A good microphone gets most of the attention when people build a podcasting setup. Headphones, on the other hand, are often treated like an afterthought.
That’s a mistake. When you’re recording a podcast, your headphones are basically your second set of ears. They let you hear your voice, your guest, background noise, microphone problems, mouth clicks, room echo, and all the little things that might otherwise go unnoticed until you’re editing the episode later.
The good news is that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a good pair of podcast headphones. Some relatively affordable studio headphones can do an excellent job.
The important thing is choosing the right type of headphones, not simply buying the most expensive pair you can find.
For most podcasters, that means wired, closed-back, over-ear headphones designed for monitoring. Current podcast headphone guides consistently favor this type because it provides isolation while reducing the chance that headphone audio will leak into the microphone.
So, which headphones are actually worth buying? Let’s take a look.
What Makes a Good Podcast Headphone?
Before getting into specific models, it’s worth understanding what you’re looking for. Podcast headphones don’t need to make music sound incredibly exciting. In fact, that’s not really the point.
When you’re recording or editing a podcast, you want headphones that let you hear what’s actually happening in the recording.
A headphone with huge bass might make music sound impressive, but it could hide problems in your voice recording. A pair with extremely boosted treble might make speech sound detailed while making “S” and “T” sounds seem harsher than they really are.
For podcasting, accuracy is more useful than excitement. Comfort matters too.
If you’re recording a two-hour interview or editing several episodes in one sitting, uncomfortable headphones can become annoying very quickly.
You should also look for good isolation. If you’re recording with a microphone in front of you, you don’t want the sound coming from your headphones leaking into the microphone. That’s why closed-back headphones are so popular for podcasting.
1. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro — Best Overall
If I had to choose one pair for a serious podcasting setup, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro would be near the top of my list. It’s been a studio favorite for years, and there’s a good reason for that.
The DT 770 Pro is a closed-back headphone with excellent isolation and a comfortable over-ear design. The soft velour ear pads are particularly nice if you spend several hours wearing headphones.
That’s a bigger deal than it sounds.
A headphone can have amazing sound quality, but if your ears hurt after 45 minutes, you aren’t going to enjoy using it.
The DT 770 Pro also provides plenty of detail for monitoring spoken-word recordings. Current reviews continue to recommend it as an excellent all-round podcasting option, particularly for comfort and isolation.
One thing to pay attention to is impedance. The DT 770 Pro is available in different impedance versions, including 32, 80, and 250 ohms. The 250-ohm version can benefit from a stronger headphone amplifier, while lower-impedance versions are easier to drive from typical recording equipment.
For most podcasters, don’t overcomplicate this. Choose the version that matches your audio interface or recording device.
2. Sony MDR-7506 — Best Value
The Sony MDR-7506 is one of those headphones that has been around for so long that it almost feels boring to recommend.
But sometimes boring is good. These headphones have been widely used in broadcast and studio environments for decades. They’re lightweight, foldable, relatively affordable, and provide a detailed sound that works particularly well for spoken-word audio.
They’re also very easy to find. For podcasting, the MDR-7506 makes a lot of sense because it doesn’t try to be a fancy lifestyle headphone. It’s designed for monitoring.
You’ll hear things such as harsh “S” sounds, unwanted noise, and other little problems that might be harder to notice on ordinary consumer headphones.
The main downside is that the sound isn’t perfectly neutral, and the ear pads can become warm during long sessions. Still, for the money, it’s difficult to complain.
3. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — Best All-Rounder
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is another very popular studio headphone. It’s slightly more expensive than entry-level monitoring headphones, but you get a better overall package.
The M50x is closed-back, over-ear, and designed for studio monitoring. It also folds, which makes it easier to transport.
One feature I particularly like is the detachable cable. That’s useful because cables are one of the things that can eventually fail on headphones. With a detachable cable, you don’t necessarily have to replace the entire headphone if the cable becomes damaged.
The M50x also comes with multiple cable options, which makes it practical if you use your headphones in different recording environments.
For podcasting, the sound gives you plenty of detail while still being enjoyable for normal music listening.
That last point matters if you’re buying one pair of headphones for everything. You might use them to record your podcast in the morning, edit audio in the afternoon, and listen to music at night.
4. Audio-Technica ATH-M20x — Best Budget Pick
If you’re just starting your podcast, you probably don’t need to spend $150 or $200 on headphones.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x is a great example of why. It’s an inexpensive closed-back studio headphone that gives beginners a proper monitoring setup without requiring a huge investment.
The build isn’t as premium as more expensive models, but that’s understandable. What matters is that the headphones do the basic job properly.
They provide a closed-back design, reasonable isolation, and a sound that’s useful for monitoring speech. RTINGS currently lists the ATH-M20x as an inexpensive podcasting option and notes that its midrange reproduction helps keep voices clear and detailed.
If you’re building your first podcast setup and you’ve already spent money on a microphone, computer, audio interface, and software, the M20x can be a sensible place to save. You can always upgrade later.
5. Sennheiser HD 280 Pro — Best for Isolation
If your recording room isn’t particularly quiet, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro deserves a look. It’s a closed-back monitoring headphone designed with strong passive isolation.
That’s useful if you’re recording in a home office, bedroom, shared space, or somewhere where you can occasionally hear traffic, fans, air conditioning, or other people.
The tradeoff is comfort. The stronger clamping force that helps with isolation won’t be everyone’s favorite during a three-hour recording.
But if outside noise is a bigger problem than headphone comfort, the HD 280 Pro can make a lot of sense. It’s also a relatively affordable professional-style headphone.
6. Shure SRH840A — Best for Comfort
The Shure SRH840A is another solid option for podcasting. Shure is well known for microphones, but the company’s headphones deserve attention too.
The SRH840A is a closed-back over-ear monitoring headphone with a design that’s particularly appealing for people who spend a lot of time editing.
Current podcast headphone roundups have highlighted the SRH840A as a comfort-focused choice.
It’s not the cheapest option, but if you’re constantly editing podcasts, comfort becomes part of productivity. There’s no point buying an incredibly detailed pair of headphones if you hate wearing them.
Why Closed-Back Headphones Are Better for Recording
This is one of the most important things to understand when shopping for podcast headphones. You’ll find headphones described as open-back and closed-back.
Open-back headphones allow more sound to move through the ear cups. They can provide a more natural and spacious listening experience, which is why they’re popular for certain types of music production and critical listening. But they’re usually not the first choice for recording vocals or podcasts.
Why?
Sound can escape from the headphones and reach your microphone.
If you’re monitoring your guest while recording, that headphone audio can end up in the microphone track.
Closed-back headphones seal the back of the ear cups, helping keep the sound contained.
That’s why closed-back models are generally the safer choice when you’re recording spoken-word content.
Open-back headphones can still be excellent for editing and mixing in the right environment, but they’re not what I’d recommend as your first podcast recording headphone.
Do You Need Noise-Cancelling Headphones?
Probably not. Active noise cancellation is great when you’re sitting on an airplane or working in a noisy office.
But podcast recording is different. You want to hear the actual audio signal accurately.
Noise-cancelling headphones process the sound you’re hearing, which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to monitor your recording.
A good closed-back studio headphone gives you passive isolation without adding electronic processing to your monitoring signal.
If you record in a noisy environment, solve the room problem first if possible. Sometimes fixing the recording environment will do more for your podcast than buying a more expensive pair of headphones.
Final Thoughts
The best podcasting headphones aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest price tag.
The things that matter are whether they let you hear your recording clearly, stay comfortable during long sessions, and prevent unwanted sound from reaching your microphone.
For most podcasters, I’d stick with a wired, closed-back, over-ear monitoring headphone.
If you’re just getting started, don’t feel pressured to spend a fortune. The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x or Sony MDR-7506 can give you a very capable monitoring setup without destroying your budget.
If you’re spending hours recording and editing every week, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro or Audio-Technica ATH-M50x becomes more attractive.
And if you’re already using a decent microphone, don’t forget the biggest reason you’re buying headphones in the first place.