To record voices, you’ll need a pair of Best Headphones For Recording Vocals that can serve as clean, neutral monitors for your voice. They should be closed-back headphones with no sound bleed in any direction.
It’s not a simple decision given the large market for studio monitor headphones. With this review, we want to assist you to navigate these muddy seas.
- IN SEARCH OF THE BEST HEADPHONES FOR RECORDING VOCALS
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 M – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- NEUMANN NDH 20 – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50 X – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- BEYERDYNAMIC DT 700 PRO X – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- BEYERDYNAMIC DT 770 PRO – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- Sennheiser HD 600 – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- Yamaha HPH-150B – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- AKG Pro Audio K72 – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
- HOW WE CHOSE THE BEST HEADPHONES FOR RECORDING VOCALS
We assessed these headphones depending on how well they are suitable for vocal recording. This evaluation took into account sound isolation, sound quality, construction, comfort, flexibility, and value. (In the rating, sound quality, sound isolation, and value were given the most weight.)
If you have any queries regarding your setup, please see our Tips for about Best Headphones For Recording Vocals.
IN SEARCH OF THE BEST HEADPHONES FOR RECORDING VOCALS
So, do studio headphones need to be purchased, or can any old headphones suffice? It’s a very typical question among people who are just getting started with home recording.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 M – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
Beyerdynamic began manufacturing gear in 1924, long before recording became popular. They know what they’re doing, based on the three headphones we tried.
The Best Beyerdynamic headphones DT 770 M headphones take the prize for tracking vocals in this price range.
Build / Comfort
The Best Beyerdynamic headphones DT 770 M construction is typically German: plastic and aluminum, and everything work quite well. They appear to be a pair of Best Beyerdynamic headphones popular in 1969.
The cable is not removable and has a volume control on it. All critical parts are replaceable, like with the other Best Beyerdynamic headphones on this list. The ear cups do not fold up or swivel in a DJ fashion.
Sound
With these cans, sound is everything. They are just great for the price, outperforming anything else in their class. Everything is straightforward, transparent, and balanced. Even at high levels, there is no discernible distortion.
I was expecting these to sound exactly like the 770 Pros, but that is not the case. Where the Best Beyerdynamic headphones 770 Pros and DT 700 Pro X fall short due to too much high brightness, the 770 MS nail it. You could listen to them for hours without getting tired of them.
NEUMANN NDH 20 – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
If you’re searching for a pair of high-end headphones to record vocals and give you a precise notion of how you fit into the mix, the Neumann NDH 20 Best Headphones For Recording Vocals are the way to go.
The well-known microphone business decided to create a pair of headphones. These are unlike anything made by its parent business (Sennheiser) – high-end, neutral cans with no distortion.
Build / Comfort
They provide excellent passive sound isolation without completely swallowing your head. The impedance is greater than that of the majority of the other items on this list (150 Ohms). They would work best with an audio interface or a dedicated amplifier.
The build quality is excellent, as expected. They are unlikely to fall apart very soon because they are largely made of metal. The wires are detachable and protected, and the majority of the parts are interchangeable.
Sound
Because the soundstage is so large, all frequencies may be both clear and smooth at the same time. The transients are gratifyingly fast.
Best Headphones For Recording Vocals can be useful for analyzing takes but not for casual listening. Neumann’s ND 20s provide the best of both worlds.
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50 X – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
The ATH M-50 X is cheap tracking headphones that exceed the majority of competitors in their class. They provide precise monitoring, pretty strong sound isolation, excellent comfort, and quality construction while recording vocals.
Build / Comfort
Best Headphones For Recording Vocals have a premium feel to them. The detachable wires and swivel earpieces were a big hit with us. Although the cushioning is incredibly comfy, the inside cup does impinge on the ear.
Sound
The soundstage is a little too compressed. Everything is quite clear and precise, making them ideal for tracking and monitoring, however, the speaker image produced feels too little and compressed.
Mixing with them would be tricky. They aren’t as neutral as one might expect. They are amplified in the ‘air’ frequencies (above 10Khz), which distorts at greater volumes and might feel harsh after a while.
BEYERDYNAMIC DT 700 PRO X – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
Build / Comfort
The construction is strong and comfy, with a more modern design than the Best Beyerdynamic headphones DT 770Ms or DT 770 Pros. They come with two detachable cables (1.8m and 3m), all of which are straight and have micro XLR connections on the headphone side. All important components, including the drivers, are interchangeable.
When compared to their counterparts on this list, comfort is a significant improvement. The padded grey velour earcups provide excellent passive sound isolation, however not as well as the DT 770 Ms. They accomplish this isolation by striking a wonderful mix between being snug on the head and being comfortable.
Sound
These pups make an incredible sound. The created speaker image (soundstage) is the most generous of any on this list (including the Neumann NDH 20s).
Everything is well defined, even the lower mids (100-400 Hz), which are sometimes under-balanced with studio headphones. The left hand of piano sections rings true, although others on this list struggled in that area.
My only criticism is that the brightness range (5-7 kHz) is so sharp that it may be too much on the hearing for lengthy sessions. I’d like a little more warmth in that range.
BEYERDYNAMIC DT 770 PRO – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
The Best Beyerdynamic headphones DT 770 Pro is a classic, popular option among audiophiles for a reason: it’s inexpensive and produces excellent sound.
Build / Comfort
The construction is old school, practical, and of high quality. Except for comfortable grey velour earpads instead of black pleather, they are very identical to the DT 770 Ms. The grey velour trades comfort for potential sound leaking. The cord cannot be detached.
Sound
These Best Beyerdynamic headphones, like the DT 770 Ms and DT 700 Pro Xs, have a large soundstage. They are a favorite for tracking in studios because they provide accurate reproduction, clarity, and little distortion.
For this type of can, the lowest middle is very clear. On a track with the bass on the first and third beats and the rhythm guitar on the second and fourth beats, I could easily tell these tracks differently.
My only criticism about vocal recording is minor. The brightness, like the DT 700 Pro Xs, is overbalanced. This would only be exhausting if you did hours of takes.
Sennheiser HD 600 – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
Build / Comfort
Best Headphones For Recording Vocals press quite tightly but remain somewhat comfortable given the 32 dB of passive sound isolation provided by this pressure. The interior speaker of the cups does not come into contact with the ear, which is perfect. The cushions are very soft pleather (viscoelastic), with good cushioning on the top of the head and around the ears.
The build quality is excellent throughout. Most of the components on these, according to the handbook, are interchangeable. Unfortunately, the cable is not removable, however, it does come with a convenient Velcro strap.
Sound
When I initially tried them, my first impression was that they were overly boosted in the bass, and I was generally underwhelmed. After repeated listening, I became accustomed to their musical personality and began to appreciate them.
They provide a balanced, pleasant listening experience while being extremely clear in all ranges. Nonetheless, they are more suited to hours of LP listening than monitoring or recording singing.
The bass is dishonestly booty banging, the center is not always easy to detect, and the overall soundstage is relatively limited when compared to, say, the Beyerdynamic 770s. When compared to the other apps on our list, tracking voices feel a little cramped.
Yamaha HPH-150B – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
Build / Comfort
The overall construction is strong. They have two detachable cables, one short (1.2m) and one long (2m) (3m). The ear cushions are made of soft real leather. Best Headphones For Recording Vocals Yamaha HPH-MT8.
Because the ear cushions are shallow, the driver rubs into the ear. Apart from that, they are quite comfy. It is also worth noting that the design allows them to be worn on the head with only one ear covered, which might be useful if you want to hear yourself sing.
Sound
The Yamaha HPH-MT8 provides adequate passive isolation but is below average in this category of headphones.
The sound has superb detail and an overall accurate frequency response. In comparison to the Beyerdynamic and Neumann tested here, the soundstage seems close in and claustrophobic.
AKG Pro Audio K72 – Best Headphones For Recording Vocals
The AKG K371 headphones offer the appearance, gloss, comfort, and features of a fantastic pair of Best Headphones For Recording Vocals. Unfortunately, the cover does not correspond to the book, and the sound does not compete well with the others on this list.
Build / Comfort
Detachable, armored cables that use the micro XLR connector on the headphone side are included: one long (3m) curly, one short (1.2m) and straight, and one long (3m) and straight.
The construction is light but of high quality. The ear cups rotate 180 degrees, allowing you to sing while wearing only one ear cup.
These headphones are the most portable of the bunch, folding into a lovely small form.
Sound
Overall, the sound is underwhelming. Although they strike a good mix between clarity and fluidity, they lack overall honesty. They have a sibilant boost, and the bass is artificial.
The center, on the other hand, is the most difficult. The murkiness between 350 and 600 Hz on these headphones would make vocal monitoring difficult.
HOW WE CHOSE THE BEST HEADPHONES FOR RECORDING VOCALS
At the Greatest Song, we aim to evaluate as many audio items as we can. We go through the mountain of options first through study and discussion among audio enthusiasts, then compile a list of deserving contenders. Please let us know if we missed something!
What headphones are best for recording vocals?
Best Headphones for Recording Vocals in 2023
Sennheiser HD 280 PRO microphone. Sennheiser’s HD 280 PROs are a good workhorse if you’re looking for a respectable set of studio headphones that won’t break the bank.
AKG K271 MKII.
Audio Technica – ATH-M50.
Best Beyerdynamic headphones DT 770 PRO (80 ohms)
Shure SRH1540.
OLLO Audio S4R.
How loud should headphones be when recording vocals?
For 24-bit resolution, record voices at an average of -18dB. The recording’s loudest sections should peak at -10dB and its quietest parts at -24dB. This is done to maintain an even balance on the loudness of the voices without causing distortion.
Do you need headphones for recording vocals?
Wearing headphones also aids in keeping each recording crisp and free of bleed. Bleed occurs when a microphone designed for a certain instrument or speech catches up on other sounds while recording. This makes it difficult to differentiate vocals and instruments throughout the mixing process.
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