The 10 Best Electronic Drum Headphones (2023)
Choosing the best headphones for electronic drums comes down to three things: sound quality, noise isolation, and the ability to accurately reproduce a wide range of sounds. In this article, we’ll explore top headphone choices to make your drumming experience the best it can be. Let’s dive in.
My top recommended headphones are the Vic Firth SIH2 Isolation. These are popular, quality, and affordable headphones with good noise isolation.
My second recommended headphones are the Alesis DRP100. These are very comfortable and affordable headphones with decent noise isolation levels.
Contents
- The Best Electronic Drum Headphones (2023) – At a Glance
- 1. Vic Firth SIH2 Isolation
- 2. Alesis DRP100
- 3. Roland RH-300V
- 4. Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 Ohm
- 5. Sony MDR-7506
- 6. Roland RH-5
- 7. Audio-Technica ATH-M70X
- 8. Shure SRH840A
- 9. AKG K92
- 10. Direct Sound EX-29 Plus
- FAQs
- Things to Know When Buying Electronic Drum Headphones
- Verdict
The Best Electronic Drum Headphones (2023) – At a Glance
Let’s compare these in more detail.
1. Vic Firth SIH2 Isolation
Electronic drum set players are extremely fond of the Vic Firth SIH2 Isolation. They are cost-effective, good-quality headphones with good noise isolation levels.
These headphones allow you to protect your hearing by blocking outside noise. They also allow you to listen at a lower volume because you will not be struggling to compete with other noises. This set of headphones isolates you from outside noises by up to 25 dB, which is a very noticeable difference.
The SIH2 headphones come with thick pads that align with the player’s ears, so they are very comfortable to play with. That makes a big difference during long sessions.
If you want a pair of decent headphones with natural and clear sound, these are a really good choice. You can read more about the hearing protection technology that Vic Firth implements in their headphones.
2. Alesis DRP100
Alesis is a big name in affordable drum kits and accessories. I’ve already reviewed their Alesis Nitro Kit drum set and now we’re going to talk about the Alesis DRP 100 headphones.
These headphones are a great choice for electronic drummers and they are of decent quality. The DRP 100 is a responsive model and the headphone design allows for good noise isolation.
The isolation of this model provides you with good-quality sounds in different playing environments. For studio use and home practice, to live gigs, their quality remains at a good level. The Alesis DRP 100 comes with a silicone headband, which is also useful for longer playing sessions.
The frequency response ranges from 10 Hz to 30 kHz and the drivers on this model are 40 mm. The cable you get in this package is 6 feet long and it has a 1/8-inch plug. These headphones are a low-cost option. Although you shouldn’t expect world-class sound from them, they are a very decent model for those on a budget.
3. Roland RH-300V
The Roland RH-300V are high-quality headphones from a juggernaut of a company – Roland! They are optimized for e-drum and electronic percussion use and deliver dynamic and quality sounds to your ears.
These closed-back, over-ear headphones have 50mm drivers that also include neodymium magnets and CCAW voice coils. A truly professional choice! The sound quality you get is unprecedented, with solid bass and clear highs.
Not only is this a quality-sounding headphone set but it is also sturdily built, with a fold-up design that also makes them portable as well as durable. They are extremely comfortable with a snug fit, ideal for practice sessions.
From the wide frequency response to the dynamic range, the Roland RH-300V are top-notch, quality headphones for e-drum use.
4. Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 Ohm
When talking about renowned manufacturers of audio equipment, Beyerdynamic is an important company with a long tradition that dates back to the 1920s. Because of this, they make one of the most popular headphones for electronic drummers – the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 Ohm.
As the word PRO in their name suggests, these headphones can be used for professional playing sessions, which also makes them more than suitable for home practice. They are a very well-respected model of headphones and come at a very affordable price range for this class.
What makes this pair of headphones so popular is their quality. As for the technical aspects, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 covers the frequency range from 5 Hz to 35 kHz. There are 32-Ohm, 80-Ohm, and 250-Ohm versions, respectively. The cable is one-sided, which is a practical design feature for electronic drummers when playing live sessions.
Higher OHM levels will require more power from your sound source to amplify the volume (or high OHM levels will require an external amp). The 80-Ohm is a good model to go with. If you want to use it additionally straight from your phone or mp3 player then the 32-Ohm would be the best one to use.
I own a pair of these and I often use them for music production but they’re also fantastic for electronic drums. They also have really comfortable ear pads with is a great plus!
5. Sony MDR-7506
The Sony MDR-7506 are great, inexpensive headphones for e-drum use. The Circumaural, closed-back design is very comfortable and the headband is fully adjustable. With passive noise-isolating technology, they eliminate background noise to a good extent when playing.
This affordable headphone set features 40mm drivers that deliver a detailed sound, despite the affordable price tag. They have an almost full-spectrum frequency response (10Hz-20kHz) accompanied by gold connectors and an oxygen-free copper cord that for quality sound transmission and reproduction.
It’s no wonder that you can spot the Sony MDR-7506 in virtually any studio. They are great for studio monitoring, casual listening, and of course, e-drum use. The value-for-price ratio is one of the best. They feature a 1/8″ jack and a 1/4″ adapter jack.
Overall, these cost-effective headphones by Sony are among the best you can get for a low price that offer quality sound reproduction for electronic drums.
6. Roland RH-5
Another Roland pair on this list, this time a more affordable option – the Roland RH-5. The good sound, attractive design, and comfortable ergonomic features of these headphones make them a great choice for long home-drumming practice sessions.
Thanks to their 40-mm drivers, the Roland RH-5 headphones deliver a lively, balanced sound, which is important for electronic drummers.
Since its manufacturers wanted to cover as many settings as possible, these headphones come with a conversion plug that helps you to easily adjust them to different connectors. They have a 10 Hz – 22 kHz frequency range and an impedance of 32 Ohm. The cable in the standard package is 3 meters long, which will suffice for home-based electronic drumming.
While these Roland headphones will meet the demands of home practice or amateur recording, they don’t deliver the sound you need for professional studio sessions.
7. Audio-Technica ATH-M70X
The Audio-Technica ATH-M70X are closed-back, around-ear, high-end headphones from a respected manufacturer. If sound quality is what you want, then you’ll unlikely find a more well-balanced choice out there.
These headphones have 45mm large-aperture drivers with copper-clad aluminum wire voice coil for clear sound reproduction, a wide frequency response of 5Hz-40kHz, and a 35-ohm impedance level. The passive noise-isolating technology makes them great for studio and e-drum use.
The ATH-M70X are comfortable headphones with a certain aesthetic appeal. They are also quite rugged due to the metal design. You’ve likely seen this pair in studio environments as they are top-notch for monitoring, post-production, mastering, and many more situations.
If your budget can handle it, the Audio-Technica ATH-M70X headphones are an excellent choice for electronic drums. They have amazing sound quality and are built to last.
8. Shure SRH840A
The Shure SRH840A closed-back headphones are a great choice for e-drummers who want comfort while playing, all the while having excellent sound quality. These headphones feature Premium Shure 40mm drivers that deliver a well-rounded, well-balanced sound reproduction with good bass, mid, and treble levels.
The aesthetic appeal is surely worth noting. The black design with gold accenting just looks rich and the premium Headband padding and collapsible design add to its portability.
The SRH840A have a wide frequency response of 5Hz-25kHz and 40 ohms of impedance which is excellent for electronic drumming. They offer great sound isolation due to the close-back, around-the-ear design and come with a 1/8-inch cable with a 1/4-inch gold-plated adapter.
All in all, if you want sound clarity, comfort, and striking appeal, the SRH840A are an excellent choice that won’t break the bank!
9. AKG K92
The AKG K92 are comfortable, well-designed, and affordable headphones for e-drums that offer good sound quality despite the budget-friendly price tag. These headphones are very practical not just for drumming but for monitoring and recording purposes.
The K92 have a self-adjusting headband for maximum comfort and feature replaceable earcups in the event that they get damaged or ripped. Naturally, the black matte design just adds that much more appeal.
Featuring large 40mm drivers, a wide frequency range of 16Hz-22kHz, and 32 ohms of impedance, this pair of headphones really packs value for such an affordable price. Similar to the previous entry, they feature a 1/8″ gold plug with a 1/4″ gold screw-on adapter plug.
Even if you’re just a casual listener or a beginner e-drummer, this affordable pair is a great choice if you want all the boxes checked.
10. Direct Sound EX-29 Plus
The Direct Sound EX-29 Plus are the last entry on this list and they offer excellent sound isolation with an amazing 36.7dB passive noise attenuation. These dynamic headphones are great for live and studio environments.
Packed with 40mm TruSound V.2 drivers, the sound quality is top-notch and compares to more high-end headphones on this list but at a modest price.
The EX-29 Plus are also very practical and come with a detachable Aircraft-grade aluminum 8′ cable with a 3.5mm plug and 1/4″ screw-on adapter. Plus, add the adjustable headband to the mix and you have comfort for lasting sessions.
With excellent noise isolation, good drivers, full-spectrum frequency response (20Hz-20kHz), and a foldable design, this pair of headphones has everything you’d want in professional headphones for a reasonable price.
FAQs
What Headphones are good for Electronic Drums?
The best kind of headphones for electronic drums are ones that provide good sound isolation while having good sound quality across a broad range of frequencies.
Purpose-made electronic drum headphones are perfect for this because they should tick all the boxes. However, if you have a set of other decent headphones lying around then these should also work quite well.
If your current set of headphones does not fit into your drum module then you might need to get a 1/8″ to 1/4″ jack connector, which is quite easy to come by.
Can I use any Headphones for Electronic Drums?
Any type of headphones work for electronic drums provided that they will fit into your drum module. If the connection does not work then you can simply get an adapter, which can be quickly, pretty easy to find in most music stores.
However, purpose-built drum headphones or studio headphones tend to work better because they will have a more flat frequency response and good sound isolation. These will help you hear the sounds coming from the headphones more clearly without listening to the tapping sounds from the electronic drums.
You’ll want to be able to clearly hear the highs of the cymbals and the lows of the bass drum sounds.
Can I use Bluetooth Headphones for Electronic Drums?
You can use Bluetooth or wireless headphones with an electronic drum kit but I wouldn’t recommend this option. Bluetooth headphones have some latency issues most of the time which will result in sound delay. A corded pair will always be superior in this situation.
Can you hear Electronic Drums without Headphones?
You can hear electronic drums without headphones provided that you have an electronic drum amplifier.
An amplifier can be a better option as it can be less fatiguing on your ears than listening to headphones for long periods. However, they also come with their disadvantages because they will make more noise which might cause issues with your family or neighbors. Therefore, each of them has its pros and cons.
Things to Know When Buying Electronic Drum Headphones
Sound Quality
When buying headphones, the quality of sound is paramount. High-quality sound should be crisp, clear, and well-balanced. Vic Firth Stereo Isolation headphones, for example, are popular among musicians due to their great isolation and sound quality.
Design
Closed-ear designs tend to be way better options for electronic drum headphones.
Headphones come in different designs such as open-back headphones and closed-ear design. Open-back headphones offer a natural, spacious sound, but they let external noise in. On the other hand, a closed-ear design can provide excellent isolation from external noise. This type is commonly used in studio monitor headphones, making them ideal for drumming sessions.
Comfort and Weight
Headphone comfort is typically tied to its weight and the design of its ear cups. Lightweight headphones are less likely to cause discomfort during long practice sessions. Ear cups should be well-padded and snug, but not too tight. They should encompass the whole ear without pressing on it.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is a crucial factor, especially when playing electronic drums. Headphones with high sensitivity can deliver louder sounds at a given power level, which could be beneficial when monitoring your drumming.
Brand Reputation
The reputation of the brand can provide insight into the potential longevity and quality of the headphones. Brands such as Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, and Roland are recognized for their reliable, high-performing audio equipment.
Verdict
The ability to plug in headphones and personally monitor your playing is one of the great features of electronic drum sets. Headphones are great for quiet practice, as well as for isolated monitoring while playing with a band.
Since electronic drums are sophisticated instruments, they require proper accessories if you want to get a perfect playing feeling. This is why every electronic drummer needs to have at least one good pair of headphones by their side. Alternatively, you could also consider getting a pair of in-ear monitors, which many drummers prefer to use when playing live.
My top pick is the Vic Firth SIH2 Isolation, a popular, quality, and affordable headphone set with good noise isolation.
My budget pick is the Alesis DRP100, a very comfortable and affordable headphone set with decent noise isolation levels.
