You’ve got your podcast concept and record signal chain figured out — from microphone, to preamp, to ADC. But what will you listen on? Monitor speakers will spill sound back into the microphone. You need the best headphones for podcasting that are comfortable and practical, and will sound professional and allow conversation to flow naturally. But what sounds good, and what criteria is practical for podcasting? We’ll explore the most popular offerings, as well as a few newcomers to consider when purchasing headphones for podcasting.
What to Look for in Headphones
Frequency response
Frequency response for headphones describes the highest and lowest sounds the headphone drivers are capable of reproducing. This is similar to how frequency response for a microphone describes the highest and lowest sounds it’s capable of capturing.
Accuracy
Accuracy describes the level of sonic detail in the reproduction of a sound. This is very much related to the flatness or neutrality within a headphone’s frequency response.
Isolation / Leakage
Isolation describes the degree to which a headphone attenuates exterior sounds, while leakage describes the degree to which sound reproduced by the headphone is audible to listeners (or microphones) within proximity to the headphone. Most headphones in this category will be “closed-backed.” This is a category of headphone with superior isolation and leakage characteristics at the cost of a tighter pan image. Such pan images are unnecessary with monaural signals like voice. We benefit from minimizing leakage since headphone bleed can be captured by a microphone, thereby reducing sound quality.
Comfort
Comfort describes the amount of time a user can wear a headphone before experiencing discomfort. For long sessions — or for guests who aren’t used to wearing headphones — this can be a hugely important characteristic. If you anticipate editing your podcasts on your headphones as well, you should seriously consider how they’ll feel after 3+ hours of editing and mixing.
Durability
Headphones get folded and unfolded, dropped, stretched, sweated and sat on. They undergo a lot of handling, so it’s worth considering how your purchase will continue to perform in the future, especially if you use them on the go or they’re passed around in group sessions.
Phone cable vs. Straight
Coiled cables are the old-school, phone-cord style. Meanwhile, straight cables require the user to manage the cable. In my opinion, coiled cables are never a benefit. In any scenario where I need more reach, a coiled cable is reluctant to give it. You end up with a cup being pulled off your head by the spring tension in the cable. I’m all-in for straight headphone cables.
Folding
An added benefit for portability, most closed-back headphones feature cups that fold into the headband. This makes the product more portable and less prone to damage in transit.
Best Headphones for Podcasting
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Monitor Headphones
Sleek, comfortable, and well-built, these closed-back headphones are clear and accurate with a noticeable wide boost at 165Hz that adds extra punch. These have been my headphone of choice for casual listening for about 15 years, and I’m currently on my third pair. I find the headband is comfortable for about 2 to 3 hours. There’s plenty of reasons you see them everywhere, making them my strongest overall recommendation for a podcasting headphone.
Pros:
- Exceptional sound accuracy for critical listening
- Detachable cabling, straight or coiled
- Terrific built quality, comfort
Cons:
- Minimal low-end isolation
- Highest in-category price-point
- Somewhat leaky, between 500Hz to 4kHz
Sony MDR-7506 Professional Folding Headphones
A modern classic since 1991, these 7506s are ubiquitous in live sound — from theatrical, to concert, to film production. Slightly flatter in frequency response than the M50’s, they’re a great mix of price and accuracy. This comes at the expense of some build quality. They’re a little flimsy, but nonetheless reliable. These are a solid recommendation for the podcaster on the go.
Pros:
- Excellent accuracy to price point ratio
- Lightweight, comfortable
- Lowest in-class leakage
Cons:
- Non-detachable cable, coiled only
- Flimsy build quality
- Minimal isolation
Rode NTH-100 Professional Over Ear Headphones
The Rode NTH-100 headphones are a fine, very visually attractive closed-back headphone. They’re very comfortable, with plush cooling ear pads and side locks to retain size settings. Their response is on the warm side of accurate, though not a deal-breaker. These are a choice worth considering if you find yourself uncomfortable with other headphones in short spans of time, or you need to wear for extended periods.
Pros:
- Excels in comfort and cooling
- Detachable cable, straight only
- Visually appealing aesthetic
Cons:
- Notable leakage and less-than-ideal isolation
- Noticeable distortion at high volume levels
- Frequency response inaccurate above 9kHz
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Circumaural Closed-Back Monitor Headphones
As one of the most popular headphones in its class, the 280’s are commonly seen in ADR and voiceover studios, as well as casual listening. The response has a noticeable wide mid boost at 400Hz. Build and comfort are solid, and it’s got the best isolation of any headphone on this list.
Pros:
- Best in-class sound isolation
- Good build quality and comfort
- Excellent accuracy in the mid-range
Cons:
- Boxy, mid-forward frequency response
- Non-detachable cable, coiled only
- Leakage still a concern
Shure SRH440A Professional Studio Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones
We can’t have a best-of audio list without Shure. The 440A’s will be somewhat cheaper than other Shure options. This makes them a good intersection of frequency response, build, comfort, and isolation with the exception of a noticeable frequency spike at 10kHz. But, if that’s tolerable, the rest of the range is quite smooth.
Pros:
- Overall extremely flat frequency response
- Detachable cable, straight and coiled
- Excellent price point to value
Cons:
- Sharp presence peak at 10kHz
- Don’t particularly excel in any singular category
- Straight cable sold separately
Turnstile Audio Passenger Series TAPH500 Professional Headphones
Branding itself the “Passenger Series,” these are certainly meant for commuter listening. These are certainly worth a shot if you’re seeking a 2-in-1 commuting and podcasting headphone, and are focused on the lowest price range in-class.
Pros:
- K240 benefits in a closed-back form
- Good comfort and adjustability
- Economic price point
Cons:
- Not such a tight seal around the ear cup
- Doesn’t fold for portability
- Not particularly durable
H&A Closed-Back Studio Monitor Headphones
These offer a wide variety of applications, like educational studios and houses of worship. If you need many sets of cans for podcast guests, this is likely your best option. It’s a smart move to have spares and backups, and these make a great case for themselves in that application.
Pros:
- Professional look and feel
- Good value per price point
- Fine sound isolation
Cons:
- Inconsistent frequency response
- Non-detachable cable, straight only
- Build and durability concerns
I highly recommend listening on a few different pairs of headphones to compare and contrast. However, it’s not exactly practical to try out every headphone on the market. I’ll stress that, when it comes to headphones for podcasting, the importance of leakage and comfortability are not to be overlooked. It’s great to have the voices sounding great while monitoring, but if the resultant bleed is audible on the recordings, you’ll be kicking yourself later. No matter what your podcasting program is, you’ll be having more fun if you love the headphones you’re wearing.
