Looking for quality headphones for monitoring audio on set or editing in post? You don’t have to break the bank to get them! As a film or video professional, having quality, dynamic, and noise-free headphones is a must. But before you shell out hundreds of dollars, check out these solid and affordable options.
First up, the Sony MDR7506s. These lightweight headphones are designed for comfort over long periods of use and are well-known in the industry. They come with a 9.8-foot cord, 1/4″ adapter, and foldable design for storage and travel. Price: $130 on the website (under $100 with affiliates).
Next, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pros. These high dynamic headphones are collapsible and built for maximum flexibility for wear. They come with a single-sided coiled cable, up to 32 dB noise attenuation, folding and rotating ear-cups for travel, and a 1/4″ adapter. Price: $99.95.
Looking for something with fine detail controls at a lower price point? Check out the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Monitor Headphones. These headphones were originally designed for studio recording and DJ monitoring and tracking/mixing. They come with 40mm drivers and rare-earth magnets, copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, 90-degree swiveling ear-cups, and a removable cable. Price: $99.00.
For the ultimate bang for your buck, the Shure SRH145 headphones are a solid beginner- to mid-level option. They offer full-range sound with solid noise isolation and dynamic range to monitor both on set or in post. They come with adjustable closed-back on-ear cups, collapsible design for on-the-go filmmaking, fixed straight cable, and a frequency range of 25 Hz to 18 kHz. Price: $39.00.
Finally, the beyerdynamic DT 240 PRO monitoring headphones deliver professional quality monitoring and dynamic range. They come with transducers to suit any studio or mobile application, a compact over-ear design, strong isolation from background noise, minimal sound leakage, and a 3-meter coiled cable. Price: $89.00.
For more audio gear, recording advice, and editing tricks, check out some of these articles: “The Best Headphones for Video Editing,” “The Indie Filmmaker’s Guide to Recording Audio,” “9 Things You Should Check Before Recording Audio,” “Audio Tip: How to Get Good Sound on Every Budget,” and “5 Quick Tips: Mixing Audio for Film and Video Projects.”
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