Today’s guide will cover the 11 best studio headphones for gaming in 2023 for all gamers who love to multitask.
Whether gaming or in the studio, you need world-class products to deliver the output that can help you ace the game called life.
A neutral sound profile is a must for studio recording, and an accurate sound stage can genuinely set your console on fire.
But can you find all such features in one single headset? Let’s find that out!
Best Studio Headphones For Gaming: An Overview
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X – Super Sound
- Although it lacks ANC, it still delivers a best-in-class audio experience.
- Comfortable.
- Brilliant design
- Very popular studio headphones.
GRADO SR80e Prestige Series – Best for Sound Quality
- Lightweight design
- Provides jack converter
- Audiophile headphones
- Bit expensive due to the quality material used.
- Great Sound.
- Bass is more profound and more precise in lows
Philips Audio SHP9500 – Budget Pick
- Budget-friendly
- 3.5mm jack
- Stereo sound experience
- Earpieces are nicely padded
- Great for studio, not for outdoor
- Ear cups are made of high-quality plastic
- Durable
- Great Sound Quality
- Adjustment is tight, but with regular use, it would be managed
Sennheiser HD800S – Premium Pick
- Copper wire wrapped with Kevlar
- Microfiber coating
- True surrounding sound experience
- 56 mm dynamic drivers
- Great audio quality
- It doesn’t create warmness around the Ears
- The treble, the deep Bass is clear and has great accuracy
- Leather scarf
- Sounds bit impartial
- Fine detailing
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro – Budget Pick
- Closed-back design
- The highs are clear
- No crack or distortion in high pitches
- Budget-Friendly
- Replaceable Earpads
- Lighting Control
- Matte Gunmetal protection
- Appreciable Microphone
- Great Bluetooth connectivity
- ANC feature enabled
- Easy to Carry
- Self-adjusting wing aid
- Newly designed 53 mm dynamic drivers
- Worthy Product
- Elegant Design
- Produce the cleanest and maximum exquisite sound
- Headphones have incredible lows and sturdy mids.
- Tough wires
- Sturdy look
- Lacks on highs
- Sennheiser HD 598s has an extensive sound degree
- Although the treble is not too boosted, it contributes to no small degree to the general sound pleasant.
- Cable is removable
- Only usable in a closed environment
- Not good at high Bass
References For Further Reading:
- Best Studio Headphones For Gaming: An Overview
- The ONLY Studio Headphones Buying Guide You Need In 2023 [Seriously!]
- Detailed Reviews of Top 11 Studio Gaming Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: Super Sound
- GRADO SR80e Prestige Series: Best for Sound Quality
- Philips SHP9500: Budget Pick
- Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR: For Big Heads
- Sennheiser HD800S: Premium Pick
- AKG K702: A Masterpiece?
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Budget Pick
- JBL Quantum 800BL: For Better Performance
- Audio-Technica AD700x: Simply Flawless!
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro: The Gaming Boss!
- Sennheiser HD598: Noise Not Tolerated
- Studio Headphones Frequently Asked Questions
The ONLY Studio Headphones Buying Guide You Need In 2023 [Seriously!]
Price is a significant parameter that we consider while buying headphones for gaming.
However, affordability varies from individual to individual. So I have curated this buying guide for you with five critical features other than price.
Sound Quality
What would a game be without good sound quality? The sound quality offered by gaming headsets is a significant factor when buying headphones. These are usually as important to gamers as the graphics of the game.
So it would be best if you first considered what kinds of games you mostly play. If it is the First Person Shooter (FPS) game, you should go for headphones or headsets with surround-sound technology.
For FPS gamers, surround sound helps identify the enemy’s location and increases the thrill of the game. The gunshots and bombings in the game also seem realistic with this sound technology.
Also, check if the headphones have noise-cancellation features or not. It is essential for games where you must concentrate the entire playing time. The two terms you will hear the most while checking for this feature would be “Active Noise Cancellation” and “Passive Noise Isolation.”
ANC uses technology to cancel the external sounds, while PNI focuses on the physical attributes of the headphones that could block the external sounds. Go for headphones with a tight fit and closed backs, at least around the ear cup region and headbands.
Comfortable To Wear
You should never compromise on your comfort while playing, especially for the headset you are using, as it might affect your ears and your performance in the game.
Here’s the deal:
The headphones should not be too loose or too tight. It should not keep on falling from your head every 10 seconds. Ensure that the headset you buy has good adjustment levels and soft cushioning for the ear cups.
Take the clamping force (the force that the headphones exert on your head) into consideration as well. Ensure that this clamping force is neither too strong nor too weak as it may cause inconvenience and discomfort.
Build Quality
This aspect determines your gaming headphones’ durability, weight, and comfort. No gamer would play for an hour a week. Gamers continuously play video games for hours and hours, which hardly includes any breaks. All this is done almost every day.
So it is inevitable that your headphones will wear and tear with time and use.
That is why you should buy gaming headsets with good durability, a strong build, and quality design features that can suit the continuous long hours of use.
Check out the material of the ear cups and headband too. The ideal headband for gamers would be an all-metal headband. The high-quality plastic that is sometimes used for headbands is not as durable as the all-metal ones.
The ear cups should be soft enough not to cause pain or rashes around the ears. The ideal materials are leather, foam, and pleather. If your prime focus is durability, you should go for ear cups made of leather.
Weight is an essential factor in determining headsets’ build and comfort. Lighter headphones are suitable for prolonged gaming sessions, while stronger, thicker, and heavier headsets are slightly inconvenient but good in terms of durability and give you gamer vibes.
Connectivity
Connectivity will majorly depend on if your headphones are wired or wireless. Wired gaming headphones are usually lighter in weight than wireless headsets. They typically do not have connectivity issues unless the cable or pin is damaged.
On the other hand:
Wireless headsets use Bluetooth technology or a USB dongle for connectivity. While you can sit in any posture in the specified range of the wireless headset, there may be Bluetooth connectivity issues sometimes.
Wired headsets do not need charging or much maintenance, while wireless headphones should be appropriately managed, including the battery. Moreover, wireless headsets are usually compatible with more devices and platforms than wired headsets.
Accuracy In Sound
Although sound quality is an important parameter to be considered while buying gaming headsets, sound accuracy is much more important, especially for FPS gamers. The surround sound technology of gaming headsets sometimes distorts the sound.
Headphones that offer noise cancellation or isolation features help a lot in terms of the accuracy of the sound of your games.
Make sure that you try the gaming headsets first before buying them to check their accuracy in terms of sound.
Detailed Reviews of Top 11 Studio Gaming Headphones
That’s all our curated buying guide has to offer. Now, let’s head over to detailed reviews of our Top 11 choices:
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: Super Sound
It cannot happen that you are an audiophile and haven’t heard the name M50X. They are one of the most recommended types of headphones for studios in the world and that’s for a reason.
Why Buy Ath-M50X?
These are some reasons why Ath-M50x beat every other headphone in the market by a mile, including Audio-Technica’s own 3.5 mm connector headphones.
They claim 40 hours of battery life for a full charge of 7 hours to enjoy extended hours of listening.
Each headphone comes with three headphone cables with 3.5 mm jacks. It additionally consists of a quarter-inch adaptor with which you can join an audio interface or a higher-grade gear.
In nutshell, there’s no way you will do wrong buying this audiophile delight even for gaming. The accurate sound response of Ath-M50 will help you listen to vital cues in shooting games with remarkable accuracy.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Brilliant for passive noise isolation.
- Good for gaming thanks to their accurate emphasis on decreasing and higher-stop notes.
- Comfortable for long hours of usage with quality ear padding.
- Attractive design.
Cons
- Tend to make ears sweaty in humid conditions.
- No active noise cancellation
Also Read: Best White Gaming Headset
GRADO SR80e Prestige Series: Best for Sound Quality
What will you say if I tell you there is something better than M50x?
I’m not kidding, Grado SR80e is often rated to be better in sound performance than the hyped M50x, but there’s more in its arsenal.
Why Buy Grado SR80e?
They are super-lightweight, include jack converters that can plug into your house stereo system, and are surprisingly excellent for dedicated gameplay.
The only drawback? They are damn expensive!
Also, this Grado headphone has poor noise isolation because it isn’t good at canceling ambient noise, which is the case with all open-back headphones.
GRADO SR80e Prestige Series: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Detailed bass-filled sound quality with stable tones.
- Lightweight and comfortable for long hours of use thanks to their black foam pads.
Cons
- Headphone plugs aren’t up to the mark.
Philips SHP9500: Budget Pick
Enough of expensive “high-quality headphones”; we are no sons of Bill Gates.
Philips has read your heart and developed their decent SHP9500 over-ear headphones that can be paired with multiple devices but don’t break your bank account.
Why Buy Philips SHP9500?
Their sound performance is good enough to cross multiple levels of any action-packed game.
What more do you need? Here’s the list of devices it supports for pairing:
Game anywhere, anytime!
Philips SHP9500: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Detailed sound profile for neutral listening.
- Sufficiently padded for a comfortable experience.
- Budget price.
Cons
- Not suitable for traveling use (which gamers don’t need btw).
- Bulky design.
Also Read: Best Gaming Headset For Glasses Wearers
Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR: For Big Heads
Have a big head? No issues; H2HR has got you covered.
Why Buy Philips Audio X2HR?
Its improved adjustable headband is designed to fit your big head thanks to its more oval-shaped appearance.
What will you find unboxing these Philips headphones?
Quick Note: Despite the name Philips, these over-ear headphones were produced by Gibson for a short period.
Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Spacious earcups.
- Sound profile that perfectly suits gaming.
- Durable design.
Cons
- Not very comfortable.
Sennheiser HD800S: Premium Pick
Many things in HD800S can delight gamers, so we will reveal all of them one by one.
(And no, we won’t call it “godly” as they don’t quite fit your bill).
Why Buy the Sennheiser HD800S?
Long story short: HD800S is nothing short of a goldmine for gamers!
Sennheiser HD800S: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent sound performance with spacious sound stage and surround sound.
- Guaranteed comfort with large earcups.
- Wired 10-foot-length copper cable included.
Cons
- Breaks your bank.
Also Read: Top Runmus Gaming Headset
AKG K702: A Masterpiece?
AKG is a brand known for making durable studio headphones. And there are good reasons why K702 is one of its finest creations.
Why Buy AKG K702?
No wonder musicians love them, and gamers use them with surprise!
AKG K702: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Directional sound for vita gaming cues.
- 3D foam ear-cup design.
- Brilliant retro look.
- Neutral sound response.
Cons
- Bulky design
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Budget Pick
The top customer review for this closed-back headphone is titled: “Not for everyone” but then why it’s in our list?
Why Buy DT 990 Pro?
DT 990 Pro offers awesome features like a good resolution, V-shaped wide-range frequency response, and a comfortable ear design.
The best part?
This high-quality studio gaming headphones compete with other types of headphones 3x its price.
So, if everything is brilliant, why it’s not for everyone?
First, that’s the personal feedback of one among the many customers. He advised that this Beyerdynamic classic isn’t for “an analytical or “laid-back” sound.
So, I leave the decision up to you. This pros-cons list will help you further:
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Crisp and detailed sound.
- Nice and well-built design.
- Quality headphones within the budget.
- Comfortable and lightweight design (Customers call them “light as a feather”).
Cons
- Detachable cable not included.
JBL Quantum 800BL: For Better Performance
Don’t be swayed by negative customer reviews; as you go through the end of this detailed review, I’ll explain why its pros outperform its cons.
They claim 14 hours of battery life with approximately 2 hours of charging.
Why Buy JBL 800BL?
Still not satisfied? Let’s head over to:
JBL Quantum 800BL: Pros and Cons:
Pros
- Bass-filled sound profile.
- Solid build and design.
- Good mic performance.
- Bluetooth connectivity.
Cons
- ANC feature needs improvement.
Audio-Technica AD700x: Simply Flawless!
Another Audio-Technica wired headphone on our giant list, now I’m getting tired.
Let’s wrap things up by listing their top features here:
Why Buy AD700x?
Audio-Technica AD700x: Pros and Cons
Pros
- The sound performance is promising.
- Works well in FPS games.
- Convenient and comfortable to use.
- Wired connectivity
Cons
- Warranty not sufficient.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro: The Gaming Boss!
Here’s a quick riddle: Why Beyerdynamic DT series is getting repeated in our recommendations?
Simple, they are too good to ignore.
Why Buy DT 770 Pro?
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Secured fit for long use.
- Detailed audio performance.
- Durable like a tank.
- No need for an amp.
Cons
- Bass performance isn’t up to the mark.
Sennheiser HD598: Noise Not Tolerated
This is our last recommendation in this list but HD 598s noise-canceling headphones are any dedicated gamer’s “love at first sight”.
And no, I’m no fan of cheap romantic web series. Sennheiser’s compelling features will help you to “fall in love” with this pair of headphones.
Why Buy HD598?
Sennheiser HD598: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Clean sound performance.
- Comfortable to wear with velour ear cups.
- Detachable cable included.
- Easy to carry on the go.
Cons
- Bass performance is a little less exciting.
The Best Gaming Headsets aren’t “gaming” headsets. Check out the video to find out more!
Studio Headphones Frequently Asked Questions
How does directional audio work in video games?
The human brain cannot identify delays shorter than 30 milliseconds. Video game audio uses clever delays and reverb features to make the sound directional. A directional sound is a sound that seems to be coming from a particular direction.
Is the spatial sound good for gaming?
The effect that gives you the impression of sound coming from three dimensions is spatial audio. It best supports surround sound technology, which is considered a good feature in terms of gaming. In conclusion, spatial sound is very much compatible with gaming.
Is 3D audio good for gaming?
Of course, it is good for gaming! Three-dimensional audio helps with the surround sound and makes the gamer feel inside the game.
It is even a more fantastic option for FPS and action game players, as the location of the enemy or any incoming attacks can be heard more clearly, which will help the players stay alert.’
Gaming headsets and headphones that offer three-dimensional audio features are usually the quality audio devices you should buy.
What is the difference between gaming headsets and audiophile headphones?
Gaming headphones are usually heavier, have a stronger build, and have a built-in microphone. It typically features surround sound and noise cancellation technology.
In contrast to gaming headphones, audiophile headphones are lighter and are suitable for music, with a balanced combination of bass and treble.
Is bass needed for gaming?
Bass is essential for gaming. In fact, bass can make a difference between life and death. Most gaming headsets feature adjustable bass levels, improving the headphones’ sound accuracy.
About the Author
Rach Wellard
Rach Wellard is the driving force behind Sound & Solitude. Her mission is to help you discover the profound impact of sound in your daily life and to explore the beauty of solitude. With a deep passion for the connection between soundscapes and emotions, she brings a unique blend of expertise and personal dedication to our platform.
Rach understands that every individual's auditory journey is unique, and she’s here to guide you every step of the way. As a devoted audiophile, Rach’s discerning ear carefully selects the most exceptional products that align with your desires for Sound or Solitude. In a world filled with noise and chaos, Sound & Solitude serves as your sanctuary.
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At Sound & Solitude, authenticity is our foundation. We provide unbiased reviews and comparisons because you deserve nothing but the truth. Our reviews are meticulously crafted, drawing upon Rach’s deep understanding of audio technology and the human experience in the Sound and Solitude realms. Whether you're searching for noise-cancelling headphones to immerse yourself in music or seeking a gaming headset that transports you to virtual worlds, you can rely on our reviews and personally tested comparisons to find the best equipment for your specific needs. Explore our carefully curated content, from the latest wireless audio advancements to tips for creating your ideal auditory retreat.
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