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The best podcast headphones - The 6 best headphones for podcasting in 2023
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You produce podcasts and you’re not sure which Podcast headphone works best for you? We’ve got you covered, because in this article, we compare the 6 best headphones for podcasting!
Table of Contents
Type of construction: Open back, semi-open back or closed back headphones for podcasts?
Open-back, semi-open-back and closed-back headphones each offer different advantages and disadvantages. Open models have an open back of the ear cups, which allows sound to be emitted into the environment unhindered. This results in audio bleed, which means the audio on your headphones may be recorded on the microphone. This results in a more natural and airy sound, which music lovers especially appreciate. However, the noise isolation of open expemplars is very low, which means that ambient noise can be heard loudly and the music being played can also be clearly heard by people nearby.
Closed models, on the other hand, have a closed back of the ear cups that keeps sound largely inside. This provides better noise isolation and is therefore more suitable for noisy environments or situations where ambient noise needs to be minimized. In addition, very little sound is also emitted to the outside.
In the example of a remote podcast, the voice of the person who is connected to it is not emitted into the environment. This is a key advantage, as it keeps your track clean and has no crosstalk. Closed models tend to have stronger bass response, but can also provide a less natural soundstage. This design is perfect for podcasting
Semi-open models are a middle ground, most of the time this is not a good compromise because manufacturers fail to combine the advantages of the two designs. This is mainly due to physics.
Wired or wireless headphones for podcasters? Go for wired headphones!
We don’t want to advise against wireless headphones in principle, but they are often worse in terms of quality and price-performance ratio than wired versions.
Wireless technologies tend to have latency / to be asychronous! And they are usually more expensive. Of course, if you own AirPods Max anyway, you can still use them! Even though Bluetooth models are super convenient, they don’t have as secure a connection and poorer sound quality.
In-ear headphones or over-ear headphones?
In-ear headphones are not very suitable because they might hurt, get uncomfortable or won’t sound as good as over-ear models. Anyways, we are not here to make rules about what you shouldn’t use. If you explore the best solution for yourself and use In-ear headphones, thats totally fine!
Noise canceling headphones: Not the perfect pair of headphones for podcasting
There are many great noise-canceling headphones on the market today, but they all have something in common: They don’t sound professional. You might get an okay sound quality, but the latency and the audio processing is set to consumers and not to professionals. You should avoid noice-canceling headphones! But once again: The headphones use is to allow you to monitor your voice. If you find a model that works perfectly for your personal needs and they sound good and it works, use them! Noise canceling headphones are better than no headphones!
What about headsets? Microphone and headphones in one? Headphones with microphone
We would not recommend headsets. Even though it sounds very tempting that you can additionally cover the microphone with just one purchase, there are some drawbacks. These mainly concern the built-in microphone. Because these usually do not sound that good, but they are also often very poorly placed. Directly in front of the mouth, they promote loud breathing noises, pop and wind noise when speaking, and you often sound like a pilot. That’s what we want to prevent.
A large diaphragm microphone makes much more sense here, because here the diaphragm also has more physical space to reproduce your voice naturally. We’ve also picked out the best microphones for your own podcast.
Podcast headphones comparison: The best podcast headphones 2023
In general, we suggest you to use over ear headphones. In-ear headphones can be used, but over ear headphones offer a better comfort for a longer period of time and have generally speaking a better sound quality. Also, we don’t recommend to use noise cancellation, it may change the sound. That’s why we tend to recommend analogue wired headphones for the best quality possible. Look for headphones, that fit to your head! Maybe go to a shop and try them on
1. AKG K72 (approx. 54$)- An affordable, lightweight all-rounder for podcasters
Sound: The AKG K72* offers a reasonably priced sound that is more than sufficient for an entry into the podcast world. The mids are a bit overemphasized, and the bass and midrange areas sound a bit unbalanced.
Comfort: In terms of wearing comfort, the AKG K72 impresses with large ear pads and an adjustable headband that provides a comfortable fit. The ear pads are relatively soft, and the K72 is comfortable on the ears in most cases, even after several hours. At 190 grams, it’s also pleasantly light.
Price-performance: the AKG K72 is in the lower price segment and offers excellent value for money. The sound quality, wearing comfort convince in this price range. The workmanship is adequate for the price. For beginners with a limited budget, the K72 is a good choice, as this model focuses on the basic feature of sound.
Overall rating: Overall, the AKG K72 receives a total rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. The combination of good sound quality, high wearing comfort and a good price-performance ratio makes this model a cheap but good option.
2. Audio-Technica ATH-M20x (approx. 59€) - A solid entry-level model
Sound: The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x* delivers a precise and balanced sound that is ideal for podcast recording and listening to music. Bass is tight and controlled without being overly dominant, while mids and highs are clear. In this price range, the ATH-M20x offers good audio quality that is suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
Comfort: The ATH-M20x scores well in terms of comfort with its lightweight design and comfortable ear cushions that hug the ears well. The adjustable headband ensures a comfortable fit and distributes weight evenly, so there’s no uncomfortable pressure even during extended periods of wear. So one wears the ATH-M20x gladly sometimes a few hours.
Price-Performance: Located in the lower price segment, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x offers good value for money. The qualities are convincing for headphones in this price range. For a limited budget, the ATH-M20X is a reliable product for your podcast recordings, making it an excellent choice.
Overall Rating: Overall, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x receives an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. the good value for money, this model is a great option for users looking for an affordable and reliable model. The build quality is solid and durable, and although the ATH-M20x doesn’t offer any high-end features, it serves its purpose satisfactorily.
4. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (approx. 119$) - Professional model with impressive sound
This brings us to the models for advanced users and the big brother of the DT240 Pro.
Sound: The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro* offers great audio quality that is suitable for professional applications even beyond podcast recordings… Bass is deep and precise, while the mids and highs are clear and well defined. The sound is super neutral and very assessable, making it a favorite for studios. We as writers have also been using the DT 770 Pro for years in various situations, so we can confirm the quality firsthand.
Comfort: The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro also convinces here with its particularly soft and comfortable ear pads, which are also replaceable. The ear pads are a bit lighter in color, but all the softer for it, and also prevent leatherette sweat that can occur with other models after many hours.
Price-performance: The 770 performs very well here. The great sound quality, the good comfort and the solid workmanship (as mentioned, in use with us for years) are remarkable for headphones in this price range. If you’re willing to invest a little more money in podcast gear, the DT 770 Pro is an excellent option that offers professional quality and reliability.
Overall rating: Overall, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro receives a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. The build quality is solid and durable, and the sound is excellent. A recommendation for those looking for a high-quality headphone. And please, listen to not only your podcast, but also your favorite songs with this model. It will be worth it.
By the way, the ohm value does matter. The 250 ohm version sounds even more balanced, but it is not recommended, because more resistance means less (quieter) output! So choose a low ohm number to get enough volume even with the laptop.
5. AKG K371 (approx. 149$)- Good pair of headphones with excellent sound quality.
Sound: The AKG K371* offers a really good sound quality that is perfect for podcast recordings and other applications. The K371 sounds so balanced that it might seem a bit too emotionless and clean for music fans. But this is exactly its strength in editing and mixing, because: through this neutral sound it is easy to assess a clean mix. So it’s super suitable for production.
Comfort: Here, too, the AKG model is convincing. Although the design is not as round and classic, however, this does nothing to the comfort. Because the K371 is super smooth and comfortable, and is suitable for longer recordings.
Price-performance: This is where this model scores points, because the K371 offers a great overall package, in which there are no major points of criticism at any point. The price is absolutely reasonable for these headphones!
Overall rating: Overall, the AKG K371 receives a total rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, because it combines all points so well that we can only recommend it.
6. Røde NTH-100 (approx. 154€) - High quality and innovative
Sound: The Røde NTH-100* sounds super natural, low distortion and has a fairly accurate frequency response. It is therefore perfectly suited for voice recordings and mixes and is also fun in the consumer sector.
Comfort: Due to the Cool-Tech gel, the NTH-100 particularly stands out here. Røde sets a sign with this, because often you often sweat with other ear cup enclosing models.
Price-performance: The NTH-100 offers an excellent price-performance ratio. The excellent audio quality, high level of comfort and robust build quality are impressive for headphones in this price range. If you’re willing to invest a little more money in your podcasting gear, the NTH-100 is a very good choice that offers high audio quality and reliability.
Overall Rating: Overall, the NTH-100 receives an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. It is the most expensive choice, so it gets a small deduction. However, anyone who wants to work professionally is in very good hands here (as is so often the case with Røde products). Especially the functional design and the wearing comfort have to be emphasized, which other manufacturers cannot do as well in this price range.
Choosing podcast headphones
When you’re looking for the best headphones available, sound quality and noise will be a factor to consider. But the most important headphones feature is comfort. A great pair of headphones, that are comportable to wear are better than one of the best headphones who sound amazing but hurt your ears or head while you wear them. If possible, go into a shop and try out some brands, headphones are usually comfortable as long as you wear them a few seconds, so try them out for a few minutes and check, if anything is uncomfortable. Comfortable headphones will help you to use them more often, because you want to, and enhance your podcasting!
Why do you need headphones for recording a podcast? Please use headphones!
There are several reasons why podcasting headphones are totally worth it: Like we wrote earlier, there is “audio bleed”, if you don’t use headphones, which means the sound of your interview partner might be picked up by your mic. This is especially important, if you do remote recordings. Open-back headphones are not designed to keep the audio signal inside, but to make it sound more natural, also allowing background noise to find a way to your ear. Not a good choice for podcasters and streamers!
Another good reason to use closed-back headphones ist, that it reduces external noise without noise canceling. Noise cancellation is great if you want to recuse outside noise, but it does change the sound.
So: Get yourself a pair oh headphones for podcasting, it will help you to improve your sound, and with the right headphones for you, it may improve your feeling while recording even more.
Conclusion: The best headphones for podcasting are not wireless and over-ear headphones
Overall, the Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro stands out in the low-priced segment, and those who want a bit more professional sound are very well off with the Røde NTH-100 to start a podcast. If you want to buy a model under 100$, the DT240 is a good quality headphone.
With these recommendations, you’ll be happy to start your next podcast recording and not just wear your new headphones for podcasting. Keep in mind, that this is just an expert of the variety of headphones. There are plenty other manufacturer, for example Shure, Sony and many more!
If you need even more information, and for example need a professional microphone for podcasting, feel free to check out our blog! We also have a podcast microphone comparison, including a recommendation for a cheap USB microphone and a list of the best microphones.
Plus, we have a summary of all the podcast costs.
Check our Blog for more than podcasting headphones!
Now you know why you should wear headphones and how to chose the right ones for you. We help you choose the best podcast hosting, or podcasting microphones in our blog!
If you want to learn more about audio, learn how to edit your podcast, or examine and improve your production chain, check out our sound&go Basic course. In a few hours you’ll learn how to bring your audio to a professional level. We go through the whole chain and you get tips, tricks and a checklist from experienced sound engineers.
Links marked with * are affiliate links. There are no additional costs for you, some of these links have an automatic discount for you. We mark these links for transparency and would never recommend bad products!
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