Our top five picks for Studio Headphones for 2020
There are a ton of studio headphones on the market, which one’s are the best suited to your needs?
Depending on your application, your choice for studio headphones can widely differ.
If you’re recording or monitoring live audio, you’re probably going to want to go with a closed-back design as that will offer you a significantly higher noise-reduction than an open back model.
For mixing, mastering and other referencing, then you’re probably best suited with open-back headphones.
Here are our top five studio headphones across the board…
Audeze LCD-1
What is it:
Planar Magnetic technology has long been too expensive for your average pair of headphones, in fact, Audeze has headphones ranging up to the USD $4k mark.
The LCD-1 is Audeze’s most affordable and lightweight pair of professional headphones to date, they use the same technology as seen in the flagship models but suited to the wallets of a much wider audience.
Planar magnetic technology is incredibly efficient, about 10% of traditional drivers – allowing for higher sensitivity with much lower distortion, and a larger driver with a lighter weight – for a wider frequency response.
Best feature(s):
- Open back design for accurate response
- Wide, very flat frequency response
- Very low distortion
- Planar efficiency allows for wide use cases without any amplification
Price:
Retail – USD $399 (Around R6500 excl. duties)
More info
Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro
What is it:
The Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro are widely regarded as a benchmark in studio headphones, they’re open-back – offering an incredibly natural sound, they’re lightweight yet very well constructed and feature large ear cups with large foam pads for a very comfortable listening experience – especially for long periods.
Best feature(s):
- Open back design
- Incredibly accurate sound
- Robust construction
- Large circumaural ear pads
- Made in Germany
Price:
Retail – USD $279 (Around R4500 excl. duties)
More info
AKG K240 MKII
What is it:
AKG’s K240 series is probably their most popular, the MKII model is the same as the Studio edition although it comes with some extra accessories such as the velour earpads – which make longer listening sessions much more bearable.
The K240 are known for an incredibly neutral sound, although they’re a little bit dull on the low-end compared to the Beyerdynamics and Audeze.
Best feature(s):
- Semi-open design produces natural sound without too much bleed
- Lightweight, good for long listening sessions
- Very affordable
Price:
Retail – USD $189 (Around R3000 excl. duties)
More info
Audio Technica ATH-M50X
What is it:
The Audio Technica ATH-M50X are probably the most popular professional headphones on the market, they’re an incredibly popular choice for professionals in the studio, on stage, on location, gamers and discerning listeners alike.
They’re built like absolute tanks and sound very good. They do have a bit of a boost on the low-end, although still very usable in professional environments.
Best feature(s):
- Closed-back design
- Good isolation makes them great all-round headphones
- Comes with several accessories, such as a choice of different cables, earpads and more
- Solid construction
Price:
Retail – USD $149 (Around R2500 excl. duties)
More info
Samson Z35
What is it:
The Samson Z35 is part of their newest range of studio reference headphones, they’re designed to take on the industry-standard – offering very similar features and technical specifications at a much more affordable price-point.
Best feature(s):
- Closed-back design
- Solid construction
- Rotate/swivel for comfort and storage
- Very affordable
Price:
Retail – USD $129 (Around R2000 excl. duties)
More info
Don’t forget about the physical attributes…
As much as I’d love to get a pair of Audeze LCD-1, my ears are large and I usually need to go with a larger cup for a more comfortable experience – they do have bigger options but they’re far out of my price range.
So, keep in mind the physical attributes when looking at headphones, as you’re likely to be spending a lot of time wearing them!
