15 Best Headphones for Mixing in 2024

Clarity and fidelity are the best features to look for when mixing. We tested 193 headphones, and here are, in our opinion, the best headphones for combining and optimizing music.

Find the rest under Honorable Mentions.

If you don’t have great mixing headphones music, you won’t be producing to a professional standard. You may be missing a lot of fine details when mastering vocals or a backing track.

Our list of studio headphones for mixing is designed to suit different budgets. While there is an element of “you get what you pay for”, some budget options are pretty decent, especially for newbies.

For more great-sounding options, see the best audiophile headphones.

In our selection of headphones, we picked the best models with a neutral sound, a big soundstage, and long-term comfort, the crucial features for mixing, mastering, and remastering like a professional. We combined our expertise and feedback from the music production community.

Best Headphones for Mixing

1. Sennheiser HD 400 PRO

HD 400 PRO are, in our opinion, the best mixing headphones for most people, with an accurate sound and good bass extension for mixing low frequencies.

These are the best balance of price and sound quality for doing mixes. While they’re not the most expensive on our list, they’re suitable for professional work without paying an exorbitant price. For this reason, they’re the top choice.

For around $250, you get reliable sound with good bass extension, which is rare in open-back studio headphones.

There’s still some energy in the treble to reveal tiny details, which should help create a spotless mix while avoiding sibilance.

Due to the open design, sound leakage is the thing with HD 400 PRO. However, that isn’t a problem when mixing in the studio. Quite the contrary, an open back helps to enlarge the stereo image.

As for the headphones, they’re fully made of plastic, with a metal piece making the headband more flexible and sturdier.

Velour earpads help with breathability and create soft contact with your skin. Much like the cable, they can be replaced when damaged.

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Best for $400

2. Sennheiser HD 600

If you want amazing headphones for creating music, the Sennheiser HD 600 are the top choice for $400.

These Sennheiser over-ear headphones are amazingly clear and provide an industry standard for those who are serious about their mixing, as long as you’re willing to pay for it.

Expect clear and distortion-free audio quality. Sennheiser is a market leader in the price range chosen as the option by many music professionals in the audio world. These are great for serious musicians and music producers.

These reference headphones are best suited to a studio engineer who takes mixing seriously. Their high fidelity and flat response make them perfect for working on professional mixes.

Also, the frequency response is ideal for mixing any type of music, and there is no need to worry about an unbalanced sound.

The spatial sound that comes with a good set of open-backs is another bonus.

Because of their big ear cups and velour ear pads, they are extremely comfortable. Also, they come with a hard case for easier transport.

These high-end headphones work optimally when you use them with an amp (300 Ohms of impedance).

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Best for $350

3. Audio-Technica ATH-R70x

Audio-Technica ATH-R70x are the most perfectly neutral headphones Audio-Technica makes, and they’re perfect for mixing.

The R70x are a high-quality pair of headphones made for producing audio. They’re featherlight for long-term comfort and have a cool design.

These are Audio-Technica’s attempt to make their own HD 600, achieving excellent neutral frequency response. R70x have a smooth, airy audio quality with tight bass frequencies and lush treble.

Despite having an open-back design, they don’t have a very three-dimensional sound. Thankfully, the imaging remains strong.

Since R70x uses primarily aluminum, they feel like you’re wearing nothing. They rest gently on your head, with two wings gently supporting their whole weight.

Under a metallic mesh, you can clearly see the driver, which is really cool.

They use plush earpads that feel comfy on your skin, but because ear cups don’t move, they aren’t suitable for users with smaller heads.

These high-impedance headphones have higher resistance than other headphones (470 ohms), so you need a powerful audio interface to drive them properly.

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Best for Expansive Soundstage

5. AKG K702

AKG K702 have the widest and most expansive soundstage for mixing.

Here are the first of two over-ear headphones on our list made by AKG. The excellent Austrian design and manufacture make this a good, sturdy alternative to the other products on this list.

It’s perfect for high-end mixing in a busy studio space. Mids and highs, as well as low-end, are flat and fairly accurate, just what you need for quality production.

AKG is continuing to push the boundaries. The two-layer diaphragm is a patented design they have included for an improved high-frequency range. This gives a lot of clarity in the treble frequencies.

It comes with detachable cables fitting both 3.5mm and 6.3mm connections. The ear pads are both comfortable and replaceable when they become worn and tatty.

They don’t boost the bass, which may not be the best for listening to hardcore trance, but it is perfect to make these some of the best mixer headphones for mastering.

There’s also a great AKG K 701 option that was made in collaboration with Quincy Jones, a well-known name in the music-making industry.

Best Deals Today:

Best Under $200

6. Sennheiser HD 560 S

If your budget is $200, the Sennheiser HD 560 S are the best option for mixing headphones.

They’re an “affordable HD 600” for a lower price. These headphones are an extension of the HD 6xx lineup in terms of sound quality and width of soundstage. They have a lovely flat sound with a brighter treble.

HD 560 S are entirely plastic, except for the metallic mesh that protects the drivers.

Thanks to that and big earpads, they’re very lightweight and supremely comfortable to wear for extended periods.

The included cable ends with a 6.3mm jack, with an extra 3.5mm adapter in the box. The cable is also detachable.

Impedance is moderately high (120 ohms), but you can drive them to loud sound pressure levels with your computer or smartphone. Of course, they will sound better with a proper headphone amp.

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Best Beyerdynamic

7. Beyerdynamic DT 880 PRO

If you’re a loyal Beyerdynamic user, the DT 880 PRO are the top choice for mixing.

Beyerdynamic makes headphones with crisp sound quality and great soundstage for a reasonable price. Out of their whole lineup, the DT 880 Pro model is the best choice.

Great soundstage with minimal harmonic distortion makes them perfect for mixing and mastering. Their flat sound signature makes them a popular model among audiophiles as well.

The Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro headphones have a lot of professional properties for studio use.

As well as 250-ohm impedance, making them ideally suited for studio mixing, they are comfortable with a soft headband and sturdy ear cups. The parts are also all replaceable.

These pair of headphones are clear with flat frequency response, the clarity in the mid-range is excellent, and many sound engineers swear by using these to mix vocals.

They come with standard 3.5mm coiled cables, but there is also a 6.3mm adapter included.

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Best Under $150

8. AKG K245

For $150, the AKG K245 are the top choice for mixing with an analytical and detailed sound quality.

A successor to the beloved K240, with better technical performance and foldable design at a reasonable price.

The sound is similar to the K240, but it goes further in terms of technicalities and is better for analytical listening.

Especially in the bass response, which sounds more dynamic and well-defined. The soundstage is modest in size this time around due to the smooth treble.

They have a very comfortable fit, but it depends on your ear size. Users with smaller ears shouldn’t have any problems, whereas others might experience discomfort. Replacing earpads with bigger, plushier ones should resolve the issue.

Otherwise, the construction is super lightweight due to mostly plastic build. AKG even made K245 foldable using a unique patented folding headphone design.

Moreover, the cable is easily replaced if it gets damaged. Note that it uses a mini-XLR port, AKG’s proprietary connection.

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Best Under $100

9. Sony MDR-7506

Sony MDR-7506 are fantastic headphones for audio mixing and other studio work under $100.

Sony MDR-7506 are trusted and versatile studio headphones for critical listening like detecting errors in the mix. They’re one of the most popular studio headphones among audio engineers and technicians because they offer an amazing value-for-the-money ratio.

They have a well-balanced sound throughout the bass and have nicely clear mids. However, they can be a bit harsh in high frequencies.

While that isn’t perfect for casual listening, it does bring out details and errors in a recording. They aren’t particularly flashy or suited for commuting, primarily due to their long, coiled cable.

Thankfully, they’re still quite portable, with a foldable ear cup design and included carrying pouch.

Headphones have a relatively lightweight build and can fit most head sizes. Earpads aren’t the thickest out there but should remain comfy for a couple of hours of use. And it’s easy to get replacements.

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Best With Harman Curve

10. AKG K371

If you’re looking for headphones with the Harman Curve sound signature, the AKG K371 are the best choice.

AKG K371 closed-back headphones offer one of the best representations of the Harman curve tuning that plays exceptionally well with all genres.

Since AKG is owned by Samsung and Harman Group, it makes sense for their headphones to adopt the Harman house curve.

This tuning best represents what a natural listening experience sounds like, and none does it better than the K371. AKG added a touch more bottom end to make them more appealing to a wider audience.

It doesn’t stop there. Build quality is excellent, with metallic construction and a satisfying foldable mechanism. Over-ear design and thick earpads ensure long-lasting comfort.

One minor annoyance is that while the cable is detachable, it uses a proprietary mini-XLR port (if you’ll even want to buy a new one).

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Honorable Mentions

10. AKG K240 Studio

11. Samson SR850

12. Sennheiser HD 280 PRO

13. Superlux HD 668B

14. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro

15. Shure SRH1840

What to Look For in Headphones for Mixing and Mastering?

Here’s how to choose headphones for mixing in a nutshell:

For music production, look for headphones that don’t taint the mix

So, forget about external noise cancelling or Bluetooth headphones. They’re not suitable.

A boost in any frequency alters the mix. This means that when someone listens on better headphones, the mix won’t sound the same. You may overcompensate for missing frequencies.

Look for a neutral, balanced sound signature, preferably with an open-back design for a spacious soundstage.

Adjustable headband and ample padding for comfort

Other helpful features include comfort. You will probably need to wear headphones for long sessions. Memory foam or other comfortable material around the ears will help with this, especially if you wear glasses.

Naturally, if you are spending a lot on headphones, you will want something durable. When treated well, wired headphones can last decades.

Extra features

• Replaceable cords are useful and improve longevity.
• If you are traveling a lot, consider folding headphones that are easy to store in a backpack and safely carry around.

Should You Choose Open- or Closed-Back Headphones for Mixing?

Generally, open-back headphones are better for mixing and mastering.

Open-back headphones tend to have a much better sound stage and give a nicer acoustic sound rather than being tight and pressuring your eardrums.

Closed-backs are designed to block out ambient noise. While this can be very useful for listening in crowded, busy places, they don’t reproduce the most natural sound.

Passive noise isolation is useful for listening in public and noisy environments but isn’t the top priority for mixing.

Sound leakage is only bad for monitoring and recording.

So, if you want studio headphones for mixing, monitoring, and recording, then you might want to consider closed-back headphones. More on types of headphones.

How are Mixing Headphones Different From Recording Headphones?

• Mixing headphones’ main job is to produce a neutral sound to avoid audio overcompensation in the mix.
• Recording headphones’ main job is to let the audio engineer hear the recording without their noise leakage bleeding into the recording.

The main difference is in the way they’re used.

In studios, most people use closed-back headphones for recording and monitoring. They isolate the sound that comes from elsewhere (such as other instruments in the room) and give the audio engineer full control over what audio signal they are sending to the headphones.

Closed-back design is also less likely to “bleed” audio through to the microphone. It can mean you are recording things like backing tracks from the headphones on what would otherwise be a clean vocal track.

When mixing, there’s no chance of headphone sound leakage ruining the mixing process, so the focus is on neutral tuning.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

References

• Mixing On Headphones, published January 2007, accessed Dec 2023.