What Are Studio Headphones? 3 Causes You Most likely Should not Purchase Them

You’ve got most likely heard the time period “studio headphones” thrown round in on-line boards, YouTube feedback, and Google searches. Apparently, they sound method higher than your AirPods, however a fast have a look at their costs leaves you questioning in the event that they’re really price it.

Properly, it is sophisticated. On this information, we’ll assist you to perceive what precisely studio headphones are, how they’re totally different from common headphones, and why you most likely should not purchase them. We’ll additionally clarify why reviewers preserve recommending them anyway.


What Are Studio Headphones? Who Makes use of Them?

In contrast to common consumer-grade headphones and earbuds made for the plenty, studio headphones are made for artists and audio engineers for mixing and mastering tracks. In consequence, they perform as work gear greater than they function a software for leisure listening.

Music manufacturing cannot (or slightly, should not) occur utilizing common headphones as a result of they do not reproduce audio precisely. And this can be a drawback for artists and composers as a result of they want their headphones to sound as correct (or “flat”) as attainable.


The flatter the frequency response, the simpler it will be to catch and proper errors resembling undesirable white noise or buzz. This helps artists produce music as meant, so followers can higher immerse themselves with none static disturbances that damage the listening expertise.

3 Causes Why You Should not Purchase Studio Headphones

There are three fundamental the reason why you should not purchase studio headphones. Let’s take into account them and perceive how they have an effect on your listening expertise.

1. Studio Headphones Do not Sound as Enjoyable

Though studio headphones sound probably the most correct, they don’t seem to be ideally suited for most individuals as a result of they will sound uninteresting in comparison with common headphones. Why? As a result of the latter has elevated lows (bass) and highs (treble), which makes them sound extra enjoyable and pleasing, and ends in what’s formally referred to as a V-shaped sound signature.


Totally different sound signatures go well with totally different functions, and the V-shaped signature is finest for informal listening and is the commonest one within the trade. Alternatively, the flat or balanced signature on studio headphones implies that all frequencies are set at roughly the identical worth, making them sound much less fulfilling to untrained ears.

For example, should you love loud and thumpy bass, you would possibly name studio headphones boring or underwhelming. Additionally, in case your favourite track wasn’t produced correctly, studio headphones will reveal all its imperfections, making you want that track much less.

2. Open-Again Studio Headphones Are Much less Personal

It is not simply the sound high quality it’s a must to fear about but additionally the design of the headphones. See, most headphones include a closed-back design that stops ambient noise intruding and your music from leaking out the headphone physique.

In consequence, you get a extra personal listening expertise, which most individuals want. On prime of this, many wi-fi headphones in the present day provide Energetic Noise Cancellation, which takes this a step additional to simulate a totally remoted surroundings.

Alternatively, studio headphones generally have an open-back design that lets ambient noise in and your music leak out. This implies an individual sitting subsequent to it is possible for you to to listen to what track you are enjoying, which you may not be comfy with.

Artists use open-back headphones as a result of they sound extra pure and have a wider soundstage, however most individuals keep away from them as a result of they lead to a much less personal listening expertise. Additionally, given their design, open-back headphones cannot have ANC.

3. Studio Headphones Usually Require Further Gear

Some studio headphones require further gear resembling an exterior DAC and amp to have the ability to work correctly. They will not work to their optimum stage by way of your cellphone or laptop computer. Why? Due to impedance. Merely put, an impedance ranking tells you ways a lot energy a headphone requires to provide sufficient sound.

A excessive impedance ranking will be the rationale why your headphones sound so quiet. For reference, most headphones and earbuds have an impedance of about 32 Ohms which might simply be run by way of your cellphone. However it’s frequent to see high-end studio headphones attain a ranking of 250, 300, and even 600 Ohms.

At this level, you are positively going to wish an exterior amplifier to have the ability to run the headphone drivers. In any other case, they’re going to sound very quiet, even at full quantity.

To summarize, you are not solely spending a great deal of cash in your studio headphones however may also should spend much more to make use of them correctly. And that requires dealing with fairly some trouble—one thing informal listeners merely do not wish to trouble with.

So Why Do Reviewers Advocate Studio Headphones?

In the event you search “finest headphones” on YouTube, a reviewer will seemingly suggest a studio headphone in some unspecified time in the future within the video together with different common ones. Why is that? Did not we simply see why they don’t seem to be proper for most individuals?

Properly, sure, however it’s a must to keep in mind that high-fidelity listening is a pastime similar to gaming or calligraphy, and in each pastime, some individuals fortunately spend 1000’s of {dollars} to get the perfect expertise attainable.

Merely put, reviewers suggest studio headphones as a result of they wish to introduce you to the world of high-fidelity listening (which we second), nevertheless it’s utterly as much as you to determine whether or not you wish to develop this pastime or are drawn to it.

To be clear, we’re not saying studio headphones aren’t price it; they make sense for audiophiles who can admire flat and genuine sounds over enjoyable and coloured sounds. Additionally, studio headphones have outstanding soundstage and audio imaging, which your common $25–$50 headphones do not provide.

Do not Purchase Studio Headphones Except You are Prepared

Studio headphones are very costly, generally costing 1000’s of {dollars}. That is wonderful for individuals who work with audio for a dwelling because it counts as a piece funding, however for most individuals, spending that a lot cash on headphones requires some critical consideration. You should not purchase studio headphones within the blind hope that they will sound dramatically higher to your ears.

That mentioned, should you’re fascinated with exploring hi-fi listening, begin sluggish and study numerous audio terminologies resembling impedance, sensitivity, bitrates, frequency response, and extra. Solely then, you will perceive why studio headphones are so costly however are price it to some individuals.

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