What are the best headphones for studio monitoring under $200?

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Feb 19, 2019

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3 Options Considered

Best headphones for studio monitoring under $200?	Price	Type	Last Updated
60 Sony MDR 7506	$100	On/Over-Ears	Jan 15, 2018
-- Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro	$179.02	On/Over-Ears	Feb 19, 2019
51 Audio-Technica ATH-M50x	$149.99	On/Over-Ears	Nov 29, 2017

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score 16 · Answer 1

Sony MDR 7506

Top Pro

Bang for the buck

Despite being sub $100, the MDR 7506 can compete against headphones up to twice the price. These are great if you are just starting to get serious about your audio and you want a relatively inexpensive yet quality purchase. See More

Top Con

Can be very picky with audio sources

Due to how accurate sounding these are, you will be able to hear minute details from the sound, including hiss, distortion, and the like. To get the most out of these headphones for music enjoyment, you will want to have a great audio source. See More

Specs

Type:On/Over-Ears

Top Pro

Minimal sound leakage due to the closed back design

These leak very little sound compared to other over-ear headphones. The rear side of the ear cups is fully closed, which effectively minimizes sound leakage. With these, you can fully enjoy your music without disturbing people beside you. See More

Top Con

Cable is quite long and non-removable

The headphone cable is coiled and is about 10 feet long. This is great for studios, however walking around in public with these headphones on can be awkward. The cable cannot be removed and has no remote or mic. See More

Top Pro

Reliable headphones due to solid build quality

The MDR 7506 is built outstandingly well, with high quality materials and with little to no creaks and unnecessary flex. These headphones have been around since 1991, which has given Sony a lot of time to refine the manufacturing process of these cans. See More

Top Pro

Clean and balanced sound with smooth bass and detailed highs

The bass is just right. It may not have the deep sub-bass extension that bass heads crave for, but what is there is fast, tight and punchy. The mids are clear with a hint of warmth, which make vocals and guitars sound very clear and you can easily hear their sonic nuances . The reproduction of highs is the part that these headphones really shine. They are crystal clear and highly detailed without adding hiss or harshness to the overall sound. Cymbal crashes and pings, for example, are very close to what you would hear if they were played right in front of you. See More

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score 7 · Answer 2

Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro

Top Pro

Good soundstage for closed back headphones

The DT770 Pro, when amped properly, creates an open feeling sound stage that is very impressive for a headphone with a closed design. See More

Top Con

May require extra power/amplification for optimal sound

Depending on which model is purchased (16/80/250-ohm), your system may have trouble powering them to get a full sound and comfortable volume. 16/80-ohm should work fine in most systems. If not, you may need an external amplifier. See More

Keith Smith's Experience

Extremely comfortable due to the velour padded cups. I can wear them for hours without a problem. For the money you won't find a better sounding headphone. The highs are amazing but need to be broken in a little. Warm mids, and surprisingly good lows. You might need an app if you buy the higher ohm version. You should be ok with 80ohms. Does a nice job of not leaking too much sound since they are closed back. Rock, blues sound amazing. If you want your sound a little more open you might want the dt 880s or dt 990s. See More

Specs

Type:On/Over-Ears

Top Pro

Sits well over your ears

The DT770s are very comfortable to wear with its deep and spacious ear pads. The velour material used on these are smooth and breathable, and the thick foam provides ample cushioning. These headphones can be worn for long periods of time with no issues. See More

Top Con

Headband may not fit those with larger head sizes

While the Sennheiser's have headbands which can be adjusted to easily fit a 'hatsize 62/63' head, the DT770 Pro and DT990 Pro headbands may need tweaking to make them work for larger heads. See More

Top Pro

Impressive isolation and minimal sound leakage

The headphones offer impressive sound isolation, keeping exterior noise out and your music in. See More

Top Pro

Very comfortable because of the great quality materials on the headband and ear pads

These headphones are very comfortable to wear for long periods of listening to music. The ear pads feature velour material on the surface and soft foam inside. The headband has a leather outer layer with soft padding underneath. You can wear these headphones for hours without pain. See More

Top Pro

Great sound quality with deep and powerful bass

The bass is not overpowering. Instead, it is clean and controlled. The overall sound signature is focused on the bass but the mids and highs are in no way lacking either. See More

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score 12 · Answer 3

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Top Pro

Good value for your money as these headphones are feature packed for the price

You get a lot from what you pay for with these headphones. Aside from the great sound, they are also well built and come with a lot of accessories. See More

Top Con

Ear cups may be too small

The ear cups on the M50x are smaller than those on something like the 380HD or the DT 770 Pro. Your ears could end up touching the the inside of the headphones which can be uncomfortable for some. See More

Specs

Type:On/Over-Ears

Top Pro

Generally neutral sounding but with an added kick to the low end

The ATH-M50x are great sounding headphones with a sound that may fall in the neutral category, but with very slight boosts to the bass and highs; a slightly V-shaped sound. The bass is full and has a lot of power. The sub bass has a hint of elevation though, which can make the bass sound a bit loose on hip-hop or EDM tracks. The mids are fairly neutral with no elevation. The highs are also slightly elevated, which does not add harshness but instead gives the sound a shimmery and detailed feel. This sound signature of the M50x makes it versatile. It is neutral enough for monitoring use, yet also has just the right qualities to make it a great choice for enjoying music. See More

Top Pro

Stellar build quality

The ATH M50x is made from high quality matte plastics which are quite resistant to damage without being too heavy. The hinges move smoothly and do not have unnecessary creaks. See More

Top Pro

Lively sounding bass

The bass of these headphones sound full with a slight boost. This makes the bass quite punchy without drowning the mids or highs. See More

Top Pro

Great passive noise isolation

The ear cups and pads are able to keep the sound in and block outside noise. These are suitable for a noisy office as even low volume music is enough to drown out those noisy office mates. See More

Top Pro

Detachable cables

Audio-Technica finally updated the M50's built in cable to a detachable cable. The M50x even comes with three cables, a 1.2 m - 3.0 m coiled cable, a 3.0 m straight cable, and a 1.2 m straight cable. None of the cables have in-line controls though. See More

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What are the best headphones for studio monitoring under $200?

3 Options Considered

Sony MDR 7506

My Recommendation for Sony MDR 7506

My Recommendation for Sony MDR 7506

Bang for the buck

Can be very picky with audio sources

Minimal sound leakage due to the closed back design

Cable is quite long and non-removable

Reliable headphones due to solid build quality

Clean and balanced sound with smooth bass and detailed highs

Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro

My Recommendation for Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro

My Recommendation for Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro

Good soundstage for closed back headphones

May require extra power/amplification for optimal sound

Sits well over your ears

Headband may not fit those with larger head sizes

Impressive isolation and minimal sound leakage

Very comfortable because of the great quality materials on the headband and ear pads

Great sound quality with deep and powerful bass

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

My Recommendation for Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

My Recommendation for Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Good value for your money as these headphones are feature packed for the price

Ear cups may be too small

Generally neutral sounding but with an added kick to the low end

Stellar build quality

Lively sounding bass

Great passive noise isolation

Detachable cables

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