Professional & Studio Headphones

Learning About Studio Monitor Headphones & Professional Headphones

Enjoy high-fidelity sound when monitoring audio tracks with professional studio headphones. Compared to regular headphones, they produce more detailed, natural sounds and handle high volumes without distortion. This premium sound equipment is essential for live performances and studio recordings. DJs, sound engineers, radio hosts, and musicians use them alongside condenser and dynamic recording microphones, to produce high-quality audio tracks.

What Are Studio Headphones?

These are headsets for professional audio production. Manufacturers optimize their outputs for sound recording and mixing. You can use them to monitor vocals and the audio outputs of instruments during recording sessions. Studio headsets offer excellent noise reduction so you can hear subtle differences when monitoring recorded sounds. While studio monitors are best for mixing, sound engineers and producers usually have monitor headphones plugged into digital or analog recording mixers. These complement the loudspeakers when isolating small, elusive details.

Why Should You Get Pro Headphones?

The chief reason to get these listening devices is their stellar sound outputs. They have high-fidelity sound signatures that render audio tracks faithfully. Professional monitor earphones also have better build quality than consumer models. They usually have metal headbands and frames, and some use replaceable parts. Their ear cushions use plush, padded premium materials that make them more comfortable and help them last longer than regular pairs.

Types of Professional Headphones

The three types are closed-back, open-back, and semi-open. Closed-back units provide complete sound isolation and block out ambient sound. This makes them ideal for sound monitoring, especially while recording vocals. You should also use them with digital multi-track recorders and players to avoid interference when combining multiple audio sources. The closed design also improves bass response, but gives sound output an artificial feel.

Open-back models sound more natural, by letting in some background noise. However, they also leak sounds coming from their ear cups. They’re perfect for sound mixing, but not for vocal recording where leaking sounds can cause acoustic feedback when picked up by microphones. They are, however, safe to use with loud instruments. Open-back earphones have weaker bass responses than closed-back models.

Semi-open units serve as a compromise between open- and closed-back designs. They provide better isolation than open-back models, but don’t sound as natural. However, they do sound more natural than closed-back units. Opt for a pair of semi-open earphones if you want to use the same unit for monitoring while mixing and recording.

Supra-Aural vs. Circumaural Headphones?

Both terms refer to ear cup designs. Circumaural means around the ear while supra-aural translates to above the ear. Most studio monitor headphones use circumaural design. These have ear cups that completely cover the ears and produce better sound isolation. Supra-aural models are lighter and smaller and let in some ambient noise since they don’t seal the ears.

Produce high-quality audio tracks in your home studio by using the right monitor headphones. Check B&H Photo and Video for a wide selection of professional wired and wireless headphones.