Best Headphones For Practicing Guitar (Jan 2023 Update)

This is my first pair of AKG headphones. I was going to purchase a modern pair when I read a review about the K240 Sextett which was so impressive, that I decided to see if I could locate a pair. Having found a used pair on E-bay for a very reasonable price ($79 shipped), decided to purchase them, since I was interested in seeing how well these cans would match up with some of my headphone amplifiers; including a Schiit Magni 3 and Little Dot MK2. First off, the physical condition of these roughly forty year headphones is quite good. And they are well constructed. Moreover, the leather ear pads appear to be original, yet, are in very good shape as are the headphones themselves; the only thing needing replacement here being the tiny rubber bands that allow for the adjustment of the AKGs. A nominal expense. As for the sound, this is a headphone that concentrates on the midrange, and whose clarity here is remarkable. There were three versions of the K240S designated EP, MP and LP for early production, middle production and late production. The earlier K240S has 6 orange colored passive radiators per speaker, and the MP and LP models are said to have white colored passive radiators. The EP version is said to be the most desirable of the three because of its ability to produce strong bass, while the latter two versions are said to be a bit shy in bass. The other attributes of the K240S are said to be similar in all three versions. I am not certain how to distinguish between the latter two models, however, the K240S that I purchased does have white colored passive radiators so it would have to be either the MP or LP version of the K240S. As for my K240S I have noticed the following: The midrange is glorious. The bass of this particular K240S is, surprisingly, *not particularly subtle, while the treble, while good, can become a bit shrill with a solid state headphone amplifier like the Schiit Magni 3 (the Magni 3 has been called a giant slayer and for good reason, since it offers Hi-End audio performance and excellent construction for a pittance -$99). *Some reviewers have claimed that the EP version has excellent bass, while the MP and LP version were lacking in this area. I have used the Magni 3 with several newer headphones from Sony, Grado, Koss, and Sharkk, and found it to work quite well with them. In fact, the Magni 3 is so popular that Schiit is constantly trying to meet the demand for this little gem – which often results in a waiting time of as much three weeks from the time it's ordered on their Website to the time it's shipped.While the Magni 3 did not match up quite to my expectations with the K240S, I've found that the Little Dot MK2 – a singled ended triode design – and the K240S are the proverbial match made in heaven; there is a synergy between these two components which results in a wonderful outcome. The warmth of instruments and voices through this pairing is not only palpable, but it also allows for hours of listening without listener fatigue. Moreover, in spite of its 600 ohm impedance, the AKG K240S is easily driven to very loud levels by the Little Dot, which bespeaks how well these components complement one another. *Of course with headphones one must be very careful not to damage one's hearing, so it is easier to start off with the headphones at a lower volume, and then gradually increase to a volume which is comfortable for you. I could continue to wax poetic about these AKGs, however, that would take away time from my listening sessions and enjoyment of them. So in closing I can say this much: If you can find a pair of Sextetts that are in good shape and being sold at a reasonable price, you might want to consider purchasing them before someone else does. Check E-bay's listing of sold items by typing AKG K240 Sextett into the search area, in order to get an idea of what these headphones are selling for. This way you can get an idea of what they are worth based on their condition, before you decide to bid on or purchase a pair. Keep in mind that relative to other versions of the K240, the Sextett is fairly rare and really is a special piece of Hi-Fi gear that has stood the test of time.camerasrfun

I’m an up and coming audiophile so I’ve been exploring some options for professional work, and I love these! They sound clear, and yeah, they don’t have heaps of base, but the base that is there isn’t crushed together, you can hear the really deep sub-bass, and the top end is awesome! The semi-open back design gives it such a wide sound its simply awesome! The cable is a little long, but it is removable so its not THAT big of a deal, plus the cable is really thick and durable. TLDR; Durable, sounds amazing, good for new audiophiles!Ezra

You're hearing what everyone else is hearing if you get these. That's a good thing in music. You slide these on and listen to a mix, you're hearing what everybody else involved in the record is hearing. You can even request that they listen through these. Most people will, and most people have a set of these. These are great for tracking vocals as well… I prefer closed back for vocals, but be warned, that's not for everyone, so have some earbuds and open backs handy for people who want to track vox with them. These are probably the flattest, most true to life sounding headphones of any manufacturer at any price point… The 40s were great, the 40xs are even better. Every thing is clear and even, but nothing is harsh or overbearing. Your ears get used to them really fast and extended sessions don't fatigue the ears. Fantastic value. These are better than the higher priced AT headphones in my opinion because they are indeed flat. Now, I know there are more "flat" headphones out there, but these are linear and flat in a musical way. They have life in their sound… so you still hear everything accurately, but nothing's dull or thin sounding either. And since the ears love them so much and adjust so quickly to them, you come to expect to hear everything through them because they're just so easy to listen to. And they tell you problems in tracking and mixing quickly, but they're never rude about it.Heylel Heosphoros

I bought a pair of ATH-M50's seven years ago, and I used them every day until they sadly gave out. However, considering the amount of use and abuse I put them through, that is perfectly acceptable. Anyway, I received a brand new pair of ATH-40x's several days ago, and I can whole-heartedly say that these headphones are excellent and almost up to par with my old M50's. They sound incredible and produce excellent, deep, and immersive sound. The only caveat that I've encountered is the standard earpads. They are firm and uncomfortable for prolonged listening sessions, an easy fix with a bit of research. Moreover, their construction isn't as sturdy as the ATH-M50's; however, a little "self-fusing" silicone tape applied to the sensitive plastic joints can give these headphones a longer life and enjoyment for many years. Nevertheless, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Headphones are the best "bang for the buck" headphones I've ever owned.marcelgerou

I waited a bit before writing this to really get a good view of these headphones. I had some issues along the way with them but everything is now sorted. Sound Quality: These headphones sound great for all kinds of things. I listen to a lot of music across a lot of types and the 702's have no issues sounding great for just about anything and everything I put through them. I will say it takes some time to break them in and you should be cautious for the first few weeks of listening as they can be initially harsh like any headphone out of the box. I was coming up from a pair of 240's and can really hear the difference. Comfort: The 702's are really easy to wear all day be it at work or for a recording session or if you are just lying around. They are on the bigger side but sit nicely on the head and dont weigh you down at all. The cups are soft and unobtrusive. Build Quality: While the headphones are made as well as any other consumer grade product these days mine were not issue free. First off I must say that I understand there are duds in any batch and if that was the only issue then so be it. However AKG (Harmon) ultimately serviced the headphones and did a very poor job which was somewhat frustrating I would still recommend these headphones considering the sale prices and the quality but I do feel I should share this story. Heres what happened so you can decide for your self… Initially I had no issues with the headphones, they worked flawlessly for 2 months out of the box. At about the 2 month mark i started having some intermittent issues with the left ear, moving around tended to fix it but ultimately the ear cut out all together. I initially thought it was the cable and ordered a replacement only to find it was not the cable so off to the service center it went. I will say AKG was quick and responsive getting me the shipping info and a pre-paid box to send them in which i greatly appreciated. The headphones came back a few weeks later in working order and i was excited. ~3 weeks later the left ear got intermittent again! Same issue, same remedy and it ultimately cut out a week after that. I decided to dive in and pop the side open to see what was going on. There are other repair videos online and the headphones are easy to open up. I was somewhat appalled at what I found. It was clear that the connection wire had been ripped of the solder point the first time and was re-connected during the service. However the wire case was all mangled and melted from the re-solder job and during re-assembly two of the wires were pinched in between some plates which prevented the cup from properly moving and also caused the wires to be ripped out of the joints again if the cup was moved. I was easily able to re-solder the wire and decided to add some heat shrink covering to remedy the case melt issue but I was pretty appealed at the quality of the repair. A proper re-assembly allowed full motion of the cup as well. I have been using the headphones since my own repair for the last 3 months with absolutely no issues. Aside from the issues with the service which I was ultimately able to sort out these are great headphones that I would still recommend.David

The sound is great on this headphones. Even though its made in china the quality of sound im getting is still better from the other competition. However since is a flat response headphones it only means not everyone will love this. The comfort though is my biggest problem with this headphones. The made in austria one has a smooth leather but this one though same faux leather its a bit harder. It does sit on your head nice, just a nitty gritty on my part. The ear pads arent the best, the made in austria one is a bit bigger and softer. The one here is a bit hard and its the only flaw i find with this. I would suggest to buy a bigger and softer padding. The sound changes a bit like bigger sound stage and you can notice the difference immediately but for my preference its good for me. If i wanted something that sits directly to my hear i got my closed back for that. For mixing this is awesome especially with a dac. Theres just so much to hear. This headphone can get very loud like really loud but it can take it. I just hope this lasts my extensive usage.John

Ive been using the ATH M50x phones for several years and needed something better for the mixing and mastering stage of music production. Ive never tried any AKG before, but I have used Beyerdynamic 770 DT's before. Compared to the 770's purposes the AKG 702 seems to do it a little better. The K 702s are a ton more comfortable, but more importantly I was able to level up my mixing of a track that I at the time decided was good enough. After listening to the track with the K 702s I immediately had to make several changes. In a few hours I accomplished what I was trying to do for a few days compared to the ATH M50xs that I was using at the time for mixing and mastering. I would say very solid start in my entry to industry standard phones and dare I say results in my tracks.SASHA

Headphones that I use with my smart phone and iPod. I had an old pair of this model and needed to update when the wires on the old pair frayed, I like the head phones but some updates to the design I am not crazy about, For instance the ear pieces are smaller, the cord is my longer, and the plug piece is thicker, making it more difficult to use when I am charging the phone. overall I am happy with the headphones and will consider buy Shure products in the future #sweepstakesJim G

Got this for daughter. Current one was small for her when she was younger. But want one over her ears vs the pods. The look and sound are key and it delivers for my 9yr old taste.H T Du

The SRH240As are great for studio use as well as practice and general listening. They give on the whole a very transparent and clear representation of the mix, with a very slight "warming" of the signal compared to a set of dedicated studio monitors. I think you'd be very, very hard pushed to find a better pair of headphones at this price-point.Michael S.

I wanted these for mix down in my home studio and was hoping to use them for tracking also. The sound is quite good, I will probably keep them for mixing BUT…the phones are HEAVY and not particularly comfortable. The REAL problem is the stupid coil cord. What an awful design! Very heavy, and not long enough. I can buy a new straight cord for twenty dollas. WHAT A DEAL! (being sarcastic there). There is also tons of handling noise coming from the cord, much worse than any of my other phones. Like I said, these are probably OK for mixing (I will more than likely break down and get the new cord) but not at all good for standing up vocal tracks. Might send 'em back, not sure yet. I would look for something different if I had to do it over again, Audio T brand?CurlyBob

The worst headphones i have ever had the displeasure of buying in my life. These headphones are the max of discomfort on my head and made my ears hurt within 15 mins of trying them. The telephone cord is annoying to use and just confuses me when i bought a professional headset not an office brand cheap pair. Sadly you cannot return headphones due to store policy so i am down valuable money for taking a chance on these headphones. Please save yourself the trouble and do not repeat my mistake.Seaton H

I had been looking for new headphones for a while. I needed to replace my beats solos, I hated the sound of the beats. It was quite unenjoyable. The 440s are built extremely well, although made primarily of plastic they don't feel cheap in any way. The adjustable headband can be increased in size in order to fit larger heads. Right and left clearly marked (Red:Right Blue:Left) Also labelled on the headband. Overall these headphones are very customizable. The 10 foot coiled cable is durable and of high quality. The cable is really cumbersome when using headphones with a cell phone or iPod, I suggest purchasing a replacement 120 cm cable from China, by doing that these headphones become more portable and mobile friendly. The carrying pouch is made of synthetic leather. I've used the adapter to listen to records through my receiver, used it with my iMac, taken it around places, used my iPhone and iPod classic. These headphones have handled every situation they were placed in with flying colors. The only complaints I have would be the headband padding (which is non-existing) which makes the headphones a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. For $100 there really isn't much to complain about, there is a lot to be praised such as the amazing sound quality and frequency response. These headphones were a much needed upgrade.girasol3

I just bought a couple of these on sale price to add to my early-stage home studio. Overall, I'm pleased with these. I think they're great to throw on each of my band members to lay down tracks. Plenty of low end to keep the drummer and bassist happy, high freqs don't offend, and mids sound good. In fact, I'm not really sure what my issue is with these. However, when I'm mixing and think I have a good sound, I'll compare with a pair of Skull Candy Aviators and Apple Ear pods and find different issues with each. Not huge issues, but usually something to do with the mid to mid-high range. It SEEMS like these color their mid freqs. a tad. I know all headphones are different and it is good practice to often switch between different sets for reference, and it could totally be inexperience on my part as a mixer, but these are the issues I've come across after 20+ hours of use. It is not something that would discourage me from recommending these to fellow home studio dudes and dudettes. Probably not for audiophiles, but if you are one, you're probably not even shopping in this price range to begin with. The pros definitely outweigh the cons with these and at the price I got them, I couldn't be happier.J. Flores

Meh … but, shoot, what should one expect for such a low price? While these cans are fairly lightweight, they are fairly well built, overall. Comfortable, with little or no "microphonic" distractions (meaning one does not hear noise from the cable or headband or earphone receiver cups – as occurs so often on inexpensive headphones.) Cable is lightweight and does not feel as durable as the rest of the unit. Headband copies many other headphones, such as the venerable SONY 7506 and some Audio-Technica studio monitors – and is just OK (no complaint, but nothing special,either). Sound signature is dark, muffled, and lacking detail. Mid range and treble frequencies are subdued and dull. Bass is muddy and lacks punch, and disappointing overall. But, this is what one USUALLY expects and gets at this price point. In contrast, the similarly priced Takstar HD-2000 has a far cleaner, more open, and detailed audio profile, and Superlux HD-661 andHD-672 for an additional ten to fifteen buckaroos are WAY more open, clear, clean, punchy, and neutral – i.e., accurate – and represent a huge bargain among affordable headphones. Similarly the JVC HRA-R700 are a much more substantial product with far superior sound, close to the Superlux, (which I think are the current performance value leaders in this market segment. Therefore, while the Musician's Gear headphones are … um … just OK … they ARE, ultimately, worth what you pay for them. I guess. I will probably give these away to someone without any headphones. I rate them 3 stars because they are just average, ordinary cans for the price – as I think there are better alternatives for the same or just a little more of your hard earned brass. And this is just MY take – your mileage may vary.TT

GREAT HEADPHONES for GREAT PRICE! ~ Took a little bit of time to arrive, but well worth the wait. – IMPORTANT NOTE: I destroyed my headphones by trying to splice the wire in-order to shorten them, the cord is quite long…, but, when I cut the cord, it was Impossible to re-connect they barely have any insulation between the wires, I ended up buying another pair. So, as long as you leave'em like they are, they are GREAT!keri

These ATH-M50x don't "exagerate" anything to the point of being distracting and "untrue" to the original source, however they will only be as good as the source you use. It is a very natural sounding, open, listening experience.Theres plenty of punch, warmth and depth, together with detail galore. Every frequency has "space". At no point do these headphones sound restricted or limited. Mid range is clear and smooth and the highs are very pleasent indeed..If you like well balanced, honest sound, suitable for long periods then this is for you. Pls! Listen Loseless audio in this closed back headphone, which is..why it is worth to buy!!ANAND C.

This is my first headphone of audiophile grade. Before buying ATH-M50X I got all the relevant details from HeadphoneZone gurus. I would suggest that every headphone buyer should first talk to HeadphoneZone guru before making any purchase. Based on your taste of music genre and listening habits they would suggest right headphones. I had confusion between ATH-M50x and DT 770 Pro. It's been more than a month with these cans and I am loving it. In online reviews you might see people suggesting that these can be used without DAC/AMP but that's not true. If you want to unleash the true sound I would really recommend to get a dedicated DAC/AMP. I am using ATH-M50x with iBasso DC03 (also bought from HeadphoneZone) and could really understand the difference and what these cans are capable of. I am using the following combination: Dolby Atmos Music Mode(OnePlus 7T Pro) + EQ tweaking(10 band EQ with 7T Pro) + Audio Technica ATH-M50x + iBasso DC03 + Gaana (Plus/Premium Subscription) and now each of the songs are sounding way more beautiful. I guess since DC03 has dual DAC and that might be the reaon it's so powerful and it doesn't eat up much battery as well. Words can't justify this listening experience but still Ihave tried my level best. Totally recommended 👍🤘 A big thumbs up to headphone zone for suggesting this purchase. Love you guys ❤Shibin D.

As a sound engineer I find these valuable when mixing. They give plenty of mid-range detail and a great stereo image. They will reveal any issues with your live instrument recording or vocala, highlighting distortion or unpleasant sibilance. Also great for detailing ambience and reverb. The high frequencies are too brittle for my liking however. So I adopted the classic NS10 trick and put two layers of tissue tucked inside each ear cup. This tames the high-end and makes them much less fatiguing for long listening periods. These should not be used as your only monitor source. Compare them with other speakers or headphones. They probably tend to separate out the individual sound sources more than most people's listening device so will not give an accurate indication of your final mix. But they're great as an alternative source and for listening to detail when mixing. I'm very happy with them. The ear pads are also extremely comfortable for long use.Tim TE Pro Audio

Been a long time user of the DT770 and as I needed something open-backed so it was a safe bet for me. The sound signature is polarising for some but I knew what I was getting into. You may want to pull down the highs a bit to protect your ears by using a system-wide Equalizer software. The clamping force is really strong and you'll have to bend them outwards quite a bit till they loosen up. I have bent the band flat repeatedly to loosen the fit; others have put them on something wide like a shoebox overnight. I'd also recommend trading the stock earpads for a dekoni pair that make these infinitely more comfortable for long sessions. Overall they're worth the asking price since there aren't really any good options in this price range for eggheads like me to begin with.Shashwat C.

So I grabbed these after a recording friend of mine highly recommended. I'm a player, but don't know too much about recording so I bought these straight off his recommendation as a solid pair of headphones since much of my time is spent listening to music at work.Like other posters indicated, my box came damaged since it was packed in the original packaging inside a fed-ex bag. Ok so the outside box looked like it had been kicked down the street, but the internal packaging and the headphones did not have any damage and were stable.First impressions were they are solidly made, VERY comfortable and have incredible sound. Lightweight compared to my $250 Bluetooth Sony headphones, with easily the same quality sound, if not better. The highs are clear and punchy. I have my laptop and windows media cranked up all the way, so I'm curious how loud they can go through other conduits. Even cranked up all the way, the sound does not distort and is quite pleasant. No ear blow out here.Despite being open backed, as I ran through different albums the bass is fine and totally acceptable. I played a few of the old school bass tracks by DJ Magic Mike to give them a test and for normal audio play they are totally sufficient.I was lucky to grab these at the $119 price, so I'm beyond satisfied despite the box issues. My buddy was right…grab a pair. Can't wait to run my guitars through these!!Scottydon't

Very Comfortable like pillows on your head the Sound Quality is Outstanding Destroys any BOSE or Apple Product. they are a little demanding as far as Power is concerned. but the Sound Quality is so good. They are Really good at Blocking out the outside Noise so NO need for noise canceling which i feel hurts sound quality. i give them a solid 9 out of 10. My other Headphones i use to compare to are Meze Audio Classic 99, Grado 325i, and Sennheiser HD600's the only reason for a 9 out of 10 is due to the Power Demands these need to really Sing, and the fact they don't have changeable Cables. While testing i Ran a Creek audio headphone Amp with a Rega Planet CD player. For the Price you CAN'T get a better sounding Headphone. They will work good with any Media player source or as I prefer to use a Fiio BTR5 and make them wireless.zeberia

Build quality is excellent, but points shaved off for the dangling wires that link the cans, and for a permanently linked cable, meaning it will not be a simple job to replace, should it become damaged. The sound is a little flat overall, but still better than the lower end headphones (compared against £40 – £80 Sony, Sennheiser, and AKG’s). This is not an issue with what I wanted, as it’s mainly to edit Voice (Narrating and Voiceovers), and listening to music is still very good, picking up all the range with clarity and depth. Could be better, but not by much. They work well on both my laptop and my studio mixer, which is why I chose the 80Ω version. They block out external sounds, and keep the internal sounds contained, even with the volume is high. Rumour has it that the sound is much better on the 32 and 250Ω versions, and may look at a future purchase of these. The comfort is excellent, and the velour pads are perfect, even when worn for 2 hours at a time. Studiospares provided an excellent price and service, and have other high quality products that range from competitive to excellent value for money.George K.

Newegg shipped quickly and it was packaged well. I burned the headphones in for about 30 hours before using them as I always notice a big difference in warmth, mids and lows. I bought these cans as a complement to my Sennheiser HD598, which are in the same price range, since the 598s are slightly lacking in deep bass, even though I use an amp. The Beyers sound good, but not as good as I was hoping. The Beyers definitely have more bass, being closed back, while the Senns are open backed. However, I found them lacking in mids and highs compared to the Senns. And even though they are known to have a large soundstage for closed backed phones, they can't compare to the Sennheiser's soundstage. But what made the final choice for me was the comfort level. Even though both sets weigh about the same, the Beyers felt far heavier for some reason. They also made my ears sweat. So I sent them back. Newegg was great about returning them. No issues there at all.Anonymous

I dislike giving unfavorable reviews but these headphones were a significant disappointment. I echo much of the reviewers in stating these headphones are muddy-sounding and lack mid and up clarity (IMHO). The lower-mids and below is muddy without clarity (though dominate). I got these headphones on a SDOTD to have reasonable closed-back headphones to listen to music while my partner has Web conferences in the same room (she insists on using speakers). These headphones do isolate reasonable-well. However the performance has gotten to me more and more. Putting on my very old Kenwood headphones from the early 80's is a breath of fresh air after listening to these. Note I am used to listening to open and semi-open back headphones so you may want to take this into account. I gave these three-stars which I think is generous. They do isolate reasonably and to me comfortable to ware. However I feel the sound performance is disappointing.bassdeal

I know – picky picky! If the bass is too strong, just turn it down a little! It's really not that bad, but compared to my other headsets, it is a bit heavy in the mid to upper bass. I probably would have given it 4 1/2 stars if that were possible, but I like them enough that I didn't want to down-rate them. I bought these to replace an Audio-Technica ATH-M35 set that died, couldn't be repaired, and are no longer available. These are so similar that I wondered if they might have come from the same manufacturer. These are lightweight, comfortable when worn for long sessions, and overall have a clean, smooth sound, except for the slight rise in bass response. For a lightweight set they do fairly well at blocking ambient noise, and they cover the ears well. I would recommend against them for DJ or on-location mixing because of the lightweight construction, but for general listening or lighter-duty work, they work well.Bill

I use them mainly for listening to music via my laptop. They're comfortable and sound great imo. I have other Tascam recording gear, so I'm familiar with their brand quality. I got them on sale. Nice deal so I bought two pairs. Not sure if I'd pay the full retail price on these – might be worth it, but not on my budget.NoChrome66

For decades I have used MDR 7506, 7509, 7510, and 7520 headphones from Sony. Sony discontinued all but the 7506, and it's too bad because the 7520s were spectacularly accurate, detailed, and reliable in all ways. (I have been a location sound guy for film, a producer, director, and editor for same, and now I record audiobooks. I have spent much time with headphones.) 7506 are a bit of a professional default in broadcasting and film; good price point, dependably rugged to a point, and a sound that you know. (A little like Yamaha NS-10 near field speakers…in other words, nothing stellar, but you know what you are getting.) Having recently been on a hunt for cans to replace my 7520s, (and currently using Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro), and I picked up a set of 7506s after years of not having them, and I have to say they are fine-ish but do not excel in any way. They are good for location sound, they are even good for general music listening and TV viewing, but they are in no way mastering headphones, nor are they good for hours-long voiceover work. I find them reasonably balanced, if a little bass-heavy (good for location work because you can year your problems better), but the upper mids, where your speech is, is super harsh. Like a knife in your ears harsh. There is a really peculiar resonance that just makes it impossible to not be distracted, and to really depend on what you are hearing. While they are, again, a defacto standard in the pro world, they leave a ton to be desired in terms of true accuracy and long term use. I recently tried a series of cans from AKG, Austrian Audio, Sonys I imported from Japan, and 7506s, and they all performed way below the DT770 Pro in accuracy, balance, comfort, and all around performance. Also, over the years, the 7506 ear pads have gotten lower in comfort, so I replaced them right away with other, deeper pads. This does affect the sound, if you choose to go this route. Doesn't make it better or worse, but does make it different and you have to recalibrate your ears and brain to get used to it. So if you buy these knowing what you are getting into, they are a good value, but that is about it.Stephen

Not for listening to music, but for accurately monitoring recordings. The frequency response is as flat as possible, ensuring you are hearing what you recorded with no added low end. However, I still listen to music with them and they suit the purpose perfectly. Overall a solid, classic design. Does exactly what it claims. The only flaw is one that can be avoided – don't rip them off your head and clap the cans together or the foam from the earpieces will wear out and become disconnected from the glue holding them to the cans, and you'll have to reglue them after trying to precisely fit it back. Just be responsible and they will take care of you for many years. I swear by them to the point that I've bought them 3 times, and keep the boxes in my mic cabinet.rgdood12345

I've been using the MDR-7506 Headphones for the last 25+ years, I really love the way they sound. I use them for studio and live applications and they always deliver a clear sound with great definition. I never get tired of their sound. During the last 4 months, I bought the 3 sets of headphones from another brand, the first time it was their 250 ohms version, then I tried the 80, and last the 32 ohms version. I returned all of them within a day of purchase, I guess I really wanted to have those headphones because they look cool and I think I gave them a fair chance (maybe because of their tight isolation of external noise/sound and great soft feel on my ears), but I ended up buying more MDR-7506 instead, maybe I'm an addict to their sound as I used to be to my old Yamaha NS-10 (I had 3 pairs of those). But, since this is a review for the Sony 7506, all I can say is that I will stick to them. I've produced at least 15 albums and 2000+ jingles using them, maybe that's the reason why I love them so much.Hedras Roderico

I wanted these for mix down in my home studio and was hoping to use them for tracking also. The sound is quite good, I will probably keep them for mixing BUT…the phones are HEAVY and not particularly comfortable. The REAL problem is the stupid coil cord. What an awful design! Very heavy, and not long enough. I can buy a new straight cord for twenty dollas. WHAT A DEAL! (being sarcastic there). There is also tons of handling noise coming from the cord, much worse than any of my other phones. Like I said, these are probably OK for mixing (I will more than likely break down and get the new cord) but not at all good for standing up vocal tracks. Might send 'em back, not sure yet. I would look for something different if I had to do it over again, Audio T brand?CurlyBob

The worst headphones i have ever had the displeasure of buying in my life. These headphones are the max of discomfort on my head and made my ears hurt within 15 mins of trying them. The telephone cord is annoying to use and just confuses me when i bought a professional headset not an office brand cheap pair. Sadly you cannot return headphones due to store policy so i am down valuable money for taking a chance on these headphones. Please save yourself the trouble and do not repeat my mistake.Seaton H

I had been looking for new headphones for a while. I needed to replace my beats solos, I hated the sound of the beats. It was quite unenjoyable. The 440s are built extremely well, although made primarily of plastic they don't feel cheap in any way. The adjustable headband can be increased in size in order to fit larger heads. Right and left clearly marked (Red:Right Blue:Left) Also labelled on the headband. Overall these headphones are very customizable. The 10 foot coiled cable is durable and of high quality. The cable is really cumbersome when using headphones with a cell phone or iPod, I suggest purchasing a replacement 120 cm cable from China, by doing that these headphones become more portable and mobile friendly. The carrying pouch is made of synthetic leather. I've used the adapter to listen to records through my receiver, used it with my iMac, taken it around places, used my iPhone and iPod classic. These headphones have handled every situation they were placed in with flying colors. The only complaints I have would be the headband padding (which is non-existing) which makes the headphones a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. For $100 there really isn't much to complain about, there is a lot to be praised such as the amazing sound quality and frequency response. These headphones were a much needed upgrade.girasol3

ATH-M50X BT are hand down best sounding pair of headphones on the market for the price. These headphones sound amazing and you will know that for fact, the moment you try them out. Now for the problems, first of all the biggest problem is the overall comfort of these headphones is just bad, the ear pads that come with the set are not good, i am lucky that I have spare ear pads for my hyperx cloud 2 headphones. Although those pads are a little bigger for m50x but they are far more comfortable than the original ones. Second and last major problem is that bt range is rather awful, if you plan to leave the room while wearing the headset, then don't coz they start loosing connection from not very far away. And now for the little complaints that I have noted in my one month of use 1. The touch input is very inconsistent 2. The mic is not high quality. It gets the job done in quite environments like homes, metro(when not over crowded), gym (if gym music is at a decent level) but it is just not useful anywhere that is even a little crowded. 3. You can not connect to a second device until you disconnect from first device (although it can remember multiple devices). It is written on the product page that it has Bluetooth 5.0 but it works like 2.0 I bought it for its sound signature and it delivers outstandingly well on that front. But it would have been a much better experience if those problems were not present.arjun

Richer Sounds is your go-to place for knowledge, advice and leading products; brands you may not of come across but brands dedicated to quality. An example is audio technica. I wanted to spoil myself to new headphones and these looked great and with solid reviews. I’d already used richer sounds for JBL and AKG having not tried those brands, so I knew I was in safe hands. When I called Reigate store there was no pushiness or upwelling. The store manager gave me some more facts about Audio-Technica ATH-M50XBT. It helped crystallize my decision. Prompt delivery and a superb set of headphone: looking great sounding superb thank you Richer Sounds – again.Bard49

I know these are often described as reference or studio headphones, so I was a little concerned the bass would be little light. However, I have no complaints whatsoever. They sound just neutral enough without being flat, and there is great clarity across most genres. Bluetooth connection is simple, although the app is pointless. The buttons are easily accessed, although the central button for pausing is really difficult to differentiate from the volume buttons. Build quality is excellent and they comfortable for hours on end. The included bag is a bit naff, so I might invest in something later if we can ever travel again! All in all, I would recommend to anyone but die hard bass heads. Sounds as good as Bose and Sony for less money.Cookie2

I did burn-in for 20 hours before using this headphones for listening music, hearing foreign language. Pros: balanced, flat and no color sound. Mid sound is very clear (best for acoustic, live music and listening foreign language), high is comfortable, low is just enough. I can use for several hours without ear fatigue or feeling uncomfortable. Cons: It's better for being used as the studio monitor haedphones than for listening music but I can use it for both usage.TMThanh

I love these headphones purchased 2 pair because I was doing a small 3 pc acoustic album and we were playing the songs in one take and I only had one set. The sound was phenomenal but the weight is the real winner even with the sound drivers being more than could have ever been needed the light weight allowed for sessions to go on much longer, as well as allowed the music to flow without the discomfort of traditional Audio Technica headphones. I feel these headphones improved our recording sessions sound, and we were all the better being able to hear the same thing.Mr.Bojangles

I have ath mx50 and akg k240, both using for hifi music, especially from 70, 80, 90's lps. I am very satisfied with both, but akg 240 is much more detailed on mids and vocals, and much more natural on low end bass sounds. Also it gives very satisfiying bright results on trebles.Hifirookie

Hadn't bought a decent set of headphones for DJing before (usually bought cheap £10 pairs but went through them) so felt like a lot of money to splash out on these, however, having only used them 5 or 6 times out and about so far I think they're great and wonder why I didn't make the leap earlier. They sound great, are loud enough for my needs, and parts can be replaced. I chose to pay extra for the Plus as it has the longer coiled lead and I was sick of tangled straight leads. The headphone bag is nothing special but good to have a spare (straight) lead and set of ear pads. Hopefully I won't have to buy a new set for years to come now.Neil

Headphones that I use with my smart phone and iPod. I had an old pair of this model and needed to update when the wires on the old pair frayed, I like the head phones but some updates to the design I am not crazy about, For instance the ear pieces are smaller, the cord is my longer, and the plug piece is thicker, making it more difficult to use when I am charging the phone. overall I am happy with the headphones and will consider buy Shure products in the future #sweepstakesJim G

Got this for daughter. Current one was small for her when she was younger. But want one over her ears vs the pods. The look and sound are key and it delivers for my 9yr old taste.H T Du

The SRH240As are great for studio use as well as practice and general listening. They give on the whole a very transparent and clear representation of the mix, with a very slight "warming" of the signal compared to a set of dedicated studio monitors. I think you'd be very, very hard pushed to find a better pair of headphones at this price-point.Michael S.

These headphones with the balanced pads on are absolutely fantastic. Theyre built like a German tank, comfortable without too much clamp, and the sound is absolutely top notch. These are detail monsters with so much quality, deep and impactful bass. The mids are silky smooth and everything sounds so good. Using them for gaming? Oh yes. Hands down the best gaming headphones Ive ever used. The imaging is astounding, they create a real sense of virtual 3D surround, and things really sound like theyre behind, above, below or in front of you. Superb for FPS games. These are a huge improvement over the dt 990, they dont have anywhere near the same level of sibilance, in fact I dont find these remotely sibilant. Dt 990 are slightly comfier though. These are literally my end game, Ive tried too many different headphones and headsets over the years and nothing comes close to these.millenwagon2007

The DT1990 is Beyer's current premium mastering headphones, priced well above the prior DT990/880 and also the newer 900 pro x. If you are looking for a more traditional tuning the latter might be a better option, the 1990 are heavy on detail and certainly have more high emphasis. The 1990 seems very well built, although my first unit did have a minor issue (Audio 46 were absolutely fantastic in supporting and resolving). As far as 2nd gen Teslas, I'd have to say I prefer its sibling the Amiron Home's tuning, and would also opt for the T1.2 if I wanted a more detailed, luxurious approach. Compared to the classic 990 and 900 pro, it is a bit difficult to justify the premium price point. Still these are a great pro option for open back mastering, with an element of luxury and decadence compared to the lower end models.Ian W.

The DT 177X Go is a confusing headphone. I also have the DT 1770 Pro and while I understand the targeting and use cases of the Pro model, the Go is a bit muddled for me. It's a beautifully built headphone and the 4 pin mini XLR is a nice touch, allowing for balanced connections. But here is one of its many contradictions. Being an easy to drive headphone, the balanced option is largely irrelevant. The included cable is not balanced and the argument of it being there for convenience is flawed at best. The convenience is defeated by the need to get a mini XLR to balanced cable to begin with! On to sound. In one word, treble. I have found the treble to be too sharp on too many songs and this singular attribute prevents me from using it for music. Ah, but it can used in studios for its neutral presentation, you say. Being a DROP exclusive, pro users are hardly the market being sold to, here. Another contradiction. Lastly, for its usual asking price of $450 or even the discounted $350, there are many good to great closed back music listening options, making this a challenging recommendation. Good closed back options include the HiFiMan HE-R9, Audio Technica ATH-A2000Z and the Campfire Audio Cascade at or around similar prices. I would still recommend the DT 177X Go purely for an audiophile collector, so you can experience the variation, but not as a daily driver.entreprenerd

These did not fit my head at all. There was a large gap on the bottom under my ears which prevented them from making a seal. I could fit an index finger in the gap. No adjustments helped. I do have a large head but it's very strange because I compared them to the DT 700 Pro X and DT 990 Pro, both of which fit perfectly fine. I could not really evaluate the sound because of this, but from what I did hear it sounded like they might actually have mids, unlike all other Beyerdynamic models I've tried. The other thing I noticed is the build quality felt much cheaper on these than others. DT 700 felt like a tank, these felt like a toy in comparison. Ultimately I returned them all because I don't like the usual Beyerdynamic V sound, these may have been better but the fit issue was an immediate deal breaker. Looking at the other low star reviews I see several others had the same fit issues so maybe it depends on your head size.wbag

Finally I enjoyed music how I wanted. Using Flat EQ settings. If highly professional sound engineers mastered the sound of for example Pink Floyd album, Why you need to listen it with some bass boosted or treble boosted headphones? They are already fine tuned it for you. Just take the flat monitor headphones and enjoy. Do not forget to use FLAC files and proper sound source. Don't use it with phone with 128kb mp3 and say that it is not sound good. And please note that headphone has a long 3 metres cable so it would be great if used indoors only. Fully satisfied. Value for money. Some of the Bands I've been listening on these headphones : Pink Floyd, Guns & Roses, Nirvana. They sound flawless. <3Silver S.

You can read my first review to get my overall take on these headphones. I wanted to edit that review but it seems like on B&H Photo you can't edit your own review. They should fix that. But to the point: After quite a long time I have to say that I have gotten used to the proximity of the buttons and while I still think that Audio-Technica should consider re-enginerring them, I don't think now that they are as onerous as I felt during my first review. I have upped my rating to 5 stars: I am even more sold on the quality and sound of these headphones and one extra plus! I discovered that it is quite easy to pair them with the TV and with my iPhone at the same time. Very useful feature.William

As a person to whom specs are of little help, I needed headphones for listening to music and my playlists (which a mostly classical) on my pc. I already am happy with my Sennheiser phones for optimum listening, so I was looking for some less critical (and frankly) and cheaper phones. I was surprised by the powerful bass. Music and videos I listen to on YouTube sound great, and my own CDs sound good enough (I attribute that to the player). So this is a real bargain without too much of a compromise.Andrew

I think this headphone is a real bargain and perfect for tracking and you can also mix with them (yes, even though they are closed backs). I like them better then my ATH m20 and, well, just different then my Sony 7506, They isolate really well, are comfortable, and have a solid frequency response all-around. The construction is good and excellent extras like pads and carry case, not as portable as some headphones but still portable enough for me. Detachable cord is great too, comes with a coil type but that doesn't bother me.Justin

The set in the box is very complete. In addition to the headphones and detachable audio cable and a screw-on jack adapter, there is a pair of extra ear pads and a little storage bag in the box. Design Collapsible design for easy storage and portability. A detachable audio cable seems to be Shure’s design feature for headphones. The cable comes with two jack plugs; one to connect to an amplifier and the other to the left ear cup. It’s easier to store and you don’t risk bending the cable connections. Make sure to turn the jack plug into its bayonet clip to securely lock the cable into the ear cup or else you will hear no bass. No more confusion which ear cup is the left or right audio channel: blue and red plastic caps on the hinges indicate L/R channels, resp. At the back of the headphones, a thin cable runs from the headband to the drivers. I would have preferred an interior cable connection to the drivers e.g. built into the headband and ear cups. Build quality The headset is mostly made of plastic. The hinges are made of 2 mm thick plastic with little screws to connect the ear cups. There are reports on the internet of ear cups snapping off the headband of this set, and only time will tell how well the build quality will hold up. For durability, I would have preferred metal hinges instead. The padding on the ear cups and headband are well made and covered by a leather-like material. The jack plug for the amplifier is heavy to accommodate the extra weight of a 6.3 mm screw-on jack adaptor. Comfort The headset is a bit heavy (365 g/ 12.9 oz). The ear pads nicely fit over my ears. As with most over or on the ear headphones, you need to get used to it. In the beginning, they will cause fatigue after a few hours. The detachable audio cable is coiled and flexible, providing enough room to maneuver. Sound quality The headphones block a substantial amount of background noise. Sound quality is often a matter of personal taste. I prefer systems that do not “color” the audio spectrum. These headphones provide a balanced and neutral sound. The soundscape is immersive and detailed, as I expect from professional monitoring headphones. The sensitivity of this set (102 dB/mW) is a noticeably lower compared to another brand I owned before (112 dB/mW). Pricing Retailing at 149 USD, these headphones are not cheap, but they provide a professional sound quality for a mid-range price. What I like The detachable cable design; it’s practical and portable. Great sound and a good ambient noise reduction by the ear pads. What I don’t like The almost all-plastic form factor.Dave

I bought this product on chance the reviews would be spot on, and they were I can hear individual parts through these headphones, and it is so helpful. I play guitar so when the SRH840's are plugged into my Helix 5 headphone jack it is pure excitement for me….So clear, and crisp. I absolutely endorse this product. Hours of fun ahead with out bothering the neighbors around my house.Don Kopp Jr