As a mix engineer, having the best studio headphones to hand is just common sense. Especially if your production space is limited.
That’s because mixing music, even with the most professional equipment, isn’t easy. So by not investing in a pair of studio headphones, not only are you slimming down the chance of you making a smash hit, but you’re also making the actual production process a lot more tricky than it needs to be. Mix engineers, listen up!
Reason being, to emphasise just how important a solid pair of studio headphones is, we’ve dissected how they differ from earbuds. Plus, reveal why investing in the best studio headphones you can get your hands on, isn’t a decision that you’re going to regret.
What are studio headphones?
Studio headphones are those specifically designed for use in a music studio, as critical listening devices. It’s these headphones, which give a producer honest feedback as to the quality of their mix. That’s in addition to highlighting areas where the mix could be tightened even further.
So just to be clear, you do not buy studio headphones for sound quality. You buy them for sound clarity. These are not designed to be relaxing headphones to wear. Although if you mess about with the EQ, it is possible to get more or less any pair of studio headphones sounding cinematic & pleasing to the ear.
So as you can imagine, if you don’t have the space or acoustics for a pair of studio monitors, a pair of high-quality studio headphones is your next best bet. For bedroom producers on a budget, studio headphones are ideal.
Studio headphones VS Earbuds
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that studio headphones are just glorified earbuds - they’re not! In fact, there are actually a fair few differences between the two…
Form factor
Virtually all pairs of studio headphones opt for an ‘over ear’ design. All of this means that if you’re looking for something compact, or looking to produce ‘under the radar, they may not be your best bet. But then again, for most this extra size isn’t actually a drawback.
Larger headphones allow space for more powerful & accurate drivers, as well as extra sound insulation too. All of which enhances the performance of the headphones, especially in a busy studio environment.
Price
Compared to most earbuds, studio headphones will prove to be more expensive. However, that’s not always the case. The Sony MDR 7506 for instance, which you can usually pick up for as little as $100, is regarded as some of the best studio headphones that you can buy.
Therefore, compared to a pair of Apple AirPods, they’re actually quite cheap. Although other studio headphones can exceed $500. You can also get studio reference earbuds, which do aim to do the same thing as studio headphones. Yet because of their earbud shape, tend not to do so quite as well.
Flatness & EQ
The main reason for buying a pair of studio headphones is their sound, as it’s this which is going to help you create the most accurate mix. And this is where studio headphones and earbuds differ the most.
Your typical earbuds are EQed quite heavily. They’ll likely have a large low-end boost, plus a decent amount of high-end gain too. So while they may sound great, especially for recreational use, they’re worlds away from what you need for mixing.
As a mix engineer, you need an honest sound - one that is true to the original recording. Otherwise, you’ll end up mixing what you think is a great song, only to play it through a pair of consumer speakers to realise just how bad it sounds.
And it’s here where studio headphones have the edge, as unlike 99% of earbuds, they’re specifically designed with referencing in mind. So instead of boosted bass or a tweaked high end, they give you a flat frequency response which is ideal for critical listening.
Why studio headphones are a ‘must’ for mix engineers!
Now you understand the main differences between a set of studio cans & a pair of earbuds, it’s about time you unravelled why reference headphones are a ‘must-buy’ for mix engineers. So much so that we’d even be tempted to call them a ‘studio essential’…
Their flatness & EQ
As explained above, in a studio setting, the sheer flatness of a pair of studio headphones is a major advantage for any music producer. After all, the more accurate your headphones, the better the music that you’ll produce. So in the long run, these headphones could not only help you find (& refine) your own sound, but by doing so, they could also help you win new clients and outdo other producers in your niche.
Major Kudos if you ask us!
For both casual & studio use, they work
In the case you’re after 1 pair of headphones, which serve as critical workhorses during the day & a more casual pair for evenings, then studio headphones could well be the way to go. While they may not offer ‘cinematic’ sound out of the box, the majority can be EQed manually through your computer.
So really, it wouldn’t be wrong to call them 2 headphones in 1. If you’re a producer who games in your spare time, then with a pair of studio headphones you’d be onto a winner!
They cancel out noise
A major advantage that comes as part of the ‘over ear’ design of studio headphones, is that they do a great job of noise cancellation. This is particularly true for those who use memory foam to seal the gap between the concours of your face and the headphone themselves. All of which allows you the achieve a more accurate mix, even in a lively environment!
So be you backstage at a gig or sipping a latte down the local coffee shop, rest assured you’ll be able to mix inaccurately & in peace.
Build quality
Studio headphones set the bar high in terms of build quality. Being made specifically for the studio environment, they’re usually both heavy-duty & encompass the latest tech. Being pitched to audio professionals, the quality of the drivers is likely to be superior, as is their actual clarity.
Compare the drivers on a pair of studio headphones to those you’ll find in a commercial pair of headphones - for instance, a pair of Dr. Dre’s Beats - and you’ll soon sense the difference. No disrespect Dre.
For what they are, they’re actually quite cheap
While a few $100 doesn’t sound cheap for headphones, especially when you can get a pair of earbuds for a few dollars down Walmart, for what this type of headphone enables you to do, it’s actually a steal.
Choose to opt for a pair of studio monitors instead, and you’ll likely end up spending a whole lot more. All despite the fact that a pair of monitors will be nowhere near as portable. Then consider (above) that studio headphones can in most cases actually serve as casual headphones too, and yep - their flexibility (for the price) is almost unbeatable.
Take Note: If investing in a pair of studio headphones for mixing is the difference between your song charting & getting placed on a major Spotify playlist, then they’ll likely pay themselves off 10 fold!
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