The 7 Best Headphones For Meditation (Buying Guide)

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Many influencers on social media talk about meditation, which has become quite popular While it’s not about the popularity, meditation as a daily routine is only growing since it helps with giving us peace of mind, and that’s all we want in life, right?

In order to grow physically and mentally, all of us should try meditation at some point in our life, and without music, we won’t get the full experience. So keeping that aside, I have compiled a list of headphones specifically for meditation, while keeping in mind comfort, cost, and audio quality.

A Quick Look at My Favorite Headphones for Meditation

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
The Best Overall 
OneOdio

OneOdio

8.6
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Extreme High Quality 
Sony MDR-7506

Sony MDR-7506

8.5
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The Master of Noise-Cancelation
Bose QC 35 II

Bose QC 35 II

9.1
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Comfy Meditation Headphones
MOVSSOU E7

MOVSSOU E7

8.8
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The most powerful
TREBLAB Z2

TREBLAB Z2

8.6
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Stability at Its Finest
Audio-Technica ATH-M20X

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X

8.2
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Last But Not Least 
Sennheiser PXC 550

Sennheiser PXC 550

8
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Key Takeaways

  • Using headphones while meditating is ok because it promotes positive vibes and reduces anxiety. Binaural sounds are highly preferable.
  • Look for noise cancellation or isolation technology to not get disturbed by external noises.
  • The favorite pick is Sennheiser PXC 550. It managed to outperform in any angle, let it be comfort, sound quality, or features.

Top 7 Best Headphones For Meditation

7. OneOdio Pro 10 – The Best Sound Quality

OneOdio Pro 10 headphones may be for DJing and professional use but they also fall into a particular comfort category. Extreme durability and comfort are a must. The foldable and 90° swivel positioning allows freedom while the headphones are not in use.

The headband is adjustable to find the right angle, and the ear cushions are super soft. I love the thought of light blue and pink girly options besides the classic black we are used to seeing everywhere.

The aim is primarily for professionals, and the audio quality isn’t questionable. The deep, punchy bass and vocals’ clarity are present, making it good company for a binaural effect.

Every frequency sounds pleasing to the ear in the stereo sound technology. Pro 10 employs the standard wired form connectivity.

Why Should You Buy It?

This pair of headphones offers comfort, durability, and excellent sound quality at a budget-friendly price. There’s no way you can go wrong with these headphones.

Weight14.4 oz.
Sensitivity110
Impedance32Ohm
Connectivity Technology2 cables (3.5mm and 6.5mm)
Noise CancellingNo
MicrophoneIncluded

Pros

  • Accurate sound production
  • Details are highly emphasized
  • Clear vocals
  • Cost-effective

Cons

  • Long cable

6. Sony MDR-7506 – Best Portable

When the name Sony is mentioned, we know something extraordinary is about to come, and it is none other than the MDR 7506 model. Music enthusiasts will appreciate the non-destructive build and comfort the headphones give. The foldable design makes portability easier, so you can peacefully meditate in the open air. The generous headband adjustment won’t tighten your ears or cause hair dent. You can also swivel the ear cushions while the headphones are not in use.

Due to the closed-back design, the headphones promote great noise isolation to cut off from the world and fully focus on mindfulness. Besides, it’s a great companion for people who wear glasses while it’s suitable for any head size. The sound quality is guaranteed because the binaural beats will go beyond your expectations. Exceptional sound clarity is present, and vocals are highly detailed.

IMDR 7506 works in a wired way, and sadly the cable is too long, and cords are prone to tangle themselves, which is not that nice to the nerves, especially when meditating.   

Why Should You Buy It?

The extraordinary comfort and the voice clarity should be the primary reason to buy these headphones. The noise isolation also eliminates disturbing noises to let you focus fully on meditating.

Weight1.35 lb
Sensitivity106 dB
Impedance63 Ohms
Connectivity TechnologyWired
Noise CancellingNo
MicrophoneIncluded

Pros

  • Exceptional sound clarity
  • Super comfortable
  • Portable

Cons

  • The long cable tangles itself often

5. Bose QC 35 II – Best Noise Cancellation

The luxurious appearance is a sign of Bose Company. The headphones maintain a sleek and slim profile to please the customers with their looks. The silver one shines more than classic black along the two color options. You can use the headphones for many hours and they won’t cause any discomfort because the earpads are breathable and well-padded.

As for the sound section, QC 35 II glows. The lows and mids are defined perfectly, and the vocals are super clear, making the podcasts a joy to listen to and meditation a splendid experience. From that, we can elicit that these headphones will be the ideal choice if your environment is always noisy and the weather is windy. And the cherry on top, these headphones have an IPX4 rating. That means you can also meditate in the rain because we know what relaxing rain feels like.

The battery life is remarkable giving you up to 20 hours of playtime in total. For more information and controls, the dedicated Bose Connect App is there to help.

Why Should You Buy It?

If you want to eliminate the noisy environment and meditate in peace, then the master comes as a rescue team.

Weight0.52 lbs
SensitivityNot Specified by Manufacturer
ImpedanceAre powered with their own amplifier
Connectivity TechnologyBluetooth
Noise CancellingActive
MicrophoneYes

Pros

  • The master of noise cancellation
  • Can withstand harsh weather
  • Extremely comfortable

Cons

  • Physical touch controls
  • Expensive

4. MOVSSOU E7 – Most Comfortable

The mixture of black with any color that comes to your mind (red, green, blue, pink, purple, yellow) is available. I would suggest picking the sky blue as the energy of blue represents freedom, intuition, and inspiration. The ergonomic design is meant for wear and tear. Pneumatic ear cushions are breathable, and you can pivot them for the perfect fit. It is intended to fit any head size and provide complete comfort for our friends with glasses.

The advanced active noise canceling feature ensures calm and soothing meditation. It’s such a nice thing for headphones to eliminate low and middle frequencies like aviation and car engines so you can commit fully. On the other hand, the microphones are of superior clarity. Make a phone call and make yourself understood if meditating doesn’t work because every mumbling sound is hearable.

The battery life is also long-lasting. It manages to hold up to 30 hours, enough to mediate more than a week without charging.

Why Should You Buy It?

If you are after noise cancellation but don’t want to sacrifice comfort for it, these headphones are for you. They definitely offer a lot more value than the price tag.

Weight13.7 ounces
Sensitivity80 dB
Impedance16 Ohms
Connectivity TechnologyWireless
Noise CancellingActive
MicrophoneYes

Pros

  • Superior comfort
  • Excellent battery life
  • Advanced noise cancellation technology
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • Bulky design

3. TREBLAB Z2 – Best For Outdoor Use

The Treblab Z2 boasts a sturdy and bulky build which makes the headphones quite durable, but the comfort is mediocre. The ear cushions are softly padded except for being shallow. Remember, the deeper the earpads, the more comfort is in question. Shallow earcups indicate more breathability and prevent warmth after extended use. Treblab ensures comfort at a certain point making Z2 swivel flat for portability.

Besides meditation, these headphones are rated at IPX4, which means they are sweat and water-resistant. It can survive outdoor activities, weight lifting, and running on rainy days. The sound signature is neutral and well-balanced across all ranges, so you can throw any type of genre besides binaural sound. Virtual assistants (Google, Siri, and Alexa) are there to make hands-free calls, play around the volume and skip tracks since your hands should be steady while meditating. The Z2 headphones are doing a great job with the T-Quiet Active Noise Cancellation. The ultimate sound elimination is enough for you to mind your own business and avoid everyone around.

The sturdy connection, along with battery runtime, is a lifesaver. It gives 35 hours of playtime in total and a signal range farther than 33 feet.

Why Should You Buy It?

The noise cancellation feature opens the door to quiet, calm, and relaxing meditation sessions. The sturdy build may not be the best comfort, but it surely will last ages before replacement.

Weight8.5 oz.
Sensitivity93 dB
Impedance32 Ohms
Connectivity TechnologyWireless
Noise CancellingT-Quiet, Active
MicrophoneYes

Pros

  • Durable
  • Solid build
  • Mediocre sound quality
  • Versatile use

Cons

  • Mediocre comfort

2. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X – Best Value For Price

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X is an old member of the headphone industry. The entire body is wrapped around plastic with metal reinforcement to achieve a certain degree of weight. Recalling the economical price, the comfort level is fair enough. The ear cushions are soft but shallow, and after a few hours of use, the signs of discomfort start to show up.   

With ATH-M20X, you will challenge every music genre with the least amount of money. It balances the high and mid tones, and not many disruptive environmental noises are left. The bass is totally quiet, so the songs won’t create a booming effect while meditating. Besides meditating, you can hear podcasts clearly because the vocals are top-notch performance-wise.

The passive isolation primarily blocks higher volumes than lower ones, so I’d say that makes them pretty average. Audio Technica is a known company for studio recording, so it doesn’t include any fancy features that modern headphones offer.

Why Should You Buy It?

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X provides studio-quality sound production which means that you can listen to various genres of music besides relaxing music and still get optimum performance from them.

Weight6.7 oz.
Sensitivity96 dB
Impedance47 Ohms
Connectivity TechnologyWired
Noise CancellingNo
MicrophoneYes

Pros

  • Low-cost
  • Decent noise isolation
  • Super comfy headband

Cons

  • Mediocre comfort

1. Sennheiser PXC 550 – Best Overall 

PXC 550, this time, nailed it with high-end features and quality in every aspect. The ultimate power comes at a top price, but it’s only fair considering what they bring to the table. The compact and lightweight design is nothing exciting; it’s just the simple matte black we are used to seeing. Metal reinforcement protects the headphones from possible damage. The ear cushions and headband which are made of soft memory foam guarantee comfort all day long, but it gets hot at high temperatures.

Small, but Hulk power sound quality shows fantastic low and mid ranges. It’s probably the best so far in the vocals, drums, guitar, and whatever instrument comes first in the song. I looked for something off but couldn’t find one. Now I understand why Sennheiser calls these headphones “Noise Guard.” Besides, it features adaptive noise cancellation where the high and mid frequencies eliminate background noises to the fullest and low frequencies are a little less isolated.

As for the battery life, PXC 550 headphones give 30 hours of run time, so you can go days without the need to charge. Plus, fast charging feature is available.

Why Should You Buy It?

Since I categorized it as the best overall, there is nothing left to say besides the golden sound quality and peerless noise cancellation.

Weight7.8 oz.
Sensitivity96 dB
ImpedanceActive 490 Ohm/ Passive 46 Ohm
Connectivity TechnologyWireless
Noise CancellingActive and Passive
MicrophoneYes

Pros

  • Outstanding performance
  • Fantastic sound quality
  • Lightweight/Portable
  • Ultimate comfort

Cons

  • Mostly built from plastic
  • Expensive price

How to Select the most Appropriate Headphones for Meditation

Noise-canceling

The purpose of meditation is to relax. In this scenario, even minimal noises from the surroundings are enough to distract you. It would be better to take advantage of constant upgrading technology to block the external noises inside. Active noise cancellation is considered a blessing in disguise that allows you to mask unnecessary noises without increasing the volume level.

Design

Over-ear-designed headphones tend to fit securely and give full-day comfort. They don’t tighten your ears because of the soft padded ear cushions.

Comfort

 When talking about comfort, weight plays a significant part. You cannot expect the entire metal frame design to provide the total convenience you’re asking for. I suggest you pick over-ear headphones instead of in-ear because in-ear design creates discomfort after a couple of hours, and we don’t want that while meditating.

Wired or Wireless Headphones

I highly recommend choosing wireless headphones because it limits your movements throughout the meditation. I’m sure you are dealing with many things and don’t have the nerve to deal with cords. Feel free to use the wired option if you just stand still while meditating. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it OK to Use Headphones while Meditating?

It’s perfectly fine to use headphones while meditating. Actually, I find it more effective with sound on than off. There are great binaural sounds that promote positive energy and reduce anxiety. Legend has it; the binaural sounds increase focus and encourage you to make logical decisions.  

What are the Benefits of Using Headphones in Meditating?

You can practice mindfulness all alone with full focus. The affirmations you keep telling yourself infiltrate the brain more effectively. It simply relieves stress and increases concentration, especially if you have perfectionist traits.

Is it better to Mediate with Sound or Without sound?

That depends on what makes you feel more relaxed. In the beginning stages, it’s not preferable, but I’m the exception. If silence makes you feel good, meditate without sound. If I were you, I would choose the sound on option. 

Final Words

I feel like there is nothing left to say besides offering you a peaceful mediation. Some of you may mock, but meditation absolutely changes your perspective, and you achieve peace of mind only at a certain level without headphones. Using binaural sound throughout the journey will reduce the anxiety and stress of life. Give headphones a chance, and maybe they will become an indispensable part of your life. Who knows?

Further reading 

If over ear headphones are not your thing, you can check out our review and buying guide of the best in ear headphones under $200. If you are looking for something cheaper, a pair of IEMs under $100 is for you.

I’ve heard many people saying that they like meditating through classic music, so if you are one of those people, here you can find the best headphones for classical music, so you can equally enjoy meditating and the classic music. 

Whether you’re looking for information on audio equipment, looking to learn more about how things work in the music field, or looking for reviews of products, we got you covered!

 
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