8 Best Headphones for Recording Vocals of 2024

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The first time you ever record a song, your equipment is most probably as rudimentary as it gets. Well, at least that’s what it was like for us: free software like Garage Band or Audacity, our computer’s built-in mic, and, of course, simple wired earbuds that we found in a random drawer.

Now, after practicing with some songs, you probably discovered how intoxicatingly beautiful recording can be, and you want to upgrade your equipment for recording your vocals. Well, if that’s you, you’ve come to the right place.

Having high-quality headphones is very important when it comes to recording vocals because good headphones allow you to have honest feedback on how your voice sounds and make adjustments accordingly.

But, if you’re like us and tend to get overwhelmed with the huge amounts of information on the internet, chances are finding the best headphones doesn’t come easily to you. But have no fear, American Songwriter is here!

In this article, we'll show you 8 of the best headphones for recording vocals in 2024. Here you’ll find some of the best studio headphones for different purposes: from detailed sound to best isolation, you’ll probably find what you’re looking for on this list.

We’ve also included a Buyer’s Guide with tips and key factors to keep in mind when shopping for this product.

Our #1 pick is the Sony MDR-7506 headphones because they’re a classic pair. They offer natural sound and excellent isolation, and they deliver all this at a competitive price.

So, if you’re unsure of what headphones for recording vocals are best for you, keep reading! We’ll help you!

Best Headphones for Recording Vocals

1. Best Overall – Sony MDR-7506

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 10Hz - 20kHz
• Impedance: 63 ohms
• Sensitivity: 106 dB/W/m

The Sony MDR-7506 headphones are our #1 pick because they’re balanced in every way.

Not only do they offer excellent sound but they’re also affordable (No wonder why they’ve been on the market for so long!). But let’s explain it step by step.

The Sony MDR-7506 offer a balanced sound, which means they don’t boost any particular frequencies. In other words, with these headphones, you’ll be able to hear your voice with no filter and edit it accordingly.

However, remember these are headphones for recording vocals, meaning their design is not necessarily aimed at general listening. So, if you like heavy metal or any other bass-heavy music, we suggest you look for other types of headphones.

The Sony MDR-7506 also offer great detail and clarity in their sound, another aspect that makes them ideal to record vocals.

When it comes to comfort, these headphones are light and durable, but they’re not the best at sound isolation. We have to admit they do offer some great passive isolation since they’re on-ear headphones designed to adapt to any head shape, but they don’t come with ANC.

Overall the Sony MDR-7506 are an excellent choice for those who look for quality and affordability in one product.

It’s amazing the quality of the sound they offer considering their low price. We would definitely recommend these studio headphones for those professionals on a budget.

2. Best Headphones with Unmatched Isolation for Recording Vocals – Sennheiser HD 280 PRO

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 8 Hz - 25 kHz
• Impedance: 64 ohms
• Sensitivity: 113 dB SPL/mW

The Sennheiser HD 280 PRO are usually compared to the Sony MDR-7506 because they have similar features like balanced sound and durability. But, in our view, they’re very different. Let’s see:

The HD 280 PRO prioritizes accuracy in the sound, which means you’ll get a neutral sound that will perfectly reflect your real voice, with no filters in between. As we said earlier, this is because they don’t emphasize specific frequencies.

When it comes to design, unlike the MDR-7506, the HD 280 PRO comes with a closed-back design, which helps the passive isolation. They can reduce the level of external noise by up to 32 dB, which is a significant amount.

This is great if you happen to be recording in noisy environments. This model is also sturdy and durable, so you won’t have problems in that department.

Overall, the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones offer outstanding noise isolation and great sound. They’re a bit more expensive than the Sony MDR-7506, which is why they’re not our #1 pick. But, apart from that, these closed-back headphones are a great choice for those who love sound isolation when recording.

3. Best Headphones for Detailed Sound – Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 40kHz
• Impedance: 48 ohms
• Sensitivity: 102dB SPL/mW

Okay, so far so good with the high-quality yet affordable options. Now, hear us out:

If budget is not a problem, and you’re looking for the most detailed sound you could find at a mid-range price, then you should definitely check out the Beyerdynamic headphones DT 700 PRO X.

The DT 700 PRO X STELLAR.45 driver is specifically designed to deliver detailed sound. However, while still being neutral, these headphones also offer a bit more warmth in the low frequencies. This means you may also be able to use them for listening and not only for vocal recording, for example.

Also, the DT 700 PRO X features Tesla technology which makes the driver even more efficient: it can produce more sound with less power as well as a louder sound with the same amount of energy.

Their on-ear design prevents your head from getting tired during a long recording session but it may affect sound isolation, so please take that into account before buying.

Overall, the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X is one of the best studio headphones to record vocals. Their STELLAR.45 driver gives them an extremely detailed sound, which sets these headphones apart from the other options on the market.

4. Best High-End Headphones for Recording Vocals – Shure SRH1540

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 5Hz to 25kHz
• Impedance: 46 ohms
• Sensitivity: 99dB SPL/mW

The Shure SRH1540 are something else. If you’re willing to spend some money on your recording setup, we highly recommend the Shure SRH1540. These headphones are one of the best high-end headphones for vocals out there.

Just like options 1, 2, and 3 on this list, these headphones offer a balanced sound but, this time, they come with a twist. These studio headphones come with a slightly “U-shaped” sound signature, meaning that they boost the bass and treble, which adds warmth to the overall sound.

This is great for those who like an emphasis on the bass, but it could be a downside for those looking for a strictly neutral sound. They also offer outstanding detail across frequencies.

When it comes to comfort, the Shure SRH1540 are on another level. Their padded headband and earcups help you forget you’re wearing them while recording, even if you have to record for long periods of time.

These closed-back headphones help reduce ambient noise due to passive isolation. Its premium design also helps this purpose: the padded earcups create a better seal, which improves isolation.

Overall, the Shure SRH1540 offers premium sound and a convenient design for long hours of recording. They are perfect for audio professionals looking for premium audio quality.

5. Best Light Headphones for Recording Vocals – Focal Listen Professional

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 22kHz
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Sensitivity: 122dB SPL @ 1kHz / 1Vrms

When you’re recording for hours on end, some headphones can become uncomfortable because of their fit or their overall weight. Well, with the Focal Listen Professional you can definitely forget about that.

This model is lighter than most studio headphones, especially those high-end models with lots of metal components. Their clamping force is enough for the headphones to stay on your head but it won’t squeeze your head either. Most users agree that the clamping force is very gentle.

When it comes to sound, the Focal Listen Professional strives for transparency. It comes with a neutral sound signature, but with a twist: it has a slight emphasis on the lower frequencies. In other words, it doesn’t have a perfectly flat frequency response but rather a thin layer of warmth to the sound.

Regarding its design, these headphones come with a detachable cable and a closed-back design. This last feature helps with noise isolation in a passive way.

Overall, the Focal Listen Professional have a precise sound with a touch of warmth and are as light as it gets for professional studio headphones for vocal recording.

6. Best Durable Headphones for Recording Vocals – Yamaha HPH-MT8

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 15Hz to 28kHz
• Impedance: 45 ohms
• Sensitivity: 100dB SPL/mW

The Yamaha HPH-MT8 headphones are as durable as they come. You could probably go to battle with them and they’d serve as a great helmet. Well… maybe not, but you get the idea.

They’re made of ABS plastic, a solid and lightweight material that is resistant to scratches. Also, their padding is made out of leather, which makes them very comfortable to wear. Their earcups adapt to your head, which not only adds to comfort but also helps with sound isolation.

Also, these headphones come with balanced mids and highs, so the vocals sound well-defined. Considering they come with 32 ohms impedance, they can be powered by most devices, so you won’t need an amplifier to make them work (although using one could help them unlock their full potential).

Overall, the Yamaha HPH-MT8 are a pair of durable headphones that come with balanced mids and highs, which means vocals are well-defined. They come with the advantage that you don’t need an amplifier to make them work!

7. Best Headphones for High Frequencies – Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 15Hz to 28kHz
• Impedance: 38 ohms
• Sensitivity: 99dB SPL/mW

You can tell the ATH-M50x were designed for vocalists. That’s because they boost high-frequencies, which usually helps vocals sound clearer in a mix.

The ATH-M50x also come with a good soundstage, which allows you to hear all individual instruments (including vocals) in a mix. It’s almost as if you’re there, listening to all sounds as they come from different directions.

Something that we love about these headphones is that even their design shows they’ve designed for vocalists. Their ear cups swivel 90 degrees, which allows for one-ear monitoring: perfect for singers who need to hear the track and themselves at the same time.

Also, their closed-back design and over-ear fit help with noise isolation, which is great for studio use.

Overall, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x studio headphones are a good choice for recording vocals. Everything points to them being designed to that specific end!

8. Headphones with Best Features – AKG Pro Audio K271 MKII

SPECS

• Frequency Response: 16Hz to 28kHz
• Impedance: 55 ohms
• Sensitivity: 104 dB SPL/V

The AKG Pro Audio K271 MKII are a great option for those on a tight budget. Their sound is focused on neutrality with a gentle boost in the bass frequencies, a feature that adds fullness to the sound. This sound signature is great for critical listening and mixing.

These headphones also come with many other added features like an auto-mute switch or a detachable cable. The auto-mute switch mutes your headphones when you take them off so that the mics don’t pick up any sound by accident, and the detachable cable can be easily replaced if damaged.

They also come with fully enclosed ear pads that provide great passive noise isolation.

Considering all these features, it’s surprising that the AKG Pro Audio K271 MKII are so affordable. That’s why we recommend them: you’re really getting all you can get from a pair of headphones for little money. They’re definitely worth it!

Best Headphones for Recording Vocals Buyer’s Guide

When you’re looking for a pair of headphones for recording vocals, you should consider the sound quality of the model and its potential sound isolation. 

Also, think about your comfort: does any part of your head usually hurt when you’re using headphones for long periods of time? Should your next pair of headphones have more or less padding? What about isolation?

Finally, don’t forget to set a budget before you buy!

Sound Quality

When it comes to headphones for recording vocals, we suggest you look for those that offer a detailed and natural sound. That’s because, when you’re recording, you need to hear how you really sound, without any type of distortion. 

Some people like to have headphones that slightly emphasize low frequencies when recording, and that’s totally okay too! It just depends on your preference. 

If these headphones were meant for casual listening, we’d advise you to choose a model based on your musical preferences, i.e., if you like heavy metal, for example, we’d advise you to buy a pair of headphones for lower frequencies.

But, since these headphones are meant for recording vocals, our advice is to always lean towards headphones that offer a sound as clean as possible.

Isolation

Those who work in the recording world know how annoying it is when any type of background noise interferes with your recording. Mainly because it’s very distracting!

Headphones with good isolation are not essential for recording, but they can definitely help the process, especially if you want to prevent sound leakage into microphones.

Comfort

As we said earlier, before buying, you should think about how you feel after wearing headphones during long studio sessions. 

If your head hurts in certain places, then maybe you should look for headphones with extra padding on those places. If the extra padding perhaps makes the headphones too bulky for your taste, then look elsewhere.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference in the audio world, especially when thinking about comfort.

Budget

This one may seem obvious but it’s never a bad idea to say it more than once: set a budget before you buy!

We’ve seen it happen more than once, it’s even happened to us: you have an idea of how much you want to spend but you’re not 100% sure, then you walk into the store (or surf the online store 😉 ) and you’re suddenly mesmerized by all the options, all the cool designs and extra features, and end up spending more than you can afford.

If you set a clear budget beforehand, this is less likely to happen!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What type of headphones should I buy for recording vocals? Are closed-back headphones better?

In our opinion, the best type of headphones for recording vocals are closed-back headphones. 

This design comes with sealed ear cups that block out external noise and also prevent sound leakage from your headphones to your microphone.

We also suggest you buy over-ear headphones because they are usually more comfortable for extended use, which is important during long recording sessions.

What is the ideal frequency response for headphones used in vocal recording?

The ideal frequency response for that is a flat or neutral frequency response. In other words, the headphones should reproduce all frequencies evenly, without boosting any particular frequency range. 

However, keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The ideal frequency can vary depending on many factors, like the type of music you are recording.

For example, if you are recording vocals for pop or rock music, you may want to choose headphones with a slightly boosted bass response, which can help give your vocals more warmth and power.

Can I use my regular music headphones for recording vocals?

Yes, you can. However, regular music headphones won’t offer the same level of sound quality as headphones specifically designed for recording vocals. 

This is because studio headphones are designed to reproduce sound as accurately as possible, while regular headphones are mainly designed to boost certain frequencies.

Conclusion

The key to a good pair of headphones for recording vocals is a neutral sound signature. Everything else has to do with personal preference: from the type of isolation to extra features for comfort.

Before you buy, don’t forget to do a little research in order to decide what features best fit your needs. Also, don’t forget to set a budget before going shopping!

If you’re looking for a reliable pair of headphones that can get the job done at an unbeatable price, you should definitely try the Sony MDR-7506. These headphones are known for their balanced sound and also have excellent isolation.

If you want something a little bit more stylish and high-end, we strongly suggest the Shure SRH1540. They’re a great option for professional musicians looking for great sound quality and comfort.

What are you waiting for? Tailor your recording setup to your needs and enjoy every aspect of the recording process with a good pair of headphones.

Experience music like never before! Shop our collection of the best Audio-Technica over-ear headphones and hear every detail with precision.