Headphones 101: Which Headphones Should I Buy for My Home Studio? 🎧

headphones

🎧 What are the best headphones for home studio recording & mixing?

Closed-back headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are ideal for tracking vocals and instruments due to their isolation. Open-back models like the Sennheiser HD 600 and Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro offer a wider, more natural sound for mixing and mastering. Your choice depends on your workflow: isolation vs. accuracy.

Should I Mix on Headphones or Speakers?

👋 Welcome to the Mission: Choose Your Headphones Wisely

If speakers are like giant windows into your music, then headphones are a magnifying glass. And in the home studio—where soundproof rooms and perfectly tuned monitors are a luxury—headphones are your secret weapon.

But not all headphones are created equal. Some are designed for isolation. Others are meant for accuracy. And some are just marketing hype wrapped in overpriced plastic.

Let’s cut through the noise.

⭐️ Download my FREE Home Studio Setup Guide ⭐️

⚖️ Step 1: Understand the Two Poles – Open-Back vs. Closed-Back

🎯 CLOSED-BACK HEADPHONES

Sealed ear cups
Block external sound
Prevent bleed during vocal or instrument recording
More bass response, but sometimes exaggerated
🧠 Best for: Recording & Tracking

🎯 OPEN-BACK HEADPHONES

Vented or slotted ear cups
Natural stereo image
Cleaner highs and mids
Not ideal when recording a mic (leakage!)
🧠 Best for: Mixing & Critical Listening

🎓 Zen Insight: Closed = Inner focus. Open = Wider perspective. Know when to wear which hat.

🔍 Step 2: Compare the Studio Classics

1. 🎧 Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (Closed-Back)

Legendary for tracking.
Punchy low-end, detailed highs.
Built to last.
Available in 32Ω, 80Ω, and 250Ω versions.
🔥 Ideal for: Recording vocals, drums, synths

2. 🎧 Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (Open-Back)

Spacious soundstage.
Slight treble boost—great for detail.
Soft velour ear pads = marathon comfort.
🔥 Ideal for: Mixing, referencing, editing

3. 🎧 Audio-Technica ATH-M50x (Closed-Back)

Modern classic.
Balanced tone with a tight bass bump.
Swiveling earcups, portable design.
🔥 Ideal for: General-purpose studio work, beginners

4. 🎧 Sennheiser HD 600 (Open-Back)

Neutral and transparent.
Audiophile-approved accuracy.
Comfortable but power-hungry.
🔥 Ideal for: Mixing, mastering, detailed listening

5. 🎧 Focal Listen Professional (Closed-Back)

High-fidelity tone with great isolation.
Sleek French design, portable build.
🔥 Ideal for: Traveling producers, tracking on the go

6. 🎧 Shure SRH1840 (Open-Back)

Wide stereo field, lightweight build.
Crystal-clear highs and natural mids.

🔥 Great for: High-level mixing, acoustic music, film scoring

⭐️ Start by downloading all of my FREE Music Production Guides ⭐️ It took me years to learn this stuff!

✅ Step 3: What To Do Next

Here’s your Simple Action Plan:

Are you recording vocals or instruments?
→ Buy closed-back headphones.
Start with the DT 770 Pro or ATH-M50x.
Are you mixing or doing sound design?
→ Buy open-back headphones.
Start with the HD 600 or DT 990 Pro.
Can’t decide?
→ Eventually, get both.
Use closed for tracking. Open for mixing.

🕹 Bonus Challenge: Gamify Your Ear Training

🎯 Try this game:

Play your favorite track on your current headphones.
Borrow or buy one of the models above.
A/B test them.
Write down 3 things you hear differently—especially reverb tails, vocal presence, or stereo width.

Repeat every week for one month. That’s how ninja ears are trained.

The Magic Reverb Settings