Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: September-19-2018
In this high-end section we were pleased to see all our existing recommendations were still valid. So, in our recent refresh, we took the opportunity to add to our list. We featured two excellent pairs of IEMs – the ER4SR from Etymotic Research and the Audio-Technica ATH-E70 – as well as the over-ear AKG K702s.
Welcome to the high end of studio headphones! Sure, you can spend up to $4,000 (and more!) on some exceptionally premium pairs, but this is overkill for most people – even professionals. Rest assured that, as you reach around $500, you know you are going to end up with a pretty sensational pair of cans that will prove a perfect partner for critical listening of any kind.
We have put together this chart to highlight some of our favorite pairs of phones in this high-end range. Stick around after the chart for our take on what to expect and look out for when investing this kind of money.
8 Best Studio Headphones Under $500
Are $500 Headphones Really Worth The Investment?
To answer this question, the first thing you must figure out is whether you actually need a set of studio headphones at such a high-end level.
Many people will tell you that, when it comes to anything related to audio gear, you should buy the best you can afford – therefore, buying
the very best studio headphones on the market makes sense. So, if you are a professional or a very-keen audio mixer/producer, and can afford $500, then go ahead – spend the money!
What about beginners? Of course, learning to mix with a set of $500 cans will be a better experience than learning with, say,
$100 studio headphones, although if you are only just beginning, think twice about spending as much as $500. If you are just starting out, a high-end pair will probably be overkill. It is only as your experience and knowledge grows that you will start to really appreciate what a high-end set of headphones can offer.
In terms of whether the hardware and performance of $500 headphones is worth the investment (regardless of your level of experience), we would say yes. While it might not be immediately apparent, there is a good reason why these headphones are as expensive as they are. You are looking at better hardware, better design, better features and better performance compared to cheaper phones. Let’s break these down into individual sections.
Hardware
The hardware difference between cheaper headphones and more high end ones is obvious from a distance. Where most affordable models pack a set of pretty ordinary drivers, investing a bit more money will get you individually matched, custom voiced drivers with advanced membrane designs. Then we have voice coils and the way they are made. All of these things have a significant impact on the performance of your headphones. Moving on to the cable, most high end models come with double ended cables, each going into one driver. These are usually quality made, oxygen-free copper core cables that prevent all kinds of interference.
The actual sub frame of the headphones falls under hardware as well. There are too many headphones out there with actual potential, which are ruined by weak frames and structure in general. When you have high quality aluminum spanning through the entire headband and forks, you just know that those headphones are made to last. Does that mean that composite materials are unacceptable? Not at all, but there is a difference between high end ABS and brittle, cheap plastics.
Advanced Features
Here's where we get to really interesting stuff. In lower segments of the market, brands rely on the drivers alone to deliver the performance. Stepping into the major leagues changes that to a point. Once you are paying big money for your headphones, you will often find that brands include a number of proprietary technologies in order to compliment or boost the performance of their hardware. Exactly what type of tech you will run into depends on the brand you go with and the specific model of headphones. In most cases, the effects of these features will be overwhelmingly positive.
Moving on to less significant features, we have backup ear pads, protective cases or bags and similar. It is only normal to expect this type of stuff when you are spending this type of money. With that said, any additional features shouldn't really be the deciding factor in your choice. Most of these things can be acquired for just about any pair of headphones out there. Still, those are all things that are cool to have.
Performance
As always, performance is what it's all about at the end of the day. With high end studio headphones, you have a choice. You can either go with high impedance models that will reach their peak performance only when plugged into a good amplifier, or a low impedance set. Each of these has their pros and cons which should be factored in your decision making process. For example, if you are someone who travels often and has to work on the go, low impedance headphones might be a much better solution for you. On the other hand, if you are mainly working from your studio, having that high impedance could be the right way to go.
When it comes to transparency, things get a bit more difficult. Before we get any further, let’s just say that almost all headphones in this segment of the market will be flat enough for mixing as well as recording music. There will, however be some differences based on your choice of headphones. Closed back headphones are usually more transparent than open back ones. On a similar note, open back headphones sacrifice some of that transparency on account of spatial definition and clarity.
After all, having a well defined sound stage is imperative for certain genres of music. As overwhelming as all of this sounds, having the option to fine tune these preferences is exactly what makes high end headphones so attractive.
The Final Word
Ultimately, high-end studio headphones are tools before anything else. What kind of tool you will need is something only you will know. We have shown you what we consider to be some of the best choices in this price range and it is safe to say that any of the headphones we’ve mentioned today will work very well in the studio no matter what.
Making the leap into these waters can be intimidating, but as long as you know what you want in terms of build, performance and comfort, you should end up with a perfect partner for long hours in front of a mixing desk.