Different Types of Headphones and Earphones for Pros or Home Studio

Musicians and sound engineers use different types of headphones for various purposes, from casual listening to precise studio mixing. The next question would be, “What are my options?”

As musicians and sound engineers, we’ve been blessed with different types of headphones for different purposes. Firstly, we have the average headphones that are undeniably great for easy listening. This serves as a direct line to the listener’s ears, giving us insights into how they want to hear the music. Secondly, we have studio-type headphones that provide clarity and precision so we can mix better.

However, all things considered, they need to be further defined. What’s the difference anyway?

The goal of this article is to provide a quick overview of types of headphones so it would be easier for you to determine which consumer or studio headphones best suit you. After all, we from the pro audio space need the best of both.

Let’s start.

Types Of Headphones: Consumer vs Studio Headphones

Consumer Types of Headphones and Earphones

You’ve probably heard a friend rave about the amazing bass and treble response of a Sony WH-1000XM4 or the active noise-canceling capabilities of a Bose QC 35. The aim is to provide the best listening experience to the average person.

The evolution of headphones has a long history of design and style changes as well. To sum it up, here are the common ones you’ll probably encounter:

• In-ear headphones or earbuds– As the name implies are types of earphones that go directly to the ear canal. They’re like earplugs that seal your ears shut but with sound. Ear buds are light and comfortable, making them portable and great for long listening sessions. Note that earphones are a great way to do real-world tests on your tracks, as many of your listeners will probably be listening through earphones. This is an important consideration in the Headphones vs Earphones discussion.
• Over-ear headphones: They create a seal over the ears, cupping away the outside sounds for better noise isolation. It also provides better audio quality because of its bigger speakers or drivers.
• Noise-canceling headphones: They are special types of headphones that eliminate outside noise. They have built-in microphones that actively listen to the noise, creating an inverted version of the sound waves. As a result, it significantly reduces external noise. They come in ear and over-ear versions as well.

Studio Monitor Headphone Types

The question is, why do sound engineers need studio headphones? Can’t we just mix our songs in normal headphones?

Since consumer headphones vary in sound quality you need special headphones that serve as a point of reference.

Raw mixes need to be played back exactly as they are, so you’ll need a pair of headphones with a balanced sound. If you mix with consumer headphones, they tend to emphasize certain frequencies, which may impact your mixing decisions. So, if you want your mixes to have excellent sound quality and balance, you’ll have to go for studio monitor headphones.

Enhancing the sound isn’t the goal for studio headphones. In fact, it is considered detrimental to music production. The best studio headphones aim to project the sound to your ears as transparently as possible so you can make the correct adjustments when mixing. These types of headphones are known to have a “flat response.”

In-home studios, you will often use the same monitor headphones for both recording and mixing. This is the reason why studio headphones are categorized differently and are highly recommended for those who are into recording studio equipment and producing music.

Headphones are mainly categorized in terms of how open or closed the ear cups (or ear cans) are, resulting in three main types which include: Closed Back, Open Back, and Semi-Open. Below we provide some insights into each of these ear cup configurations as well as their pros and cons. We also added a section that talks about USB and wireless headphones.

Closed Back Headphones

Closed-back headphones are the most common type used in studios. The reason is simple. Its solid ear cup prevents sound from leaking out, and it also isolates the listener from outside sound.

The best closed-back headphones make it perfect for vocalists and musicians who record while listening to a guide track in the studio. It reduces the risk of sound leaking into the microphone. Producers and sound engineers can also benefit from the sonic detail that isolation provides, allowing them to focus more on minute details that would otherwise be lost.

Finally, this can be useful when listening in areas where noise is unavoidable. When you’re in a busy studio or in a commuter train, you need the sound isolation that this type of on-ear headphones provides.

On the flip side, closed-back headphones tend to be heavier because of their solid design, which can be a drag when used for long periods. More importantly, due to their lack of natural space and room acoustics, the resulting sound can sometimes be dry or too raw sounding, which after listening in for some time can cause ear fatigue. This is the reason why musicians and sound engineers are advised to have breaks when working on a project, to rest their ears.

Closed-back headphones can also have a tendency to ‘trap’ bass frequencies and therefore over-emphasize them, which is why in professional studios this type is often not used for primary mixing duties but used as a reference – they are used for recording/tracking though. It can be similar to monitoring in a room with no bass traps.

All in all, the closed-back headphones are a valuable addition to any studio. It is imperative to at least have one of these handy before you get the other two types below.

Open Back Headphones

As the name suggests, these types of monitor over-ear headphones have fully open-ear can designs, with perforated metal serving as the cover. These openings allow outside sound to get to the listener. As a result, the additional natural ambiance makes it easy to mix for long periods.

Since the sound can go to the other side the harshness and dryness that are associated with closed-back headphones are reduced. Finally, the best open-back headphones also tend to be lighter. It’s a great plus when wearing your headphones for a long time. It’s an upside that reduces outside ear tension in longer mixing sessions.

Open-back headphones provide a more natural sound stage, particularly because they don’t artificially emphasize bass frequencies. For these reasons, when mixing and mastering are done on headphones, this type is usually used.

The downside is that it’s prone to sound leakage and unwanted noise. They’re not suitable to use when recording/tracking because sound leaks into live mics.

Semi-Open Back Headphones

It would be nice if semi-open headphones truly let you enjoy the “best of both worlds.” Technically speaking, they’re just open-back headphones with partly opened cans. In theory, they get some of the benefits of fully open-back headphones, while also reducing its unwanted effects. The aim is, to have a sort of milder, in-between version. Still, they are in demand because they provide a good compromise for those who want some ambiance in their headphones but do not want too much of it.

Outside noise, however, does vary in different situations. Thus, it ends up being normal open-back headphones.

Since sound still leaks from partly open-ear cans, they won’t meet the requirements for quiet recordings, although they are sometimes used for recording vocals to give the singers a more ‘natural’ sound to sing to. They can provide decent noise isolation when listening to music on the go, although not as good as closed-back. Like open-back headphones, you’ll need a quiet studio environment to enjoy its ambient sound when mixing and mastering.

Honorable Mention: In-Ear Monitors

In-ear monitors or IEMs are special earpieces that go through the inner ear for live performances and sometimes even for studio recordings. They serve as a great alternative for traditional floor monitors on stage as they reduce feedback and provide the musician with a better listening experience. It’s been a go-to for stadium-type settings because it delivers better noise isolation and a focused sound directly to the ears.

Headphones Connectivity

The best headphone brand sets come with 1/8″ or 1/4″ jacks, but there are some that connect via USB, and there are a few that connect wirelessly.

USB headphones, like USB speakers, have an analog to digital converters built into them, which allows them to convert digital audio signals into the analog sound that you hear. While these USB-type C headphones and speakers are good enough for most listeners, they are not up to par with studio headphones when it comes to sound fidelity. And many place the blame on the miniature A/D converters they use, which are mostly designed to please the listening public, instead of reproducing sound as clearly and transparently as possible.

Thanks to improvements in wireless connectivity, companies like Apple no longer see the need for a 1/4″ output port for wired headphones and earphones. But this is not the case when it comes to recording, where audio professionals still cling to their trusted cable. Still, there are some manufacturers who have been putting out wireless studio headphones, albeit relatively few. The same issues with miniature A/D converters apply, on top of interference and reliability issues of wireless connections.

Having said all that, it doesn’t hurt to give these modern Bluetooth headphones a try, especially if they are from a reputable manufacturer. Most of these modern headphones also come with nifty features like noise cancellation which can reduce ambient noise, wireless app control, and more.

There are other headphone types available, including bone conduction headphones, a modern type of headphones that utilizes your bones to transmit sound directly to your inner ear.

Some headphones are designed specifically for use as guitar headphone amps. This headphone type is meant to connect directly to a guitar, with guitar amp features and controls.

Final Thoughts

Different types of headphones cater to a certain demographic for different reasons. Consumer headphones are for a better listening experience. On the other hand, to ensure quality mixes, we need studio headphones as a point of reference.

As musicians and music producers, having both is essential because it gives us both the listener’s and technician’s point of view.

We hope that this article helps shed light on the different headphone types and their connectivity so you have a good starting point when you’re looking to buy headphones for music production.