The single most important piece of gear when starting a podcast isn’t a microphone, nor is it an inflatable Ira Glass. It’s headphones.
Wearing headphones while you’re recording, editing, and creating voiceovers makes a world of difference in your sound quality. But why? And what headphones have the best specs for podcasting?
Before we get to the why, let’s cut to what you should buy, which might be the only thing you really care about here.
For some expert advice, we talked to two people who have spent most of their professional lives with headphones stuck to their heads.
Kevin O’Connell is a product specialist at Descript and an experienced, accomplished podcast producer and audio engineer.
Los Angeles-based producer, composer, and podcast veteran Dave McKeever has spent the last 25 years working in audio recording.
We've included picks from a few other reliable sources, as well.
The Audio Technica ATH-M30x Monitor Headphones will only run you about $80 and they’re a solid product that will serve you well at every stage of your workflow. Good sound, durable construction, with a closed back you’ll want for recording. If you need a slightly cheaper option, you can opt for the ATH-m20x model.
Features:
40mm Neodymium drivers
Tuned for enhanced detail
Single-side cable exit
Collapsible for space-saving portability
Circumaural design contours around the ears
Pro-grade earpad and headband material
Copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils
Pros:
Enhanced audio clarity and sound isolation
Durable design
Compact and portable
Comfortable
Cons:
Non-detachable cable
Price: $79
Sony MDR-7506
Source: Sony
The Sony MDR-7506 is a popular over-ear headphone choice in podcasting. These closed-back killers will give you a solid sound and take a beating. They’re also a real bargain at less than $100.
Features:
Large diaphragm foldable headphones
Gold connectors and oxygen-free copper cord
Closed-ear design
Neodymium magnets and 40mm drivers
10 Hz—20 kHz frequency response
Includes a soft case and unimatch plug
A ⅛” to ¼” adapter included in the box
Pros:
Crisp and clear sound
Durable construction
Excellent noise isolation
Comfortable for long recording sessions
Cons:
Larger and heavier
Non-detachable cable
Price: $80.99
Sennheiser HD 650
Source: Sennheiser
Are you really ready to up your game? Do you have $500 or so lying around? The Sennheiser HD 650 are the preferred ear-gear of sound engineers everywhere.
They’re planar magnetic headphones — that is, they create sound using a magnetic field — and they have an open-back design, so you can’t use them for podcast recording. But no headphones will deliver a better sound when you’re listening.
If you don’t have $500 for a pair of headphones (we get it), but still want the Sennheiser professional build, you can pick up the Sennheiser HD 280 pro for under $100 on Amazon.
Features:
Lightweight aluminum voice coils
Special acoustic silk
Open-back design for a spacious soundstage
Detachable, Kevlar-reinforced cable
High-power neodymium magnets
Pros:
Superior audio quality
Rugged build quality
Comfortable
Cons:
On the expensive side
Requires amplification
Not best for portability
Price: $499
Dave's picks
Superlux HD 681
Source: Amazon
The Superlux HD 681 are great podcast headphones if you’re just getting started. You can usually snag them for less than $50. Just know that these are semi-open-back headphones, which means a little bit of sound may bleed out into your surroundings — so you shouldn't use them for recording.
Features:
Semi-open design
Self-adjusting headband
50mm drivers
Thick earpad design
Single-sided cable design
Professional studio-standard studio
Pros:
Great price
Semi-open design for more realistic sound
Self-adjusting headband
Cons:
Big and bulky
Sound leakage makes them bad for recording
Non-detachable cable
Price: $49.99
Panasonic Ergofit
Source: Amazon
“The Panasonic Ergofit in-ear headphones are great for background noise isolation, and they can provide a pretty strong sound without requiring much amplification,” Dave says.
Another plus: a lot of your podcast audience will be listening on similar budget earbuds, so they’re a good way to reproduce that experience. This Panasonic model is ultra-cheap (expect to pay $10 or so for a pair), and while they aren’t the sturdiest option out there, replacing them won’t put too much of a dent in your wallet. If you can, buy two at a time so you always have a backup pair.
Features:
Ergonomic fit
Wide frequency response
Nine color options
Extra earpad set
Long cord
9mm drivers
Pros:
Affordable for beginners
Similar to what your audience is using
Cons:
Lacks noise isolation
Limited soundstage
No in-line controls
Price: $9.99
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO
Source: Amazon
“Beyerdynamic has a lot of fans in the podcasting industry, and the 770’s are really fairly priced,” Dave says.
Like Kevin's Sony MDR-7506, these 'phones have a built-in wired connection, but it turns into a coiled cable, which makes it less likely to snap. And these are closed-back headphones.
But the Beyerdynamics have higher sound impedance (30–250 ohms), which means it takes a strong audio signal to bring out their full frequency range. You’ll probably need a headphone amp to boost the audio signal coming to them.
Features:
Impressive frequency response
Plush, soft ear pads
High-quality transducers
Rugged, adjustable headband
Single-sided cable
"Bass reflex" technology to produce controlled bass and enhanced sound fidelity
Pros:
Excellent sound reproduction
Velour ear cups and padded headband are incredibly comfortable
Closed-back design is good for recording
Cons:
Non-removable cable
Bulky design
Requires good amplification
Price: $159
Other picks
Monolith by Monoprice M565C
Source: Amazon
Monolith by Monoprice M565C is another great option for podcast headphones. While Wirecutter doesn’t have a podcast-specific headphone recommendation, their pick for “your first audio upgrade” should get the job done.
They give these props for high-quality sound and durability, but note that they’re a little bulky, i.e. not ideal for recording on the go. And at $200, they’re comfortably priced in the middle of the pack.
Features:
Planar magnetic drivers
Wood earcup housing
Closed-back design
High-quality padded headband
Broad frequency response
Detachable cables
Premium materials
Pros:
Excellent noise isolation
Balanced audio reproduction
Durable and comfortable
Cons:
Heavier than other headphones
May require amplification
Price: $199.99
Rode NTH100
Source: Rode
The Rode NTH100 are affordable studio headphones that PC Mag likes for their sound quality but also comfort (they’re designed to protect your ears during long sessions). They come with a detachable cable, which is convenient both for travel and for replacing — you won't need to buy a new set of headphones if the cable wears out.
Features:
Custom-matched drivers
Precision-engineered acoustic construction
CoolTech gel designed to reduce wearing fatigue
Contoured earcups
Removable cable with locking connector
Lifetime warranty
Pros:
High-fidelity, balanced sound
Excellent isolation
Comfortable to wear for long periods
Cons:
Slightly heavier than other headphones
Many professional features may overwhelm beginners
Price: $144.99
Shure SRH840A
Source: Amazon
The Shure 840’s are another headphone that popped up on Wirecutter’s list. These home studio staples are good looking and affordable. They’re flat enough for mastering use, and enjoyable enough for wearing over long podcasting sessions.
Features:
Proprietary 40mm neodymium drivers
Closed-back, circumaural design
Collapsible design
Detachable cable lock
Replacement ear pads
Wide frequency response (5 Hz–25 kHz)
Compatibility with a wide range of audio devices
Pros:
Flat response makes them great for audio production
Closed-back design makes them good for recording
Affordable
Cons:
3-meter cable limits versatility
No hard carrying case included
Price: $149
Why you need headphones for podcasting
As the podcast industry expands, more reporters, storytellers, and entertainers have begun assembling their own podcast studios at home for a convenient, yet still quality recording space.
If you’d like to do the same, you’ll need a podcast starter kit that includes a computer, microphones, cables, mic stands, a digital audio workstation like Descript, and possibly an audio interface. You’ll also need a set of headphones to monitor the audio files you are recording and editing. Here's why.
They isolate sound. When you record audio, you want to record only what you mean to — and none of what you don’t. “Basically you don’t want sound from speakers to bleed into the microphone,” Dave says. “That’ll cause an echo effect and various forms of noise.” Getting a good headset for audio or video podcast production will handle this problem.
You can easily record audio from video chats. “A lot of current podcasts are being recorded over Zoom,” Dave says, “and headphones prevent the audio from your computer leaking over into your podcast microphone.” Any form of external noise is going to give you lots of headaches when you start editing, so take noise isolation seriously and use headphones.
They highlight the details in your recorded tracks. The audio quality provided by a good pair of headphones enables you to hear all sorts of nuanced details in your sound recordings. “Any time you’re doing dialogue editing, precision is important,” Dave says. “You need to be able to hear the close details — the ums, the ahs, the throat clears — that you wouldn’t hear on laptop speakers.”
They let you hear what your listeners hear. “You can assume that many of your listeners will be using headphones,” Dave says. “You always want to think about an end user’s experience as you work on the product. By editing with headphones, you’re creating a good experience for people who will be listening to your work using headphones.”
They provide a better bang for your buck than loudspeakers. “When it comes to top-notch sound reproduction and frequency response, it can be a lot cheaper to get amazing headphones than to get an amazing loudspeaker system,” Dave says. If you want to get a stereo system with a lot of power and a full audio frequency range, you could easily spend thousands (or tens of thousands). But with headphones, you can get a similar sonic experience for less than $200. Even when you ramp up to ultra high-fidelity planar magnetic headphones, the vast majority of models cost less than $1000. It’s a budget-friendly way to get really immersive audio.
What to look for in headphones for podcasting
There are enough headphone options out there to confuse a dedicated audiophile, let alone someone buying their first pair for podcasting. Here are a few rules of thumb for picking a set of headphones.
Over-the-ear headphones are typically better than on-ear headphones. On-ear headphones have ear pads that sit right on your ears, while over-the-ear headphones have a wider frame that encompasses your entire ear. “Over-the-ear models are better at blocking out outside noise,” Dave says. “They also tend to be more comfortable for wearing over long periods of time.”
Pay attention to frequency response. The human ear can hear frequencies ranging from 20 hertz on the low end to 20 kilohertz on the high end. In audio equipment, frequency response refers to a device’s ability to capture these extreme frequencies. This element is more important for music than for speech, so if your podcasting career only involves recording vocals and editing dialogue, you don’t need to obsess about frequency response. “But you may only want one pair of headphones for editing both dialogue and audio, in which case you may as well get a set that works great for all purposes,” Dave says.
You’ll want closed-back headphones for recording, but open-back headphones can work for editing. There are two main types of headphones: closed-back headphones that completely seal off your ear for maximum sound isolation, and open-back headphones that intentionally let in some ambient sounds (and let some of your headphone sound bleed out to your surroundings). “When you’re recording, closed-back headphones are the way to go,” Dave says, “because they prevent audio from bleeding out of your headphones and into the mic.” But don’t write off open-back headphones. Most audiophiles consider them the gold standard for sound reproduction. The open-back design is better for creating the illusion that musicians or speakers are in the room with you. If you want to use open-back headphones, reserve them for the editing and mixing stage.
Avoid noise-canceling headphones. These models can be great for blocking out unwanted sounds in noisy environments, but part of their sound-canceling design involves introducing new sound waves that counteract ambient sounds from the outside world. These added frequencies can alter the accuracy of your mix. Use noise-canceling headphones for listening to podcasts and music in your spare time, but use a simpler model for recording and editing.
Don't underestimate the value of comfort. “When you’re doing a lot of editing, fatigue is a real thing that happens, and there are wild disparities in comfort among different headphone models,” Dave says. “If possible, wear the headphones for a sustained period of time before buying".
The difference between wired and wireless headphones
Among many other options for choosing a pair of headphones, you must also decide if you want wired headphones or wireless headphones. Here’s what Dave says are the key differences between the two options.
Wireless headphones typically transmit sound using Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a wireless radio standard that lets one device transmit an audio signal to a nearby device, among other things. “Bluetooth sound has drastically improved in recent years, but it still involves a good deal of compression,” Dave says. That means it will cut off certain audio frequencies to create smaller digital packets of information — and that means lower quality sound. As a general rule, we'd recommend steering clear of Bluetooth headphones when you're making a podcast (other than for listening to your show before you publish).
Wired headphones can have built-in cables or detachable cables. “Detachable cables are kind of nice because if you accidentally step on your headphone cable, it’ll just pop out,” Dave says. “You don’t worry about possibly breaking your whole headset. Plus if your cable goes bad, you can replace it without replacing the entire set of headphones.” Nearly all high-end headphones use detachable cables, but some very solid studio headphones still used attached cables.
Wired headphones can come with straight cables or coiled cables. A straight cable is thin, lightweight, and easy to wrap up. It also breaks a bit too easily, so you have to be careful with cables like these. A coiled cable tends to be much heavier and much more resistant to wear and tear. That’s because coiled cables keep too much stress from landing on one single segment of the wire. Many of Dave’s favorite headphone models use coiled cables.
Podcast headphones FAQ
Should I buy headphones with a built-in microphone?
That depends on what you’re looking for! If you’re only recording close-up audio like voiceover and interviews, headphones with a built-in microphone can be a cheaper, easier and more compact option than having to wrangle multiple objects for every session (and, as we’ve said before, you don’t need a high-quality mic to make a great podcast). On the other hand, if you want the flexibility of picking up ambient noise — or anything that’s not coming out of your mouth — a standalone mic is a better option.
Can you record a podcast using AirPods?
The nice thing about AirPods is that tons of people have them, and they’re certainly better than nothing. Their noise canceling capabilities are surprisingly good considering how tiny they are, so they’ll work for editing in a pinch.
But they won’t pick up as much nuance as a higher-quality microphone, and are not recommended for recording audio. Plus, they have the same issue all wireless headphones face: you have to trust their battery life, and latency and lags can be an issue.
Again, they’re better than nothing, but if you’re looking to buy, AirPods aren’t your best option — especially since they’ll cost you just as much as many of the options on our list above!
Explore the 10 best podcast editing software options to elevate your podcast production. Learn why Descript stands out with its all-in-one editing capabilities.
Here's why voice recording on the iPhone is a good option for podcasters or anyone who needs to do recording on-the-go. We will also cover how you can do voice recording on an iPhone.
This article explains each of the stages of video production, then breaks the production process down even further into a handy 11-point checklist you can use to plan your next video project — and end up with a great video to show for it.
Promo swaps are one of the easiest, most seamless, time-friendly, and effective ways to promote your podcast. Here's everything you need to know to make them happen.
Project management software for video production is geared specifically towards helping video creators keep track of everything that goes into their work, from pre-production to post and everything in between.
Learn all about how a few simple things can help you before, during, and after recording an interview to make the process smooth, easy, and successful.
Noise is a normal byproduct of sound recording, but when it consists of unwanted background sounds it can have a noticeable—even negative—effect on your recordings.
As your podcast evolves, you may come to realize that your show’s branding no longer aligns with your current goals, values, or audience. At that point, you can either stay in your comfort zone or go all in to breathe new life into your podcast.
