Best Headphones for Turntable Reviews

Many of us prefer listening to vinyl records through speakers; however, using headphones for this purpose can be an enjoyable experience if you have the right pair. That’s why you should consider lots of different factors when shopping around for this audio gear! First off, the best headphones for vinyl will give you a fine sound quality while also being comfortable enough to wear for a long time.

Our pick

Sennheiser HD 650

Best headphone for vinyl

HD 650 – A benchmark for total audio immersion, the HD 650 reproduces the subtle details in your music with the same confidence as the highlights. Read the full review.

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This review will discuss some of the top-rated headphones available in today’s market. I’ll also share some tips on how to choose the right pair. Interested? Then let’s get started!

Headphones for vinyl and amplifiers

Regular vinyl players (and phono stages) do not produce enough strong output signals to drive headphones directly. Headphones have a greater impedance than a receiver input; hence, they must be driven by a more powerful amplifier. Using a specifically engineered headphone amplifier solves this problem.

A headphone amp is a small gadget that powers the drivers of headphones and allows them to create high-quality sound. This amp has a larger output power than record players & preamps, and it perfectly drives higher impedance gear.

When I tested the turntable headphones listed here, I used Schiit Magni Heresy – a great headphone amplifier with tremendous power reserves.

How I tested headphones for vinyl

To test headphones for record players, I used the following equipment:

• Record player: Pro-Ject Debut PRO
• Headphone amplifier: Schiit Magni Heresy
• Phono preamplifier: Pro-Ject Phono Box DS2

I listened to the following recordings in different genres of music to evaluate the sound quality of the headphones:

• Daft Punk – Random Access Memories [2013]
• Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring [2017]
• Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems [2014]
• Radiohead – In Rainbows [2007]
• Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon [1973]

Best headphones for vinyl reviews

Sennheiser HD 650 – best overall

Sennheiser produces some of the most budget-friendly headphones that deliver the kind of performance you’d expect from much more expensive models. Don’t get me wrong – they also make excellent higher-end gear; I just think their budget headphones are among the top performances at costs that most vinyl collectors can afford.

The HD 650 are open-back, dynamic headphones with tight production tolerance. Their lightweight aluminum voice coils allow for maximum damping supplely and eliminate unwanted vibrations or clicks from impacting what you’re hearing. Additionally, these tone-deaf headphones come equipped with 42 mm transducers and 38 mm diaphragms which provide outstanding clarity in even the loudest volumes.

The cans have incredible high fidelity, excelling in accuracy for both foreground and background sounds that you will experience when listening to vinyl records. They produce better than average sound quality – the highs are not overly bright, while the mids are detailed and precise. All this is possible due to the generous acoustic package, which makes HD 650 outperform its competitors, e.g., Meze 99 Classics with its unique, hand-crafted design and durable construction.

Last but not least, its over-ear design, combined with padded ear cups and a super comfortable headband keeps your ears fatigue-free during extended listening sessions. And with a cable length of 118 inches, you can freely move around the room.

Sennheiser HD 280 PRO – budget

Sennheiser HD 280 PRO was released about 20 years ago; however, it has stood the test of time!

Anyone looking for exceptional sound quality and noise reduction in a closed-ear style will love the HD 280 PRO. With the ability to attenuate outside noise by up to 32 dB, these high-performance cans ensure maximum acoustic insulation from external environmental noise. Plus, their frequency response range (8Hz – 25kHz) matches the human hearing capacity. Such an extended frequency response and warm, natural sound reproduction make them ideal for use with turntables. There’s nothing I don’t like about the sound this model produces – the instruments are well-placed and easy to pick out, the mids are very smooth and accurate, while the treble doesn’t tire your ears.

The headphones are pretty lightweight and ergonomically designed to provide a comfortable listening experience for long periods of time.

Finally, the integrated collapsible hinges ensure a flat profile for portability, making these headphones a perfect accessory, whether at home or on the go.

Sennheiser HD 800 S – premium

Sennheiser HD 800 S is the culmination of over 75 years of audio expertise! I fell in love with these headphones as soon as I put them on – they provide a killing combination of audiophile sound quality and industrial design.

The HD 800 S is an open-back, around-ear dynamic headset with 56 millimeters round radiator drivers – the greatest dynamic drivers ever employed. This one-of-a-kind design creates an incredibly natural and spatial listening experience. Furthermore, the revolutionary insulating technology lowers undesirable frequency response peaks, allowing you to hear all of the music’s subtleties. The ear cups route sound waves at an angle to your ears, giving you a more natural listening experience.

I love the soundstage of HD 800 S – it’s comprehensive with detailed depth, which I haven’t heard even from my favorite model Sennheiser HD 650. In addition, the clarity and definition are just incomparable! The lows are defined and firm, the mids are rich and beautifully balanced, and the highs are silky smooth, especially the string sections of an orchestra, which is a point to check during audio tests.

This handcrafted instrument also features an ultra-ergonomic adjustable metal headband with padding on key contact points and luxurious microfiber earcups. It ensures that they are always comfortable to wear, no matter how long you’re listening to your tunes.

Sony WH-1000XM4 – with Bluetooth

Value comfort above all else? Then you’ll definitely like Sony WH-1000XM4! These Bluetooth-enabled headphones are an upgraded successor to the WH-1000X and come with plenty of modern, super convenient features.

The cans are equipped with LDAC technology instead of traditional Bluetooth, allowing you to enjoy your vinyl records in the highest quality, as close as possible to that of a dedicated wired connection.

Further, WH-1000XM4 comes with Dual Noise Sensor technology, which means it can adapt to your environment and cancel out any unwanted noise. The headset has a battery life of up to 30 hours, so you can enjoy your tunes the entire day without having to worry about charging the gear. If you want to charge your cans quickly, it only takes 10 minutes to receive 5 hours of use.

A touch sensor on each ear cup will allow you to use voice commands, play/pause music, change volume, turn them off, or find out song information at any given time.

In all honesty, I’ve never used a more comfortable model – even when I wear big glasses with it, the headset feels lightweight and doesn’t make my head feel hot.

Meze 99 Classics – under $300

Meze is known for delivering sound quality on par with dynamic models for an incredible price, and their 99 Classics continue this trend.

These headphones feature a unique, elegant design, making them stand out against our top product – Sennheiser HD 650. The cans are made with a satin-finished wood grain, which looks just gorgeous! More than that, manufacturers have used no glue or cheap plastic for this model – only nuts and bolts. All parts are replaceable!

The closed-back design of these wood cups offers natural sound isolation, allowing you to enjoy listening in tranquil settings without disturbance.

You’ll definitely love the headphones’ lightweight design (just 9oz.) and cushy earpads, which make them comfy for long listening sessions. Furthermore, the self-adjustable headband offers a secure fit for all head sizes.

Finally, this headset comes with extra accessories such as detachable Kevlar cables with a microphone and remote, an airplane jack adapter, and a hard shell carrying case for smarter product storage!

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X – under $200

Prominent audio engineers and critics have praised the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X closed-back, over-ear headphones. In fact, several experts compare these to high-impedance models that cost several times as much.

The headphones are equipped with 45-millimeter big-aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils for remarkable clarity over a wide frequency range and precise bass response.

A word of caution: the sound this pair produces will come as a shock, and if you don’t know what to expect, you might dislike it at first. Just keep listening to your favorite music on them for a while, and then switch back to the ordinary consumer cans – I promise you’ll realize how poor they sound compared to ATH-M50X!

The circumaural construction will contour around your ears for superior sound isolation in loud areas, and the 90-degree rotatable cups make one-ear monitoring simple. Additionally, the skillfully crafted earpad and headband add to the overall durability and comfort.

AKG K72 – the cheapest

It’s difficult to find a cheap yet decent-quality pair of headphones on today’s market. However, I did find them – they are AKG Pro Audio K72.

Designed for musicians, sound engineers, and casual listeners alike, AKG Pro Audio K72 is considered to be studio-grade headphones. Due to 40mm drivers and an extended 16Hz – 20kHz frequency range, you can hear every nuance from low to high notes. In addition, the precision-balanced response provides an accurate representation of sound across the frequency spectrum, giving you enhanced accuracy. I could even compare these headphones’ sound quality to a much more pricey model from my list – Sennheiser HD 280 PRO. Of course, there is a pretty noticeable difference between them, but overall they both handle all genres equally well. I prefer Sennheiser HD 280 PRO when I listen to classical, acoustic, and jazz, while AKG Pro Audio K72 is great for hip-hop, metal, or rock.

The closed-back, over-ear design of the K72 maximizes isolation, so outside noise will not interrupt your listening experience. Furthermore, a self-adjusting headband ensures a snug fit, allowing you to wear it all day without distraction.

Turntable headphones buying guide

Over-ears vs on-ear headphones for vinyl

You can buy two types of headphones for a record player: over-ear and on-ear.

On-ear headphones feature smaller cups and sit on the ears, while over-ear headphones totally cover your ears.

Because no sound escapes from the sides or bottom of the headset, over-ears often provide greater sound quality. It means that every sound is delivered directly to your ears, resulting in a completely immersive listening experience. An over-ear model will be your top choice if you’re an audiophile seeking headphones that produce more accurate, sharper sound with a wider spectrum of frequencies and deeper bass.

On the other hand, on-ear monitors can be more comfortable to wear for longer periods, especially if you have small ears. Furthermore, they are frequently inexpensive. As a result, on-ears are the better option for listeners looking for low-cost, easy-to-use gear.

Open-back or closed-back design?

Another thing you should consider when shopping around is the design of your headphones – they can be either open-back or closed-back.

Open-back headphones feature a perforated external shell that allows the air and sound to go through the cups freely. Such a shell reduces pressure buildup and promotes a more natural sound, which is great for demanding listeners. In addition, open-backs are pretty lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. On the other hand, perforated housing means that people around you can hear what you’re listening to, which may not be ideal if you’re trying to listen in peace.

Closed-back cans have a similar design to open-backs with one significant distinction. They have a sound-proofed shell that blocks out the outside world and provides superb isolation, enabling the music to take center stage. Closed-back headphones also slightly improve bass response and let you track quiet voices or instruments. However, they feel much heavier than their open-back counterparts.

How much should I spend on vinyl headphones?

Of course, the price matters for most of us! Consider the following to buy a suitable pair for you:

• If you want to keep your budget down but still need fine-quality, durable and comfortable headphones, consider good headphones for vinyl for under $50 (however, do not buy anything for less than $40).
• If you are not a serious audiophile with a mid-range turntable but want a decent-quality sound, you’re going to spend about $100-500.
• If you have a critical ear for quality and use a premium vinyl setup, expect to spend more than $500.

How to listen to vinyl with headphones?

To listen to vinyl with headphones, you’ll need to connect them to the turntable properly. Here are 4 ways how to do this:

1. Use a headphone amplifier – if your turntable has an integrated phono stage, connect a headphone amplifier between the deck and headphones. If your table doesn’t have a built-in phono stage, hook up the headphone amplifier between the phono stage and the cans.
2. Use a stereo receiver with an integrated phono stage and headphones outputs.
3. Some turntables have a built-in headphone amp and a dedicated headphone output. Check this option on your table.
4. If you have a Bluetooth-enabled turntable, the easiest option for you will be to use headphones with wireless Bluetooth capability.

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