For those who want to check the claim that full-size headphones in a branded design are the ideal choice for sound accuracy throughout the entire range and noise insulation performance in a closed case, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with our list. It contains the most rated models from the point of view of critics and users, which we hope will be able to shake your imagination.
Criteria for selecting headphones for monitoring
When choosing monitor headphones, consider the following parameters:
- Type of acoustic design. According to the type of acoustics, headphones are open, closed and semi-open. Open ones not only play music, but also pick up external sounds. As a result, a person can hear everything that happens in the environment. This option is suitable for games, but not for recording vocals.
Closed-back headphones are the exact opposite, as their earcups are completely enclosed on the outside. Closed models are used to record sound, but the ears get tired quickly in them. Semi-open ones combine the features of open and closed models.
- Amplitude-frequency response. The smoother it is, the clearer the speakers transmit sound, without distortions towards high or low frequencies.
- Connection type. These accessories are either wired or wireless. The first ones are great for working in the studio. Wireless models are universal, because... They can also be used outdoors.
Sven AP-945MV – budget stayer
This device is intended for use not only with mobile gadgets, but also with computer equipment. Thanks to the microphone, it can act as a headset. What attracts attention in the design is not the classic round cups trimmed with leatherette, but the absolutely ergonomic, without protrusions or corners, plastic headband, which is customarily adjustable for a comfortable head circumference. The sound picture is linear, without interruptions, especially when using a high-quality card.
Advantages:
- wired;
- closed;
- operating range 18 – 20000 Hz;
- speakers 40 mm;
- sensitivity 105 dB;
- directional microphone;
- single-sided wire 1.2 m long;
- straight standard mini-jack;
- PC adapter;
- weight 215 g;
- cost from 800 rub.
Flaws:
- microphone location.
Recommendations: 6 best headphones with good bass, 6 best studio headphones, How to properly warm up headphones and whether you need to do it
The best monitor headphone companies
There are dozens of manufacturers producing monitor headphones. The top five firms are as follows:
- Sennheiser is a popular German company founded back in 1945. Sennheiser headphones are reliable, durable, and have balanced sound characteristics;
- AKG is an Austrian manufacturer founded more than 70 years ago. As a rule, they produce mid-budget equipment;
- Sony is a Japanese company whose headphones are famous for their clear sound and reliable build;
- Marshall is an English company that produces music amplifiers and speaker systems. Founded in 1962;
- Audio – Technica is another Japanese brand, one of the leaders in terms of production of audio equipment.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x for dudes
Full-size headphones look quite aesthetically pleasing, if not branded. Elements of corporate style are present on the closed cups and the massive-looking but comfortable headband, reminding us that this is not consumer goods and promising appropriate quality. Excellent compatibility with smartphones and portable audio equipment is expressed in decent sound with a rich midrange, without sharp dissonance with the upper and lower notes. The folding design allows you to compactly place the device in a case or bag.
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Advantages:
- full size;
- closed;
- wired;
- operating range 15 – 28000 Hz;
- folding model;
- sensitivity 99 dB;
- 45 mm speakers
- 3 detachable cords of different types and lengths;
- standard mini-jack input;
- adapter 6.3 mm.
Flaws:
- sound insulation quality;
- weight 284 g;
- cost from 8000 rub.
Marshall Monitor wireless
The folding design of the gadget, the presence of a microphone and other pleasant bonuses from the manufacturer, along with the wireless mode, make the model necessary for music lovers who prefer an active lifestyle. The closed type and deep ear pads of the proprietary ergonomic shape cut off extraneous noise and help you enjoy detailed sound as much as possible. Bass connoisseurs, according to users, will be a double winner. All that remains is to choose the right compatible device to unlock the full potential of the headphones.
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Advantages:
- wireless;
- closed;
- folding;
- operating range 20 – 20000 Hz;
- 2 microphones;
- there is a volume control and a control button;
- AptX technology;
- detachable cord;
- sensitivity 92 dB;
- work 30 hours without recharging within a radius of 10 m;
- speakers 40 mm;
- standard 3.5 mm input;
- removable ear pads.
Flaws:
- work with only one device at a time;
- cost from 15,000 rub.
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Which designs are more convenient to fit?
- Full-size – the most comfortable option. The ear pads do not touch the ears, but rather cover the ears like a dome. Large dimensions and design features evenly distribute the load on the head.
- Vacuum ones are less comfortable to wear. To ensure that the earbuds can be worn for hours, you need to carefully select the ear pads. The tips must fit the size of the ear canal and be soft. It is better if the wire does not hang down, but is directed up and behind the ear. This design reduces the likelihood of “plugs” falling out of the ear.
- On-ears are considered the most uncomfortable because the overlays put pressure on the ears. Manufacturers make the ear pads soft, using foam rubber, velor and other materials that are pleasant to the touch; it is difficult to spend more than 4-5 hours in such headphones.
However, choosing comfortable headphones is not as simple as it seems at first glance. In addition to planting, operating conditions must be taken into account. If the model will be used with a gaming computer, then full-size models are preferable. But if you need headphones for sports, it is better to buy a lightweight device that connects to your phone or player via Bluetooth.
How to make headphones more comfortable
To make your headphones more comfortable, you need to choose suitable ear pads. The set often includes 2-4 pairs, differing in size. If you couldn’t choose from the set, buy attachments separately. They sell ear pads made of soft polymer material with a “memory effect” that takes the shape of a specific person’s ear canal.
If the model has a headband, then it is better to purchase a version with height adjustment. If there is no soft cover for the hoop, you can easily make it yourself from fabric or a strip of foam rubber.
height adjustment
Problems with the comfort of wearing full-size devices often arise among people who wear glasses. There are no special devices for reducing pressure on the ears of glasses, but you can make slits yourself in the soft pads of the ear pads for the temples.
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Station wagons Sennheiser HD 201
The design of the accessory is no frills, but it doesn’t look cheap either. This is a budget option with optimal technical characteristics. The elongated ear pads are not rotatable, but can be placed comfortably with the help of an adjustable headband. The sound retains its natural brightness at the midrange level, the bass lacks depth, and the upper notes lack development. The excellent equipment level does not let you forget that this is a model from a branded manufacturer.
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Advantages:
- wired;
- closed;
- operating range 18 – 21000 Hz;
- double-sided cord 3 m long;
- sensitivity 108 dB;
- gold plated standard input;
- adapter 6.3 mm;
- light – 165 g;
- choice of colors;
- cost from 1000 rub.
Flaws:
- quiet sound;
- There are minor defects in build quality.
Signature Sennheiser sound technologies
The German company Sennheiser is engaged in its own developments in the field of sound, offering very original solutions. As a rule, the company's headphones use their own custom-designed emitters.
A striking example is the XWB (similar headphones are presented in the professional/audiophile IE series). Extra-wideband speakers allow you to create a single audio scene with a very wide range, rather than putting it together piecemeal using multiple drivers. This approach simultaneously freed the headphones from sound distortion, so models made using Extra Wide Bandwidth technology play impeccably clean.
There are a lot of headphones with open acoustic design in the Sennheiser lines. They have a more atmospheric sound and no resonance from the cabinets. In full-size and overhead models, this is achieved by replacing blind cups with mesh ones. But even the company’s traditionally “closed” in-channel plugs have bass reflexes in their miniature cases. They provide the same rich, but not booming bass, which is usually unavailable to compact-format headphones.
The Germans also have their own approach to noise reduction. NoiseGard technology removes external sounds very delicately. There's no oppressive vacuum or digital noise if you turn on ANC without music. Not all audio equipment manufacturers manage to achieve proper operation of active noise cancelers.
Monitor (full size)
The largest and most bulky of all devices are called monitor or full-size. Despite this, for the most part they are very convenient, since these models are created for professionals - musicians, sound engineers, DJs, that is, people who work with sound. Therefore, the headphones should not cause discomfort when worn for long periods of time.
Headband arc
The most important element of comfort. Monitor arcs are usually quite wide, made of plastic, metal, or a combination of both. The part adjacent to the head is soft. The most common material for its manufacture is polyurethane foam, sometimes covered with leather or fabric.
The headphones themselves not only move in an arc up and down, but also usually have the ability to rotate slightly around a vertical axis. All these factors allow you to optimally adjust their fit on the head.
Ear pads
They cover the entire ear and are pressed tightly against the head, completely isolating the listener from surrounding noise.
REFERENCE. When making ear pads for expensive headphones, as a rule, genuine leather is used, sometimes from very exotic animals. Simpler models use leather substitutes.
Considering the quality of modern materials, it can be very difficult to distinguish eco-leather from real leather. And this hardly affects the sound quality significantly.
The surface of the ear pads in direct contact with the listener's head is usually perforated. This is done for ventilation.
Occasionally there are ear pads made of suede or fabric, which are also well ventilated.
Bowls
As a rule, they are made of high quality plastic, usually with decorative metal elements.
Although there is an opinion that the best bowls are made from expensive wood. For example, sakura from the southern slope of Fuji, cut down at sunset during the flowering period.
This is not a joke - there are quite a few stores on the Internet offering to replace stock bowls with wooden ones. The choice is not too large, but wooden bowls are not difficult to find for the most popular headphone models.
Unlike ear pads, the material of the cups affects the sound quality, although a non-specialist most likely will not notice the difference.
The wire
The wire of monitor headphones, like all other components, is monumental. This is an indestructible design, usually made of low-oxygen copper, stranded and shielded.
IMPORTANT! The thicker the cable, the lower the resistance and, accordingly, the less sound loss. However, a very thick cable is overkill. Therefore, the standard cable diameter for “monitors” is 5–8 millimeters.
Cable plug(s)
Typically these parts are gold plated, which is believed to also have a positive effect on sound quality. On monitor headphones, the cable is usually connected on one side. Often it is removable, and you can connect it to both the right and left headphones.
The cable is usually twisted and looks like a wire from an old push-button telephone. Do not pay attention to the technical characteristics of the cable. It, of course, affects the quality, but not so significantly that it can be noticed.
Concluding the description of monitor headphones, it is worth warning - do not expect any transcendental sound from them. This class of headphones is created precisely in order to transmit it as accurately as possible. Therefore, a set of very expensive headphones also requires a good source. For example, if headphones cost fifty thousand, and a player costs ten, then you shouldn’t count on high-quality sound with the finest nuances.
A huge disadvantage of “monitors” is the price. The most expensive ones on the Market cost 439 thousand rubles.
Results
The professional headphone models in question received the following ratings:
| Model / Characteristics | Sound | Noise insulation | Design | Wear resistance and durability | Weight | Average score |
| Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Sennheiser HD 280 Pro | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4,2 |
| Audio-Technica ATH-M50X | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4,2 |
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50X and Sennheiser HD 280 Pro have the same average score. However, Sennheiser headphones will not reveal their full potential when paired with a smartphone due to their relatively high impedance.
ATH-M50X is a more versatile model. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro sound decent at medium volumes and are also robustly built.
