Being a music producer means that you are going to need a nice set of professional headphones to help you create and edit your music mixes. There are several trustful and experienced companies that manufacture some of the best headphones, perfect for producing electronic music (or EDM). In this article, we have chosen and recommend 5 of the best.
Professional headphones brands most of the times deliver high sound quality, even through their most affordable headphone models. This is because such headphones are intended particularly for electronic music production or general studio purposes, and their sound capabilities are adjusted accordingly.
The audio engineer or the beatmaker can use the headphones to experiment with his mix more accurately than when using his studio monitors. Studio monitors need a properly soundproofed studio environment to be able to deliver maximum quality results, whereas headphones create their own proper listening environment by covering the user’s ears.
Furthermore, the accuracy levels of the headphones are far higher than the levels of the studio monitors, as the sound engineer can focus on certain sounds in the background of the mixes, or weaker instruments that are harder to pay attention to when played with louder ones.
In rougher occasions, such as gatherings of people in the studio, the EDM producer and the sound engineer can isolate himself from the rest of the environment and focus on the sound of the mix. This way he can avoid disruptions, and process the mix in the best way possible.
Professional headphones work great in live performances too. The fact that the artist, can once again isolate his hearing and focus on the music instead of the noise created by the audience of the gig, can help him create a better sound, mix and performance result, which will satisfy the listeners and the artists that participate in the concert.
Considerations regarding headphones for EDM
Quality
The sound quality of your headphones is of major importance. The sound they deliver will help you improve the overall sound of your music productions, and will make you capable of mixing and mastering your tracks properly.
Make sure that you choose high quality products, with broad frequency range and prefer the ones that deliver neutral sound results, so that you do not get distracted during the mixing process. Most professional headphone brand offer warm and accurate sound, although you will have to test and work with the headphones yourself to make sure they are the right tool for the job.
Functionality
Functional headphones are focused on offering crystal clear sound. Although the level of the clearness depends solely on the amount of money you are willing to invest into buying a powerful set of headphones, most professional brand deliver high detail sound on most of the frequencies.
Structure
Being very sensitive sound equipment, headphones need to have a solid structure so that they can tolerate misuses and rough recording sessions in the studio environment. Very often, they are the tool used by the majority of the people that participate in a studio session, so try to go for a well-built set of headphones.
Price
The price depends on the intentions of the user. Most headphone models come in very affordable prices, which makes them accessible by most music producers and artists. For studio use, make sure that you invest a decent amount of money, to acquire a high quality headphone model, which will help you produce better sound results.
Best Headphones for EDM
1 – Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro
The Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 are among the most comfortable headphones in the market. The user can easily wear them for long studio sessions, without them causing any soreness or fatigue. This is a huge advantage for musicians that need to practice long hours, as they make the practicing process convenient and the creation enjoyable.
The headphones have great elasticity, and they feel very convenient when wrapped around the head. They are lightweight, so the user does not feel pressed or any sense of tightness. The cable of the set is high quality, and there are no twisting issues noticeable.
The Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 have dual lines, which have the capability of splitting to each can. This fact, increases the accuracy levels to the maximum, and the user can hear every individual sound in great detail, distinguishing the main instruments and melodies, from the secondary ones played in the background without much effort.
Their sound reproduction is outstanding, and a slight enhancement takes place in the mid and high frequencies. This adds a nice but subtle character to the overall sound, making it brighter and crispier, with the right amount of accuracy. The low ends are extremely smooth, although the majority of the focus is being given to the mid and high frequencies.
No matter the colorization, the Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 headphones manage to maintain a nice balance between the different frequency bands. The boosted higher frequencies do not overhaul the low ends, and they do not cause any issues of muddiness in the low mid frequency bands.
The structure quality of the headphones is amazing. They provide a solid feel, and they seem that they can tolerate minor misuses and long studio sessions. The have a very simplistic and professional looking design, and they come in a very nice price, especially considering the number of their capabilities.
2 – AIAIAI TMA-1
Having one of the most significant designs in the market, the AIAIAI TMA-1 headphones stand out from the rest of the competition regarding their looks. They have a very futuristic design and a very nice sold structure, which provides a sense of stability and tolerance. That being said, they do not fold, so they are a bit difficult to carry around or place them in a carrying case.
These headphones are very lightweight and comfortable. The user can wear them for a long time in the studio, without causing any type of discomfort to him. This is due to their very soft cushions, which are placed nicely around the ear, making the entire recording or playback process pleasant.
The AIAIAI TMA-1 have an awesome sound quality. Their mid and high frequencies sound bright and clear, and the accuracy levels are amazing. You can listen to everything played in the mix in great detail, and they have the ability to enhance the overall sound of the appropriately mix and mastered songs.
The low ends are a little weaker than the mid and high frequencies. The bass presence is there, although it could admittedly be louder. Nevertheless, the low ends sound very smooth, and there is no muddiness noticed in the low mid frequency bands. The mid high frequencies have lots of punchiness and detail that add nice color to the sound.
The AIAIAI TMA-1 have a very nice built, and they feel sturdy enough. They are not considered to be fragile headphones, and this is one of their main advantages as a studio product, because they can withstand difficult recording and long hour playbacks.
Overall, the headphones provide high quality sound, focusing on the accuracy and the detail that their mid and high frequencies provide. Their low ends could be a little louder, although there are nice amount of smoothness regarding their bass. The fascinating design and their strong structure, make them one of the greatest options within the specific price range.
3 – Focal Spirit
The Focal Spirit Professional are a headphone set with amazing sound detail. Their accuracy levels are up to the roof, and this is especially useful for sound engineers that need to work their mixes in great depth. Their sound helps the user identify even the smaller background sounds, and adjust them properly to improve the overall sound quality of the mix.
Their definition is great, and they deliver significantly neutral and balanced sound across the entire frequency spectrum. They manage to distribute the signal equally to all the frequencies, making it sound very natural and realistic.
These headphones, have outstanding mid and high frequencies. They focus primarily on the high quality, clear and crispy sound of the high frequencies, along with the nice presence of the mid and particularly the mid highs. Their low ends are very smooth, making every track sound warmer and balanced with the rest of the frequencies.
The structure of the main unit is very nice, although the build around of the extension feels rather fragile, so users have to be cautious when using the particular product. What is more, the ear cups tend to become slightly uncomfortable when placed on the users ears for many hours.
The Focal Spirit Professional has low impedance and is design for professional studio use. If you are going to use the particular headphones with your personal computer or laptop, it is very possible that you are going to face minor circuitry issues and noises, due to their very high accuracy levels, which help every sound come to the surface, especially the ones using the mid high and high frequencies.
Overall, these headphones are a great option for producing music in the studio or mixing purposes. They have amazing frequency distribution and they deliver high quality sound, focusing on the brightness and detail of the higher frequencies. The smoothness of the low ends adds a nice balance to the sound, and makes it more natural.
4 – Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
If you are looking for a headphone set with high quality, crystal clear sound, then the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro should be your choice. The sound of the particular model focuses on the mid high and high frequencies, and manages to add a special color to them, without causing any harshness issues.
The low ends of the headphones are nicely balanced and smooth, and they add a very useful warmness to the overall sound result. The mid lows are punchy, and they provide great subtle loudness to the heavier instruments, such as the bass or the kick drums.
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro have a very realistic and balanced frequency distribution for the signal across the entire spectrum. This helps the headphones maintain the majority of the signal nicely flat, without making it weak, as the loudness levels of the product are more than decent.
The headphones have a cord connected to the main body of the headset, and they use a 4.5mm connector, which the user can easily unscrew and turn it into a 3.5mm connector. The word is very elastic, and does not fold tightly around the headphones, which is nice as it makes them more comfortable for the user.
They come in a great price, less expensive than the rest of the similar competition while offering the same capabilities. The headphones do not require batteries, and they have great noise cancellation levels, which helps the sound engineer absorb the sound provided more easily and focus on the details.
Overall, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro are a great option of headphones for music producers and sound engineers that want to use them in their studios. Their nice price, great sound quality and very comfortable use, are only some of the awesome advantages these amazing headphones have to offer.
5 – AKG K712 Pro
The AKG K712 Pro is a set of headphones that can easily stand out from the rest of the competition. They have the ability of surround the ears of the users, and they have very nice and comfortable ear cushions to make the recording sessions as comfortable as it gets. They cause zero fatigue, and can be used for long hour sessions without causing any kind of inconvenience to the musician or the sound engineer.
The sound that these headphones deliver is outstanding. They provide remarkable detail in their high frequencies, and there is a special noticeable presence in the mid frequencies. Their accuracy is top quality, and it can reveal flaws and imperfections that the music producer had never managed to spot in his tracks before.
In addition to the above, the AKG K712 Pro add some slight enhancements in the low ends. The sound of the low frequencies is extremely warm and bassy, and the mid low have a very strong although balanced punchiness, which boosts the drumloops and the basslines significantly well.
The structure of the headphones feels very sturdy, and their built is very strong. They have a nice and simplistic design, which adds to the professional looks of the set. Nothing too fancy, minimal and focus on the sound quality instead of the appearance.
Overall, the AKG K712 Pro are among the best option for music producers that want to acquire a great set of headphones, to create, edit, mix and master their productions. Their accuracy and punchiness in the mid lows, along with the warmness of the bass are some of the key factors that make the particular headphones worth the purchase.