Plugging your guitar into an amp, turning up the volume, and singing your favorite tune is the definition of good times for most guitarists.
We know there are times when you just feel like cranking your guitar amp to crazy levels. But then you remember that you still live in a civilized society and not all of your neighbors are guitar addicts like you. At times like these, what you need is a pair of guitar amp headphones.
If you are looking for the best headphones for guitar amps for that purpose it can be difficult to find a high-quality one as there are so many options on the market and it leaves you so confused.
Whatever our unique situation, we’ve got you covered!
In this informative guide, we’ll go through each of these headphones in-depth, telling you where you can get them and the pros and cons of each. By the time you’re done reading, you’ve narrowed down your options for the best headphones for guitar amps.
You can check out our other guide for the digital piano headphones as well.
Features that we consider important to the purchasing process include weight, key, warranty information, and materials. You should take the time to research before committing to a purchase.
In a hurry? Here are quick links of our top 7 recommendations of best headphones for guitar amps:
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Monitor Headphones
- Sennheiser HD 650 Headphone
- Beyerdynamic DT 880 Studio Headphone
- Sony MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones
- AKG Pro Audio K240 Studio Headphones
- Yamaha HPH-MT7 Headphones
- Status Audio CB-1 Studio Monitor Headphones
Whatever your budget, here you can find an ideal choice of the best headphones for guitar amps and all other areas of your life that demand pristine performances.
Check out my personal favorites and see what arouses your interest. My list of the best headphones for guitar amps includes affordable, expensive, beginner-friendly headphones.
Let us help you make the decision to purchase a headphone to begin your music career. These are some of the best headphones for guitar amps you can buy today.
Best Headphones for Guitar Amps: Our Picks
Its review time! We have chosen some of the good headphone brands that will meet the needs of most musicians. Use this list to get the most out of your next instrument purchase.
Here, we will provide a review of the best headphones for guitar amps in detail so you can shop knowing everything. Let’s get started.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is probably the most popular pair of professional headphones in recent years.
It’s no surprise considering how well these closed-back headphones work.
The midrange is downright impressive, as is the extended bass. The highs are also very good, with no hiss or pops and little to no distortion.
We also like how Audio-Technica managed to keep this profile low, even though the earmuffs are large and the headband is considerably thick.
They sound great, feel comfortable, and are great value for money.
Audio-Technica opted for a circumaural style for the ATH M50x to provide exceptional isolation from loud noises. Now even if you record or play in an environment that is anything but quiet, you won’t hear as much outside noise.
These phones are also famous for their extended frequency range, which not only improves sound clarity but actually makes the bass sound louder than ever.
The included proprietary wide-aperture drivers, every 45 millimeters, have copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils and rare earth magnets. All of this offers the kind of sonic sound range you’d expect from the Audio-Technica brand.
You can choose from a host of colors with the ATH M50x, including black, bronze, white, and blue.
Overall, the Audio Technica ATH M50x is my top pick for the best guitar amp headphones. When I’m practicing and don’t want to disturb anyone around me with loud music, I always plug in these headphones.
Sennheiser is a brand of choice for many audio professionals, and for good reason. Its headphones tend to work well and the 6500 SE is no exception.
With an impedance of 50 ohms and an open-back design, you can make your guitar sound clearer and more powerful than other models on the market.
This model uses proprietary EAR technology that directs signals directly to your ear, creating surprisingly full sound.
Aluminum voice coils ensure dynamic reproduction with low distortion.
For your money, you get headphones with their own special acoustic silk. This provides damping of the frequency range and reduces total harmonic distortion at an astonishing speed, with only 0.05 percent remaining. Their phones also include a very long cord.
The voice coils are made of aluminum to weigh less. They also increase transient response time, which makes it quite fast. Neodymium magnets give your sound more efficiency and power. There is even a 3.5mm jack plug included with your purchase.
The combined driver elements are hand-picked by the Sennheiser team. These elements, like a magnet system, will reduce harmonic and intermodular distortion. The frequency of these headphones is 10 Hz to 39,500 Hz or 10 decibels.
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 comes with a fairly wide frequency range that makes it almost impossible to miss any details in your music.
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 is a great investment for your money. So it may not be your number one option if you are on a tight budget.
These headphones are suitable for studio use and also as a guitar amplifier, thanks to their high impedance of 250 ohms.
In addition, the semi-open design of the headphones produces a natural sounding soundstage effect, resulting in an impressive listening experience.
The DT-880 Pro from Beyerdynamic is at the higher end of the spectrum in terms of price. As such, it may not be your first choice if you are on a budget.
But if you’re looking for multipurpose headphones that you’ll wear for hours, this semi-open model can be a good investment.
These headphones have a very high impedance of 250 ohms, which also makes them ideal for studio use. The semi-open design allows for a very natural sounding soundstage effect, resulting in a very immersive listening experience.
On top of that, you get a very flat and faithful reproduction that brings out even the smallest details in your performance.
Like the other four models on this list, the DT-880 Pro excels in the mid ranges, but the bass and treble are also very good. There is some hiss when listening to high-end tracks, but it shouldn’t be a problem if you’re using it with your guitar amp.
This model comes with a 3m non-detachable coiled cable and a 1/4 ”audio jack adapter. You also get a sturdy bag with a handle for easy portability.
Sony is a great brand in the headphone industry. So it comes as no surprise that the closed MDRV6 design is on this list.
Headphones are very good at avoiding unnecessary sound leakage. On top of that, it comes with an impedance of 63 ohms, making it a great choice for a studio model.
The designers boast that the headphones have large neodymium magnets and 40mm drivers, which are responsible for their crisp and clear sound.
Plus, the mid-range frequency is fantastic, with a stellar bass frequency response to tie in with.
Most audiophiles consider the Sony MDRV6 to be the best headphones Sony has to offer today. It seems the claims are also true because based on our research, the MDRV6 delivers everything it promises to offer and even more.
One thing that first strikes you about the Sony MDRV6 is the beauty of these headphones. They look super beautiful but they are more than just a pretty face. They also offer a high level of performance. And it doesn’t hurt that these offer real value for money.
The most important feature of the MDRV6 is the CCAW voice coil. Now, what is this CCAW voice call that we are talking about? A voice coil is a coil driver that moves. It is also used in most headphones these days to produce a much richer and deeper sound.
It is not yet an industry standard to use voice coils in headphones, but the fact that Sony has decided to include this in the MDRV6 demonstrates their high level of foresight. The CCAW voice coil gives the audio from these headphones a level of clarity that is hard to find in most headphones.
For added comfort, these headphones are very light, which makes it easy to carry. But then again, they are still tough enough to ensure they retain their mechanical and structural integrity even under extensive use.
Also, because they are not heavy, you won’t feel the tension in your neck muscles or anywhere else when you have to wear them for hours. Truly, the comfort these headphones provide is unmatched, which is one of the biggest pros in the unit.
Lastly, to enhance your listening experience, the engineering here is super impressive. So you can be sure that with these headphones you will never miss a beat again.
If you are on a tight budget, you should look for these AKG studio headphones.
Although it is affordable, its quality lives up to the mark. The designers created the semi-open headphones to have large drivers that use patented Varimotion diaphragm.
This helps the headphones have a stable frequency response and offer a more three-dimensional soundstage effect.
But that is not all. You can feel the high-frequency treble range and the mid-range, but not as much in the low-frequency bass range.
At 55 ohms, the impedance is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. But while it’s not high enough to recommend this model for studio use, it’s more than adequate for your guitar amp.
They are more expensive than the last set of headphones we covered, but you can still get them for less than $175.
The Status Audio CB-1 is a really comfortable pair of headphones that is ideal for long listening sessions at a time.
It comes in an ergonomic design and there is also additional padding that makes the earbuds super comfortable.
The synthetic cover over the ear cushions and headband is soft and therefore makes the earbuds easily fit any head or ear size.
All in all, these are excellent over-ear headphones.
If you’re looking for supreme comfort, look no further than Status Audio’s CB-1 headphones. They are slightly larger than most headphones you see, but they also have a lot more padding, allowing you to wear them for long sessions without feeling as fatigued.
For the most part, we see them marketed as studio headphones, although their high impedance and large driver size make them great for practicing.
They come with two detachable, straight and coiled cables, although you can also replace them with your own cable if you wish!
The look of these headphones also stands out. They have a sleek, modern design in black/gold without any logos. The sound, while not neutral, has a great midrange and solid highs.
Bass is a bit lacking with this pair, although a great bass response may not be very necessary for most guitarists. What we’ll say is that the stereo imaging surprised us and really makes up for the qualities that these headphones lack.
What are the Benefits of using Headphones for Guitar Amps?
Lower Harmonic Distortion
Another advantage of a specially designed instrument pair is low harmonic distortion. The amps naturally add a little harmonic distortion that gives a slightly muffled sound to your signal.
Professional audio headphones of this type are explicitly designed for this purpose and reduce the amount of distortion coming from the amplifier, giving you a cleaner and more accurate signal.
Higher Impedance
Impedance is an electrical unit (called “Ohm”) that represents the relationship between resistance and reactance. Because guitar amps naturally have high impedance, your headphones need high impedance as well.
The type that people use for everyday things (commuting, gym use, etc.) has a lower impedance (usually below 25-30 ohms) and only works well with devices that have low amplification (e.g. smartphones, laptops, etc.).
So for instruments, you need the highest impedance type. Why? When playing at higher frequencies, high-impedance headphones prevent overloads or “booms,” which are often the reason they are used in studios for mixing and mastering music.
The higher impedance headphones reviewed below all have an impedance of 32 ohms and above.
Comfort for Long Practice Sessions
Your average pair of low-frequency headphones are designed for commuting and short listening periods.
They are made especially for guitars and music production; They are intended for long periods of use and therefore intended for marathon sessions.
Better padding helps relieve any pain or chafing; many products have replaceable earpads that you can swap out for newer, softer ones.
So, which are the best headphones for guitar amps?
The best headphones for guitar amps really depends on what type of headphones you are looking for, what level of performance you are on, and how you want to use it. Our best choice for the best headphones for guitar amps is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Monitor Headphones.
- Critically acclaimed sonic performance praised by top audio engineers and pro audio reviewers
- Proprietary 45 millimeter large aperture drivers with rare earth magnets and copper clad aluminum wire voice coils
- Exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range with deep accurate bass response
- Circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in loud environments
- 90 degree swiveling earcups for easy one ear monitoring and professional grade earpad and headband material delivers more durability and comfort
- Specially designed acoustic silk ensures precision damping over the entire frequency range and helps to reduce THD to an incredible 0.05 percent
- Improved frequency response is 10 39,500 Hertz ( 10 dB)
- Hand selected matched driver elements; Highly optimized magnet systems for minimum harmonic and inter modulation distortion
- High power neodymium magnets deliver maximum efficiency; 3.5 millimetre jack plug. Frequency response (Headphones):10 41000 Hz
- Lightweight aluminum voice coils for very fast transient response
- Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro Professional Studio Headphones. Semi-open, diffuse-field studio headphone. Analytical sound.
- Comfortable fit due to rugged, adjustable, soft padded headband construction. Robust, easy serviceable construction as all parts are replaceable.
- Single-sided cable. Velour, circum-aural (around the ear) ear pads. Supplied in a nylon carrying case. Transmission type Wired. Headphone design (operating principle) Semi-open.
- Headphone design (operating principle) Semi-open. Headphone impedance 250 ohms. Headphone frequency response 5 - 35.000 Hz. Nominal sound pressure level 96 dB.
- Cable & plug Coiled connecting cable with mini-jack plug (3.5 mm) & ¼“ adapter (6.35 mm). Net weight without packaging 295 g.
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Neodymium magnets and 40mm drivers for powerful, detailed sound
- Over-ear design provides comfort and outstanding reduction of external noises
- 10-foot oxygen free copper cord ends in 3.5mm plug; 1/4-inch adapter included
- Copper-clad aluminum voice coil wire for improved power handling
- Professional studio headphones
- Semi-open
- 3 m replaceable cable
- Audio Interface type: Stereo plug – 3.5mm (1/8-inch) with 6.3 mm (1/4”) screw-on adapter
- Delivering balanced sound with excellent resolution that stays faithful to the source, these headphones allow Reliable, high-quality monitoring
- Comfortable monitoring even during lengthy, extended sessions thanks to Ultra light weight 250 G Hardware
- Closed-back, circumaural design for excellent isolation
- 40 mm custom drivers with ccaw voice coils deliver a broad frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Convenient carrying Bag included
- STUDIO STANDARD: Praised by top musicians, producers, and audio engineers, the CB-1 headphones are an industry standard in recording studios around the world. The CB-1s have received critical acclaim from the most discerning audiophiles on the web as well as top technology editors.
- 50MM Drivers: Large 50mm drivers deliver studio quality audio with a wide, expansive soundstage that puts you in the room with your favorite musicians. Hear music the way the artists, producers, mix and mastering engineers intended.
- DESIGNED FOR COMFORT: The CB-1’s padded headband and overstuffed earpads were designed to be comfortable during multi-hour recording sessions. Its over-the-ear design fully encloses ear, offering passive noise cancelling without putting extra pressure on your head. The CB-1’s adjustable headband ensures a snug fit on your head, and clicking ridges allow for full customizability. .
- TWO CABLES INCLUDED + ¼ ADAPTOR: The CB-1 comes with two 9-foot audio cables - one coiled, one straight. Both have a custom locking mechanism that keeps them attached to the headphones, eliminating the risk of dislodging the cable. The CB-1 is compatible with any 3.5mm audio cable, but it will lack this locking feature. We also provide a ¼ adaptor plug for use with professional audio equipment.
- UNDERSTATED STYLE: The CB-1’s minimalist, unbranded aesthetic will never lose its luster or fall out of fashion. A slim frame doesn’t awkwardly protrude sideways, and the CB-1 can be folded to become compact for travel.
Final Words
Overall, looking for a solid pair of guitar amp headphones doesn’t have to be complicated. Just keep your eyes on the ohms, comfort, and frequency response, and you’re good to go!
Whatever your wishes, you are now a more educated buyer and you will definitely be more satisfied with your equipment.
We hope this guide has helped you choose the best headphones for you guitar amp!