If you are looking for a suitable studio headphone, you should have at least some idea of what exactly you want to do with it, as the application possibilities in the studio can be very diverse and the required characteristics can therefore be very different.
Among the studio headphones so-called monitor headphones need to be real work horses, as you wear them for hours as a musician, singer or speaker during a recording session. If this is your type of application you’re after please choose headphones with a closed design to minimize crosstalk when using a microphone. Although a professional headphone should sound neutral, a certain sound character can be quite advantageous here. Thus, some singers prefer models with more present mid-range to better judge their own vocals. Drummers should use headphones, which reproduce the full frequency spectrum distortion-free even at high volumes. Since in professional studios headphones often change its user, it is important to have the possibility to clean the earpads with an ease and, if necessary, to change them.
If you are more into editing, mixing and mastering look out for headphones whose accurately reproduce a full frequency range, transients, spatiality, and dynamics. Here a lot of producers tend to use open or semi-open headphones.
But exceptions prove the rule! In addition to various all-purpose models there are also DJ and hi-fi headphones models whose are also perfect for studio use.
For a final purchase decision please consider the following bullet points:
Does the design reflect the desired application?
Do the headphones fit well and comfortably?
Does the equipment (interchangeable parts, cable length, etc.) meet my requirements?
Does the sound match my expectations and preferences?
The Ultrasone Signature Master from the Bavarian manufacturer Ultrasone are high-quality mixing and mastering headphones with very good handling. For just under 1,000 euros, you get a pair of headphones that can be used in a variety of ways, with high-resolution and a unique sound profile.
With this update of the AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio, the manufacturer once again does everything right: The wearing comfort of these updated over-ears gives no cause for criticism and the new S05MKII driver capsule ensures a modern bass range. The new TMA-2 Studio also handles the mids and highs with aplomb.
The new Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X are analytical closed headphones. Their modern over-ear design is well-made and comfortable to wear. In addition to a restrained bass range, open trebles and cool, differentiated mids characterise the sound of this model. Guitar music, in particular, benefits from this. Thanks to their good damping values, these studio headphones are ideal for use when recording but also for mixing and editing on the move.
The new Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X are over-ear headphones that offer great sonic transparency. They deliver a treble-emphasised signal, which in the mids sounds rather cold and sober and unobtrusive in the basses. These open headphones are particularly suitable as a means of isolating subtle nuances in sound in audio processing and mixing. The DT 900 Pro X Sound also offer purists and hi-fi fans a good headphone for classical, jazz and other acoustic music.
Are the new Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 the company's best Bluetooth over-ears to date? Maybe! Audio-Technica has done just about everything right with the M50xBT2. They sit comfortable and stable and offer a very long-lasting battery. Also they come with high-resolution audio, multi-pairing and extensive personalisation options via the app.
Professional in-ear headphones for use on stage have to cope with a tough daily routine. Nevertheless, comparatively delicate devices such as in-ear headphones are necessary because their discreet appearance does not distract from the performance and allows for increased freedom of movement on stage. In addition, such solutions need to sound as convincing as possible and be capable of playing at a high output volume. Does the Audix A10X accomplish these tasks?
Headphones are subjected to a demanding and rigorous daily routine when used on stage. In order to do their job, they should be of a suitably robust design. The use of comparatively delicate in-ear monitors seems at first glance to be incongruous, yet they are designed to be inconspicuous during the performance. However, if the equipment in question is to meet the demand for neutral sound reproduction and high output volume, the limit is quickly reached. But when an old hand in the audio industry takes on the task, we can only be curious about the result.
It was exactly seven years ago that the SMB-02 debuted from the then newly founded headphone company "Phonon". The founding trio of the company consisted of Isao Kumano, Yusuke Uchiyama and Alex Prat, all of whom are active musicians, producers, engineers and DJs – the best prerequisites for developing decent headphones. And indeed, the SMB-02 was able to win over an enthusiastic following (the author of this review is one of them) within a very short time due to its extremely detailed and linear sound. The new SMB-01L now wants to join this tradition. The "L" in the name stands for "large" because its declared aim is "big studio sounds in your ears". With a statement like that, we are, of course, immediately on the alert, and we subjected the headphones to an extensive test.
With the Austrian Audio Hi-X65, the successor to AKG in Vienna present their first open headphones. These are aimed not only at demanding professional users from the recording studio sector but also at fans of audiophile listening pleasure.
The Clear Mg Professional from Focal is the successor to the Clear Professional. Those come from the French manufacturer's Professional series and are expressly aimed at professional and demanding sound engineers, while Focal offers the Clear Mg to the audiophile music lovers segment of the market.