7 Best Headphones For Mixing and Mastering in 2023
As a music producer, you understand the importance of attaining top-notch sound quality for success. Nevertheless, employing incorrect headphones can greatly influence your end audio result and potentially ruin your entire music production endeavor. Adverse consequences such as audio distortion, inadequate clarity, insufficient frequency response, and imbalanced stereo imaging arise from utilizing inappropriate headphones for mixing and mastering.
Utilizing suitable best-mixing and mastering headphones lets you perceive every intricate aspect of your music and create a clear, well-balanced, and precise sound.
1. Sennheiser HD 650 Best Headphones For Mixing and Mastering
This HD 650 is designed to provide high-performance and intimate detail sound. Moreover, most parts of the HD 650 are modular, soft, and comfortable ear pads and offer a great sound experience so you can enjoy music even more. The best open-back headphones under $500 on our list that you can consider!
Key Features
- Driver: 42 mm dynamic
- Cable: 3 meter
- Connection: wired
- Frequency response: 10 Hz – 41,000 Hz
- Impedance: 3oo Ω
- Sensitivity: 103 dB (1 V)
- Weight: 260g
Design:
- Style: open-back headphone
- Ear cushions: made of soft material foam, provide better comfort, and are breathable for your ears.
- Headband: has sponge under the headband, easy to wear, adjustable, and durable for a customized fit.
- Earcups: have vents for air to get in and out, provide a natural sound stage
- Connectivity: the cable length is 3 meters, long enough for your movement without losing connection.
Performance:
- Frequency response: 10 Hz – 41,000 Hz with warm and natural tonal balance
- Sound quality: exceptional sound quality provide clear, detailed, and accurate sound
- Bass Response: muted bass response, but for some reason, it’s average compared to other headphones.
- Soundstage: the vents on the earcups provide an expensive and immersive soundstage
- Input: suitable for various music genres and audio applications.
- Connectivity: The headphones can be driven by various sources, including smartphones, laptops, and portable music players, although they will benefit from a dedicated headphone amplifier.
Pros:
- Wide soundstage
- High-quality materials
- Compatible with high-end audio equipment
Cons:
- It may require a dedicated headphone amplifier to achieve optimal sound quality
Pricing:
Available in stock at the price of USD 399.95 at Amazon.
2. beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Headphones
The beyerdynamic DT-1990 Pro 250 Ohm is a high-quality, open-back circumaural studio headphone with a carrying case and extra ear pads. The quality earpads produce a balanced sound, while the leatherette pads provide an analytical sound. The 3m straight cable avoids tangling in front of your body, and a 5m coiled cable is also included for maximum studio movement.
Key Features
- Driver: 45 mm dynamic
- Cable: 3 meter
- Connection: wired
- Frequency response: 5Hz – 40,000 Hz
- Impedance: 25o Ω
- Sensitivity: 102 dB (1 V)
- Weight: 370g
Design:
- Earcups: provide a natural and remarkably spacious sound. The spatial sound makes them a dependable reference tool for mixing and mastering.
- Headbands: are crafted with exceptional attention to detail, making them quality and durability, which is truly eye-catching.
- Connectivity: the two cables: a 3-meter straight line and a coiled cable that stretches up to 5 meters. Both wires have a 3-pin mini XLR, a 3.5mm jack, and a screw-on 1/4-inch adapter.
Performance:
- Sound quality: delivers breathtaking sound with an impressively wide stereo image and highly differentiated spatial resolution.
- Output quality: its output quality is convincing, offering excellent detail from the deepest bass to the finest resolution, a neutral mid-range, and silky highs.
- Highs: the highs may be slightly understated, but these headphones provide an enjoyable listening experience that will surely bring a smile to your face.
- Soundstage: the sound is incredibly smooth and peaceful, attributed to the subdued dynamics of the drum beats and other elements.
Pros:
- Super comfortable
- Breathable earcups
- Great soundstage
Cons:
- No noise isolation
- Leak the sound
Pricing:
Available in stock at the price of USD 499.00 at Amazon.
3. beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Headphones
With outstanding sound quality and robust bass, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones are among the best open-back headphones on the market. Typical of Beyerdynamic headphones, they are also durable and comfortable. Additionally, the large, velour-wrapped ear pads and lightweight frame make them suitable for extended use at a desk without neck fatigue.
Key Features
- Noise cancellation: No
- Transparency: Yes
- Driver: 38 mm dynamic
- Connection: ¼ “adapter (6.35 mm)
- Cable length: 3.0 m (9.8′)
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 35,000 Hz
- Impedance: 250 Ω
- Sensitivity: 96 dB @ 1mW
- Weight: 250g
Design:
- Style: over-ear, open-back headphones
- Earcups: made of plastic, and the vent allows air to go through and provide a natural sound.
- Ear cushions: made of high-quality materials foam, soft and highly cozy over your ear
- Headband: lightweight and durable, convenient to customize the length
- Cable: replaceable cable
- Connectivity: the high impedance allows one to connect with a wide range of devices
Performance:
- Bass response: Great sound in bass response
- Frequency response: it has 5 – 35.000 Hz that produces a high range of audio frequency with noticeable accuracy
- Soundstage: impressive soundstage sound, meaning they are balanced and detail
- Sound quality: extremely high resolution and very transparency sound, which make them the mater in studio
Pros:
- Stable and well fit
- perfect for audio production
Cons:
- Not portable
- No noise cancellation
- Leak sound outside the headphone
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the cost of USD 159.00
4. beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Best Headphones
The DT 770 Pro headphones, manufactured by Beyerdynamic, a long-standing German family-owned company, are part of their renowned classic series, trusted by music professionals for years. Beyerdynamic asserts that these closed-back studio headphones excel in noise isolation and minimal sound leakage, making them suitable for vocal recordings.
The headphones are equipped with sensitive transducers, capable of reproducing the entire frequency range and delivering precise monitoring of audio production. The impedance can be adjusted to accommodate different devices, with lower Ohms for smartphones and laptops and higher Ohms for professional equipment. Featuring a sturdy steel headband, the headphones ensure a secure fit, while the soft and adjustable ear cups guarantee comfort during extended studio sessions.
Key Features
- Driver: 45 mm dynamic
- Cable: 3 meter
- Connection: wired
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 35,000 Hz
- Impedance: 250 Ω
- Sensitivity: 96 dB (1 V)
- Weight: 270g
Design:
- Earcups: The soft ear cups ensure comfort even during extended wear. The single-sided cable design allows easy and frequent putting on and removing the headphones without cable tangling issues.
- Headband: With a robust spring steel headband, these headphones provide a secure fit.
- Connectivity: The headphones offer versatile connectivity options with two included cables: a 3-meter straight cable and a coiled cable that can stretch up to 5 meters. Both cables feature a 3-pin mini XLR, a 3.5mm jack, and a screw-on 1/4-inch adapter for convenient compatibility.
Performance:
- Sound quality: The beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO headphones are beloved by music producers, sound engineers, and broadcasters worldwide. They offer exceptional precision in reproducing the entire frequency range, including impressive detail in low frequencies.
- Frequency response: Designed for critical music and sound monitoring, these headphones offer a neutral listening environment with outstanding isolation and excellent impulse response. High frequencies are delivered with analytical and distinct clarity, while ultra-low bass sounds are precisely defined and reproduced.
- Bass quality: The DT 1770 PRO utilizes innovative Tesla technology from Heilbronn, resulting in enhanced resolution and precise, powerful bass. As the flagship model, it sets new benchmarks for comfort and craftsmanship, providing an exceptional listening experience.
Pros:
- Exceptional comfort
- Breathable earcups
- Impressive soundstage
Cons:
- Limited noise isolation
- Sound leakage
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 159.00
5. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 wireless headphones combine exceptional performance with a sleek portable design. They boast touch control and voice assistant compatibility. With an impressive battery life of 60 hours, these headphones prioritize longevity over noise-cancellation features that tend to drain power. The over-ear design effectively blocks out surrounding noise, and the generously sized ear pads comfortably accommodate those with larger ears.
Key Feature
- Impedance: 38 Ohm
- Cable: 1.20 m
- Sensitivity: 99 dB
- Frequency range: 15 – 28000 Hz (Headphone) | 85 -15000 Hz (Microphone)
- Driver diameter: 45 mm
- Weight: 307 g
Design:
- Earcups: Enjoy the flexibility of 90-degree rotating ear cups, which provide a customizable fit and offer exceptional comfort for long listening sessions.
- Headband: The headphones feature durable metal sliders, ensuring increased reliability and stability, even during extended use.
- App: Enhance your headphone experience by downloading the A-T Connect app, which provides extensive control over your ATH-M50xBT2 headphones. With this app, you can effortlessly activate low latency mode, fine-tune the EQ settings, adjust the volume balance between left and right channels, choose your preferred voice assistant, locate misplaced headphones, switch between different codecs, and enjoy various additional features and functionalities.
Performance:
- Sound quality: The ATH-M50xBT2 headphones provide a thrilling wireless listening experience by delivering the legendary M50x studio sound, characterized by exceptional clarity and precise, deep bass response.
- Microphone: Experience crystal-clear phone calls and reliable communication with the built-in Amazon Alexa voice assistant, thanks to the exceptional vocal pickup provided by dual microphones and beamforming technology.
- Battery life: When fully charged, you can enjoy free listening with the ATH-M50xBT2, which offers up to 50 hours of uninterrupted use.
Pros:
- Accurate response level
- Great noise cancellation
Cons:
- Limited bass sound
Pricing:
Available on Amazon at the price of USD 199.00
6. Audeze LCD-X Best Headphones For Mixing and Mastering
You can feel the quality and performance of the design of the headphones. These open-back headphones provide a great natural soundstage and are designed for professional audiophiles to produce music with such quality sound. Moreover, they easily connect with wide audio devices such as high-end audio players, amplifiers, and DACs. These headphones stand well in the market due to their brilliant and useful features.
Key Features
- Inputs: 1/4″ (6.35mm)
- Connection: wired
- Sensitivity: 103 dB/1mW
- Impedance: 20 Ω
- Cable length: 1.9 meter
- Weight: 612g
Design:
- Style: over-ear, open-back headphones
- Transducer: Planar Magnetic
- Earcups: classic matte black, and the vent is for air to get in and out
- Ear cushions: made from lambskin, which makes them comfortable and friendly looks
- Headband: made of premium leather, quite heavy, tho, but it’s comfortable even if you wear it for an extended period, but the wood here is very durable and robust.
- Connectivity: compatible with any genre
Performance:
- Sensitivity: it has 101 dB that can drive audio sources
- Frequency response: 10Hz – 50kHz, more comprehensive than other headphones, which provide better sound quality.
- Sound quality: impressive quality, balance, detail, and accurate sound in reproduction.
- Soundstage: separates the instrument sound well, easy to recognize and distinguish different sound
- Distortion: produced the sound without any unwanted artifacts.
- Planar Magnetic Drivers: the large diaphragm area in the field offers less distortion and better sound quality.
- Imaging: Perfectly for gaming, the soundstage provides an immersive experience in open-world games.
Pros:
- Great in imaging
- Classic looks
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- Require Amplifier
- a bit heavy
- limited ANC
Pricing:
Available in stock at the price of USD 1,199.00 at Amazon.
7. Monolith M1060 Best Headphones For Mixing and Mastering
With the MonolithTM M1060 planar headphones, music enthusiasts will receive a high-quality listening experience. The 106mm planar drivers produce a well-defined soundstage, revealing all the finer details in recordings. Featuring balanced sound, low distortion, and impressive imaging, these headphones provide a genuinely immersive audiophile listening experience.
Key Features
- Driver: 106 mm dynamic
- Cable: 3 meter
- Connection: wired
- Frequency response: 10Hz – 50,000 Hz
- Impedance: 5o Ω
- Sensitivity: 130 dB (1 V)
- Weight: 500g
Design:
- Earcups: the open-back earcups offer a holographic listening experience, as opposed to the isolated “inside your head” sound of traditional closed-back headphones. They create a feeling of being in the middle of a live performance rather than being cut off from the world.
- Headband: constructed from a singular piece of metal and features only a thin layer of foam bumps to prevent any potential damage or discomfort to the head.
- Connectivity: use a 3.5mm plug to connect to your device or amplifier.
Performance:
- Sound quality: boasts the distinctive characteristics of planar drivers, producing more transparent and open sound than traditional dynamic drivers.
- Mids: in particular, felt grainy and indistinct, lacking the depth and richness often found in dynamic driver headphones in this price range.
- Bass sound: while the bass response was satisfactory and occasionally enjoyable, it lacked clarity and impact similar to the mids. The kick drums failed to deliver the anticipated punch, and the basslines left us underwhelmed.
- Treble: the highs have a nice sparkle, but the gritty sound can be improved by replacing the pads with Audeze Vegan pads.
Pros:
- Great entry to Planar headphones
- Eye-catching design
- Competitive price
- Value-for-money
Cons:
- Sound rough and unfinished with some issues
- Poor build quality and materials
- Lack of left/right indicators
Pricing:
Conclusion
We hope you found our comprehensive guide on mixing and mastering headphones beneficial. You can now make an informed purchase with knowledge of key considerations and clarifying common queries. Our top choice, the Sennheiser HD 650 – Audiophile Hi-Res Open-Back Dynamic Headphones, stands out for its exceptional performance in sound accuracy and comfort. Should you have any further inquiries, please don’t hesitate to comment below.
