If you are a DJ, an audio editor, or simply a lover of listening to music on headphones, this article is for you. I will recommend some of the best professional headphones on the market, showing you the pros and cons to guide you in choosing according to your needs.
Before listing the range of items I have selected for you, I will suggest the fundamental criteria to identify the product that is right for you.
How To Choose Professional Headphones
By now, given the vastness of the market in which we find ourselves shopping, choosing one product over another has become an increasingly difficult choice. Establishing your needs is essential to find something suitable for our use and not be disappointed.
One of the parameters that must be considered is the brand: having a known brand for many is synonymous with quality, but it is not always the case. It must be said that, very often, the most well-known brands guarantee greater reliability from the point of view of after-sales assistance.
Difference Between Closed And Open Headphones
A very important distinction is that between open and closed headphones. The two types differ substantially in two closely related aspects: isolation and sound quality.
The first parameter, which expresses the degree of influence of the external world on the individual who is listening and vice versa, is guaranteed substantially in closed headphones. The second parameter, i.e., the sound’s quality, could affect such as the not naturalness of the latter.
On the other hand, in the open headphones, it is precisely the lack of insulation that invalidates the sound experience by polluting it with unwanted acoustic effects coming from the outside and, at the same time, making it manifest in the surrounding environment.
Understanding Technical Data. Another fundamental factor in the selection phase corresponds to the technical specifications: knowing how to read them is crucial in understanding whether or not the article meets the required requirements.
Relevant technical data can be the sensitivity (expressed in dB) which gives us an indication of the volume that the headphones will be able to reproduce, the impedance (expressed in Ohm), which represents the amount of currents that the headphones can support, and that can give us indications on the type of amplification that this will be able to receive.
Finally, we find the frequency response (expressed in Hz), which describes important information, namely the frequency range that the headphones can reproduce.
But now let’s move on to the products :
Sony MDR-Z1R Headphone
The best model of the Japanese giant who, with this product, is the spokesman for Japanese technological supremacy in the world. With a futuristic design, these headphones can transform the simple listening of good music into a stimulating sensory experience.
The gigantic pavilions stand out immediately, where an external metal grid protects the powerful driver units, which emit a wide range of frequencies making the sound broad and full-bodied. Even though the headphones are closed, the timbre is not minimally ” unnaturalized. ”
All acoustic frequencies are well-balanced, and there is an accentuation of the bass compared to the high and medium-high. On the other hand, the insulation from the inside to the outside would not appear to be that of a closed hood; for those close to the listener, it is possible to experience confused acoustic effects.
Regarding ergonomics, a great job has been done from the point of view of materials, headband and earphones are covered in real leather, strictly black, which allows you to wear them even for many consecutive hours without experiencing any nuisance of any kind.
A negative point is a length of the balanced cable (120 cm), which we recommend replacing with a longer and more comfortable one, perhaps produced by Sony itself. What can comfort you is that these headphones are worth them all?
Specifications:
- Weight: 385 g.
- Frequency response: 4 Hz – 120 kHz.
- Sensitivity: 100 dB.
- Impedance: 64 Ω.
Pros:
- The best model from Sony
- Exceptional Quality and Performance
Cons:
- The cable is short
Grado PS1000E Headphone
Probably the most innovative product that can be found in the professional studio headphones market. It represents the result of years of technological advancement.
The US company has been working steadily for more than 60 years to solve driver resonance, buzzing, and momentary distortions. The solution consists of combining the properties of wood and metal alloys to absorb and reflect sound waves’ vibrations in a synergic way.
Furthermore, since the headphones are open, it is possible to appreciate the fullness but, above all, the sound’s spatiality. A flaw is probably the not indifferent weight, which makes them typical headphones for audiophiles, producers, and sound engineers, to be used at home, audio salons, and recording studios.
The timbre is in full Grado style, characterized by somewhat high and medium highs; this affects the kind of music that is listened to, making the sweet sounds of classical and operatic music stand out but, at the same time, accentuating the aggressiveness of ” violent ” sounds typical of metal and hard-rock music. This has a strong impact on listening time, which will probably be less prolongable.
Specifications:
- Weight: 640 g.
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 50 kHz.
- Sensitivity: 99.8 dB.
- Impedance: 32 Ω.
Pros:
- Sound quality
- Excellent for Rock and Metal Music
Cons:
- Overweight
Grado GS1000E Headphone
Here we are faced with another very successful Grado product, probably a more commercial version of the Grado PS1000E given the lower extension of the domain of listenable frequencies. The sound also differs from the aforementioned model; this is due to the wooden material used for the pavilions, which gives the sound warmth and wider colors.
Also, the bass is slightly accentuated but well balanced with the high and medium-high tones. The presence of wood also characterizes a very different style from that of the usual professional headphones, making the design the strong point of this product.
The article’s comfort and portability are certain qualities due to the good compromise between weight, ergonomics, and performance.
Specifications:
- Weight: 422 g.
- Frequency response: 8 Hz – 35 kHz.
- Sensitivity: 99.8 dB.
- Impedance: 32 Ω.
Pros:
- Confort
- Design
- Great price
Cons:
- An economical version of the Grado PS1000E
House Of Marley Exodus
If you want to stand out from the crowd by wearing headphones full of charm, this article is certainly a choice of style.
With a retro cut that goes directly back to the 60s, these headphones are characterized by the materials used, particularly and refined. In addition to giving a character to the design, they also wink at the environment and ethical business.
The headband is made of recycled wood and soft leather. Simultaneously, the connection between it and the pavilions is reinforced and made of certified beech wood, recyclable aluminum, and still ultra-soft leather.
These headphones are great for everyday life, to be used at home and outside to listen to music at high levels at any time of the day.
The cable, approximately 130 cm, is equipped with a three-button controller compatible with Apple devices. As for the sound, the 40 mm drivers spread a good signal definition, emphasizing the bass.
The quality of the product is certainly lower than that of the items shown above, and this difference is appreciated by paying attention to the sale price; we wander around £200.
Even the packaging in which the headphones are sold is made with recycled materials, a hallmark of the brand, which, inspired by the Jamaican singer Bob Marley, makes respect for nature its mantra.
Specifications:
- Weight: 450 g.
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz.
- Sensitivity: 114 dB.
- Impedance: 32 Ω.
Pros:
- Wooden design
- Great price
Cons:
- Entry-Level Model
Denon AH-D7200 Headphone
We are talking in a refined and well-built article from the point of view of the use of materials and the technological research behind the creation of a very advanced driver to mitigate unwanted resonances.
The FreeEdge technology guarantees the correct piston movement eliminating any distortion, also through the self-damping mechanism.
The right synergy between materials of a different nature guarantees a warm and clean sound and, at the same time, gives the headphones an elegant and non-trivial design.
The sheepskin and aluminum headband, the wooden resonance boxes, and the soft foam pads allow those who own them to wear them for hours without feeling the slightest disturbance.
Speaking of sound, the sweet and crystalline high tones are pure pleasure for the human ear, especially if accompanied by well-calibrated low and medium-high tones, as they are with these headphones.
A sore point is certainly the cable covered with woven cloth. It turns out to be very delicate and subject to accumulations of dirt. A good frequency domain is observed for the technical specifications, but an impedance value is not aligned with the other models presented.
Specifications:
- Weight: 385 g.
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 55 kHz.
- Sensitivity: 105 dB.
- Impedance: 25 Ω.
Pros:
- Warm and Clean Sound
- Leather headband
Cons:
- Delicate cable
- Low impedance
Sony MDR-7506
A classic. Introduced back in 1985, they represent a guarantee insensitivity, frequency response, and noise isolation. They are suitable for any use; with these headphones, you can enjoy good music lying on the sofa at home, or take them with you on the road, given their discreet portability.
In any case, they are considered full-professional headphones and are excellent both behind a DJ console and inside a recording studio.
A great advantage is certainly the lightness of the headphones. They weigh just 227 grams, while the length of the spiral cable, of about 3 meters, can be considered a plus if you focus on the freedom of movement it allows. Still, it can also be uncomfortable and cumbersome if you are traveling.
Furthermore, the cable does not have any commands to manage the playback of the connected devices. A strong point of these headphones is certainly the ” vintage ” design, thanks to which they do not seem to suffer from the passage of time. The thing that will please you to discover is that this fantastic product does not require a very high expense.
Specifications:
- Weight: 227 g.
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 30 kHz.
- Sensitivity: 106 dB.
- Impedance: 63 Ω.
Pros:
- Vintage
Cons:
- High price
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