studio headphones

Professional listening gear

Studio headphones are headphones designed for professional audio work—recording, mixing, and mastering music.

They prioritize accurate, uncolored sound reproduction over the enhanced bass or treble of consumer headphones: The mix sounded different on studio headphones than on my earbuds.

Most feature closed-back designs to prevent sound leakage during recording, though open-back versions exist for mixing.

monitorsTracks or displays
mixingCombining into one mass
mixing deskMulti-channel audio controller
audioTransmitted sound content
cansSealed metal containers

cushions · drivers · cable · isolation · closed-back · open-back · soundstage · sound stage · frequency · bass · crisp · recording · recording session · tracking · vocalist · engineer · console · jack

Opposites

audio quality and purpose

studio headphonesgaming headset

Headphones with mic for players

noise-canceling headphones · PA system

form factor and portability

studio headphoneswireless earbuds

AirPods · in-ear monitors · earbuds

sound reproduction philosophy

studio headphonesloudspeakers

Audio output devices

boombox · car stereo · public address system · studio monitors · PA system

Family

studio, headphone, studios, studied, study, studying, studious, studiously, head

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G