Best Headphones for Mixing: $400 & Under [2024]

Justin Colletti reviews the top pro level headphones for mixing, focusing on open back models for $400 and under from brands like Audeze, Avantone, Hifiman, Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, Sony, Steven Slate, Shure, AKG, Neumann, Focal, Audio Technica and more.

Headphone Links:

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[SonicScoop]

❓What are your favorite mixing headphones?
🎧Headphone Links:

[damonsiegiel]

I watched the entire video and then subbed. Very rare to come across expedient intelligence these days. Absolute pleasure and exactly the knowledge I was searching for. Well done! I’m going with the Avantone. Thank you sir.

[brianmorais]

Got the Sennheiser HD490s - transformed my mixes for the better and a pleasure to wear especially over long sessions.

[Dylanguitar]

Great video. The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro seem like they would fit my needs perfectly.

[robcasey]

Really the very best review of the best options under 400 for 2024. Many Thanks.

[dillpereira]

I have a Hifiman Edition xs and I think it is a great value for the money for everyone that lives outside EU/US. I use headphones as primary monitoring system aside a pair of Kali In-5 to make sure if I'm in the right direction and the edition xs do the job really well. The MM100 sounds amazing for the price but I'm dreaming with the LCD-x for years. Unfortunately I still can't afford one of these because I live in brazil and audio gear is ridiculously expenseve here due to the irrialistic taxes (almost 100%).

Great content, George! Thanx

[alishahsavari]

Man I don't know who you are, I didn't know about your website, but this was the most informative, the most interesting video about headphones that I have ever seen. It helped me a lot. I can't thank you enough ❤❤❤

[TannerByTheSea]

Great show brother! They keep getting better and better and better and better and better. It’s amazing.

[billyhughes]

So, this video helped a lot with my decision making. I first bought the Avantone's a few months ago and I really do like them a lot. Your description of their sound is pretty spot on. At the time of purchase I was still mixing on a pair of Kali IN-8V2s and when I went to reference on the Avantone's the experience frequency response-wise seemed to be very similar. About 2 months ago I upgraded my mix room monitors to the Barefoot Footprint 03s (your vid helped in my decision making for them too). I'm really happy with them and feel the transient response and detail in the mids and highs are definitely better, but when I went to reference in the Avantone's it's quite different. Darker, more lowend/lowmid push, etc. So, I just got a pair of the MM-100's and, wow, their sound is much closer to the way the Footprint 03s sound. They will be my reference headphones for mix decisions moving forward. The Avantone's will be used more as a pleasurable listening experience. Thanks.

[futilerecordings]

I actually love the fact that VSX gives you so many options. It's nice to hear my mix through NS-10's and Auratones, neither of which I have. The club emulation is great as well. I work on mostly bass-heavy music, and this emulation helps me target that flabby sub bass that isn't really showcased in other situations. I realize you can mimic NS-10's with a high-pass filter and a crossfeed of your choosing. But that is exactly what VSX gives you, all in one pricetag.

[beatprocess]

Just bought Avantone. Plan on getting headphone amp. Thanks for video

[MyICONIC]

Super interesting! Have not considered Headphones before for mixing. But I understand that its a better way then expensive speakers in a bad treated room!

[beatprocess]

i just the Avantone today in mail. what a great christmas present. im coming from philips 9500. thank you.

[johne.tucats]

The thing that doesn't seem to get mentioned much (if any) here is the availability of parts for these headphones. Just doing a quick check on the Hifiman phones, for example, I don't see anywhere to get parts.

[missoats]

Just a tip for people in the EU. Products from the two companies that were founded by the people that left AKG, so Austrian Audio and Lewitt, are typically much cheaper in the EU compared to the US. The Austrian Audio headphones are only 309€ here for example. So they are near the price range of much cheaper headphones than were shown here.

[RetroPlus]

I use the avantone planars, they are big, very utilitarian looking and get the job done extremely well. They eliminated the need for speakers in my case.

[kennylamar]

Wanted to thank you for your advice on these headphones.(Sennheiser 490Pro) I am extremely happy with the overall sound with the Sennheiser 490Pro. I liked them so much that i bought two pairs. I wanted my clients to hear what i'm hearing and I wanted to enjoy the mixes with them at the same time. Again, I can't thank you enough.✌

[esongsore]

You have too may headphones. Can you send me one pair? Just kidding. Thanks for the wisdom as always. Leaning towards the audezes.

[RAISING_WOLVES]

The 900 Pro X are solid, no complaints. Run through calibration, they're 👌

[mattytwohatsmusic]

Many thanks Justin for making this concise comparison. Headphones will be playing a more important part of any solid home studio setup. 👏👏👏