Best Headphones For Home Recording (2024 Update)

Overall: As a music producer & audiophile I've used different monitor speakers and headphones and listen to music mostly as WAV and AIFF files. But with these headphones I've been able to hear so many new details and be moved by songs in a way I've never experienced before. It's super inspiring. I can hear the vocals so clearly and hear exactly what's happening with echos adlibs and effects. Overtones and differences in the amounts of reverb are very distinct too. The entire tone is beautifully full from high to low end & you can feel the impact and depth of the sub bass while also hearing the all detail of the waveform and the attack and decay and everything. Hearing what's going on with the panning has never been easier either. I checked out FKA Twigs, Drake, Ariana Grande, Travi$ Scott, Famous Dex, Keith Jarrett & Charlie Haden, Baden Powell, Kanye West and much more and it's so cool hearing the articulation and such a range of tones in an instrument and hearing everything so distinctly. These are equally good for acoustic and electronic music. The price is right, the build feels totally sturdy and comfortable, noise cancelling is very effective. I also like that where the audio cable plugs into them it twists to lock so they won't accidentally get pulled out. Basically they're perfect & I couldn't be happier I bought them.Miles

Sound: Straight out of the box, these things might sound a little sharp. Don't get me wrong, clarity is good! But after you bump the volume up on these babies for a week or two, they're broken in like the best pair of shoes you ever tied around your feet. You're able to hear every little hidden beat you weren't able to hear through earbuds or previously owned headphones. I disagree with being "all about that bass, no treble", but if you're listening to music on your iPod/iPhone, do your ears a favor and set your Sound EQ to "Reduced Treble". This should even it all out pretty well. But it goes to show: a little bit of fine-tuning with these will lead to the best music-listening experience you've had. My $320 pair of Beats don't even compare to the M50's. Features: No tedious knobs or switches, just a basic aux port which is absolutely ideal for music-listening. Adjustable bands on either side of the headphones makes a comfortable fit inevitable. Ease of Use: Again, the single aux port grants serious ease of use, even with the multitude of cords and adapters that come wtih the headphones; it's all universal. Works flawlessly with Apple products, Androids phones, PC and Mac… it works with damn-near everything. Quality: So I'm sitting here, tapping on my Beats by Dre, and they sound like a hallow plastic toy you might buy for your 10 year-old nephew. Now, I'm tapping on my new Audio-Technicas and they sound like a solid piece of oak. They're mostly plastic, but they aren't cheaply made. No seems in the plastic; just a SOLID pair of headphones. Value: Why were these not upwards of $300? I mean honestly… if I had listened to these without knowing the price, I would guess them to be around $340+. It's completely backwards (which I have no reason to complain about), equal-quality Beats being around $340 and these standing around a little less than $200. Honestly, the M50's are undervalued for their given quality. I would more than likely pay over $200 for these headphones. The Wow Factor: Just…. WOW. I think I have said it all. BESTHEADPHONESEVER I've never been a fanboy of anything before, but I don't think I can say that anymore. Overall: Thinking about snagging yourself a pair of Beats, Sol Republics, or Bose headphones? Seriously, THINK AGAIN. These M50's are truly the best headphones you've never heard of.Taylor

Overall: These headphones exceeded my expectations! I have a pair of Bose AE-2's that I use as my primary pair of headphones. (Always thought the sound quality was "OK") These new ATH-M50mx phones blow the Bose out of the water!!! Nice, tight Bass, open Mids and sparkling highs! Perfection! The Bose have been donated to my Grandson! Lol!Benson

My dad is a preacher and I found cds of recordings of his sermons. Along with his speeches, I also listen to different recordings and use these headphones for precise listening. I find they're comfortable but I really purchases these because I know how great Shure's warranty is for customers. I was a huge audiophile growing up and used their in ear buds for years, whenever they needed support or help, shures warranty came through for me. So I purchased these headphones for quality but also because the warranty will ensure, they would last. #sweepstakesJosé A.

I got the new 840's last night, overnight shipping was sweet. The new design is great, and while they felt more "consumery" out of the box – this is not so. The new headphones are lighter in weight, clearer sounding, overall more comfortable, and the swivel mechanism for the ear-cups is much more robust in design where the previous version was bit less stable. I'm still breaking them in, but so far they sound great! Sonic image is nice and wide, spatially detailed, very smooth overall and not as dark as the previous model, the low end is very forward still but tighter sounding, and the midrange is right where it needs to be, vocals are clean and present with exceptional realism. Not to mention the isolation the closed back design offers is a beautiful thing! Highly recommend the latest version, it even comes with a straight cable.Aaron K.

It's hard to find anything negative about this headphone. Excellent sound all around at every frequency. Excellent American engineering for fit, weight, and clamp pressure. Some people with huge heads or really big hair may have an issue but my large head has room to spare. The only thing I would strongly request is for Shure to offer a shorter straight cable ( 4-5 foot ) for casual music listeners which I am. A spool of 10' of cable is a bit much. You can cover both, professional and personal use with two different lengths of cable. Thank you very much Shure for your efforts ( employees ) in developing a great headphone.John L

Very Comfortable like pillows on your head the Sound Quality is Outstanding Destroys any BOSE or Apple Product. they are a little demanding as far as Power is concerned. but the Sound Quality is so good. They are Really good at Blocking out the outside Noise so NO need for noise canceling which i feel hurts sound quality. i give them a solid 9 out of 10. My other Headphones i use to compare to are Meze Audio Classic 99, Grado 325i, and Sennheiser HD600's the only reason for a 9 out of 10 is due to the Power Demands these need to really Sing, and the fact they don't have changeable Cables. While testing i Ran a Creek audio headphone Amp with a Rega Planet CD player. For the Price you CAN'T get a better sounding Headphone. They will work good with any Media player source or as I prefer to use a Fiio BTR5 and make them wireless.zeberia

Build quality is excellent, but points shaved off for the dangling wires that link the cans, and for a permanently linked cable, meaning it will not be a simple job to replace, should it become damaged. The sound is a little flat overall, but still better than the lower end headphones (compared against £40 – £80 Sony, Sennheiser, and AKG’s). This is not an issue with what I wanted, as it’s mainly to edit Voice (Narrating and Voiceovers), and listening to music is still very good, picking up all the range with clarity and depth. Could be better, but not by much. They work well on both my laptop and my studio mixer, which is why I chose the 80Ω version. They block out external sounds, and keep the internal sounds contained, even with the volume is high. Rumour has it that the sound is much better on the 32 and 250Ω versions, and may look at a future purchase of these. The comfort is excellent, and the velour pads are perfect, even when worn for 2 hours at a time. Studiospares provided an excellent price and service, and have other high quality products that range from competitive to excellent value for money.George K.

Heads of for Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 ohm…..! * Exceptional Sub Bass extension you can actually feel Bass in your chest. * Very fast Slamy Mid Bass performance. * Flat Midrange with decent details (extraordinary for the price). * Highs, Beyerdynamic is known for its tribal response very detailed tribal but at the same time not very edgy unlike DT 990 pro. * Slightly V Shape tuning with no compromise over midrange which makes it very enjoyable to listen to. * Brilliant spacious sound for close back headphone with decent imaging. * Sturdy build. I simply love them, makes it best budget headphone of all time.Siddharth P.

Finally I enjoyed music how I wanted. Using Flat EQ settings. If highly professional sound engineers mastered the sound of for example Pink Floyd album, Why you need to listen it with some bass boosted or treble boosted headphones? They are already fine tuned it for you. Just take the flat monitor headphones and enjoy. Do not forget to use FLAC files and proper sound source. Don't use it with phone with 128kb mp3 and say that it is not sound good. And please note that headphone has a long 3 metres cable so it would be great if used indoors only. Fully satisfied. Value for money. Some of the Bands I've been listening on these headphones : Pink Floyd, Guns & Roses, Nirvana. They sound flawless. <3Silver S.

You can read my first review to get my overall take on these headphones. I wanted to edit that review but it seems like on B&H Photo you can't edit your own review. They should fix that. But to the point: After quite a long time I have to say that I have gotten used to the proximity of the buttons and while I still think that Audio-Technica should consider re-enginerring them, I don't think now that they are as onerous as I felt during my first review. I have upped my rating to 5 stars: I am even more sold on the quality and sound of these headphones and one extra plus! I discovered that it is quite easy to pair them with the TV and with my iPhone at the same time. Very useful feature.William

As a person to whom specs are of little help, I needed headphones for listening to music and my playlists (which a mostly classical) on my pc. I already am happy with my Sennheiser phones for optimum listening, so I was looking for some less critical (and frankly) and cheaper phones. I was surprised by the powerful bass. Music and videos I listen to on YouTube sound great, and my own CDs sound good enough (I attribute that to the player). So this is a real bargain without too much of a compromise.Andrew

The reason for this review is that I purchased these headphones to use with my phone and meditation. It does not work in the phone port. Nowhere on the site does it mention that it is only for computers. Still waiting for refund.PreSonus

Purchased these headphones for home studio mixing after they were highly recommended by some very trusted friends who have been in the mixing game for quite some time now. I am just getting started with mixing and recording myself but I love the sound and feel of these headphones. Very light and easy on the ears and even after hours of working with them they still feel comfortable. The sound is also very faithful to the real thing. By that I mean that previously working with only my studio monitors I experienced the "sounds great in the studio but awful in the car" phenomenon. Not so after using these headphones. Very true response on sound. Best used for mixing in the studio. Would definitely recommend for that purpose. I will probably buy a set of HD9 headphones for tracking since they are closed back and will not bleed. These may not be the best for tracking due to the open back nature that allows for close representation when mixing. Hope this helps.Ken

I am 20yo and an aspiring sound producer. I listen to a vast amount of music and just about everything I can find to play on these headphones. From usage in my studio projects to simple leisurely activities (games, music) these headphones are very strong assets. There is excellent outside noise rejection and cancellation once you start playing something. You'd have to wave your hands or cause a tremor in the room to let me know you're trying to get my attention. These headphones are powerful and comfortable, and I love to use them for absolutely everything I am able to use headphones to listen to. It even came with a handy PreSonus draw-sack, although the drawstrings quickly broke within a month or less of day-to-day usage. The only drawbacks for me were: (1.) the result of an accident that occurred where the headphones were plugged into a laptop and the laptop got knocked over onto the side of the audio jack, bending into and ruining my laptop's audio jack input, as well as the headphone's jack. The fall was less than two feet off the ground yet the impact was large enough to cause such damage. (2.) The cord is way too long for my style of usage when not in my studio. I find myself having to coil the string up in my pocket whenever I'm mobile. However, that's clearly not the type of usage it was intended for when it was made. Personal mishaps and usage habits aside, these headphones are awesome, and are an excellent buy for the asking price.Benjamin

The sound is flat, as a monitoring set these are not designed for music listening. Size of the ear muffs is good, I would consider these to be average and would fit most ears. Overall size is not for a bald person with an average head, as they fit big and tend to droop down, or at least for me. With a hat or beanie, these work perfectly!Jonathan

This is a great product for the price. I do highly recommend buying these for listening to music & for recording. I highly doubt you will find a better pair of headphones in an electronics store for twice as much. However, I DO NOT recommend using these for mixing/mastering due to the lack of flatness in the sound quality. The bass is pretty intense for mixing/mastering in my opinion. I use several different pairs of headphones for mixing/mastering, just to get an overall 'feel' for the sound of the mix, so for that reason I don't regret buying these. Bottom line? Buy these headphones! You won't regret it.Jam4sam

Ordered these for an upcoming recording project. They don't fit real comfortably and become sweaty quickly. There isn't a lot of clean low end you'd expect from a headphone. I'm going to keep them to complete the recording project, my mates aren't too picky. The cables will be plenty long enough. I will be wearing different phones to better monitor the mix. On a side note….2 days after I ordered two of these, the two pack went on the sdotd on another site. If you need a cheap headphone…and see that deal….you might be okay. The service from American Musical was of course good, as it always is.SteveK

This is my first headphone of audiophile grade. Before buying ATH-M50X I got all the relevant details from HeadphoneZone gurus. I would suggest that every headphone buyer should first talk to HeadphoneZone guru before making any purchase. Based on your taste of music genre and listening habits they would suggest right headphones. I had confusion between ATH-M50x and DT 770 Pro. It's been more than a month with these cans and I am loving it. In online reviews you might see people suggesting that these can be used without DAC/AMP but that's not true. If you want to unleash the true sound I would really recommend to get a dedicated DAC/AMP. I am using ATH-M50x with iBasso DC03 (also bought from HeadphoneZone) and could really understand the difference and what these cans are capable of. I am using the following combination: Dolby Atmos Music Mode(OnePlus 7T Pro) + EQ tweaking(10 band EQ with 7T Pro) + Audio Technica ATH-M50x + iBasso DC03 + Gaana (Plus/Premium Subscription) and now each of the songs are sounding way more beautiful. I guess since DC03 has dual DAC and that might be the reaon it's so powerful and it doesn't eat up much battery as well. Words can't justify this listening experience but still Ihave tried my level best. Totally recommended 👍🤘 A big thumbs up to headphone zone for suggesting this purchase. Love you guys ❤Shibin D.

I purchased these headphones about three weeks ago and I really enjoy them. The quality and construction is fantastic. Having different length cables that disconnect directly from the headphones allows me to quickly jump from my DAWs to other devices with ease. I primarily use them for the follow: 1) Keyboard (Yamaha P-45) 2) Recording my own music through a Focusrite (singing, guitar, and violin) 3) Create my own digital soundscapes in a variety of prosumer DAWs on my laptop 4) Listening to music on my phone 5) Teaching remotely on Zoom on a laptop I agree that these are perfect for someone seeking really great quality headphones without breaking the bank. There are a couple of things I saw mentioned in previous reviews that I agree with and you may want to consider if you spend a lot of time wearing headphones for your work. 1) They are a bit heavy and after recording or mixing for about an hour I start to feel pressure on the top of my head where the headband rest. 2) They're also a bit tight on the ears, especially if you're wearing glasses. After about the same amount of time I start feeling a soreness where the ear pieces of my glasses are compressed by the cushions. That being said, I think they were a bit stiff out of the box and are wearing in and/or I'm getting more accustomed to them. Either way, I probably should take breaks more often. Haha! Taking them off for about 4-5 minutes usually relieves it.Damian

These headphones are a massive improvement in what I have used before now. As far as I have been able to ascertain from listening, so-far, they deliver on what they promise at a realistic price-point. They are also well built, robust and nicely finished. My one reservation, and it is not enough for me not to aware them five stars, is that the articulating movement of the ear-pieces around their central pivot, can be a bit of a puzzle if they swing to a position where they are, in effect 'inside-out' and have to be put back to their usable position again.IAN

The construction of these headphones were not what I expected. Earpiece broke after using them only three times. Lacking on the low end (deep bass) spectrum. I would expect this out of a lower priced headphone.Gene

This is my first pair of AKG headphones. I was going to purchase a modern pair when I read a review about the K240 Sextett which was so impressive, that I decided to see if I could locate a pair. Having found a used pair on E-bay for a very reasonable price ($79 shipped), decided to purchase them, since I was interested in seeing how well these cans would match up with some of my headphone amplifiers; including a Schiit Magni 3 and Little Dot MK2. First off, the physical condition of these roughly forty year headphones is quite good. And they are well constructed. Moreover, the leather ear pads appear to be original, yet, are in very good shape as are the headphones themselves; the only thing needing replacement here being the tiny rubber bands that allow for the adjustment of the AKGs. A nominal expense. As for the sound, this is a headphone that concentrates on the midrange, and whose clarity here is remarkable. There were three versions of the K240S designated EP, MP and LP for early production, middle production and late production. The earlier K240S has 6 orange colored passive radiators per speaker, and the MP and LP models are said to have white colored passive radiators. The EP version is said to be the most desirable of the three because of its ability to produce strong bass, while the latter two versions are said to be a bit shy in bass. The other attributes of the K240S are said to be similar in all three versions. I am not certain how to distinguish between the latter two models, however, the K240S that I purchased does have white colored passive radiators so it would have to be either the MP or LP version of the K240S. As for my K240S I have noticed the following: The midrange is glorious. The bass of this particular K240S is, surprisingly, *not particularly subtle, while the treble, while good, can become a bit shrill with a solid state headphone amplifier like the Schiit Magni 3 (the Magni 3 has been called a giant slayer and for good reason, since it offers Hi-End audio performance and excellent construction for a pittance -$99). *Some reviewers have claimed that the EP version has excellent bass, while the MP and LP version were lacking in this area. I have used the Magni 3 with several newer headphones from Sony, Grado, Koss, and Sharkk, and found it to work quite well with them. In fact, the Magni 3 is so popular that Schiit is constantly trying to meet the demand for this little gem – which often results in a waiting time of as much three weeks from the time it's ordered on their Website to the time it's shipped.While the Magni 3 did not match up quite to my expectations with the K240S, I've found that the Little Dot MK2 – a singled ended triode design – and the K240S are the proverbial match made in heaven; there is a synergy between these two components which results in a wonderful outcome. The warmth of instruments and voices through this pairing is not only palpable, but it also allows for hours of listening without listener fatigue. Moreover, in spite of its 600 ohm impedance, the AKG K240S is easily driven to very loud levels by the Little Dot, which bespeaks how well these components complement one another. *Of course with headphones one must be very careful not to damage one's hearing, so it is easier to start off with the headphones at a lower volume, and then gradually increase to a volume which is comfortable for you. I could continue to wax poetic about these AKGs, however, that would take away time from my listening sessions and enjoyment of them. So in closing I can say this much: If you can find a pair of Sextetts that are in good shape and being sold at a reasonable price, you might want to consider purchasing them before someone else does. Check E-bay's listing of sold items by typing AKG K240 Sextett into the search area, in order to get an idea of what these headphones are selling for. This way you can get an idea of what they are worth based on their condition, before you decide to bid on or purchase a pair. Keep in mind that relative to other versions of the K240, the Sextett is fairly rare and really is a special piece of Hi-Fi gear that has stood the test of time.camerasrfun

I’m an up and coming audiophile so I’ve been exploring some options for professional work, and I love these! They sound clear, and yeah, they don’t have heaps of base, but the base that is there isn’t crushed together, you can hear the really deep sub-bass, and the top end is awesome! The semi-open back design gives it such a wide sound its simply awesome! The cable is a little long, but it is removable so its not THAT big of a deal, plus the cable is really thick and durable. TLDR; Durable, sounds amazing, good for new audiophiles!Ezra

You're hearing what everyone else is hearing if you get these. That's a good thing in music. You slide these on and listen to a mix, you're hearing what everybody else involved in the record is hearing. You can even request that they listen through these. Most people will, and most people have a set of these. These are great for tracking vocals as well… I prefer closed back for vocals, but be warned, that's not for everyone, so have some earbuds and open backs handy for people who want to track vox with them. These are probably the flattest, most true to life sounding headphones of any manufacturer at any price point… The 40s were great, the 40xs are even better. Every thing is clear and even, but nothing is harsh or overbearing. Your ears get used to them really fast and extended sessions don't fatigue the ears. Fantastic value. These are better than the higher priced AT headphones in my opinion because they are indeed flat. Now, I know there are more "flat" headphones out there, but these are linear and flat in a musical way. They have life in their sound… so you still hear everything accurately, but nothing's dull or thin sounding either. And since the ears love them so much and adjust so quickly to them, you come to expect to hear everything through them because they're just so easy to listen to. And they tell you problems in tracking and mixing quickly, but they're never rude about it.Heylel Heosphoros

I bought a pair of ATH-M50's seven years ago, and I used them every day until they sadly gave out. However, considering the amount of use and abuse I put them through, that is perfectly acceptable. Anyway, I received a brand new pair of ATH-40x's several days ago, and I can whole-heartedly say that these headphones are excellent and almost up to par with my old M50's. They sound incredible and produce excellent, deep, and immersive sound. The only caveat that I've encountered is the standard earpads. They are firm and uncomfortable for prolonged listening sessions, an easy fix with a bit of research. Moreover, their construction isn't as sturdy as the ATH-M50's; however, a little "self-fusing" silicone tape applied to the sensitive plastic joints can give these headphones a longer life and enjoyment for many years. Nevertheless, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Headphones are the best "bang for the buck" headphones I've ever owned.marcelgerou

Amazing sound quality at a incredibly price. The headphones are to big to fit comfortable and look and feel cheap but win on sound quality.bilkimberl0

Great look and feel, and for the price, these were a steal. Excellent bass and sound quality, too. 100% good for some low key monitoring!d891645

These headphones really impressed me whether I'm listening to my reel to reel or i pod. They have a very good dynamic range athatputs you right in the music . Not too much bass and not too much highs. Very good sound detail. An excellent bargain!1111lippyfairdeal

I wanted these for mix down in my home studio and was hoping to use them for tracking also. The sound is quite good, I will probably keep them for mixing BUT…the phones are HEAVY and not particularly comfortable. The REAL problem is the stupid coil cord. What an awful design! Very heavy, and not long enough. I can buy a new straight cord for twenty dollas. WHAT A DEAL! (being sarcastic there). There is also tons of handling noise coming from the cord, much worse than any of my other phones. Like I said, these are probably OK for mixing (I will more than likely break down and get the new cord) but not at all good for standing up vocal tracks. Might send 'em back, not sure yet. I would look for something different if I had to do it over again, Audio T brand?CurlyBob

The worst headphones i have ever had the displeasure of buying in my life. These headphones are the max of discomfort on my head and made my ears hurt within 15 mins of trying them. The telephone cord is annoying to use and just confuses me when i bought a professional headset not an office brand cheap pair. Sadly you cannot return headphones due to store policy so i am down valuable money for taking a chance on these headphones. Please save yourself the trouble and do not repeat my mistake.Seaton H

I had been looking for new headphones for a while. I needed to replace my beats solos, I hated the sound of the beats. It was quite unenjoyable. The 440s are built extremely well, although made primarily of plastic they don't feel cheap in any way. The adjustable headband can be increased in size in order to fit larger heads. Right and left clearly marked (Red:Right Blue:Left) Also labelled on the headband. Overall these headphones are very customizable. The 10 foot coiled cable is durable and of high quality. The cable is really cumbersome when using headphones with a cell phone or iPod, I suggest purchasing a replacement 120 cm cable from China, by doing that these headphones become more portable and mobile friendly. The carrying pouch is made of synthetic leather. I've used the adapter to listen to records through my receiver, used it with my iMac, taken it around places, used my iPhone and iPod classic. These headphones have handled every situation they were placed in with flying colors. The only complaints I have would be the headband padding (which is non-existing) which makes the headphones a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. For $100 there really isn't much to complain about, there is a lot to be praised such as the amazing sound quality and frequency response. These headphones were a much needed upgrade.girasol3

I wanted these for mix down in my home studio and was hoping to use them for tracking also. The sound is quite good, I will probably keep them for mixing BUT…the phones are HEAVY and not particularly comfortable. The REAL problem is the stupid coil cord. What an awful design! Very heavy, and not long enough. I can buy a new straight cord for twenty dollas. WHAT A DEAL! (being sarcastic there). There is also tons of handling noise coming from the cord, much worse than any of my other phones. Like I said, these are probably OK for mixing (I will more than likely break down and get the new cord) but not at all good for standing up vocal tracks. Might send 'em back, not sure yet. I would look for something different if I had to do it over again, Audio T brand?CurlyBob

The worst headphones i have ever had the displeasure of buying in my life. These headphones are the max of discomfort on my head and made my ears hurt within 15 mins of trying them. The telephone cord is annoying to use and just confuses me when i bought a professional headset not an office brand cheap pair. Sadly you cannot return headphones due to store policy so i am down valuable money for taking a chance on these headphones. Please save yourself the trouble and do not repeat my mistake.Seaton H

I had been looking for new headphones for a while. I needed to replace my beats solos, I hated the sound of the beats. It was quite unenjoyable. The 440s are built extremely well, although made primarily of plastic they don't feel cheap in any way. The adjustable headband can be increased in size in order to fit larger heads. Right and left clearly marked (Red:Right Blue:Left) Also labelled on the headband. Overall these headphones are very customizable. The 10 foot coiled cable is durable and of high quality. The cable is really cumbersome when using headphones with a cell phone or iPod, I suggest purchasing a replacement 120 cm cable from China, by doing that these headphones become more portable and mobile friendly. The carrying pouch is made of synthetic leather. I've used the adapter to listen to records through my receiver, used it with my iMac, taken it around places, used my iPhone and iPod classic. These headphones have handled every situation they were placed in with flying colors. The only complaints I have would be the headband padding (which is non-existing) which makes the headphones a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. For $100 there really isn't much to complain about, there is a lot to be praised such as the amazing sound quality and frequency response. These headphones were a much needed upgrade.girasol3

Overall a 4/5. I'm worried about longevity as the style is very thin and the plastic isn't the toughest. I started with the bummer because everything else is amazing. -The sound is rich and full. Far better than the pricetag would belie. -The ears are comfortable even with prolonged use. -The look is sleek and refined but still bold. Given the pros and cons this is a definite buy.Cha Boi

K92 are a nice pair of headsets for your practice. I use them with irig for playing fender jazz bass and so far very happy with them. Can wear for hours without discomfort. Very light weighed, neutral and balanced sound as you’d expect from Akg studio series. Causal listening bassheads please stay away . Also 3 metres long cable is prefect for studio use. Overall ,considering price under 3k(50 USD), comfort and sound would rate them 8/10Dev Paul

While the headphones are built well, portable/foldable, and come with nice accessories (bag, adapter), I found them to be very uncomfortable by the 1 hour mark. Perhaps that's because I wear glasses, so you might want to look elsewhere if that's your case as well. But regardless, I didn't find the sound to be great. Songs that I am familiar with lack the bass and often times, these were no better sounding than the $20 MDR-ZX110 headphones from Sony. I will admit that the headphones are durable and will last much longer than those Sony headphones. The cord length is also incredibly long, which is annoying when you're already near your computer/phone.SuperSmashFM

I'd been using some TASCAM headphones which weren't really made for referencing purposes, and realized I needed a pair that would give me more separation and clarity, while not costing me my first born. These Audio-Technica phones do the trick. Nice balanced sound with decent separation. Immediately was able to tell the difference between them and my Tascams (Not a slight towards TASCAM! I use their products widely, if not almost exclusively).J.Clarke

I've been a pro live engineer for 35 years. I've owned multiples of the Sony V6's ,7506's, V900s, Sennheiser HD280's, Shure SR440's and have tried countless others. Currently use ATH-M50x but am also going to buy the M70x. However, I previewed these M30x's in a store was immediately impressed by the intelligible but well balanced presentation. Bought a pair on the spot. They don't have the low end oomph of the 50x's which I still use for gigs, but I love them for getting detail out of things and they're excellent for watching movies and casual lower volume listening. One star off as they don't have a coiled cord and the left channel had just perceptibly less presence than the left which hopefully was only that particular pair. I'd have taken them back but was in another city the next day.Stephen E.

These are the perfect headphones for DJ'ing in a loud club. Crisp mids and highs but not over powering. Can listen for hours without fatigue. I wish they had a bit more low end but I suspect they saved the bass for the HDJ-X10's which were a bit above my price point. Either way these were great for the money.The BasS Addict

Though these sound pretty good, the hinges at the ear cups are garbage. These were purchased in July, and now the hinges are 3/4 cracked. Don't waste your money, unless you don't mind ending up with a pair of small, ear cup style speakers. Absolute junk.Anton

I've been looking for a new set of headphones for a very long time that can do what I need them to do… Which is to use as my primary monitors while drumming live and while recording in-studio. I play a Roland TD-50 kit, and the punch of the kick drum is very demanding on headphones. Very. I've been using Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones for years. However, they have never lasted more than a year and a half, before the dreaded kick drum rattle starts. I took a gamble and bought a set of these Pioneers, and let me tell you… They are FANTASTIC for monitoring my drums. Fantastic. They do have quite a bit of mid-range in them, and the bass isn't some super ultra rich, manufactured bass frequency. They give me that raw, punchy feel that I want when I'm playing, and these don't fail at higher volumes. Too much bass frequency actually drives me up the wall. These are accurate, they fit great, they sound awesome, and they can take what electronic drums dish out! I absolutely recommend these headphones. You will not be disappointed, especially at such a low price point!Roland Drummer

I have to replace this very same "model" of headphones about every three or four years, unfortunately, because suddenly, I lose sound out of either the right or the left side. It seems as if it's always a sudden short in the wiring right next to the jack, which is really, really disappointing, because the headphones are — for me — expensive. It's not even as if I use them as often as I used to (when I was doing full-time at-home transcribing). I now use them primarily for watching television online or listening to music via my computer (so I don't bother my neighbors), with only occasional transcribing. But I've never found another noise-cancelling headset (FOR THE PRICE) that satisfies my cheap needs as well. When they work, they REALLY work. The sound quality is very good… again, for MY needs. I'm not sitting on a studio, mind you. So these work for MY purposes. So I must be coming off as an utter contradiction to myself, I know. But it's difficult as all hell to find a place where I could possibly try and try and try dozens of OTHER similarly-priced headphones under the same circumstances as how I've been using my Sennheisers.krinda

Sound of the hd25 is great for the application. Comfort is ok but overly tight across my head . Quality of head phone very good , For how I use them I really want an extra half metre of cable. I’ve used Sennheiser headphones since my first pair of classic hd 454’s? ( circa 1975) . Would buy from them again and recommend from every perspective 5 very well earned starsCustomer

These are great headphones for under $50.00 and can be compared with the sound quality of much pricier phones. The lows are clear and not too pounding. Good balance across the whole spectrum but could be a bit better with the highest range. A little tight and warm on the ears but still comfortable – a matter of personal preference. I don't listen for hours at a time so this is ok. They have good noise isolation. I prefer noise isolation headsets without noise canceling because they tend to produce better overall sound quality. When you think of it, the noise canceling is canceling out various ranges of the tone and must affect the music quality by their very design unless you pay really big bucks for the best which I have never tried. I do agree with other reviews that the cord is a bit too long and the winding thing is a big large and heavy but it is a small drawback to an otherwise superior headset. I ditched the winder and use Velcro chord retainers to contain the excess. I'll use these for everything from casual listening of my cellphone tunes and Pandora radio to connecting to the better stereo system with high end recorded music and for monitoring video/audio recording I do for a theater group (the stereo and the monitoring are where the long chord will come in handy). I would recommend these units. Did not give a full 5 stars because of the tightness, lack of extreme highs and chord issues but great for the price.1oldhar2

I was looking to purchase a pair of high quality wired headphones for my mixer/gaming station, but I was skeptical about spending several hundred for the super hi-fi headphones like Sony or Senheiser makes. I came across these entry level headphones on sale, and decided to give them a try. I was initially a little disappointed that they felt a little cheap – with plastic parts and felt ear cups. However, once I started listening to music or playing games with these, I was immediately impressed. The sound feels like it comes from all around you, and there is a nice balance of bass (maybe not the most for some people who like it really heavy) that blends really well with the rest of the music. They were also great for gaming and let me hear footsteps and sounds that I didn't hear with even my other Bose headphones. After gaming and listening for several hours, I was surprised at how I almost forgot I was wearing them. The cheap feel that I initially thought, turned into extreme comfort over extended periods. The felt-like ear cups also didn't get hot and the headband did not dig into my head like some other headphones. It's obvious that the plastic material was a decision based on weight and comfort, and is in fact quite durable. They are not built to be sound cancelling, nor do they block all outside sound, but this adds to the comfort and longevity for use – I find that noise cancelling makes me sick and I don't like walking away from listening to headphones with my ears ringing from headphones that don't have a balance between outside/inside sounds. Overall, I Highly recommend these based on the overall sound quality and comfort. My only drawback is that there is not a replaceable/detachable cord.Rick

Like many people, I’ve ended up with a lot of headphones. For pure listening in a quiet environment, music or videos, the HD 560S is easily my go-to set. First, the build. Yes, they’re made of plastic and, no, they don’t fold for storage or travel. Still the plastic makes them lightweight and, while not luxurious, they do not feel cheap in any way. They come with a long cable. Like, really long. Like, long enough to trip over when you move. I pulled out just what I needed and left the rest wrapped up, but someday I’ll probably have to get a shorter replacement. And that takes us to the sound. This is the reason the 560S was made. The sound is simply remarkable, every sound, every note, is heard with clarity and precision. This includes the music you were supposed to hear as well as the sound of a bow hitting a muted string or someone in the studio covering a cough. The open air design gives them a very wide soundstage. It doesn’t sound so much like you’re listening to a recording as it does like you’re surrounded by instruments. The effect when watching movies can be startling, as that car that pass3 doesn’t just move from left to right, it seems headed right out of the room. This would be the place to mention that if you like headphones that color the sound, like Bose or Beats or most any consumer model, then you’ll probably hate these. They’re not designed to give you a specific listening experience, but to bring out what was recorded with complete and uncompromising accuracy.Notbobmontgomery

I have never purchased a pair of "audiophile" headphones before; I've only had Beats, Bose, various "high-end" gaming headsets, but all of those pale in comparison to these. I've never experienced music like I am with the HD560s, especially now that I have paired these with the Audio-Quest Dragon-Fly Red USB DAC. I subscribed to Tidal music and am listening to music in lossless format which has made me appreciate songs that I never thought twice about listening to. These headphones will allow you to pry into the world of music creation and determine whether or not songs were actually mixed and mastered well. Songs I once loved I can no longer listen to with these because I can actually hear how badly they were made. The opposite of that is also true, where there are tracks that I never really cared for but these headphones have given me an appreciation for just how well they were done. I can't believe how amazing music sounds now. I can finally understand why people would consider themselves to be audiophiles. I haven't listened to music this frequently since I was in college, and that was nearly a decade ago. It is like seeing for the first time, a breathtaking experience that I am so happy to be able to have. Buy a headphone amp, buy these headphones, and listen to music in a lossless quality format. It will change your appreciation for music – I guarantee it. Headphones this inexpensive shouldn't sound this good. They are crystal clear. They are comfortable. They are INCREDIBLE.Jonj91

I wanted these for mix down in my home studio and was hoping to use them for tracking also. The sound is quite good, I will probably keep them for mixing BUT…the phones are HEAVY and not particularly comfortable. The REAL problem is the stupid coil cord. What an awful design! Very heavy, and not long enough. I can buy a new straight cord for twenty dollas. WHAT A DEAL! (being sarcastic there). There is also tons of handling noise coming from the cord, much worse than any of my other phones. Like I said, these are probably OK for mixing (I will more than likely break down and get the new cord) but not at all good for standing up vocal tracks. Might send 'em back, not sure yet. I would look for something different if I had to do it over again, Audio T brand?CurlyBob

The worst headphones i have ever had the displeasure of buying in my life. These headphones are the max of discomfort on my head and made my ears hurt within 15 mins of trying them. The telephone cord is annoying to use and just confuses me when i bought a professional headset not an office brand cheap pair. Sadly you cannot return headphones due to store policy so i am down valuable money for taking a chance on these headphones. Please save yourself the trouble and do not repeat my mistake.Seaton H

I had been looking for new headphones for a while. I needed to replace my beats solos, I hated the sound of the beats. It was quite unenjoyable. The 440s are built extremely well, although made primarily of plastic they don't feel cheap in any way. The adjustable headband can be increased in size in order to fit larger heads. Right and left clearly marked (Red:Right Blue:Left) Also labelled on the headband. Overall these headphones are very customizable. The 10 foot coiled cable is durable and of high quality. The cable is really cumbersome when using headphones with a cell phone or iPod, I suggest purchasing a replacement 120 cm cable from China, by doing that these headphones become more portable and mobile friendly. The carrying pouch is made of synthetic leather. I've used the adapter to listen to records through my receiver, used it with my iMac, taken it around places, used my iPhone and iPod classic. These headphones have handled every situation they were placed in with flying colors. The only complaints I have would be the headband padding (which is non-existing) which makes the headphones a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. For $100 there really isn't much to complain about, there is a lot to be praised such as the amazing sound quality and frequency response. These headphones were a much needed upgrade.girasol3

These headphones sound so great and very comfortable, I bought two more. The Pro-30 & the Pro-50. I wish I knew about them before I purchased my Beats headset. This OneOdio Headphone Studio Pro-10G has the sound quality of a $200+ headset. I strongly recommend it. Also, I know some devices dont have the phone jack, so you may visit the official website for the wireless version.cleojb

I have purchased some cheap headphones in my day. All of them were terrible. I have purchased soem expensive headphones as well, Pioneer, AKG, Sennheiser, and I promise you. THESE ARE BETTER. They have 50mm drivers that just pound. I have not tried using a headphone amp but for 50$ you can buy a tube amp that would make these headphones sound even better. They are comfy, and they come with two cords, that are re-moveable. A feature only offered on high end headphones. And the cable is SO NICE. It even has a bend protector on the cable. very nice! The sound is rich and full, sounds just as good or better than a pair of Beats. using these for Ableton and Serato. BUY THESE. I PROMISE they won't let you down.honestdealsusa

The headphones are good. The customer service is not. I received what I ordered which included a boom mic to be connected to and used with headphones. However, the cord on the boom mic does not fit into the port on the headphones. It is too small. Only one cord in the box fits and it is an extension cord with no volume or mute controls on it.

I have emailed back and forth with their CS, and all I get are replies for more information, which I had already provide in the previous emails. I was then asked for a video of the problem and even with that, I received a reply asking for more information. Extremely frustrating since they only have a foreign number to call.

All I want is a boom mic that fits into my headphones as the picture on the box shows. Apparently, they can’t handle that.Beverly Matthews