In my rating of the best studio headphones in 2019, I have collected models of famous brands that are inexpensive for this niche, I have not forgotten the "legendary" headphones that have been produced since the 70-90s of the last century, which have come down to us almost unchanged, but at the peak of popularity. I selected different characteristics of the devices so that you could choose for a professional or home studio.
AKG K 240 Studio
Opening the rating is a semi-open model for monitoring vocals, broadcasting, DJ, home recording, mixing, sound engineering and mastering with extended frequency response and patented drivers. The price is 6500 rubles.
Pros:
- The main materials are leather and plastic.
- Self-adjusting metal headband and fit.
- Detachable cable as in Shure SRH840.
- Quick change of AKG proprietary cable with mini XLR connector. Threaded adapter to prevent self-loosening.
- The cable lead-in is one-sided, as in the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro.
- Sound detail with professional patented Varimotion driver.
- Crystal clear highs, “beautiful” mids, tight bass.
- Extended frequency response.
- Converters XXL.
- Universal due to the ¼ ”TRS adapter.
Minuses:
- The bass is there, but it is not clearly caught; it is not very suitable for dance music.
- Average insulation.
Will appeal to music lovers without pronounced dynamics, gamers. A good model for music professionals to use for multimedia purposes. During recording, according to reviews from reviews, the headphones reproduce guitar and female vocals best of all. They give out the highs and mids well, and in terms of bass they sound the same as the Sony MDR-7506.
Sony MDR-7506
Unlike the previous model of the rating, MDR-7506 closed-type headphones for professional and amateur use with a twisted cable, wide stereo panorama, sound detail. Price - 7400 rubles.
Pros:
- High quality, no backlash.
- Foldable design like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
- Detailed neutral sound with good tonality balance.
- High noise insulation.
- Carrying case.
- Excellent volume due to the sensitivity parameter (106 dB).
- Neodymium speakers as in the Shure SRH840.
Minuses:
- For portable use, a twisted cord is not very convenient.
- Cannot be used with low power sources.
The universal model, despite the "prescription" of the release, is still in trend. Wide dynamic range, good detail with the smallest nuances of composition, cope with any genre. A bit dryish "synthesized" presentation, and not lively, as in the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, although, according to experts, this is rather a plus for studio headphones. According to reviews, a tight fit leads to fogging of the ears, in the Shure SRH840 this is not.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Specially designed for radio DJs and professional use. It is best to listen to music in uncompressed formats on this model. The monitor immediately cuts off from what is happening around, plunges into the melody, gives a detailed amazing realistic sound. Price - 7950 rubles.
Pros:
- Fold-out ear pads, like the Sony MDR-7506.
- Modular design with easily replaceable removable parts.
- Corrosion-resistant gold-plated headphone plug as in the AKG K 240 Studio.
- Detachable oxygen-free copper cord.
- Excellent playback of uncompressed files.
- Low harmonic distortion - 0.1%. Clear, distortion-free sound.
- The frequency response according to the data in the diagrams shows a smooth curve without dips in the bottom or top.
- Very light - 220g, lighter than AKG K 712 Pro (235g).
Minuses:
- Short cord - only 130 cm.
- No transport / storage cover like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
The model is not intended for connection to smartphones, iPhones because of the high impedance of 64 Ohm, it will not reveal the sound spectrum, but when connected to the appropriate amplifiers, it will produce an amazing realistic "muzlo" (according to reviews). For home listening without special equipment, low-impedance models are needed, at least such as the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 32 Ohm.
Shure SRH840
Professional studio monitor headphones with neutral, unadorned sound, smooth tonal balance and wide frequency response. Price - 9,900 rubles.
Pros:
- Nice looking, comparable in size to Sennheiser HD 280 Pro and Sony MDR-7506.
- Replacement ear pads included.
- Carrying bag.
- Carefully calibrated frequency response, rich bass, extended top, transparent mids.
- Neodymium speakers like the Sony MDR-7506.
- Oxygen-free copper twisted cord.
Minuses:
- When you move your head, the plastic creaks, is given in the ears.
- Not the most comfortable headband, lacks softness, crushes.
Here is the opinion of real users who tested different brands before purchasing. Shura-840 is very close in sound and stage width to Sony MDR-7506, but unlike Sony there is more depth here, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is inferior in ergonomics, AKG K 712 Pro wins in stage disclosure, bass, but worse in high ...
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
The model has repeatedly won the Best Choice award in the $ 200 range. It comes in three colors: white, classic black and black-blue. Positioned as a "workhorse" for sound engineers, workers associated with sound monitoring. Price - 10,700 rubles.
Pros:
- Several detachable cables included.
- Speakers - 45 mm.
- Low impedance 38 ohms, suitable for most Pro and consumer devices.
- Soft case for storage and transportation: soft fabric inside, and outside - leatherette.
- Foldable headphone design similar to YAMAHA HPH-MT8.
- Direct connector.
- They will do well with heavy music, a wide range - from metal to classical.
Minuses:
- The case is too small for the headphones.
- Heavy.
- May require purchase of sound card and audio library update.
- The socket of the plug is inconveniently located: the cord constantly clings to the collar.
Despite the nominations received, the model is not universal: it has a high overload capacity and a wide dynamic range, so listening at high volumes is uncomfortable. If we compare the ATH-M50x with the Sony MDR-7506, then the former are more suitable for listening to music, but the latter are better to take as a working tool.
Fostex T50RP MK3
Semi-open headphones of the simplest kind - plastic cups attached to solid metal arches, amaze with their high resolution reproduction of complex symphonic works. Considered to be the cheapest isodynamic models. Price - 12 thousand rubles.
Pros:
- Two detachable cables included, as in the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, one with a 3.5 mm jack, the other with 6.3 mm.
- Isodynamic emitters.
- Easy and fast feeding, perfect macrodynamics.
Minuses:
- Very stiff and unusual headband, although it fits any head size.
- The peculiarity of the isodynamic driver is both a plus and a minus. Places tremendous demands on power and quality of beat and recording.
The main disadvantage of the model is discomfort: the headphones are very "tight" and need powerful amplification. As an isodinam probe - cheap. But in terms of bass and treble sound quality it is inferior to Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and Shure SRH840. Well suited for listening to large-scale rich works. The most advantageous part of the model is the midrange.
YAMAHA HPH-MT8
Professional model with custom made emitter, high level of comfort and suitable for 99% of sound equipment. Price - 13,990 rubles.
Pros:
- High-quality tanned leather on the trim, removable cushions, damped inner volume of the bowl.
- The wire is hidden inside the sliding arm structure.
- Large cups - 45 mm, as in the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
- Metal fork for bowl holder and rim designs.
- Closed type with bass reflex holes for improved bass transmission.
- High AHCH.
- In terms of sound, there is a low level of distortion, well-developed middle frequencies, without distortion in timbres.
Minuses:
- This model is not foldable, as some resources say.
- There are no gold-plated connectors either.
Austere design, no frills, emphasis on sound transmission and reception. They sound best when connected to stationary equipment with a good headphone amplifier. Although a normal USB powered sound card has enough power for reproduction. In sound, they are close to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or Sennheiser HD 280 Pro with the addition of Yamahov's signature handwriting.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
Professional closed headphones for a diffuse field in three modifications - 32, 80, 250 Ohm. As observers note, the DT 770 Pro is a compromise between sound insulation and sound quality, with a preference for sound. The manufacturer positions the model “for responsible monitoring of music and sound”. Price - 16,200 rubles.
Pros:
- The structural elements are completely metal.
- Anti-resonant plastic housing with internal damping.
- Removable memory ear pads. As in YAMAHA HPH-MT8, it can be cleaned and even washed.
- PA speaker system to improve the quality of bass.
- Cable for all modifications made of oxygen-free copper with high-strength outer insulation. For 250 Ohm - 3 m twisted cable, for 80 Ohm - 3 m straight cable, for 32 Ohm - 1.6 m straight.
- 32-ohm and 80-ohm can be connected to a USB powered sound card.
- Gold-plated mini-jack, as in AGK K712 Pro.
- On AHCH: a good uniform midrange with an accent on the edge of the low and high frequencies.
- The sound is detailed, the stereo panorama is open, natural sound is 90-95%.
Minuses:
- Unfolding like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
- Fixed connection, difficult to change if necessary.
The model is in great demand due to the sound quality, assembly reliability and low price. They sound similar to the YAMAHA HPH-MT8 with a "touch" of the brand plaque. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 32 omh are designed for connection to portable equipment. Some people use 32 ohms to listen to music from a smartphone or tablet, distortions and harmonics do not fall much, but the low frequencies begin to wheeze at maximum volume, the top hurts the ear. If you set the volume to medium, then, according to reviews, there will be a decent sound.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm already require a headphone amplifier. They are popular for listening to guitar vocals, are considered versatile in connection, and are often used for recording sessions.
For professional equipment, it is better to take Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 ohm, they fully reveal the "live" sound, are recommended for accurate mixing.
Beyerdynamic DT 250 (250 Ohm)
Model for use in recording studios, monitoring and broadcasting. Correctly reproduce mono and stereo sound, with maximum sound insulation. Price - 17,600 rubles.
Pros:
- Retractable plates with 10 fixed positions.
- Like the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, the ear cushions feature a memory surround.
- Detailed and detailed bright sounding across the entire frequency range.
- Closed circuit with sound insulation - 16 dB.
- Very low distortion as measured by RMAA.
- Sophisticated, reliable design of the plug fastening.
Minuses:
- To connect, you need expensive professional equipment, they are not suitable for home.
- High contact pressure - 4.5 N, takes some getting used to. The first impression is like a hoop.
- The sizes are indicated according to European standards, you need to translate into Russian ones.
According to reviewers, the model is a "good" combination of sound quality, sound insulation and price. Very clean sound, lots of bass, detail and good attack. They can be compared in terms of bass saturation with Sony MDR-7506 or Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, and in terms of clear attack and elaboration of midrange - with Fostex T50RP MK3.
AKG K 712 Pro
Rounding out the rating are open hand-made headphones for professional sound engineers, for mixing and mastering with a specific cup design for comfortable long-term wearing. Price - 20,500 rubles.
Pros:
- The headband is made according to the requirements of ergonomics, provides a soft, reliable, precise fit.
- Fast cable replacement with professional XLR-mini connector.
- Open type design with signal routing technology for uncompromising airy sound.
- Improved bass section with +3 dB correction. Powerful sound of the bass segment.
- AKG Flat wire voice coil technology - maximum detail of the transmitted signal.
- Handcrafted by the best Austrian craftsmen, with emphasis and refinement down to the smallest detail.
- Lightweight, almost as heavy as the Beyerdynamic DT 250 (250 Ohm) (235/240 g).
- An extension cable is included.
Minuses:
- Requires a good in-ear amplifier.
- Warm up and a preamplifier are required. A calm, quiet environment is required.
Headphones, according to reviews - a bomb. The sound is not dry, like the Sony MDR-7506, not bright, like the YAMAHA HPH-MT8, but not lifeless monitor. Music lovers appreciated them as "family". Sound with slightly darkened treble and midrange, with a thick lower mids and bass added without density. The model presents the music in a technical and precise manner, and the open type adds airiness and a sense of presence.
