A pair of headphones for electronic drums help drummers practice silently within the comfort of their room whenever they choose not to use the best amplifier for electronic drums. In addition, a pair of headphones comes handy when a drummer mixes their drum track, providing crystal clear audio for meticulous players who want to perfect their sound.
Furthermore, headphones for electronic drums come in handy during recording sessions, providing players with an idea of how their playing sounds. Therefore, it is imperative for a drummer who owns an electric drum set to have a pair of high-quality headphones. In this light, we collected excellent headphones for electronic drums that you can use on your next drumming session!
What to Look for Before Buying a Pair of Headphones for Drumming
As stated, having an excellent set of headphones for electronic drums can bring your drumming and recording to the next level. However, the quality of your audio will depend on the quality of your headphones. Therefore, drummers must pay attention to the following things to consider before buying a pair of headphones for drumming:
Flat Response
Before purchasing headphones for electronic drums, buyers must first ensure the product’s response type. For instance, most consumer-rated headphones feature a deep bass or rich high frequency. As a result, a musical mix will not sound as true and raw as possible.
Therefore, we advise drummers to get a pair of headphones for electronic drums that feature a flat response. This is to ensure that a drum’s output will be equal at all frequencies, resulting in a more accurate sound. In addition, flat response headphones don’t apply any post-processing on a raw signal, allowing a drummer to hear the little details of his playing.
Comfort and Fit
A lot of consumer-grade headphones feature an adjustable frame, allowing the ears of its user to fit inside the cups. This feature is also present among headphones for electronic drums. However, some drummers find it confusing to wear a pair of headphones properly.
Firstly, drummers must center the headphones’ headband on the top of their heads. Secondly, drummers must adjust the frame of the headphones to fit their ears inside the cup. Lastly, portions of the ear should not protrude out of the cups to preserve the headphones’ sound quality.
Enclosure
Most headphones feature two types of back construction— open and close-back. Here is the comparison of the two headphone back types.
Open-back Headphones
Pros:
- Excellent for mixing audio.
- Provides a more natural sound.
- Most flat response headphones use this construction.
- Ideal for high-quality audio files such as FLAC.
Cons:
- Not suitable for environments that require sound cancellation.
Close-back Headphones
- Great for drum monitoring.
- Ideal for live gig settings.
- Excellently isolates background noise.
- Effectively enhances bass frequencies.
Cons:
- Not ideal for mixing and mastering audio because this construction bumps up the low end.
5 Great Headphones for Drummers in 2021
Roland RH-5 Quality Comfort-Fit Headphones
Brand: Roland
Enclosure: Close-back Headphones for Electronic Drums
Starting off the list is the Roland RH-5, providing musicians on a budget with incredible audio quality without busting the bank. Therefore, if you are a recording musician within a tight budget, the Roland RH-5 is excellent for you!
Firstly, the Ronald RH-5 features a pair of high-performance 40mm drivers, providing players with a balanced but dynamic sound. This makes the Roland RH-5 excellent for everyday drum monitoring for those who don’t want to disturb their neighbors through their drum amplifier.
Secondly, the Roland RH-5 features a close-back design, allowing players to hear their sound closely without the external background noise. Lastly, the 3-meter cord provides players with enough allowance to move around the drumkit without restriction.
Specifications:
- High-performance 40mm drivers
- Balanced and Dynamic music tone
- 3-meter cord
- 10-22,000hz frequency response
- 190g in weight
Pros:
- Ideal for daily electronic drum practice.
- Budget-friendly price point.
- Features a lightweight construction for a more comfortable drumming session.
- Comes with a free conversion jack for other instruments.
Cons:
- Not recommended for recording and tone-shaping.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
Brand: Audio-Technica
Enclosure: Close-back Headphones for Electronic Drums
The Audio-Technica ATH-M20X gives both beginners and intermediate players alike the taste of professional studio monitors. Featuring an advanced build quality, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20X is a budget headphones to be reckoned with.
The ATH-M20X features 40mm rare earth drivers on each side. In addition, Audio-Technica incorporated copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils. As a result, this driver and coil combination enhances the low-end frequency of the headphones.
Furthermore, the ATH-M20X utilizes circumaural design contours, enhancing the noise-isolation capacity of the headphones. Therefore, making the ATH-M20X ideal for both monitoring drums or mixing.
Specifications:
- 40mm Drivers with Rare Earth Magnets
- Copper Clad Aluminum Wire Voice Coils
- Circumaural Ear Contours
- Single side cable exit
- 15-20,000hz frequency response
Pros:
- Ideal for both studio monitoring and mixing.
- Features durable materials, making the ATH-M20X last a long time.
- Effectively isolates outside noise, providing users with detailed audio quality.
- Sits on a budget-friendly price point.
Cons:
- Not recommended to people wearing glasses as this headphone is too tight on the ears.
AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones
Brand: AKG
Enclosure: Semi-Open Back Headphones for Electronic Drums
If you are looking for a balance between open and close-back headphones, then the AKG K240 MKII is perfect for you! In addition, the K240 MKII sits on a decent price point while offering better quality compared to entry-level monitors.
The AKG K240 MKII Headphones feature the patented Varimotion 30mm XXL transducer, allowing for clear audio reception. Furthermore, this specification enhances the overall dynamic range of the AKG K240 MK II.
Moreover, AKG incorporates a self-adjusting headband, allowing the K240 MKII to fit most head sizes. This makes the AKG K240 MKII an excellent choice for all ages and skill levels.
Specifications:
- Over-ear design
- 30mm XXL Transducer
- Varimotion diaphragms
- Self-adjusting headband
- 15-25000hz frequency response
Pros:
- Ideal for solo monitoring, mixing, and critical listening.
- Comfortable to wear for hours without ear fatigue thanks to its 0.7lbs clamping force.
- Features a weight of 0.53lbs.
- Provides a better audio performance than entry-level studio monitors.
Cons:
- Not suitable for live settings.
Roland RH-300 Stereo Headphones
Brand: Roland
Enclosure: Close-Back Headphones for Electronic Drums
Excellent for drummers who take their music seriously, the Roland RH-300 packs a clear and natural audio quality. In addition, the RH-300 provides drummers with a high-quality feel and comfort that will surely improve their practice, recording, and mixing sessions.
The RH-300 features a pair of custom 45mm drivers with neodymium magnets. As a result, this allows players to hear their playing clearly and accurately through an ultra-wide frequency range. Furthermore, this feature allows drummers and sound engineers to mix their tracks in the most detailed way possible.
Moreover, the close-back design of the headphones enables users to isolate background noise. As a result, allowing users to focus on the headphones’ detailed audio. Lastly, the RH-300 features a balance between durability and comfort thanks to its aluminum housing plate and soft earpads.
Specifications:
- Custom 45mm Drivers with Neodymium Magnets
- Aluminum Housing Plate
- Soft Earpads
- 10-25,000hz frequency response input
- 190g in weight
Pros:
- Provides players with an ultra-wide frequency range.
- Features professional-level specifications.
- Excellent durability and build quality.
- Extremely comfortable to wear thanks to its soft earpads.
Cons:
- Requires some EQ-ing due to the headphones’ lack of treble.
Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Professional Open-Back Reference Headphones
Brand: Audio-Technica
Enclosure: Open-back Headphones for Electronic Drums
If you are looking for one of the best headphones in the market, then the ATH-R70X is the one for you! Featuring an incredible set of high-efficient magnets combined with a pure alloy magnetic circuit, the ATH-R70X provides distortion-free and clear audio.
Furthermore, the ATH-R70X incorporates carbon composite resin in its overall construction. This increases the durability of the ATH-R70X while preserving its detailed response. Moreover, the aluminum honeycomb-mesh housings on the side of the ATH-R70X maximizes the headphones’ open-back construction. This provides space for the headphones’ final sound, providing a detailed output excellent for mixing, mastering, and monitoring audio.
Lastly, the combination of the dual-sided locking cable and breathable fabric earpads provides excellent comfort for hours on end. Therefore, if you’re looking for one of the best headphones money can buy, then the ATH-R70X is the way to go!
Specifications:
- 45mm Drivers
- Pure alloy magnetic circuit design
- Carbon Composite Resin
- Aluminum honeycomb-mesh housings
- 5-40,000hz frequency response
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable and lightweight construction.
- Provides a clear and detailed output.
- Ideal for mixing and mastering drum tracks and other instruments.
- Features a detachable and interchangeable dual-sided detachable cable construction.
Cons:
- We only recommend this to professionals who monitor, mix, and master their track.
Frequently Asked Questions about Drummer’s Headphones
Can you use headphones with electronic drums?
Yes, electronic drums are compatible with headphones, providing drummers with an option to practice silently within their bedroom. In addition, this allows drummers to practice and rehearse their desired drum patterns without bothering their neighbors or housemates.
What kind of headphones work with electronic drums?
As stated, you can use headphones to monitor the sound of your electronic drumset. However, not all headphones will provide a rich and detailed drum sound. For instance, consumer-grade headphones might apply some post-processing to boost the high-end of the headphones’ output. As a result, the sound becomes enhanced and not true to what your electronic drum sounds like.
Therefore, we advise drummers to get flat-response headphones to get the best detail and clarity on how their drumset sounds like. In addition, a flat-response monitor is imperative if a drummer plans to use the direct recording audio of their drumset when recording.
How do you connect headphones to electric drum?
Most electronic drumsets come with an electronic drum module that acts as the central sound processing unit of the kit. The drum module usually has a port wherein users can connect their headphone jack directly. However, some drum module requires players to use a ¼” jack converter for it to work.
On the other hand, players can also send their drum module sounds to a mixer connected to a computer. By connecting the headphone through the computer, mixer, or an external sound card’s jack, the user can hear their drumset’s output. This method is ideal for direct recording a drum track to a digital audio workstation of your choice.
Can you hear electronic drums without headphones?
Electronic drums do not feature any built-in speaker within their module. Therefore, if you hit the trigger of an e-drum with the best sticks for electronic drums, all you will hear is a faint sound between the trigger and the stick. Thus, the answer to this question is no, a drummer will not hear the sound of their electronic drums without a headphone or amplifier.
Are electronic drum kits noisy?
Although electronic drum kits still produce a sound when hit, it’s nowhere near the sound level of an acoustic drum kit. For instance, when you hit an electric drum without an amplifier, all you will hear is a faint thud between the stick and drum trigger. Therefore, this makes electronic drum kits excellent for drummers who don’t have a sound-proof studio.