If you’re just starting out with electronic music production, one of your first questions will likely be: “Which headphones should I buy to produce?” And it’s a great question—choosing the right pair of headphones can make a big difference, especially if you don’t yet have a decent pair of studio monitors.
How much should you spend?
When someone asks us which headphones to buy, our first response is always:
“What’s your budget?”
Many times, the budget is around €200. In that case, our recommendation is usually:
Invest in a good pair of mid-range headphones rather than cheap studio monitors.
For that price, headphones typically provide more accurate sound than low-end monitors. You may already own good speakers, but need headphones for late-night production, traveling, or recording vocals or instruments.
Open, closed, or semi-open headphones: which should you choose?
One of the most common questions when buying headphones for music production is whether to go for an open-back or closed-back model. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:
🎧 Closed-back headphones
- Ideal for recording vocals or instruments, since they prevent sound from leaking into the microphone.
- Good isolation from outside noise, useful for noisy environments.
- Downside: they may color certain frequencies due to internal resonance.
🎧 Open-back headphones
- Ideal for mixing and more natural listening.
- They offer a more open, realistic, and less colored sound experience.
- Less ear fatigue.
- Don’t isolate: not suitable in noisy environments.
🎧 Semi-open headphones
- A good middle ground: some isolation without sacrificing too much sound fidelity.
- Very versatile if you can only afford one pair of headphones.
Our recommendations by type
Here are some popular choices in music production studios with great value for money:
Closed-back
- Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO
- AKG K271 MKII
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
- Audio-Technica ATH-M70X
Semi-open
- Beyerdynamic DT-880 PRO
- AKG K240 MKII
Open-back
- Beyerdynamic DT-990 PRO
- AKG K702
- AKG K612 PRO
- Sennheiser HD599
What’s the deal with Ohms? 32, 80, or 600 Ohms?
When choosing headphones, you’ll often see different versions of the same model with different impedance levels (Ohms).
But what does that mean?
Impedance = the resistance the driver offers when moving.
- Higher impedance = more power needed to get volume.
- Lower impedance = can be used directly with a laptop or basic interface.
So, are lower-impedance headphones better because they sound louder?
It depends. Lower impedance makes them easier to power, but also brings more distortion, more interference, and lower sound fidelity.
If you’ll use your headphones on the go, with a laptop, or without a dedicated amplifier, the ideal option is medium impedance (around 80 Ohms).
It’s the best balance between performance and ease of use.
Learn how to choose your gear in our courses
At EUMES, we teach you not only how to use Ableton Live or mix your tracks, but also how to choose the right gear to produce electronic music with technical and artistic criteria. Whether you choose our three-year degree or our intensive music production courses, we’re here to help you achieve your dream.
Ready to take the leap and sound like a pro?
Start with the essentials: a solid pair of headphones and the right training.
Arnau Sala
Arnau Sala is one of the co-founders of the EUMES school, where he also serves as academic coordinator.
As a music producer, he has worked for years in the audiovisual world, always combining it with the creation of his electronic music tracks and his DJ career.
