You may be wondering, what are monitor headphones? Monitor headphones are exactly what they sound like. Monitor headphones are used in a professional studio to monitor the audio being recorded or mixed. They have many advantages over regular headphones, but they also come with some disadvantages.
They are used in recording studios when the producer or engineer monitors music being played back on a playback system. There are many advantages to using monitor headphones for this purpose, but also some disadvantages. Read this post to learn about some of the other advantages and disadvantages, as well as whether everyday users should consider monitor headphones!
What are monitor headphones? Regular vs. monitor headphones
The first thing to consider is the difference between regular and monitor headphones. Regular headphones are designed for casual use, while monitor headphones are not. They sometimes require more power than your average pair of earbuds or over-the-ear cans (headphones).
Another advantage that monitors headphone users get compared to those who use regular ones is sound isolation; noise cancellation technology isn’t needed with these types because they physically block outside sounds from entering by covering your ears completely. This can be a big plus if you’re an on-the-go person!
Monitor headphones are used for audio recording in a studio or mixing audio. But there are many other advantages and perhaps some disadvantages to using monitor headphones as well. Let’s review them and see if they’re worth buying.
Flat frequency response
The first advantage of monitor headphones is the flat frequency response. This means you hear the music as originally intended, without any boosted bass or high-frequency sounds. You can adjust your equalizer settings on your playback device to compensate for this if needed, but it would defeat the original idea.
Have you ever heard a song and thought, “WOW, I didn’t know it could sound like that!“? That’s what happens when you use monitor headphones. It could bring new life to your music library as sometimes you hear things that your regular headphones omitted. Though monitor headphones are not for everybody, there are a few actual use cases.
Wide frequency range
Another advantage is the wide frequency range that monitor headphones possess. The human ear can detect frequencies from 20 Hz to 20000 Hz, and good monitors can reproduce all of them; regular headphones usually don’t cover the full range.
If you’re a musician or sound engineer, then you’ll need monitor headphones in your studio not only for the wide frequency response but also for their accuracy and detail levels. To mix properly, it’s best to have all of this information at hand, so one might consider buying these types of headphones over regular models even though they are more expensive. You’d be surprised by what kind of differences between two songs using different monitors could bring out in your listening experience!
More robust and comfortable design
Another advantage is the more robust and comfortable design. Monitor headphones are designed to be used in a studio environment and are built better than regular models. They also tend to have softer ear cups for additional comfort; you can wear these types of cans for hours without discomfort or fatigue! The famous headphone dent might still be there, though.
That said, monitor headphones can be bulky, and many have effortless designs as they’re not meant to be used for fashion or grabbing attention. Monitor headphones are for audio professionals,, and there’s no shame in that. They’re designed to be practical, not pretty!
No boosted bass or high-frequency sounds
A significant advantage of monitor headphones over regular models is the lack of boosted bass and high-frequency sounds. These types of headphones are made for accuracy, detail, and neutrality; if you’re using them to listen to music, then be prepared for a different experience than what you would get with typical earbuds or on-ear sets! But this can go both ways.
You may like their sound signature, as many people claim they offer more clarity, but this isn’t always true. This depends on the music genre and whether your playback device can produce a balanced sound. If it’s not, you’ll have to deal with the boosted bass and high-frequency sounds anyway!
If you’re a person who enjoys a ton of bass, then you’re better off with regular headphones, as monitor models are designed for accuracy, and that’s it. They don’t have any bass boost or high-frequency sound enhancements; they simply reproduce what your music sounds like without modifying anything.
On the other hand, if you enjoy more neutral sounds, acoustic performances, and classical music or prefer to focus on the voice and instruments, then monitor headphones will be perfect for you!
Power requirements – A disadvantage
Many monitor headphones require more power than regular models, so keep that in mind if you’re considering buying a pair. If your playback device can’t produce enough power through them or drive the speakers properly without distorting the sound, then it’s best not to use these at all, as this would defeat their purpose entirely.
You might need an AMP to boost the signal and drive them accordingly to solve this. If you don’t know what an AMP is, you’re better off with regular headphones.
Are monitor headphones better for everyday music?
If you’re an average customer who wants to listen to music on the go, monitor headphones are not for you. They require more power than regular models, which can be problematic if your device can’t drive them properly. Also, some of them don’t have any extra features like wireless connectivity or noise-canceling technology, which makes their value lower than typical headphones, or you need to pay the extra price. Here are a few great brands that also have monitor headphones.
Also, if you’re a person who enjoys heavy bass or boosted high-frequency sounds, then monitor headphones are not for you. Yes, they exist, but most don’t have these features, which means your music won’t sound as good or even loud enough to enjoy the party!
The bottom line
Monitor headphones are not necessarily better than regular ones when listening to music casually. If you’re a person who enjoys very clear sounds and doesn’t want any bass boost or high-frequency enhancement, then they will be perfect for you, but in most cases, people can do without them!
Now that you know what are monitor headphones and how are they used, do you think they are better than regular headphones? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.