Using poor-quality headphones can completely ruin a vocal session. Whether they lack bass, bleed too much into your mic signal, or have harsh highs, headphones can completely ruin a session.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the best studio headphones for recording on the market today, along with their key features, what exactly you should look for, and the differences between headphones for recording and headphones for mixing.
Here are the Top 7+ Best Headphones For Recording Vocals in 2025:
1. Neumann NDH 20
If you’re looking for a high-end headphone that will let you record vocals and tell you exactly how well they fit into the mix, there’s no better choice than the Neumann NDH 20 headphones.
A famous microphone company has decided to make headphones. These headphones are nothing like what their parent company (Sennheiser) makes. They are high-end neutral headphones with zero distortion.
In terms of comfort, they fit my head well. The ear cups are perfectly rounded, so I had to wiggle them a bit more than usual to get a proper fit, but once they were in place, I felt like I could wear them for hours.
They offer excellent passive sound isolation without completely sucking my head in. The impedance is higher (150 ohms) than most on this list. They pair ideally with an audio interface or dedicated amplifier.
As you might expect, the build quality is excellent. They are mostly made of aluminum, so they are unlikely to break down anytime soon. Most of the components are replaceable, and the cable is detachable and protected.
Now let’s talk about the sound. I’ve heard other audio nerds say they are “too neutral” or “almost boringly neutral.” We found that to be far from the case!
The soundstage is so wide that all frequencies are clear and smooth at the same time. Transients are satisfyingly fast.
Monitor headphones are sometimes great for analyzing takes, but not so great for casual listening. The Neumann ND 20 offers the best of both worlds.
2. AKG K72
Austrian brand AKG has been a pioneer in headphone design since its founding. Inventing the open-back headphones in 1959, AKG went on to develop the world’s first hybrid dynamic and electrostatic headphones, binaural headphones, and wireless headphones throughout the 1970s and ’80s.
The K72 is no surprise for such a historic brand, but these closed-back headphones offer the performance and feature set of headphones that cost more than twice as much.
AKG has worked hard to get the best performance for the money, and these closed-back headphones are definitely a compelling choice for studio recording.
They may not sound as convincing as some high-end models, but they definitely deliver all the sound you want.
3. MAONO AU-MH601
The MAONO AU-MH601 is our top pick for budget vocal recording headphones. At less than $50, it’s a great deal!
Some of the above headphones will give you slightly better sound quality. However, considering the price, these headphones definitely deserve to be featured.
The sound quality is above average, they’re very comfortable, and they’re great for other production tasks besides vocal recording. If you’re a beginner or on a tight budget, this is a safe bet!
4. AKG Pro Audio K271 MKII STUDIO
The K271 mkII is designed as an over-ear, closed-back model that excels at reducing noise coming from the microphone.
With decades of expertise in microphones, AKG really knows a thing or two about noise reduction and cancellation.
While some headphones don’t last long, the K271 headphones have replaceable ear pads that you can replace whenever you need to.
Plus, for hygiene reasons, it’s a good idea to replace the ear pads, especially if you’re always using them or sweating a lot.
Artists are a very diverse bunch. They like to express themselves in all sorts of ways, whether it’s with their unique hairstyles or hats. Celebrities especially love it.
These AKG headphones are very comfortable and have a flexible and elastic band that can adapt to any situation you might encounter. A great design choice.
Speaking of sound, the AKG headphones, like the C414, produce the extended and gorgeous highs they’re known for, with one of the world’s brightest microphones.
The bass is also killer. Many DJs and electronic music producers use these headphones because they can go all the way down to the lower range for accurate mixing and mastering.
To be picky, the only complaint I have is the weight, but overall these headphones are awesome.
5. Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
The build is solid, comfortable, and more 21st-century than the DT 770Ms or DT 770 Pros.
Comes with two detachable cables (1.8m and 3m), both straight with a mini XLR connector on the headphone side. All essential components, including the drivers, are replaceable.
Comfort is the real strength of this product compared to its cousins on this list.
The comfortable gray velvet earcups provide very good passive sound isolation, although not as good as the DT 770 Ms.
The earcups achieve this isolation with a great balance of being snug on the head, yet very comfortable.
The sound of this puppy is truly impressive. The speaker imaging (soundstage) produced is the most generous of all on this list (including the Neumann NDH 20).
Everything is clearly defined, including the low-mids (100-400Hz), which are often out of balance with studio headphones.
The left hand of the piano part comes out like a bell, whereas other earcups on this list have had issues in that range.
My only complaint with this product is that the brightness range (5-7kHz) is so sharp that it can be too harsh on the ears during long sessions. I would like a bit more warmth in that range.
6. Sony MDR-7506/1
The Sony MDR-7506/1 is a proven design that has remained on the market for the past 33 years without any changes. Launched in 1991, these headphones are comfortable to wear and feature a very smooth and neutral sound with a high level of detail.
The closed design reduces external noise and prevents leakage, making them ideal for tracking as well.
These headphones are very sturdy with their metal construction and the foldable design makes them very easy to transport.
The MDR-7506 may not be a premium set with many unique features, but they have led the market with its simple, accessible, and effective design that accurately reproduces all the sounds you monitor.
It goes without saying that these headphones have remained completely unchanged for so long that they are a great choice!
7. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The ATH-M50X headphones are like a do-it-all headphones. They are very durable and can handle a lot of damage. If you’re recording a rough rock singer who is holding the mic tight, these are the ones to go for.
Most of these headphones are great for noise isolation and are no exception. The sound can get really loud, so if you are a rocker or live band vocalist who likes to be loud, these headphones are perfect.
The frequency range is good. They are not the absolute best for really low and really high notes, but I am not talking about mixing, I am talking about recording vocals.
You don’t need to hear every detail of a song to get an inspired performance. What you need is balance, and these headphones have that. I found it really easy to set up a rough mix with these headphones.
Another thing that makes these headphones great is that they are amazing with guitars, especially electric guitars.
There is a weird peak around 10K that really increases the distortion and adds excitement. This can be disastrous for mixing, but it is great for singers. It gives more power to everything, including the voice.
My only complaint is that these headphones do not have a flexible headband. They are quite heavy and can be tiring, so they are not suitable for long recording sessions.
8. Sennheiser HD-300 Pro
The headphones are quite tight, but considering the 32dB of passive sound isolation this pressure provides, they are quite comfortable.
The internal speakers of the cups do not touch your ears, which is ideal. The pads are made of very soft faux leather (viscoelastic), including excellent padding on the top of the head and on the ears.
The build quality is good overall. According to the manual, most of the components on this product are replaceable. Unfortunately, the cable is not detachable, but it does have a handy Velcro strap attached.
When I first tried this product, I found the bass to be unnaturally boosted and overall unimpressive. After listening to it more, I got used to the sonic characteristics and began to enjoy it.
It is still quite clear throughout the range while providing a balanced and smooth listening experience. Still, this headphone is better suited to listening to LPs for hours on end than monitoring or recording vocals.
What things should you consider when buying the best headphones for recording?
There are a few basic things to look for when choosing headphones for vocal recording.
Frequency Range and Response
The frequency range of a headphone can give you an idea of what the headphones will sound like… but it’s not the whole picture.
Ideally, it should be as wide as possible to get clarity and all the information possible. Frequency response, on the other hand, tells you more about the sound of the headphones, showing you where the peaks and dips are in the response.
In an ideal world, the frequency response would be a completely flat line, but the reality of acoustics means that this is simply impossible.
So you’ll usually see a dip in the low frequencies where the response is too weak to reproduce, and the same goes for the high frequencies.
The midrange is where you want to focus. It shouldn’t be completely flat, but it should vary slightly. If there are too many peaks and dips, the sound will be less accurate.
Closed Headphones
There are three types of studio headphones: closed, semi-open, and open. Open and semi-open headphones have a small opening that allows sound to leak out of the back of the headphones.
They are ideal for long production sessions where you listen for long periods of time. Open configurations have less frequency buildup and are generally less stressful on your ears!
However, when recording vocals, you need to make sure that no sound escapes the headphones. This small amount of sound can be picked up by the mic and cause poor recording.
Wired over Wireless
We all love wireless headphones at home. However, using them for tracking in the studio is not feasible.
The reason is latency. Latency is the delay between sending a signal and hearing it. This is always a factor in audio monitoring, but it is usually so fast that it is imperceptible.
Wireless headphones go beyond that limit because they require an additional conversion step.
If you can hear it, the playback lag will cause the performance you are recording to be out of time with the rest of the track. So, if possible, use wired headphones for all purposes in the studio.
Studio Setup
Your studio setup can dictate a lot about the headphones you need. Do you already have studio monitors?
Headphones can be a great backup for getting a closer look at some of the sonic details in your mixes. If not, headphones can be a cheap and space-saving way to monitor your studio when space or budget is tight.
Headphones are also the best way to monitor while tracking in most small home studios. If you only have one room to work in, you don’t want your speaker monitors to be picking up the signal from the microphones, which can then feed back to you.
Your audio interface is also worth considering. Does it have enough output for everyone in your studio to be able to hear what they need to hear back into their headphones?
If not, a headphone amp can be worth it to allow up to 4-8 people to listen at once.
Comfort
This is less important than the first two items, but if you’re going to be doing long recording and editing sessions, you’ll want something that’s comfortable!
Most modern studio headphones will be fairly comfortable. It’s rare these days to find over-ear headphones that don’t have built-in padding or cushioning. Some are definitely more comfortable than others, though!
Brand
A tried and tested brand is always a good guarantee of quality. A brand that has experience or specializes in headphones, or has a long history in headphone design (especially audio products), is an encouraging sign.
Even if the price and specs look good, if the company doesn’t generally produce electronics or audio equipment, you may be looking at a more casual brand that might not fit your needs.
The brands on our list, such as Shure, Sony, Neumann, AKG, Sennheiser, and Audio Technica, are all good, trusted choices with a long history in headphones or broader audio design.
If you want a little more historical information, check out our coverage of the best headphone brands.
Budget
Headphones cost money, and we only get what we can afford. That’s all there is to it. However, it’s always worth trying to get the most out of your purchase.
A more expensive Headphone usually offers better overall value, with better sound quality and more comfortable materials.
That said, you can find some really smart designs without the hefty price tag, and while brands are increasingly competing with cheaper products, there will always be some tweaks to get there.
It’s a matter of balancing the features you really need to perform at your best with the features you don’t really care about.
Conclusion
When choosing the right headphones for vocal recording, you need to consider specific requirements, such as isolation and audio clarity.
Closed-back headphones are essential because of their excellent isolation, while open-back models offer a great soundstage for critical listening.
For those on a tight budget, budget-friendly options offer commendable performance without compromising on essential features.
These categories ensure that your vocal recordings are of high quality, effectively supporting both professional and amateur audio production efforts.