Best Headphones For Guitar Amp 2023 – Top 8 Reviews & Buying Guide

We know there are times you just feel like cranking your guitar amp to some crazy levels. But then you remember that you still live in a civilized society and not all your neighbors are guitar junkies like you. In times like these, what you need is a pair of headphones for guitar amp.

Notice we didn’t just say you need a pair of headphones or earbuds. When it comes to guitar amps, not just any pair of headphones would do. The same headphones you pop on your way to work won’t do the job you’re looking for. And that’s why we said to get headphones for guitar amp.

In our today’s review, get ready to get all the information you need about these unique headphones. We’ve not only got reviews of our favorite ones. We also have a buying guide to help you make the most ideal choice for you.

Top 8 Best Headphones For Guitar Amp In 2023 Reviews

1 Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are an audiophile’s headphones. A follow-up to the slightly older M50, Audio-Technica designed the M50x to be a friendlier version of the M50 which they designed with the pros in mind.

The difference in price between the older and newer models isn’t wide as the M50x is only slightly more expensive than the M50. However, though this comes a bit high end, what we can assure you is that you’ll be getting value from every cent you spend on these.

The M50x comes a little large but this is what gives the headphones the comfort they give.

Furthermore, we appreciate the fact that Audio-Technica paid more attention to sound here than looks. What do we mean? These headphones are made from plastic which, granted, makes them flimsy, but then again doesn’t make them look “desperate”.

The ear cups come with a bit of metal inlaid. Plus, the manufacturers reinforced the headband with steel. But besides that, it’s all plastic here. So, be gentle on them.

We also like how Audio-Technica still managed to keep this low profile though the ear cups are large and the headband is considerably chunky.

Now to sound…

These come with 45 millimeter aperture drivers which help to give your sound exceptional clarity and quality. Plus the frequency range comes extended and so the bass response here is out of this world.

As for noise isolation, it shocks us to say that it is just “ok” here. This comes as a shock as most large headphones often shine in this area.

But the low-ends here are fantastic, and combining this with the controls and separation that prevents clogging of sound, the M50x just totally rocks. However, we do think the bass going on here is a little much. The trebles though are fantastic.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

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2 Sony MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones

Most audiophiles regard Sony MDRV6 as the best headphones Sony currently has to offer right now. It does look like the claims are true too because from our research, the MDRV6 offers everything it promises to deliver 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 a pretty face. They offer a high level of performance also. And it doesn’t hurt also that these offer real value for money.

The MDRV6’s biggest feature is the CCAW voice coil. Now, what is this CCAW voice call we speak of? A voice coil is a coil driver that moves. It’s also used in most headphones these days to produce a richer and much deeper sound.

It’s not yet an industry norm to use voice coils in headphones, but the fact that Sony decided to include this in the MDRV6 shows itshigh level of foresight. The CCAW voice coil gives the audio from these headphones a level of crispiness that’s difficult to find in most headphones.

For convenience, these headphones come in super lightweight which makes them easy to carry. But then again, there are still sturdy enough to ensure that they retain their mechanical and structural integrity even under extensive use.

Also, because they are not heavy, you won’t feel the sprain on your neck muscles or elsewhere whenever you have to use these for hours at a time. Truly, the comfort these headphones give are unmatched which is one of the unit’s biggest pros.

Lastly, to improve your listening experience, the engineering here is super impressive. So you can be sure that with these headphones, you’ll never miss any single beat anymore.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

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3 Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open-Back Headphones

The Sennheiser HD598 is a beautiful device with an elegant and luxurious feel, thanks to its maroon and ivory color combo. Your headphones are going to be looking rich, that’s for sure.

However, it is made of plastic which kinda puts it in the fragile arena. The plastic though is covered with a plush material which adds to the rich feel of these headphones. All the same, be gentle on these cos they might give under heavy use.

Still on looks, these headphones come with grills on the outer sides of each of the ear cups here. Well, this brought a bit of a controversy among different groups of customers. Some liked it, others didn’t really think it was cool.

Moving on, the HD498 comes with a cable that’s detachable which is quite convenient. At least this way, your headphones are easier to carry. And if the cable gets damaged, you don’t have to totally discard your investment, you simply replace the cable.

Now, let’s check out the comfort these headphones offer. The headphones come adjustable so it means that it will fit regardless of head size. In fact, this goes up to as much as 18 clicks. So, it will adjust to any head size at all, kid or adult.

Plus, thanks to the faux leather and padding, these headphones will remain comfy even if you wear them for extended periods at a time.

The sound here is pretty great too. By drawing power from the amp, these deliver a much lower impedance and a higher surround effect than stereo effect. This could be good or bad. It just depends on how you look at things.

The bass here is also decent, however, it could be a little more detailed and sharper.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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4 BeyerDynamic DT 770 Pro Studio Headphone

The BeyerDynamic DT770 comes with a pretty wide frequency range which makes it nearly impossible to miss any detail in your music. From the high ends of the song to the low ends, you’re sure to catch every detail. The melody lines come out clean, and the bass comes out deep and rich.

This does not mean that you can call these calling these bass-heads can but we’ve got to admit that the bass does pack a punch. We also like how it still remains quite controlled too. It doesn’t come out too muddy or too overblown or boomy.

Also, while they are sufficient for mixing, they are the best out there. You could certainly do a bit better in that aspect.

As for the trebles and the mid-range, they are decent, although, the mid-range seems to be lacking some. The treble, on the other hand, seems to be a bit harsher than some people would have preferred.

All these regardless, one place BayerDynamic does a bang up job on these headphones is in the quality of the build. This thing is built like an ox! So, it does last. To put things in perspective, we’ve seen reports of certain customers using a pair of these for as long as 5 to 10 years. We kid you not.

So, for sure, these will take a lot of abuse and won’t even flinch.

Of course, we also checked out the comfort that these give. Turns out that BayerDynamic does not disappoint here either. The ear cups are soft and comfy allowing use your headphones for long hours at a time.

The headband is also pretty soft too which only adds to comfort.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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5 Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Monitor Headphones

The Status Audio CB-1 is a really comfy pair of headphones that’s great for long listening sessions at a time. It comes in an ergonomic design and there’s also extra padding which makes the headphones super comfy.

The synthetic covering over the ear pads and headband is soft and therefore makes the headphones easily conformable to any head or ear size. In short, these are excellent over-the-ear headphones.

Now as for noise isolation, these are closed-back headphones so the noise isolation is great. You’re sure to have a super immersive listening experience here. And there won’t be any distracting noise anywhere for your ears to pick up. And no, sound won’t leak out either.

But hey, remember, we said noise isolation not noise cancellation.

Now, the construction quality here is quite average. The construction materials cannot at all be compared to materials you find on high-end headphones. So construction here is just meh. But, in the end, the plastic parts can only tolerate so much by way of abuse.

No, these headphones are not terrible but they are not amazing quality either.

And now, sound. Thanks to the 50millimeter drivers give the headphones a really god sound that’s nearly flat. So, it works great with studio monitoring applications.

The sonic clarity and detail and here are also really commendable. The highs are quite brilliant, which is good. But the mid-range isn’t super.

Lastly, these come with two detachable cables plus a quarter inch audio adapter as well. The straight and coiled cables fix tight with their twist-lock keyed connection. So, you always get a solid connection no matter what.

Altogether, for a sub-$100 pair of headphones, these headphones definitely do more than just “well”.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

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6 AKG K240 Studio Semi-Open Studio Headphones

The AKG K240 comes highly recommended in the headphones market. Their semi-design makes them super comfy thanks to the circumaural ear cups. Plus it also contributes to the open sound quality we get from these headphones.

AKG made these headphones as an upgrade to the K240 Monitor. As part of the upgrade, AKG extends the dynamic range here. Plus, it also made these headphones super sensitive too with the addition of the super large transducers.

These transducers with their extra large size give your audio a large and realistic feel to it.

So, with these high quality headphones, you’ll be getting quality, clear sound whatever no matter what. It’s not just great for guitar amps, it’s great for listening from all kinds of devices as well.

These are super comfy headphones with an adjustable headband which give these headphones the perfect fit. All you have to do is to move the flexible yet tough steel frame.

And talking about toughness, these are built to last. They can definitely withstand a decent level of abuse whether you intend to travel around with these or just use them in your home/studio.

They also work for single-ear listening as well.

There’s a sense of depth these headphones offer with a sense of space that’s true to life. You’ll find the trebles rather light, the mids are also quite natural and the bass resound quite realistically.

Our rating: (4.3 / 5)

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7 Samson SR850 Semi-Open Back Studio Reference Headphones

These are quite similar to the AKG K240 which we just reviewed. They weigh about the same thing. And the hammock style of the headband here is also quite reminiscent of the K240.

The ear cups are kinda shallower, though but then we really love the velour padding here. We actually prefer it to the faux leather on the SR850. They are quite comfortable, clamp right and they don’t get bothersome when you have to use them for long periods at a stretch.

For entry-level headphones, these give quite an impressive sound. The sound quality does not come out cheap at all. Yeah, the bass isn’t exactly robust. It actually comes out a bit too lean here. But then again, it still has some impact.

Nonetheless, for the bass-heads, one thing is sure, these headphones are so not for you. They are much better for those looking for headphones that are decent overall when it comes to the sound department.

Now, the treble does tend toward the sibilant end to us. But it does not present a big cause for concern, though, honestly.

Altogether, the sound here is pretty revealing and offers a nice touch of realism. For headphones within this price range, we are pretty impressed that these bring features that some higher end models also bring.

If what you need is something that just hooks to your guitar amp try these. There’s no point spending thousands of dollars over something higher end especially when this is so good.

Our rating: (4.1 / 5)

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8 Edifier H850 Over-The-Ear Pro Headphones

Alright, we are going over our final headphones for this review. It’s a mixed bag here for us. It’s obviously budget with its mostly plastic body. But then again, it is still somewhat durable with the metal reinforcement Edifier added to the breakable parts.

The headband and earcups are quite flexible which makes them suitable to any size of head or ears. Plus the ear cups also swivel up and down and that’s also enough to guarantee a perfect fit every time.

And now to comfort, the earcups are padded with synthetic protein material. So, they feel quite comfy to the ears. Although those with larger sized ears might not exactly love these since the pads would be touching the outer lobes of their ears.

However, we feel like that’s not even a big whoop. at least not as big a whoop as the fact that the pads are not removable.

But then again, these are lightweight so it adds to the comfort, even though it does make the headphones feel a bit like a cheapie.

The sound of the H850 is well balanced which we love. Just don’t get these if you’re a bass-head. But then again, we’ve got to say that these give a really organic and natural music experience. It’s definitely not wow but it gives a decent amount of treble and bass.

Our rating: (4 / 5)

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Best Headphones For Guitar Amp Buying Guide

As a guitarist, it is super important to get a pair of headphones. But not just the everyday items that the layman sports on his way to work or something. You need something for your guitar amp.

Headphones for guitar amp have loads of benefits for the guitarist. For one, they allow you play as loud as you want without necessarily constituting a nuisance.

But even more importantly, they give you the opportunity to listen to your gig and deduce tonal characteristics even more precisely. You won’t be able to get that level of detail by listening directly from the amp.

That said, it’s not enough to just have this information and bound into the market searching for headphones for guitar amp. You need information such as we have here if you’re going to make the best decision.

So, without further ado, here are some important considerations to make when deciding on any pair of headphones for guitar amp.

Price

Of course price. It determines a whole lot, from design to performance. If you were looking for earbuds, you wouldn’t have to spend so much. But since we’re talking about headphones, be prepared to spend a couple of dollars extra.

Alright, so, how much should you be ready to spend? Well, the prices vary. For the most basic ones, you might get them for around $50 t0 $100. But for sophisticated, high-end models, those could come within the environs of $200 or even more.

Now, higher end models will definitely provide better features than their more basic counterparts. But just before you jump on them for that reason, there are other factors you need to consider.

For instance, if you just need headphones for your guitar amp, there’s no point looking for high end models. A simple entry-level pair would do.

However, if you need the headphones for the purpose of recording or studio sessions, then you need the higher end models.

That is, headphones that present a fantastic response as well as frequency coverage. Of course, you’ll have to spend more but they are your best bet if you want to get the best tune from your axe.

Noise Isolation

Even headphones for leisure should have a decent level of noise isolation how much more headphones for guitar amp. It’s the only way to ensure that all you hear is your instrument and not some wailing siren or a crying infant.

Some might decide to wing this by turning up the volume but this isn’t even a healthy option as I could damage your ears.

For the best noise isolation, it’s best to go with close-backed headphones. But if you only intend to use the headphones in the quiet of your home, then open-backed headphones could also work as well.

Frequencies

The larger the frequency range of your headphones, the more music you’ll be able to listen to with your headphones. This is because with a wide frequency range, you’ll be able to hear all the subtleties in your music better than with a narrower one.

The more basic headphones (entry-level models) have what is called a U frequency curve which means that they only emphasize the highs and lows. This is fair enough for most people but audiophiles and sound engineers might not enjoy this due to the absence of the mids.

Construction And Comfort

Especially if you’re going to be using your headphones for extended periods at a time, your headphones need to be comfortable. They shouldn’t hurt your ears or give any burning sensation at all.

A smart choice would be to for padded headphones as they will cushion your ears properly as well as give good head support. You should also go for headphones with an adjustable earband.

Conclusion

Our favorite headphones for guitar amp are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones. They cost quite a bit but they more than deliver which is much more important.

The audio quality here is exceptional. And we can easily say that there are no other headphones on our review today that even comes close to what these headphones offer.