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Since you have landed in this post about the best headphones for Vinyl, there are high chances that you are a true audiophile and you already know how well the music sounds from a well-preserved vinyl record, and how it swoons you over, every time you hear the music on Vinyl record.
A good pair of Vinyl headphones transmit the vinyl sound quality in its original form. Expand your frequency spectrum by exploring the best headphones for vinyl that I have covered here. I have also discussed their sound quality, design, and other aspects you should go through before making the ultimate buying decision.
The 10 Best Headphones For Vinyl
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Sennheiser HD 650 Headphone
Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 10 x 4.33 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Helps To Reduce THD, Provide Minimum Distortion, And Delivers Fast Transient Response.
Negative: Slightly Bulky Design.
Finding a pair of headphones with superior sound quality can often be daunting. However, with Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones, listeners can experience an impressive audio performance perfect for professionals and passionate music lovers. With an acoustic silk design specially engineered for precision damping across the frequency range and lessening the total harmonic distortion (THD), loud volumes won’t sacrifice the clarity of your music.
Additionally, high-power neodymium magnets and lightweight aluminum coils deliver maximum efficiency and swift transient response. All this ensures you enjoy every nuance of your favorite songs without limitations in sound or comfort.
Customer Review For Sennheiser HD 650 Headphone
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Shure SRH1540 Premium Headphones
Product Dimensions: 10 x 4.5 x 9 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Includes 40 mm Neodymium Drivers, Features Circumaural Design, Lightweight Construction.
Negative: Weak Cable Connection.
The Shure SRH1540 Premium Headphone is an outstanding piece of audio technology. It offers superior acoustic performance courtesy of its 40 mm neodymium drivers and APTIV Film diaphragm specially engineered to lower distortion and improve linearity. Comfort and noise reduction are also top when it comes to this headphone, as its circumaural design coupled with the lightweight construction provides a snug fit over your ears, as well as helping to reduce background noise for an immersive listening experience.
Moreover, the steel driver frame ensures consistent performance free of unexpected resonance and rumble, even at higher volumes. Finally, add the durability factor with an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy yoke and carbon fiber cap. With its stunning performance, the SRH1540 premium headphone certainly set itself apart among audiophile-grade headphones.
Customer Review For Shure SRH1540 Premium Headphones
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Sennheiser Professional HD 280 PRO Headphone
Product Dimensions: 9.64 x 7.36 x 3.3 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Comfortable To Fit, Features Folding Earcaps, Offers Classic Design.
Negative: Awful Quality Control.
Sennheiser Professional HD 280 PRO Headphones are among the best on the market today, offering high ambient noise attenuation and accurate linear sound reproduction. They provide excellent sound and feature soft earpads for a snug fit and folding, rotating earcups that make transport more accessible.
Additionally, the single-sided cable design ensures durability no matter where you take them, whether you’re looking for headphones for professional use or want to isolate yourself from distractions while enjoying your music.
Customer Review For Sennheiser Professional HD 280 PRO Headphone
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Akg K72 Studio Headphones
Product Dimensions: 9.45 x 9.06 x 4.33 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Budget-friendly, Includes Self-adjusting Headband, Easy To Hold.
Negative: Doesn’t Sound Accurate.
Akg K72 Studio Headphones offer a balanced, precise, accurate response, making them ideal for reference monitors. Having 40mm drivers that can provide an extended frequency response from 16Hz – 20kHz, these headphones can deliver high-clarity sound with clear highs and lows.
In addition, its closed-back design allows for more excellent isolation, reducing the risk of outside noise or sound leaking out or in. The over-ear construction and lightweight design provide supreme comfort during long usage sessions. The self-adjusting headband ensures a snug fit while maintaining its secure hold throughout.
Customer Review For Akg K72 Studio Headphones
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Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Headphones
Product Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 8 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Includes Adjustable Headband, Ideal For Professional Recording, Feature Replaceable Earpads.
Negative: Not Very Sturdy.
Music and sound professionals have used Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO Headphones due to their incredible sound quality, unparalleled comfort, and reliability. They deliver the highest-resolution audio with a wide frequency response range that is great for critical listening.
In addition, an iconic feature of these premium headphones is the replaceable velour ear pads that offer a comfortable fit for your ears, so you don’t experience any pressure points when wearing them for a long time. They also come with an easily adjustable yet rugged headband that fits snugly over your head without causing much discomfort.
Customer Review For Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Headphones
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Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones
Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 10 x 4.1 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Amazing Sound Quality, Includes 90 Degree Swiveling Earcups, Circumaural Design.
Negative: Poor Construction Quality.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones come loaded with features designed to provide an optimal listening experience. With their 45-millimeter large-aperture drivers powered by copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils and rare earth magnets, the headphones can deliver a deep, accurate bass response with exceptional clarity across a wide range of frequencies.
To optimize this sound quality, the circumaural design contours around your ears for superior sound isolation in noisy environments. In addition, the 90-degree swiveling earcups allow for easy one-ear monitoring. The premium earpads and headband material also ensure increased comfort and durability.
Customer Review For Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones
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Meze 99 Classics Walnut Gold Headphones
Product Dimensions: 9.45 x 8.67 x 4.33 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Stylish Classic Look, Provide Wood Earcups, Self-adjusting Headband.
Negative: Audio Jack Slowly Corroded.
The Meze 99 Classics Walnut Gold Headphones offer outstanding sound quality and feature sleek, lightweight headphones. With an impedance of just 32 Ohm, they are highly power efficient, eliminating the need for extra power when used with any device. Additionally, natural wood earcups provide excellent sound isolation.
Their PU leather headband comfortably fits all head sizes by self-adjusting to your unique shape. A lightweight hi-res headset for exceptional sound clarity and precision and a sturdy carrying pouch for extra protection.
Customer Review For Meze 99 Classics Walnut Gold Headphones
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Sony MDR7506 Professional Headphone
Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inch.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Strong Cable, Foldable Design, Reduces Extra Noise.
Negative: Build Quality Could Be Better.
Take your music experience to the next level with the Sony MDR7506 Professional Headphone! Its neodymium magnets and 40-millimeter drivers deliver powerful, detailed sound that impresses even the most severe audiophile.
The closed-ear design of these headphones ensures exceptional comfort while also providing unparalleled noise reduction. Plus, its 9.8-foot cord ends in a gold-plated plug for secure connections. It has an easily foldable design for convenient storage. In addition, this headphone offers long-lasting durability due to its robust construction and oversized diaphragm.
Customer Review For Sony MDR7506 Professional Headphone
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Focal Elegia Audiophile Headphone
Product Dimensions: 5.05 x 10.05 x 10.05 inches.
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Noise Soundproofing, Sound Reproduction Is Precise, Delivers Consistent Output.
Negative: It Doesn’t Last Long.
The Focal Elegia Audiophile Headphone is the perfect pair of headphones for home use and travel. The exclusive full-range speaker driver with an ‘M’-shaped aluminum/magnesium dome provides an exquisite sound that no other headphone can match – delivering tonal balance and detail in every range, from very low to very high frequencies.
It also has excellent ambient noise soundproofing abilities, making it ideal when using them outdoors. Comfort and ergonomics are not a problem either, as they fit perfectly, allowing you to use them for hours on end.
Customer Review For Focal Elegia Audiophile Headphone
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Sennheiser HD 800 Audiophile Headphone
Connectivity Technology: Wired.
Positive: Class Dynamic Headphone, 56mm Ring Radiator Transducers, Provide Two Connecting Cables.
Negative: Very Expensive.
The Sennheiser HD 800 Audiophile Headphone is a revolutionary addition to the audio world. It’s 56mm ring drivers provide exceptional sound quality and clarity. Its unique ear cup design is also noteworthy, as it works to direct sound waves toward the ear from a slight angle, creating an alert and expansive listening sensation.
Moreover, the added absorber technology reduces unwanted frequency response peaks that might usually dull down the music, giving users only the new notes they expect with this top-tier product. Two connecting cables ensure users can get the best out of their headphones.
Customer Review For Sennheiser HD 800 Audiophile Headphone
Things To Consider When Looking For Best Headphones For Vinyl?
If you have listened to music on vinyl speakers, just imagine the quality of music you will enjoy if you get the same in your headphones. Also, with vinyl headphones, you can enjoy your collection without disturbing anyone nearby. With vinyl headphones designed exclusively for listening to iconic oldies like Daft Punk or The Beatles, you may enjoy listening to your favorite musicians at high volume levels without disturbing your family or friends.
Finding the ideal headphones for your vinyl record can be difficult, especially if you think all headphones function similarly.
Audiophiles will consider all highs and lows when searching for the ideal vinyl headphones that will give authentic sound in every beat and improve their listening experience. Since there are so many different headphone models on the market with features that improve the sound quality of the vinyl, it can be challenging to pick the ideal pair.
I’ve included some of the essential aspects, including sound quality, drivers, and many more, and I’m sure they’ll meet your requirements for vinyl audio listening.
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Sound Quality
Sound quality holds the number one position when looking for the best vinyl headphones as these records offer better audio quality. Going for mediocre headphones may reduce your audio-listening experience. Vinyl offers a lower dynamic range of 55-70 db that gives a lower threshold for loudness.
This analog detail and warm sound can only be delivered through vinyl headphones that a specially designed for this purpose. Vinyl headphones can handle a heavier bass response with a frequency range that offers excellent quality sound recreation. You can look for a pair of headphones that can perfectly manage highs, mids, and lows without sacrificing the audio quality of your priced vinyl collection.
A classic example is the Sennheiser HD 650 Headphone which comes with a smooth response and a dimensional soundstage that deliver premium in-house acoustics. These open-back headphones are perfect for vinyl listening with their 42mm transducers having 38mm diaphragm and the voice coil made of aluminum that give clear and crisp audio listening.
When you listen to your favorite artist on these headphones, you can be sure of listening to an effortless treble and low-frequency response along with a midrange response reproduced as close to its original sound quality.
This gives you that deep warm tone with the feeling of being physically present at their live concert. Another thing that I liked about the Sennheiser HD 650 is its ability to reduce Total Harmonic Distortion(THD) which is the total number of harmonic distortions present in a signal. A low THD ensures a more accurate representation of audio quality even at higher volumes.
Thus, audiophiles recommend headphones with low THD. This is so because, if you have a low THD headphone type, you will be able to enjoy more accurately reproduced audio. you can enjoy listening to Dark Side Of The Moon By Pink Floyd on these pair of exclusive vinyl headphones as they are perfect at preserving those warm tones of vinyl and save you from listening to clinical sound quality.
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Noise Cancelation
The noise cancelation feature in headphones ensures a good amount of reduction in ambient noise through their active-noise-control technique. With this, you can listen to crisp and clear audio content without increasing volume levels.
For instance, these Focal Elegia Audiophile Headphones are a great choice that offer excellent ambient noise soundproofing features, so you can take them outdoors without having to worry about the surrounding noise bothering you.
You can plug in these circum-aural closed-back headphones and listen to your favorite artists for hours without experiencing any discomfort with their ergonomic design and perfect noise-isolation features. They have full-range M-shape magnesium/aluminum speaker drivers that deliver a highly dynamic sound quality through their high-frequency response.
However, if you are looking from a long-term perspective, these headphones may last only a short time. However, suppose durability is your concern along with high noise-canceling qualities. In that case, you can try Shure SRH1540 Premium Headphones, which come with an aircraft-grade aluminum alloy yoke and carbon fiber cap that keeps up with increased durability.
They have a circumaural design and lightweight construction offering a snug fit over your ears and their exclusive 40mm neodymium drivers create an expansive soundstage including a warm bass and extended highs that add to their enhanced acoustic performance.
Thus, look for the noise cancelation feature in vinyl headphones which can be a true game changer as it can offer you supreme audio quality, without surrounding noise in the background.
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Open/Close Back Design
Selecting the design type can rely on where you wish to use your vinyl headphones which can either be open-back or closed-back. In open environments where the ambient noise is relatively low, you can try open-back headphones like Sennheiser HD 800 Audiophile Headphone that come with a circumaural dynamic stereo design. These headphones are known for offering the biggest 56mm ring radiator transducer delivering rich sound and reducing distortion, making you listen to pure audio quality. Redefine your listening experience with their open-back design adds to their exceptional clarity, detail, and dynamics.
On the other hand, if your listening environment includes a lot of background noise like traffic disturbance or several people talking, you can look for a closed-back design and exceptional audio isolation found in the Akg K72 Studio Headphones. These over-ear headphones offer a balanced high-frequency response that can help you discover detailed nuances in vocals and acoustic instruments. Their closed-back design cancels out audio leakage so you listen to isolated audio quality, thanks to their new acoustic chambers set up between the ear cups and the headband hinge.
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Headbands
Headbands allow you to perfectly adjust your headphones around your ears. An ill-fitted headphone will not only put a strain on your ears, but it can also become very uncomfortable to wear them for long hours. Talk about comfort and high-quality headbands, and Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones cannot be missed out. These headphones come with a professional-grade earpad and headband material which additionally delivers more durability comfort and durability making you use them for extended hours without any strain or discomfort.
However, you should look for a headphone that is highly adjustable and isn’t too tight around your ears as it can cause tension. You should be able to adjust them as per your head size and requirement.
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Drivers
Drivers are comprised of cone-shaped diaphragms, magnets, and voice coils, that convert an electrical signal into sound and pose a major impact on your headphone’s audio quality. They are available in different sizes that can range from 8 millimeters to 49-50 millimeters. This size shows their sound capability, like in the Sony MDR7506 Professional Headphone that comes with 40-millimeter drivers for giving you a powerful, detailed sound experience.
Whereas, for a serious audiophile, the Sennheiser HD 800 Audiophile Headphone has its biggest driver size of about 56-millimeter and offers one of the clearest audio details you can hear through headphones. These headphones can effortlessly reduce unwanted frequency response peaks and create a spatial and natural listening environment for you with utmost clarity and detail.
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Budget
Budget is the major factor to contemplate when you have to find the best headphones for Vinyl. If you like a classic look with a touch of wood, you can try the Meze 99 Classics Walnut Gold Headphones. These over-ear wired headphones fall under a price range of $310 and come with real wood earcups that can give you a natural sound isolation and enhance your music listening experience. Additionally, these lightweight high-resolution headphones include soft earpads giving you the benefit to enjoy your music for extended hours without any pain.
Working in crowded places comes with the problem of experiencing too much noise around you, like chatting with a group of people or living where noise from construction sites is a common thing. Try your hands at Shure SRH1540 Premium Headphones under the price range of $500, which are famous for reducing background noise through their circumaural design and perfect snug fit that rests perfectly over the ears. So, enjoy listening to Rolling Stones without bothering about those annoying background noises with these noise-reduction headphones options.
However, you can easily find a good pair of headphones for Vinyl ranging from prices as low as $50 and can go up to as high as $1800. It depends on your liking and what features you expect from the best headphones for vinyl and how much your budget is allowing you to spend on getting these vintage audio devices.
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Aesthetics
One more deciding factor that could be crucial when buying a headphone for your vinyl setup is aesthetics. This is because using Vinyl for listening to music is all about class and aesthetics. Hence, if you have a headphone stand, you should ensure that the headphone you purchase for your vinyl setup is compatible with your headphone stand, or else you may have to buy a new one that is compatible with your overall design and layout.
How To Listen To Vinyl With Headphones
Listening to Vinyl with headphones can be done by connecting them to the record players in the following four ways-
- Use a stereo receiver with a headphone output and an integrated phono stage.
- Use a headphone amplifier to connect it between the headphones and the deck. However, a turntable without an integrated phono stage requires hooking up the headphone amplifier with the cans and the phono stage.
- Look for record players with built-in headphone amplifiers and output
- Look for Bluetooth connectivity in your vinyl record players to establish an instant connection with headphones.
Benefits Of Headphones For Vinyl
- Vinyl headphones are more convenient for listening to classic records than arranging for a set of speakers.
- Vinyl headphones are more affordable than purchasing a whole new speaker system set.
- These headphones can allow you to listen to your favorite records at full blast without making you bothered about those around you like your roommates, or your family.
- They are designed to unveil music details including exclusive music nuances, and notes which are otherwise missed out while listening on speaker sets.
- Vinyl headphones can save a lot of space in place of speaker sets, and be placed even in compact room sizes.
- This headphone offers high-quality sound acoustics, something speaker sets are unable to do even after producing excellent sound when room acoustics are taken into account.
- Vinyl headphones are lightweight and convenient to bring with you wherever you go. Turn your vinyl records into digital files so you can shut out the background noise and listen to your favorite music on the go.
Final Thoughts
There are many options to choose from, each with distinctive features at various price points, and you should consider each one before making the ultimate buying decision.
However, considering your listening needs and what music quality you usually listen to can help you decide if you like heavy bass or treble in your headphones. If you enjoy listening to music at louder volumes, look for headphones with more durable drivers that can handle it without causing any audio distortion.
If you’re still unsure about your purchase, this comprehensive guide to the best headphones for vinyl can assist you in making a better choice according to your preferences and budget.
FAQs
You only need a Phono Preamp and a Bluetooth transmitter for listening to vinyl through Bluetooth. Moreover, vinyl record players with built-in preamps can make this easier by simply connecting the Bluetooth transmitter to their RCA output.
Headphones are a good alternative to speakers, as they have the advantage of offering a great listening environment wherever you are without having to worry about speaker placement or room acoustics. Also, using headphones allows you to listen to music privately without upsetting your friends or housemates.
Jazz music has layers of intricate rhythms and melodies, which makes it sound best on vinyl. Jazz played on vinyl can simulate live music by creating a melancholy atmosphere through the use of subtle crackles and pops. You’ll have the impression that you’re at a live jazz concert.