AKG - K72

I’m a sound engineer by profession, so I can comment on wired headphones, which are preferred in my industry. (this is just my subjective experience) Open-back headphones are arguably the best-sounding type—bar none—but their main drawback is that they don’t perform well in noisy environments. You’ll end up turning up the volume to compensate for ambient noise, which can damage your hearing. When it comes to closed-back headphones, my top choice would be the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, 32-ohm version (note: they come in 32, 80, and 250-ohm variants). The 250-ohm version might be on special, but it requires a dedicated headphone amplifier to drive properly. These headphones are well-regarded in the industry and are known for their comfort and durability. I couldn’t afford those, unfortunately, so I opted for the Sony MDR-7506. They might look a bit silly, but they sound great—if perhaps a bit bright (think of it like slightly turning up the treble knob on your EQ, if you’re unsure what “bright” means). These headphones have been used by countless sound engineers around the world and are considered something of a benchmark in the industry. There are also many alternatives or clones, such as the Audio-Technica ATH-M50, which are just as good—and some even come in Bluetooth versions. Finally, I had to buy cheap closed-backs for our field recording kits and for musicians to use while tracking, and I ended up getting AKG K72s, which I think are excellent value for money. Honourable mentions: Sennheiser HD25-II – They sound amazing and reject external noise well, but they pinch my ears to my head, which is uncomfortable. Sennheiser HD280 Pro – Another industry workhorse. No comment, except… Joe Rogan. Shure SRH840A – Never tested them, so can’t comment. AKG K371 – Also never tested, but they’re generally well regarded. *edits: mostly formatting