These electric guitar headphones unleash the power and versatility of the Best Headphones for Electric Guitar. These headphones provide excellent sound quality and let you practice and play your electric guitar anytime, anywhere. Their comfortable fit and noise-canceling technologies let you focus on your music.
The Best Headphones for Electric Guitar do two crucial jobs for the playing guitarist. They let you play whenever inspiration strikes, whether it’s in the morning before work or school, or late at night when everyone’s asleep.
When searching for the best headphones for playing electric guitar, consider the trade-off with sound isolation. While great with sound isolation, closed-back headphones stop the sound at the ear cup, thereby cutting off the feeling of the sound moving through space. This is particularly noticeable with overdrive and distortion on electric guitars.
Best Headphones for Electric Guitar
1. AKG Pro Audio K702
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As reference studio headphones, the AKG K702s have a neutral frequency response and exceptional clarity in all registers. Most comfort and sound quality ratings were higher for the AKG K702s than for the top headphones on this list and electric guitars. AKG K702s are a steal at half the price of the Sennheiser HD 650 or Boss Waza Air headphones.
These headphones have the most stimulating mid and high frequencies, making them the best for guitar playing. This can be advantageous when listening to electric guitars, as you’ll get a clear representation of the instrument’s tonal characteristics.
Specifications
- Brand: AKG Pro Audio
- Model Name: K702
- Color: Black
- Form Factor Over: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Great Price
+ Crystal clear in all frequencies
+ Great on all guitar sounds – clean, reverb and overdrive
+ Most comfortable on this list
+ Great for mixing and mastering
Reasons To Avoid
– For those who like unnaturally hyped bass, these are not your cans
2. Beyerdynamic Dt 880 Pro
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The Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro headphones are another set of professional-grade headphones, and they have characteristics that could make them suitable for use with an electric guitar.
The velour pads are loose enough for long jams. The robust headband has buttoned leather cushioning. The electric guitar headphones’ coiled 3-meter cord is long enough for guitar playing but not removable. A 1/4-inch adaptor is included.
We like that most parts are affordable and interchangeable. Before choosing headphones for use with an electric guitar. Ear pads and headbands in silver or black velour or leather are interchangeable. Semi-open over-ear headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro electric guitar reduce ambient noise.
Specifications
- Brand: Beyerdynamic
- Model Name: DT-880-PRO-250
- Color: Gray
- Form Factor Over: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Spacious soundstage
+ Best overall balance on this list
+ Excellent for all guitar sounds: clean, reverb, and overdrive
+ All the components are replaceable
+ Built-to-last design
+ Great for mixing and mastering
Reasons To Avoid
– Cable not detachable
3. Maono AU-MH601
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UPGRADED DJ studio headphones, the Maono MH601 include a 50mm large-aperture driver for immersive sound. To evaluate whether a set of headphones is suitable for use with an electric guitar clarity across the frequency range, with deeper, more precise bass. Soft, comfy close-back ear pads limit background noise and help you focus.
Maono MH601 features an extra electric guitar headphone jack for sharing music and movies with pals! Two conventional 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapters are available for the mixer and other uses.
Earcups rotate 90 degrees for one-ear monitoring. Self-adjustable, flexible headband fits individuals. Simply adjust the headband to your preferred and comfortable angle. Electric guitars often benefit from headphones with low to moderate impedance for optimal compatibility with guitar amplifiers (when seeking the best headphone amp for electric guitar, this is an important factor to consider).
Specifications
- Brand: MAONO
- Model Name: AU-MH601
- Color: Black
- Form Factor Over: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: 3.5mm cable, 6.5mm adapter
Reasons To Buy
+ It is comfortable to wear
+ It has deep bass
+ The sound isolation is excellent
+ Skin friendly
+ Will not make you feel tight if you wear it for a long time
Reasons To Avoid
– The spiral design wire of headphones are little nuisance to carry
– The wires are not detachable
– It doesn’t have Bluetooth feature
4. Boss WAZA-AIR
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The BOSS WAZA-AIR headphones are a unique and specialized product designed for electric guitar players. Plug the wireless transmitter into your guitar, put on headphones, and play.
Clean channels sound great. That space between you and the sound feels like the amp is in the room. The BOSS WAZA-AIR system wirelessly transmits the sound of your electric guitar directly to the headphones.
Apple AirPods have dynamic head tracking, as do WAZA-Airs. Like AirPods, this is cool at first but may be turned off as the novelty wears off. Home electric guitar playing takes so much fussing with your amp, pedals, dials, computer, or phone that the creative spark is often gone by the time you set all the dials.
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Specifications
- Brand: Boss
- Model Name: WAZA-AIR
- Color: Black
- Form Factor Over: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: 3.5mm cable, 6.5mm adapter
Reasons To Buy
+ Guitar and headphones only. No amp or other equipment is necessary
+ Everything can be controlled from the headset, no app or screen is necessary.
+ Fantastic clean tones
+ Nice amp-in-the room feel
+ No cables!
Reasons To Avoid
– Overdrive sounds limited by closed-back design
– pricey
5. Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT2
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The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones are a wireless version of the popular Audio Technica ATH-M50x model, and they are known for their professional-grade audio quality and electric guitar.
They feature Bluetooth connectivity and 45mm drivers for professional-grade performance without the tangle of wires, and electric guitar. They have convenient controls on board so you can skip songs, answer the phone, and more without ever touching your smartphone.
The Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT2 headphones inherit the praised sound signature of the ATH-M50x, which is known for its clarity, accuracy, and slightly emphasized bass response. This can be beneficial for accurately hearing the nuances of an electric guitar’s tone.
Specifications
- Brand: Audio-Technica
- Model Name: ATH-M50x
- Color: Black
- Form Factor Over: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Headphones
+ Best Audio Cable
+ USB Charging Cable
Reasons To Avoid
– Overdrive sounds limited by closed-back design
6. Sennheiser HD 650
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The Sennheiser HD 650 headphones are high-end mixing and mastering headphones and electric guitars. Engineers love these mixing headphones for their wide soundstage and neutral frequency response for accurate monitoring.
Use it for electric guitar practice or monitoring without regret. The 300 Ω impedance provides sufficient headroom for loud amps. Silky balance and swaying mids promote rocking.
The open-back Sennheiser HD 650s allow sound to travel more than other models, giving distortion and reverb room. While these headphones are not specifically designed for electric guitars, they can be suitable for various audio applications, including guitar practice and monitoring.
Specifications
- Brand: Sennheiser Consumer Audio
- Model Name: HD 650
- Color: Gray
- Form Factor Over: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Precise monitoring in all frequencies
+ Wide soundstage
+ Best sound for overdrive guitar on this list
+ Comfortable
Reasons To Avoid
– No carry case included
– Slightly less neutral on the bass
7. SUPERLUX HD681
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The Superlux HD681 headphone experience can be quite surprising for electric guitarists, especially considering its pricing. While they may lack the silky balance and neutral clarity of higher-end models, they still offer decent performance for electric guitar monitoring headphones. All in all, they’re not bad for the price.
Semi-open back, The Superlux HD681 headphones are composed of durable leather and are lightweight. (278 g) They look and feel like you could run them around your studio for years and never change their sound or electric guitars.
While they are specifically designed for electric guitars, they can be suitable for various audio applications, including guitar practice and monitoring. Look for headphones that provide accurate and clear sound reproduction, allowing you to hear the nuances of your electric guitar playing.
Specifications
- Brand: Superlux
- Model Name: HD 681
- Color: Black
- Form Factor Over: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Incredible price
+ Excellent sound for the price
+ Durable
+ Good mids for guitar playing
Reasons To Avoid
– Not as precise or balanced as other models on this list
– Mids and Bass are bumped up
8. VOX VGH-AC30
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Based on the name “VOX VGH-AC30,” it suggests a connection to VOX amplifiers, particularly the AC30, which is a well-known and respected model in the world of electric guitar amplifiers.
As a plug-and-play guitar toy, the Vox VGH-AC30 headphones were fun and affordable. On-ear closed-back Vox VGH-AC30 headphones are comfy and have a 1.6-meter cord with a 1/4-inch electric guitar jack. No amp or other gear is needed.
They use two AAA batteries, supplied. The right ear cup amp dials are tiny. These feel cheap and are hard to move and set. Ensure that the headphones have an impedance suitable for your electric guitar amplifier or audio interface. Matching impedance can contribute to optimal sound quality.
Specifications
- Brand: Vox
- Model Name: VGH-AC30
- Color: Black
- Form Factor On: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Uncomplicated and enjoyable to play with
+ No amp or other equipment necessary for practice
+ Decent sound on clean channels
Reasons To Avoid
– Build quality is cheap
– Anything broken up or overdriven sounds disappointing
9. BEYERDYNAMIC DT 990 PRO
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Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO has an excellent tonal depth that shows all music position changes while mixing. The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones are open-back studio headphones that are widely used for critical listening, mixing, and studio monitoring.
These sensitive transducers are suitable for professional sound mixing and editing since they can sense sound dynamics. The v-shaped pitch response enhances lows and highs more than mids. For piercing highs and respectable lows, get this electric guitar headphone.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones are known for their detailed and open sound signature. They offer a balanced frequency response with slightly emphasized highs and a spacious soundstage. This characteristic can be beneficial for accurately hearing the nuances of an electric guitar’s tone.
Specifications
- Brand: Beyerdynamic
- Model Name: DT 990 PRO
- Color: Gray
- Form Factor On: Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Good noise-canceling
+ Comfortable
+ High-sensitive transducers
+ Three-dimensional sound reproduction
Reasons To Avoid
– The long spiral-shaped cable is sometimes difficult to handle
– It has no mic with it
10. NUMARK RED WAVE CARBON
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The most attractive and high-quality headphones are Numark Red Wave carbon studio headphones. If compared to others, the 50 mm drivers provide authentic music bass. It provides precise music. This mixer is great if you want to focus on sound and tracks while mixing audio and electric guitar.
For the modern DJ professional, Numark red wave carbon headphones with elegant looks, an extremely strong build, and a swivel design for monitoring house and cue sounds simultaneously complement DJ decks.
The headphones feel quite light for their size. The band around your head is made of bendy steel with stitched-on gray and red plastic padding. The earcups and swivel connectors are made of silver-colored plastic that has been molded.
Specifications
- Brand: Numark
- Model Name: Red Wave Carbon
- Color: Red
- Form Factor: In Ear
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
Reasons To Buy
+ Detachable headphone cable
+ Large size covers whole ears
+ Very comfortable to wear
Reasons To Avoid
– The size of the headphones is bigger as compared to others.
Types of headphones
The most common types of headphones used for playing electric guitar and bass are over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear.
1. Over-ear
The huge ear cups of over-ear headphones cover your ears. For home electric guitar and bass playing, over-ear headphones are optimal. They have the most accurate and immersive sound due to their big drivers.
Since they disperse weight across a greater surface area, over-ear headphones are most comfortable for long durations of usage. If you’ve been practicing or recording for hours, this is crucial. Over-ear headphones for electric guitar provide balanced sound quality, immersion, and comfort for home electric guitar and bass playing.
There are three main types of over-ear headphones:
Closed-back: Sealed, closed-back headphones prevent sound from escaping or entering. This makes them ideal for playing electric guitar or bass in noisy surroundings or without disturbing others. Compared to open-back headphones, sealed headphones have a smaller soundstage and less natural sound.
Open-back: However, open-back headphones let sound escape through the back of the ear cups, creating a more natural sound and electric guitar soundstage. This design lets outside sounds into the headphones, letting others hear what you hear. Thus, open-back headphones are best for quiet home studios where you won’t bother people.
Semi-open: Semi-open headphones offer a middle ground between open-back and closed-back headphones. They have a partially open design that allows some sound to escape while still offering some noise isolation and an electric guitar. This can result in a more natural sound than closed-back headphones and less sound leak than in open-back.
2. On-ear
On-ear headphones sit on your ears rather than enclosing them like over-ear headphones and electric guitars. They are typically smaller and more lightweight, making them more portable.
However, they may not provide the same level of noise isolation as closed-back over-ear headphones and are often less comfortable to wear for extended periods
3. In-ear
In-ear headphones fit directly into your ear canal. They are the most portable option and can provide excellent noise isolation, making them a great choice for stage monitoring or listening to music on the go.
However, when it comes to sound quality, in-ear headphones and electric guitars tend to fall short compared to over-ear headphones. This is largely due to the smaller size of the drivers in in-ear headphones, which are typically less powerful than those in over-ear headphones. As a result, the sound quality may be less detailed and dynamic, with a narrower soundstage.
While in-ear headphones are great for their portability and convenience, they may not provide the same level of audio fidelity as over-ear headphones, especially for playing guitar and bass.
Sound quality
When picking guitar or bass headphones, sound quality is key. In practice and recording, the appropriate headphones can change how you hear your tone.
Your headphones should faithfully replicate guitar and bass frequencies without coloring. Choose headphones with a wide frequency range and smooth frequency response to accurately portray your instrument. See frequency range and frequency response below.
Sound quality also depends on driver size. Larger drivers generate deeper bass and cleaner, more detailed mids and highs, making them better headphones and electric guitars.
Testing headphones is the best approach to judging the sound quality of an electric guitar. Try the headphones with an electric guitar or bass to see how they sound while you play.
Frequency range
The frequency range of the electric guitar is another important factor to consider when choosing headphones. Headphones and electric guitars with a wider frequency range are better able to accurately reproduce the full spectrum of sound produced.
The frequency range is measured in hertz (Hz) and represents the range of frequencies that headphones can reproduce. The frequency range is typically presented as a range of numbers, such as 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, indicating the lowest and highest frequencies that the headphones and electric guitar can reproduce.
For headphones used by electric guitarists and bassists, it is recommended to have a frequency range that encompasses the entire audible spectrum, which ranges from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Frequency response
Frequency response refers to how accurately a pair of headphones reproduces each frequency within its frequency range. In other words, it describes how uniformly a pair of headphones responds to different frequencies of the electric guitar.
When a headphone has a neutral frequency response and the electric guitar, it means that it reproduces all frequencies within its range accurately and without emphasizing any one frequency over the others.
Frequency response is measured in decibels (dB) and is typically presented as a graph showing the response of the headphones at different frequencies. A flat line on the graph represents an electric guitar’s neutral frequency response, meaning that the headphones are equally sensitive to all frequencies within their range and the electric guitar.
For guitarists and bassists, it is important to choose headphones with a neutral frequency response to ensure accurate and clear sound representation.
Wired or Wireless Headphones
Wired headphones and the electric guitar are connected to your device via a cable, while wireless headphones use Bluetooth or other wireless technologies to connect.
Wired headphones tend to offer a more reliable connection and can provide better sound quality, as there is no signal loss over the connection. They are also often less expensive than wireless headphones.
Wireless headphones have become increasingly popular with the electric guitar in recent years due to their convenience and ease of use. However, they do have a few drawbacks that may be relevant to guitar and bass players. One of the main issues with wireless headphones is the electric guitar.
Latency is the time it takes for a signal to travel from the source (your electric guitar or bass) to the headphones. In some wireless headphones the electric guitar, this delay can be significant enough to cause a noticeable delay between the sound you make and the sound you hear, making playing pretty much impossible electric guitar.
Noise isolation
Noise isolation refers to how well headphones electric guitar blocks out external sounds, which can be especially important in noisy environments. There are two main approaches to noise isolation: passive and active electric guitar.
Passive noise isolation: Passive noise isolation is achieved through the design of the headphones themselves. electric guitar Over-ear and on-ear headphones electric guitar, for example, naturally block out external noise because they fully or partially cover your ears.
Active noise cancellation (ANC): Active noise cancellation headphones utilize built-in microphones to detect external sounds, such as the hum of an air conditioner, and then generate an “anti-sound” to cancel out those frequencies. This technology can be particularly effective in blocking low-frequency noises.
While ANC can be very effective for blocking out external noises, it can sometimes introduce its coloration to the sound electric guitar, impacting the accuracy of the electric guitar sound representation. ANC headphones also tend to be more expensive than non-ANC ones, however affordable options do exist.
Ultimately, the choice between passive noise isolation and ANC will depend on your individual needs and preferences for electric guitar. If you’re playing guitar or bass in a quiet home studio, passive isolation may be all you need.
If you’re playing in a noisy environment electric guitar, or you simply want the most effective noise isolation possible, it may be worth looking at ANC headphones.
Choosing Bluetooth Headphones for Electric Guitar
While Bluetooth is prevalent in electronics, thus several of your electric guitar-recommended products have it. An electric guitar can connect your guitar to a Bluetooth transmitter to wirelessly communicate with your headphones, but it’s not always reliable. It works, but the latency can make playing uncomfortable. (Especially for those searching for the best headphones for electric guitar practice)
How to Choose the Best Headphones For Electric Guitar
Choosing the best headphones for an electric guitar amp is a task that requires patience, research, and careful consideration. There are many different types of headphones available on the market and they are often the wrong choice for your needs.
Some are designed to amplify the sounds coming through your amplifier, so if you want to boost up your guitar sound then these would be the best option. However, if you just want to hear what your amplifier is doing then these won’t do the job.
There are a lot of different brands of headphones available on the market and electric guitar. The key to choosing the best one is to do your research. One thing you need to look out for when choosing headphones is how clear and clean your music is. If you find the noise reduction feature on the headphones too irritating then it could be that it is not that good.
Headphones for electric guitar amps are an important aspect of your music-making equipment. You must get a good pair of headphones that will provide you with the most realistic quality sound for all your music.
This will ensure that you create the right balance and make the right mix for your audience. Make sure that you choose your headphones carefully to get the best possible results. Good research and quality headphones will make your listening experience a lot more enjoyable
Soundstage And Imaging
Possibly the most interesting part of headphone technology. Soundstage and imaging give the listener the chance to hear the location of the instruments. Take an orchestra for example.
Soundstage gives you a wide spectrum of instruments and where they’re positioned in the mix. You can now locate the strings to the left and the violas in the middle. You can almost paint a picture in your mind of how the orchestra is set up and the difference In distance too.
Comfort
Electric guitar It’s crucial to buy comfy headphones because you may be wearing them for long durations when practicing or recording. Over-ear headphones should have spacious ear cups to properly envelop your ears without putting too much strain on them. Electric guitar On-ear headphones should have soft, comfy ear cups that don’t press too hard on your ears. Make sure in-ear headphones have pleasant, well-fitting ear tips.
Electric guitar comfortable fit, choose headphones with an adjustable headband. Make sure the material is gentle and skin-friendly. When picking headphones, consider comfort so you can practice and play for longer periods without discomfort and focus on your music.
Frequently Asked Questions about Best Headphones for Electric Guitar
Q: Can electric guitars be played with headphones?
You can, and there are lots of choices. There are some guitar amps that come with a headphone jack. Small multi-effects units often have a headphone output, so you can also use one of those. If it’s 1/4 inch, which is the size of a guitar cable, you can buy adapters that will make it 3.5mm, which is the size of a smartphone.
Q: Why do people who play electric guitar wear headphones?
Many headphones block out outside noise, which keeps guitarists focused on their instruments by removing distractions from outside sources. With headphones on, you can also hear what the rest of the band is playing, which makes the work go more smoothly and in time.
Q: Is it okay to start with the electric guitar?
The electric and acoustic guitars each have their own benefits. The thinner strings on an electric guitar make it a good choice for beginners because they don’t require as much hand strength. If you have small hands, you might also like an electric one because its neck is thinner, making it easier to hold and shorter to reach.
Q: What makes a good quality headphone?
The Electric guitar’s main thing is of course the quality of the sound; how accurately your headphones reproduce the dynamics (loud and quiet) of the source, whether that’s your music, your instrument, or your mix.
Electric guitars then after that, have to be comfortable, well made, and designed for your intended purpose, like DJ mixing, studio monitoring, or listening to music.
Q: Which sound is best for Electric guitar headphones?
It depends on the application. For electric guitar studio mixing or field recording monitoring, you want headphones with a flat, even frequency response and really good dynamic sensitivity, while headphones for DJ Mixing often feature an enhanced bass response making them better for beat matching and cueing mixes in a loud live setting.
Q: How to Play Bass Guitar With Headphones?
You can find no built-in amplifiers or speakers on an electric bass guitar or a pair of standard, off-the-rack headphones. The instrument is therefore in need of amplification. Your bass amp magnifies sound, not headphones or earphones.
Q: Can You Plug Headphones Into a Guitar Pedal?
The straightforward answer to your query is “no.” But before you give up hope, keep reading because there are still a few viable options. You can’t do so directly when you plug your headphones into a guitar. Several factors prevent you from doing this.
Conclusion
The electric guitar experience transforms when players hear their signal through a pair of high-quality guitar amp headphones. For the first time, they can clearly distinguish every element of a clean performance from those that, to put it gently, need more practice.
Your knowledge of product specifications and models is critical while searching for the best headphones for electric guitar amp. We’ve reviewed a range of top options on the market for you. With all the details listed above, you can easily choose the headphones that best suit your personal preferences and budget.
Electric guitar amp headphones are a great way to practice and train your guitar, whether you like the over-the-ear style or need to keep things quiet for low-key playing.