounding and more durable products on the market.

I want to start by saying these headphones sound amazing. I am however disappointed because the swivel connection for the left ear managed to break after about 5 months. Same thing happened to my M40X headphones after having them for a year.

Now I’m starting to think it’s a quality issue with audio Technica headphones in general. I will be looking elsewhere when purchasing my next set.

Dope pair of headphones at a really affordable price. Honestly super great for those who want to chase their music dreams but are working on a budget. Being an independent artist is hard enough with no outside funding so finding great quality gear that’s affordable thanks to DJCity is amazing!.

sparkly, articulate, responsive, detailed, modest stereo image / separation, average bass, great isolation, comfortable ear pads, too much top headband pressure 🙁 but bearable, cable too long ~ If I knew the top headband was going to be like this I would not have bought it but I’ll put up with it for now because they’re fun to listen to.

Hopefully it breaks in and the top pads soften up or something. It’s not the same type of foam as the ear pads. 🙁 I’ll describe the sound as revealing yet musical; not a perfect example of any one trait but a good balance of pleasant qualities.

In closing I want to reiterate them first things I listed: sparkly, articulate, responsive, detailed. I don’t want to sell these aspects short. It sounds really good. It’s like hearing things for the first time all over again in some ways or like hearing details I couldn’t hear before.

So I recommend it. Just hope the top of the headband fits better in your case.

These Headphones are great quality, very comfortable to wear, give terrific sound quality and are a great price.

Taming the Tascam TH-02Foldable Design for Easy Compact TransportTightly-Stitched, Padded Headband and Ear Pads for Stylish ComfortClosed-Back Dynamic Design with Clean Sound, Rich Bass Response and Crisp HighsSnap-on 1/8 (3.

5mm) to 1/4 (6. 3mm) AdapterDriver Diameter: 50mmImpedance: 32 OhmsSensitivity: 98 dB 3Frequency Response: 18 Hz – 22 kHzMax Power: 600 mWCable Length: About 9. 8ft (3m) when fully extendedI received the headphone yesterday, which was $ with free shipping minus a $ rebate = $.

Built for someone with a head the size of a round watermelon with small-medium ears. The headband could easily be 1 shorter, in order to fit the majority of heads. The sound is good and the build quality is good.

all fairly sturdy plastic. Headband padding is sufficient to prevent discomfort. No problems noted with the cord or the snap on 1/4 adapter. The ear pads are adequate. Clamping force is perfect for me.

The outer cover over the speakers (labeled ‘Tascam TH-02’) is held on with three snap tabs. I released the bottom snap tab by inserting a metal nail file, creating a semi-open, rather than closed back headphone.

This seemed to open up the soundstage and make the bass better defined. I glued a Sennheiser HD580/HD600 headband cushion (mfg# 549375) to the center one-third of the Tascam using silicon adhesive (can be removed, if so desired later).

I only used the adhesive on the central one-half of the cushion so that it wouldn’t strain it when opening up the headphone to put it on my head. Rolling up a piece of ‘minky’ material or attaching a thick strip of memory foam (or a combination of the two) would be another way to sufficiently pad the headband so the it actually rests on your non-watermelon head, rather than wobble around up in the air, above your head.

If you have large ears this will not be a truly circumaural (over the ear) headphone, as portions of the pads will rest on your ears. http://www. learningaboutelectronics. com/Articles/What-are-circumaural-headphonesConclusion:This can be a very good, inexpensive headphone with a couple of tweaks and should be on the list for anyone on a budget looking for good bang-for-the-buck.

I use these with my Electronic Drum kit. I broke my old pair after 2 years exact same model the new model the cord is on the left side instead of the right. It has perfect sound blending so I can hear the input music and myself play at the same time.

I tried using other headphones and earbuds but nothing sounded right the bass and cymbals were way off and there was delay. These are perfect for someone playing music who want a cheap option and need to be able to have multiple sound sources play with each other with out one over powering the other.

They also have no delay so playing music everything triggers at that exact moment.

Sound quality very crisp and clear although a little lacking in Bass with some songs. The headphones were not quite tight enough and just a little bit too large for me. I found the curly cord too short for use with my keyboards, but was fine for use with my hifi when sitting near to it.

The improved sound quality was a good improvement over my previous headphones though.

I bought these as my first nice-ish over the ear headphones. Right off the bat, I said to myself, “these sound just like my ear buds. ” I didn’t return them because I thought that since the frequency range was so big, they must just be good and I didn’t know it.

A year later, a friend gifted me some Audio-Technica ATH-M50s, and I immediately realized what good headphones could be. These CADs are purely my spare headphones now, used only when someone else wants partial isolation with a very long cable (great cable, by the way).

They do not have a flat response, there’s no clarity between bands, and they’re heavy on the head. I think they are no better than some good ear buds you might buy for working out. They do look pretty cool though.

For the same price, you can get Sennheiser HD 599s or Sony MDR-7506. Look there first.

I was looking to buy a few pairs of headphones just for sound monitoring for my company in Hong Kong. I found that these CAD MH100 headphones are reliable and have a reasonable quality build and sound output quality for the price.

Initially I bought two pairs as a test and experiment but will now buy two or three more pairs for my offline edit suites and for my producers and editors for general sound review purposes. Very happy with my experience purchasing these from B&H Photo.

The entire process from my initial search on the site through to final delivery was exceptional.

These are great headphones. They sound very good. Nice and clear with good quaility audio through the frequency range from low to high. I haven’t used CAD headphones before and got these on the recommendation of a youtube home recording guy whom I like and who seems to know his stuff.

I’m glad I took his advice. The only tiny critique might be that perhaps they are just a little bit bass heavy. Not over the top, but maybe a little bit. But then, this could be just that my ears are not used to hearing the lower freq’s of a recording through headphones at all and these reproduce lower freq’s really well.

Small details are audible, yet the sound is not harsh or brittle. Just clean and clear. Very, very nice. I also love that the cord is detachable and they provide two types of cord, straight or coiled.

But they lock in a very sturdy way. I don’t expect the cord jack will have any problem lasting a long time. I have been rediscovering my music collection on my mp3 player with these headphones, loving how I am hearing nuance and details I have never heard before.

Over 40yrs I have spent a fortune on Headphones with all the major brands. It has always been difficult to find a set of Headphones that Don’t Leak Sound that is until I researched these beauties. Very comfortable and no sound leakage whatsoever.

I can now have my music as load as I want without disturbing my family. Constantly saying we can hear them turn them down or go in another room. So just what I had searched so 40yrs for I kid you not.

I’ve had Bose Sound Comfort 25s, Senhneisers, Sony,etc and none match the sound through this headset. You have to remember these are designed for Artists so that they can sing into the mic and not hear outside sound or leakage from the headsets to the recording mic.

Thats why they are 1st class in my opinion. Another great thing is they cover the whole ear as they are big ear cups.

It would be nice if the 6400s had the volume control that the 8400s include, but these headphones have exceptional fidelity. Great for the pro studio setup. These are not intended for the commercial market, but I use them as my go-to headphones for any application.

Go to a Sam Ash and try these out for yourself. Exceptional clarity. Resonant bass. Mids and highs are well balanced.

Bought these on a recommendation and they are fabulous headphones, clear crisp and bright with great bass response. Perfect for mixing and recording.