Good studio headphones for mixing and mastering are a necessity in achieving a balanced, well rounded mix that sounds good everywhere. One of a producer’s most valuable tools, mixing and mastering headphones allow you to better hear the low end, fine details, and stereo image of your mix. 

This guide to the best headphones for mixing and mastering includes the best ones for you based on budget, style, and experience. We’ve reviewed every model, and highlighted their strengths, weaknesses, and who we think they’re best for.

Our Recommendations of the Best Headphones for Mixing and Mastering 

Image	Product	Feature	Price
TOP Pick	Sony MDR-7506	A clean and punchy sounding headphone with excellent comfortability. Best overall.	Check Price
Trending	Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X	A natural sounding headphone, with great clarity, premium built quality, extremely comfortable as well. Best Open-Backs	Check Price
Trending	Audio-Technica ATH-R70x	A headphone that’s great in detail and stereo separation. Well-built quality.	Check Price
Trending	Sennheiser HD-206 Studio Headphones	A budget headphone with good clarity and natural responses. Superb value.	Check Price
Trending	Shure SRH1540	Light and comfortable premium headphone that is great for long hours mixing and mastering sessions. Excellent transient detail.	Check Price
Trending	Audio Technica ATH-E70	An in-ear headphones that is not only portable but also designed for an intimate mixing and mastering experience.	Check Price

What To Look For: Sound Profile

The best mixing and mastering headphones are those with a natural, flat frequency range. This sort of balanced sound profile ensures that you aren’t favoring any one frequency type when editing. This is crucial if you see your track being listened to on different platforms and devices.

For example, car stereos typically favor bassier, boomier ranges. If your mix isn’t balanced, your track can sound too boomy. A balanced mix is crucial, and a proper pair of mixing and mastering headphones increases your chances of making that happen.

Open vs Closed Backs

Open-backed headphones allow air to pass through the ear cups through the rear of the speaker driver. This means that resonances and low-frequencies won’t build up, preventing discomfort during longer periods of use. Many more high-end headphones for mixing and mastering have open-backs because it allows for superior clarity and a more natural sound. 

Open-backed headphones are also excellent for recording vocals because they allow the vocalist to hear themselves through the headphones. This can result in superior breath control and a more natural performance. 

However, open-back headphones do not work in environments with any sort of outside noise. Because they allow air and sound in through the rear, you will be able to hear everything going on around you. This can be frustrating when focusing on a mix, and can result in convolution during the editing process. 

Closed-back headphones are completely sealed, allowing much less outside sound to get through. While these may not sound quite as natural (they often sound smaller and more boxed in), they will block out a lot more outside noise.

Because of this, they make an excellent choice for those mixing in more public spaces. It is also important to mention that low-frequencies can often sound amplified through closed back headphones. This is crucial to keep in mind when mixing. 

Understanding Impedance

Impedance is one of the most important numbers to understand when shopping for a pair of studio grade headphones for mixing and mastering. Pairing the right headphones with the right audio sources is crucial to getting the highest quality sound. 

Headphones with higher impedance (approximately 25 and more ohms) demand more power to deliver high audio levels. This protects them from overloading and prevents blow outs.

Headphones with lower impedance (approximately 25 and less ohms) demand less power, and work well with equipment such as portable music players.

1.Sony MDR-7506

If you’re shopping for a pair of studio headphones, you will inevitably encounter the Sony MDR-7506s. Featuring in recording studios, radio stations, and DJ booths for the last forty years, the MDR-7506s are an affordable industry standard and a cult classic in the world of studio headphones. 

A fantastic combination of comfort, sound, and value, the MDR-7506s are excellent both in the studio and as a daily driver. Sound is clean and punchy, with a relatively flat profile (albeit a small boost in the high mids).

With a response range of 10 Hz to 20 kHz, the MDR-7506s rival many pairs costing hundreds of dollars more. These headphones weren’t necessarily designed to sound good – they were made to expose the flaws in your mix so that you can fix them. 

Comfort is excellent; we’ve had no  issues even during extended periods of wear. A classy all leather headband and plush earcups, these headphones look as good as they sound, and provide wearers with that classic studio look. Durability is also fantastic; these headphones can easily handle studio life and rigorous everyday wear. 

I have noticed that the ear pads don’t last as long as some other headphones. However, this is an extremely minor complaint, as replacement pads are cheap and readily available from sources such as Amazon. 

Overall, the combination of sound, comfort, value and industry pedigree make these some of the best headphones in the industry, and the best headphones for mixing and mastering under a hundred bucks. 

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2.Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X

The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro Xs are an all new pair of headphones for mixing and mastering from one of the industry’s most trusted brands. Featuring an updated driver design, a detachable cable, a classier look, and a fixed impedance rating, the DT 900 Pro Xs are fit for all sorts of musical application. 

Boasting a massive frequency range of 5 Hz to 40 kHz, the DT 900 Pro Xs are fantastic for mixing and mastering. They provide some of the most natural sound in the game, with epic clarity and much needed neutrality.

The new drivers sound better, and are great at exposing the flaws in any mix. Critical listening, mixing, mastering, and vocal tracking are all excellent on the Beyerdynamics, and present a refreshingly accurate portrayal of what’s actually there. 

The DT 900 Pro Xs are some of the most comfortable headphones for mixing and mastering that we’ve ever tried. They feel great even after hours of listening, and their open-backed design means that frequency buildup and ear fatigue aren’t a problem. The build is premium, as you’d expect from Beyerdynamic, and will last through many mixing projects. 

One of the top overall choices for mixing and mastering, the DT 900 Pro Xs are some of the best headphones for mixing and mastering if you want a pair of open-backs. 

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3.Audio-Technica ATH-R70x

If you’re looking for a pair of studio headphones that excel in detail and stereo separation, the Audio-Technica ATH-R70xs may be the right option for you. Boasting some of the best detail of any studio headphones we’ve ever tried, the ATH-R70xs make for excellent reference headphones and allow for superior fine tuning of sonic detail.

With a frequency response of 5 Hz to 40 kHz, the ATH-R70xs are well balanced and sound incredibly natural. Their open-back design makes them great for longer mix sessions as they cause less ear fatigue than traditional closed-back models.

Designed especially as reference headphones for mixing, the ATH-R70xs provide the necessary stereo separation for trickier, more ambitious, or more creatively forward mixes. Frequencies at both ends of the spectrum are smooth, with no piercing highs or boomy lows (unless, of course, they are present in your mix). 

The design of the ATH-R70xs is another thing that sets these headphones apart. Looking both futuristic and classic at the same time, the ATH-R70xs all metal construction feels premium and is built to last. 

Some of the best headphones for a more lively, creative mix, the Audio-Technica ATH-R70xs are in a class of their own. With their combination of build, sound, and style, these are some of the best headphones for mixing and mastering, especially with stereo separation. 

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4.Sennheiser HD-206 Studio Headphones

With improving technology and increased accessibility, it is no longer necessary to spend copious amounts of money just to be able to mix and master music. Enter the Sennheiser HD-206 Studio Headphones. These studio headphones, which can be had for under thirty bucks, offer fantastic value for those just getting into music production. 

The HD-206s sound remarkably good for the money – clarity is good, with accurate sonic reproduction and the flat, natural response that is so coveted in mixing headphones. Detail in the mids and highs is good, and there didn’t seem to be any sort of favored frequency range. 

Build quality is excellent, as you’d expect from Sennheiser. You need not fear throwing these in your backpack, and they’re sure to hold up even for everyday use. They’re also surprisingly comfortable, with the plush earcups working very well to block out extraneous noise. 

If you’re looking for the best headphones for mixing and mastering on a budget, the Sennheiser HD-206 Studio Headphones make for an intriguing option. 

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5.Shure SRH1540

If you’ve spent any sort of time in the audio industry, you’ve heard of Shure. One of the most trusted brands in audio, the Shure SRH1540s are a premium set of headphones designed specifically for mixing and mastering.

Boasting a profoundly natural sound profile with crystal clear audio and a very neutral frequency response, the SRH1540s are designed to flush out any issues with your mix so that you can fix them.

Detail is exquisite, making fine tuning and subtle edits easy.  The Shure SRH1540s have a frequency response of 5 Hz to 25 kHz, and an impedance level of 46 Ω, which is a little more power demanding but is much more resistant against blowouts. 

The Alcantara earpads and lightweight design mean long mixing and mastering sessions with the SRH1540s are a breeze. Alcantara is noted for its durability, and we’ve had no problems with it during our testing. Passive sound isolation is also fantastic with these headphones, and makes them viable for mixing, mastering, and tracking in all sorts of environments. 

While they are more costly than some other options on this list, if you’re looking for the best headphones for mixing and mastering, and you really want the best, the ​​Shure SRH1540s are a fantastic choice. 

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6.Audio Technica ATH-E70

While unconventional, in-ear studio headphones provide an interesting option for those looking for a more intimate mixing and mastering experience. Boasting great sound, a lightweight design, and fantastic versatility. 

The ATH-E70s are a wired set of in-ear headphones designed for mixing, mastering, and tracking. They work great in practice, with fantastic detail in the middle ranges, no low-mid scooping, and highs that don’t fatigue the ears, even after long listening sessions.

Although they don’t have the best bass response (their size limits them in that respect), this doesn’t limit their capability in the studio. With a slightly lower frequency response range of 20 Hz to 19 kHz and an impedance rating of 39 Ω, these headphones are less likely to blow out even when using higher powered amplification.

Their in-ear design makes them incredibly portable, and their lightweight construction provides the ability for all day listening without discomfort. They are also durable, and suitable for the rigors of the studio and everyday listening.

If you’re looking for the best headphones for mixing and mastering, and you want a pair of in-ear headphones, the Audio Technica ATH-E70s are fantastic.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Mix With Headphones?

Headphones are excellent for every part of mixing except dealing with space. Because the sound source is so close to your ears, it can be hard to get an accurate read on spatial movement. When dealing with this part of the mix, it is recommended to use stereo monitors. 

How Loud Should My Headphones Be For Mixing?

The optimal volume for mixing and mastering is around the 70 to 85 decibel range. This is the sweet spot, and allows you to get an accurate read on your mix.