Studio Headphones

Closed-back and open-back monitoring headphones from Audio Technica, Sennheiser and Shure, spanning entry-level workhorses to reference-class sets. The Audio Technica M series anchors the closed end, with the ATH-M50x a de facto standard for tracking and location work; Sennheiser’s HD280 PRO and Shure’s SRH440A and SRH240A cover similar duties, while the open-back Shure SRH1840 and Sennheiser HD 490 PRO Plus target mixing and critical listening. Audio Technica’s ATH-M50xSTS headsets add a boom microphone for streaming and broadcast, in XLR and USB versions.

Match the design to the job rather than the badge. Tracking wants closed backs so headphone spill stays out of the microphones; mixing benefits from open backs, which image more like monitors and stay comfortable over long sessions. If sets will be shared across a studio, venue or hire stock, favour models with replaceable earpads and detachable cables, since pads and leads wear out long before drivers on hard-working gear. A white M50x variant exists for camera-facing streaming setups.

Multiples for teaching rooms, broadcast desks and band monitoring are routine orders here.

Studio Headphone FAQs

Closed-back or open-back? Closed-back isolates, tracking, location, loud rooms; the ATH-M50x is the de facto standard. Open-back (SRH1840, HD 490 PRO Plus) images more naturally for mixing and critical listening in quiet rooms.

Do I need reference-class for streaming? No, a workhorse closed-back does the job; spend the difference on the microphone. The M50xSTS headset variant handles both at once.