So you are browsing through catalog after catalog for a quality headphone for recording and mixing your songs and you do not really know what to look out for. Fret not, we have come up with the 3 most important factors to consider when buying studio headphones.
Open-back, on the other hand, provides less isolation by allowing sound to flow in and out of the headphones. But this is also a good thing as it results in a natural sound unlike in the closed headphones where the build-up of pressure inside the headphones results to exaggerated low frequencies. The open-back headphones are hence more suited for mixing and mastering the sound.
I should also mention that there is a third type of headphones. This is known as the semi-open headphone. It’s a combination of the closed and open designs and therefore allows some amount of sound to pass through while at the same time providing decent isolation.
Sensitivity refers to how well a headphone is able to convert electrical signals into sound using the power it is receiving. For instance, if a headphone is labeled 90dB then this is the magnitude of its loudness when provided with 1mW of power. Essentially the higher the sensitivity the better the sound.
For example, the Samson SR850 Studio Headphones has a frequency range of 10HZ to 30kHZ and a sensitivity of 98dB, putting it in the list of quality headphones for monitoring.
Also, the signals tend to get compressed when being transmitted wirelessly which may not give you the most accurate sound. And finally, if you are using them in the studio then you won’t be probably moving much, therefore, you do not have to worry about inconveniences that come with wires.
Open or closed back or semi-open back?
These are the terms used to refer to the design used in making the ear cups. If the headphones are completely closed at the back cover then these are closed headphones. These do not leak in any background noise nor does any sound leak out to the surrounding environment. Which makes them the perfect headphones for recording.Open-back, on the other hand, provides less isolation by allowing sound to flow in and out of the headphones. But this is also a good thing as it results in a natural sound unlike in the closed headphones where the build-up of pressure inside the headphones results to exaggerated low frequencies. The open-back headphones are hence more suited for mixing and mastering the sound.
I should also mention that there is a third type of headphones. This is known as the semi-open headphone. It’s a combination of the closed and open designs and therefore allows some amount of sound to pass through while at the same time providing decent isolation.
Frequency Response & Sensitivity
The standard frequency range that a human can hear is between 20Hz to 20kHz. Therefore, a good headphone should be able to effectively reproduce frequencies within this range. Some may also offer an extended range which is a great thing.Sensitivity refers to how well a headphone is able to convert electrical signals into sound using the power it is receiving. For instance, if a headphone is labeled 90dB then this is the magnitude of its loudness when provided with 1mW of power. Essentially the higher the sensitivity the better the sound.
For example, the Samson SR850 Studio Headphones has a frequency range of 10HZ to 30kHZ and a sensitivity of 98dB, putting it in the list of quality headphones for monitoring.
Wired or wireless?
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology has become a popular means of pairing devices wirelessly and provides an excellent alternative to wired connections. But if you are buying headphones for studio use we recommend the wired ones. In fact, all of the best studio headphones are wired only allowing you to detach the cable. The reason for this is that most of the pro studio equipment has been designed to work with wires and you may, therefore, have compatibility issues with wireless connections.Also, the signals tend to get compressed when being transmitted wirelessly which may not give you the most accurate sound. And finally, if you are using them in the studio then you won’t be probably moving much, therefore, you do not have to worry about inconveniences that come with wires.



