Best Budget Studio Headphones

Shure SRH 440

• Don Makoviney
• Last Updated: September 5, 2020

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After over 30 hours of testing and consulting with audio engineers and studio owners, our pick for best $100 studio headphones is the Shure SRH 440. They have a great, flat, frequency response so audio tracks are not unnaturally colored. The build quality is durable, and the best sound quality for the price.

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There comes a time in every home producer’s life (pretty early on) where they realize “Wow my earbuds sound like garbage, I need some real headphones.”

We were all there once…

Finding a pair of headphones that works for you can be pretty overwhelming. There are A LOT of options and a good pair means you might have to spend a little extra. There are certain criteria’s our headphones should meet if we want them for tracking and mixing audio.

1. Open back or closed back headphones

There are two main types of headphones; open or closed back. Open backs will give a more natural sound because the air is able to flow around and let some outside noise in. While we love the natural sound of open back headphones for mixing, we do admit they’re not ideal for recording or tracking. There is often a lot of bleed from these headphones since sound can simply just escape from the back.

Closed back headphones are great for tracking and recording, but it’s hard to find a pair that will give as natural a sound as the open backed headphones. Oftentimes closed back headphones are equalized to a certain frequency response. They might boost up the bass a little or bring up some of the high end. A huge example of this is Beats by Dre. The only reason people think they sound “amazing” is because the bass is extra boosted. But for mixing, these would be the WORST to choose.

2. Comfort

It might sound obvious, but you should think your headphones are comfortable. You’ll be wearing them a lot and if they don’t fit properly, you’re gonna be mad. You’ll want big plushy pads on the ear cups. If they’re touching or pressing down on your ears too firmly, you’re gonna feel the pain once you take them off. The lighter your headphones are, the better they’ll feel. Once you get into bigger projects where you need an excellent comfy pair of headphones, you’re going to be thankful you took our recommendations.

Our Pick

For the majority of people, Shure’s SRH 440’s are the ultimate pair of headphones. For just $100 you get the most accurate sound out of any other headphones in this price range. Plus, they are incredibly comfortable. I’ve worn mine for hours on end without any complaints. I even find them more comfortable than my Audio Technica M70X’s at times ($300). One Amazon reviewer who designs speakers had this to say:

“Without doubt, these are the best of the bunch. Perceived dynamic range is unbelievably wide. These are in a different league in terms of clarity as well—perhaps, the KNS 6400 is close but also with weaknesses. Treble is sometimes a little on the bright side, but not as bright as the KNS6400’s. Some people may find them bright with bright recordings, but the headphones should not be blamed for that. These produce very neutral and accurate sound. Bass is sufficient and often pleasantly strong in the mid- and upper bass regions, but deeper bass is not covered by these cans. Most music recordings do not contain this deep bass, anyway.”

Runner Ups

Audio Technica M40X

The Audio Technica M40X’s are another one of our favorites at MSCGR. They definitely win in the comfort department. The M40X’s have the most padding out of the whole MX line. The ear cups are so soft I forget I’m wearing them half the time. Their sound quality is superb, and these headphones will last you for the long haul. Some of my producer friends use these as their main headphones and have had the same pair for 5+ years! 

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro

These are our top choice for mixing headphones for a good reason! They’re the best budget open back headphones you can get on the market. Like we stated earlier, open back headphones do come with some problems when tracking. There does tend to be a lot of bleed, so sometimes it’s best to find a budget pair of closed back headphones to track with. Mixing with the DT 990’s is seriously life changing when you come from closed back headphones. Purchase a pair of these bad boys and you won’t regret it.

Ultra Budget Option

Audio Technica M20X

Sometimes you need a couple pairs of headphones for spares, or a cheap pair to track with before you mix with your open backed headphones. In that case, our favorite pair for under $50 is the M20X’s. They’re super comfortable, have a pretty flat frequency response and balanced sound.

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Tell Me If There's A Deal For This

Originally published: September 16th, 2014

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