There are different types of studio headphones and each one has special characteristics for a specific task. If you are a singer or music producer and you are thinking of buying one, you need to know them and in this post, I will explain their characteristics, what each type is for, and some recommendations.
CLOSED HEADPHONES
These types of headphones are designed so that sound does not escape outside, so they are ideal for recording in front of a microphone since they prevent the music you listen to as a reference from being recorded again through the microphone.
If you want to record yourself at home or you are a producer and you’re going to record other artists, you need one of these.
My recommendations:
- AKG K52 <40$
- Audio Technica ATH-M30X <80$
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro <140$
OPEN (AND SEMI-OPEN) HEADPHONES
They are designed for post-production, especially for the mixing and mastering phases, since the sound is more defined and open throughout the entire frequency range, they are more comfortable and do not tire the ear as much.
If you use headphones for mixing or have to spend a lot of time working on them, you need one.
Do not use them to record in front of the microphone!
My recommendations:
- AKG K240 MkII <70$
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO <140$
- Sennheiser HD 660 S <400$
CHEAP HEADPHONES
It may seem silly when we are talking about studio headphones, but they are the most used by most people to listen to music.
I recommend using them to compare the result of your mix and detect possible errors.
You can use AirPods or any non-professional headset, even the ones that are given to you with your mobile…
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
Impedance: Electrical resistance of your circuit to the sound source.
Sensitivity: The ability they have to generate sound.
Frequency response: The ability they have to reproduce each type of frequency. “Flat” response means that all frequencies are reproduced with the same intensity.
If you get one of these headphones or want to recommend others, I would love to read your opinion in the comments.
