Your skills in video editing software and the high-quality camera/recording content are not the only key factors when editing videos. Sound quality plays an important role too.
If you are editing a video, it is important to get yourself an audio device that allows you to hear even the little details, once you hear the sound crisp and clear it will be easier for you to edit.
To avoid making your videos boring and for them to flow smoothly and seamlessly, I have rounded up a list of what I think are the best headphones for video editing.
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The 5 Best Headphones For Video Editing:
5. V-Moda Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition
When it comes to the audio industry, V-Moda isn’t behind, it actually sits on top, with the rest of the high-quality wireless headphones that have multipurpose usage.
The V-Moda Crossfade 2 Codex Edition, is an upgrade to its successful predecessor. But this time, it is lighter and has better audio quality.
It pretty much sports the same design, comfort, and battery life as its predecessor, but the selling point and what separates it from its brother must be its audio quality, now it supports both aptX and AAC Bluetooth codecs.
Before I dive into their design, the customization freedom is also something worth mentioning, V-Moda thought a bit differently here. In most headphones for video editing, you can pick the color of the plate, but V-Moda offers more than that, you can choose the shield material, screw material, and color to your likings(put your own logo in it, color it how you want, etc.).
The Crossfade 2 Codex Edition build quality is superb. After going through “military-grade” testing, feels like they will last a lifetime. Yet, they are lightweight and can be folded in, for better transportation.
You might doubt their comfort now, after seeing how robust they are. I must agree, usually when something is durable and portable at the same time, compromises on comfort. But worry not, since that is not the case with the Crossfade 2 Codex Edition, their large headband and plushy earpads offer great levels of comfort.
Another aspect that they are most comfortable with, would be the mid-tones. V-Moda performs really well in mid-tone frequencies, that doesn’t mean the lows and highs are absent. Overall, they are well balanced, exactly what we need when video editing – we want our headphones for video editing to have a balanced sound on all frequencies and not to be a one-trick-pony.
Sadly the battery life leaves so much to be desired, It is estimated to last 14 hours. It is not that bad, but when you see what competition has to offer…
Still 14 hours I think are plenty to take you through the whole day of video editing. Definitely the best headphones in their category.
4. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
A list that has to do with headphones for video editing, and Audio-Technica isn’t to be found there, either is a sponsored/paid list, or it isn’t a list at all.
If you are into music/audio equips you probably are aware of the ATH-M50X. How can you not be, after all the hype that is going through the internet, on how well they perform, and the unbeatable value they bring to the table.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X is a pair of all-rounders that can be used almost for anything. That is all thanks to their splendid audio quality and build.
ATH-M50X hits the nail in the head with its design. They are quite stylish and good-looking, yet not flamboyant to stand out and draw unwanted attention. With that being said feel free to take them even in the office, just be careful though, they might get stolen.
They are available in Black, Gun Metal, White and metallic orange, to be honest, the metallic orange falls a bit in the flamboyant category but we will turn a blind eye to it, like nothing extraordinary.
The good looks of these headphones for video editing don’t compromise on durability. Although, they are entirely built from plastic they are pretty robust. It combines lightweight plastic with plush padding so in return you can get hours of comfortability. The earcups can swivel 180 degrees and can be folded to offer us a good amount of portability.
Audio Technica flags them as monitor headsets, but a lot of people, including me, consider them as a pair of all-rounders that you can use for everything and take anywhere.
Unlike most other headphones for video editing on this list, these are wired headphones. Wired headphones have their limitations, but a pair of wireless headphones can never beat the quality of wired headphones.
This amount of versatility comes from the great audio quality they offer. The vocals and instruments come in a good deal of texture while are nicely separated. The overall sound is warm with a great bass response and great treble response too. Yet again, another thing we are looking forward to, as video editors.
At this price point range and based on what they offer, you will have a hard time changing my mind that there’s a better option. For the price, i’d say those are the best headphones you can get.
3. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR
On the third spot, we have the Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR, a pair of over ear headphones that have a close to perfect reputation and are one of the most recommended open backs around.
All that is not a surprise, after all, it is the successor of the X1s. The Philips Fidelio X1 on their debut went straight to the leaderboard and topped all the charts that had over ear headphones.
At first sight, after taking the X2’s out of the box, you will notice its sturdiness and the big ear pads. They are filled with luxurious memory foam that is extremely comfortable to wear for hours. The leather headband is as strong as ever and the familiar mesh band sits comfortably in the middle part of the headband.
In general, the whole aesthetic change wasn’t drastic, it still takes after the discreet design of their beautiful predecessor.
They come at a reasonable price and at that price point they are hard to beat, with providing great comfort, attractive design, removable cable (meaning more portability and versatility), and lastly, great sound quality.
Video editors will be quite happy with the volume richness Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR has to offer.
Overall it has a good balanced and natural sound, but there’s also the robust bass response, which is a bit rare since they are a pair of open back headphones. The bass is rich, warm textured, and true to whatever material you are playing in the background. The midrange would be another thing that is quite pleasant to listen and the treble is just where we want it to be. We also ranked these as the best open-back headphones for digital piano players.
Again, it’s premium design/build, sound quality, and detachable wired connection will give a lot of freedom and joy to video editors. Definitely the best headphones for editing video.
2. Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Sennheiser like always doesn’t fail to impress. With the HD 280 Pro, they really hit it out of the park. A pair of closed-back video editing headphones that are as versatile as possible, no matter what experience level you are, promises to exceed all your expectations.
Despite being all-plastic they sure look good and feel quite robust, you can tell that they are ready to take a beating ( this is a metaphor, please don’t start aggressively beating them ).
Jokes aside, they are designed to be extremely comfortable, to the point that you think you’re not wearing video editing headphones at all. The headband is firm and sturdy, yet flexible, so are the ear cups; they can bend in any direction for easy-storage transport and comfort.
They do an incredible job on Passive noise cancelation. To isolate the noise outside, the HD 280 pro uses a relatively strong clamping force, this might be a double-edged knife since the head becomes a bit tired after long use. It’s great at removing background noise, and this is a very important factor when buying a pair of headphones for editing video. Background noise can distract you, so getting rid of it is important.
Of course, they are not noise cancelling headphones like the Sony WH-1000xm5 or the Bose 700, but in my opinion you don’t need noise cancelling headphones when video editing.
The HD 280 Pro carries on the signature sound of Sennheiser, which is being bass-heavy. With an expansive frequency range of 8Hz to 25,000Hz, no matter what video you are editing, you will hear all the detail and not miss a single tone.
I can’t sugar-coat its drawbacks since those are an old pair of video editing headphones, but they stole the spot from the newer and higher-end headphones thanks to their versatility and great capabilities they offer in video editing, not to forget on top of all that the cost-effective price they come with. We also ranked them as the best studio headphones under $100.
1. Sony MDR7506
Last but not least, we have the Sony MDR7506.
Before you start hating on me what is a 3-decade old product doing on an article that is written in 2022.
Think about this, the Sony MDR7506 has been a constant presence in the audio world since its debut, the fact here is that a product doesn’t survive with this level of popularity and longevity without a reason, right?
I must admit it though, the Sony MDR7506 studio headphones might not be the best for you to enjoy your Spotify tracklist or brand new listening station, but when it comes to audio production or especially video editing, those are no longer just video editing headphones, but they become a tool.
Well, let’s move to their design because this is starting to sound like a love letter.
Just right, at first glance, you will “hear them scream” 90’s. Their design is completely the opposite of modern headphones, but in a way, I feel that if Sony had to change its design, bad things would happen, and it would completely lose its major selling point.
At first glance their build quality looks fragile and plastic, however, don’t let that lie to you, they are much more durable than their appearance might suggest. After all, time has proved that they can take a beating without backing off.
They sure are comfortable since they are made to be worn for hours of music production and video editing. Their clean and good-sized headband will not feel too tight on your head and will fit all the head sizes. They are well-padded around the earcups, but not that much I’m not going to lie. Yet, it is enough to keep you comfortable around the ears and more than enough to provide a good level of sound isolation.
For a pair of over ear headphones, they sound good, and I’ll leave it there, regarding that. But for professional studio use or video editing they sound amazing, and why is that?
They are a pair of video editing headphones that are billed for studio use, meaning they aren’t over boosted on high or low frequencies. They sit perfectly at a balanced frequency, perceptually neutral which is an ideal thing for musicians, audio engineers, and video editors.
That being said doesn’t mean you should not listen to music with them, after all, they are professional headphones and sound right in all aspects.
The only downside I can think of is that they are not active noise cancelling headphones and they don’t offer any active noise cancellation technology. This is to be expected though because these headphones are pretty old.
If you are looking for an inexpensive set of headphones for video editing, or you are an owner and want to gift your employees something that is good and inexpensive, so they can be more productive at work – the Sony MDR-7506 headphones for video editing might be showing their age, but they still have a place in offices or studios.
Buying the Best Headphones for Video Editing
I don’t feel like wasting your time here and start counting the obvious things we look at when buying a pair of video editing headphones, even an average joe who has nothing to do with sound/headphones know that stuff like the sound quality, comfort and price are key factors to consider, when buying a pair of headphones.
Whether you want gaming headphones, video editing headphones or just to listen to music, those 4 things will play a big role in your satisfaction.
But I don’t want you guys to point your finger towards me, ill explain in short words.
- Sound quality – is a must because you want to hear every detail when you are video editing so later on you can mess with them around.
- Comfort – editing a video is not a walk in the park, you will sit in front of your Pc/Laptop for hours.
- Price – is the key factor that will determine if you getting quality/premium headphones or budget ones that compromise on some fields.
- Noise Cancellation – Depending on your workspace, noise cancellation might play a big role. Since I have a quiet home office, i don’t need a pair of noise cancelling headphones, but if you try to work in a noisy environment or like to work from coffee shops, you should definitely get a pair of noise cancelling headphones, or earbuds that have noise cancellation features.
What I think would matter is an explanation between Open Back design and Closed Back, a lot of you might be aware of this but some probably have no clue.
So ear cups come in two different styles, they can either be closed or open and each one of them benefits in its own way, later it is you who decide.
- Open-back design delivers a spacious and airy sound that helps in getting a more neutral sound through your headphones without following echoes.
- Closed-back design, basically, creates passive noise isolation, they have a perfect seal that keeps the ambient noise, allowing you to focus more on your work and edit with precision, or whatever you doing.
Final Touch:
In this article i listed what i think are the best headphones, but as you may already know, finding the best headphones is pretty difficult, because what someone may call best headphones, someone else might hate them. It’s all personal preference.
At the end of the day, just buy the video editing headphones you feel comfortable with the most.
No one can force you to buy something that you don’t like, you are not supposed to like what others like. What is good for you, might be bad for someone else.
Still, I would say to do some research instead of directly jumping in and grabbing the first headphone that looks good, everything looks good on paper.
But what matters is the inside right?
I hope you found something useful in this article, regarding the best headphones for video editing.
Further Reading
If you liked what you read there are some other similar blogs you can read.
There is a list of some amazing studio monitors for video editing, make sure you check this one out. Another list would be about audio interfaces for FL studio.
An intriguing blog is, what is 9D Audio? If you are not familiar with the term check it out.
Mix & Mastering
I love to get my hands on all sorts of audio equipment, from headphones and speakers to audio interfaces. I love putting these products through their paces and seeing what they can do.