Best Japanese Headphones & Brands in 2023 (A Detailed Buying Guide)

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As you may know, different brands bring fabulous headphones to the market, and different people don’t have the same favorite brands. What do I mean by that? When I search for headphones in general, I first check the brands’ names and then their headphones.

If you are like me, some Japanese brands bring perfect headphones, and I am about to mention the best Japanese headphones on the market!

It is important to note from the beginning that you will find three leading brands:

⦁ Sony
⦁ Audio Technica
⦁ Pioneer

Be aware that I will mention two headphones/products based on the brands mentioned above. Let me get this article started!

A Quick Look at My Favorite Headphones from Mentioned Japanese Brands

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Pioneer DJ HDJ-X7-K

Pioneer DJ HDJ-X7-K

9.7
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Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10-K

Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10-K

9.5
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Audio-Technica ATH-M50X

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X

9.1
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Audio-Technica ATH-M20X

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X

8.8
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Sony WH-1000XM4 

Sony WH-1000XM4 

8.6
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Sony WF-1000XM4 

Sony WF-1000XM4 

8.5
Check Latest Price

Key Takeaways

⦁ The most famous Japanese brands for headphones worldwide are Sony, Audio Technica, and Pioneer.
⦁ Audio Technica and Pioneer are the ones to check out if you are a professional and produce music.
Sony WF-1000XM4 are the headphones to purchase, in case you are in search of earbuds, as they are perfect!
⦁ Japanese brands are some of the greatest regarding headphones in general.
⦁ If I were you, I would love to use Sony WH-1000XM4, as they are the headphones to use for different purposes.

The Best Two Pioneer Headphones

Pioneer

The first brand that does the opening of this article is Pioneer. It started as a tiny shop years ago, and it has become one of the best Japanese brands that you can choose different devices you may need, including fabulous headphones. Both of the headphones that I will be mentioning from Pioneer are aimed at DJs for professional usage.

Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10-K

Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10-K headphones are Pioneer’s most used headphones from many professional DJs worldwide, as they include many features.

As long as comfort and durability are concerned, if you choose these, you will feel comfortable in all manners. Also, these headphones are very solid regarding the built quality while they are all sweat-resistant.

To connect these headphones with another device, you will have to use the connecting jack that it comes with, and you shouldn’t worry about it in any way as it is compatible with everything you own.

The main thing you should know about these headphones is that being professional, they provide you with exceptional clarity of sound, and you will be listening to every detail of the song you are listening to. Also, these headphones provide you with great sound isolation.

Why Should You Buy It?

Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10-K headphones are the ones for DJs that want to spend a lot more money on a pair of headphones. You will find them expensive in a way, but if money is not your concern, these are the ones to choose!

TypeOver-Ear/Closed-Back
Driver Measurements50mm
Frequency Response5Hz-40kHz
Sound Level Pressure106 dB
Impedance32 Ω
ConnectivityWired
Weight3.3 pounds

Pros

  • Well-Built + Resistant
  • Comfortable to Use
  • Great Connectivity
  • Sound Great

Cons

  • Somehow Expensive

Pioneer DJ HDJ-X7-K

The second pair of headphones from Pioneer is the fantastic Pioneer DJ HDJ-X7-K headphones, which are older than the ones mentioned above, but still, they bring out everything that a person may need from headphones.

These headphones aren’t the prettiest ones regarding how they look, but what matters is the robust built quality and durability they offer. You will also find them comfortable, as they stay on your head without squishing it or bothering you.

Just like the ones mentioned above, the connection works fully wired and is compatible with most devices that possess the necessary connecting port. By the way, these headphones are DJ headphones too, which are in use by many people.

Pioneer DJ HDJ-X7-K brings out an outstanding sound quality that will fulfill your needs for clear sound. There are all the frequencies of sound that will be listened to ideally and detailed, but something worth mentioning is the perfect bass accuracy.

Why Should You Buy It?

If you are a bass-head, I would immediately choose the Pioneer DJ HDJ-X7-K, as they are known to be the most fantastic DJ headphones for bass accuracy, and they deliver it to you in the best way possible.

TypeOver-Ear/Closed-Back
Driver Measurements50mm
Frequency Response5Hz-40kHz
Sound Level Pressure102 dB
Impedance36 Ω
ConnectivityWired
Weight2.18 pounds

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Robust Built
  • Perfect Bass

Cons

  • Not Great High Frequencies

The Best Two Audio Technica Headphones

Audio Technica

Everybody has heard about Audio-Technica, and I am pretty sure that you didn’t only hear about it as a good brand but as the one that brings the perfect professional headphones on the market. Hence its name, Audio Technica, is a brand mostly dedicated to audio devices, just like the impressive headphones I will mention.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X

These headphones are the ones that you can find in any headphone list, especially regarding professionalism, as they are the most professional headphones you can see in the market nowadays.

If you are a sound producer or just want to listen to music with these headphones for extended periods per day, you are more than free to do so. That’s because these headphones offer outstanding comfort. The ear cups are super flexible as they can be swiveled up to 90 degrees.

Even though you might consider the wired connection as a downfall for these headphones, I assure you that you will be more satisfied as the ATH-M50X headphones are very versatile regarding compatibility with different devices.

Just like everything else is perfect, let me say that the sound quality of these headphones is fantastic. The sound is made for audiophiles and professionals, which concludes with how detailed the sound quality is.

Why Should You Buy It?

Professionalism has one name, and that’s Audio Technica ATH-M50X! If you are one of those professionals in the world of music, quickly check out these headphones, as they will bring you everything that you need from a pair of headphones.

TypeOver-Ear/Closed-Back
Driver Measurements45mm
Frequency Response15Hz-28kHz
Sound Level Pressure98 dB
Impedance38 Ω
ConnectivityWired
Weight10 ounces

Pros

  • Lightweight and Comfortable
  • Flexible
  • Good Sound Quality
  • Great Wired Connection
  • Affordable
  • Many Color Choices

Cons

  • Not Great When Connected with Phones

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X

Some other headphones worth mentioning in this article are the ATH-M20X which come from the same series as the ATH-M50X and are the most used headphones by many people. They are my favorite headphones as well.

Based on looks, these headphones are pretty similar to the ones mentioned above, but what you will like most is the comfort they provide you, as they are super lightweight. The weight also makes these headphones portable enough to accompany you wherever you may go.

These headphones are also brought with wired connectivity, in which you will have to use the 3.5mm headphone jack in order to connect them with other devices such as phones, laptops, PCs, tablets, and many others.

Audio Technica ATH-M20X are the cheapest headphones aimed at professionals, and I know that you may think that they don’t sound too good based on that. Well, you are wrong! These headphones, even though cheap, deliver outstanding sound quality, and when compared to other headphones with the same range, you will notice how powerful these ones are.

Why Should You Buy It?

The first and most important thing that you should have in mind about these headphones is that they bring perfect sound quality, yet they are super affordable. That’s basically the reason why these headphones deserve to be checked out.

TypeOver-Ear/Closed-Back
Driver Measurements40mm
Frequency Response15Hz-20kHz
Sound Level Pressure96 dB
Impedance47 Ω
ConnectivityWired
Weight6.7 ounces

Pros

  • Super-Lightweight
  • Affordable
  • Comfortable While in Use
  • Great for Sound Production

Cons

  • Not Great Bass
  • No Sound Isolation

The Best Two Sony Headphones

Sony

Sony isn’t a brand that needs too much explication, as the name talks for itself! Sony is one of the most powerful names in the market, and that’s not only for headphones but whatever one may need! It is a Japanese brand that is the largest and most famous worldwide.

Sony WH-1000XM4

You never know what Sony has for you, and let me assure you that the WH-1000XM4 is the brand’s most perfect headphones you will ever find. These headphones can be the best overall in many different lists of headphones.

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are beautiful, as they have a great design and also, they are durable. What I love most are the three color choices they are brought at, allowing me and you to choose our favorites.

The versatility of these headphones is also found in the connectivity part, and that’s because you can connect them wirelessly ad wired at the same time. What you will love most about the connection is that you can connect two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth.

One can say many things about the sound quality of these headphones, but what is important is to know that they sound perfectly fine in whatever field you use them! There’s the industry-leading noise-canceling technology that comes perfectly and doesn’t let other noises bother you while using these headphones.

Why Should You Buy It?

There are many reasons one should choose Sony WH-1000XM4, but the greatest of all is the noise-canceling technology that is in its perfect form. Also, you will love the connectivity and compatibility with many devices.

TypeOver-Ear/Closed-Back
Driver Measurements40mm
Frequency Response4Hz-40kHz
Sound Level Pressure105 dB
Impedance47 Ω
ConnectivityWired+Wireless (Bluetooth 5.0)
Battery Life30 Hours

Pros

  • Amazing Design and Good-Looking
  • Impressive Battery Life
  • Super Versatile
  • Perfect Noise Canceling Technology
  • Great Connection via Bluetooth

Cons

  • Not Resistant

Sony WF-1000XM4

I know that above I didn’t mention any in-ear headphones, and that’s because I wanted to make it special for last. After all, Sony WF-1000XM4 are the greatest earbuds, Japanese earbuds, that one can find.

Basically, these headphones are different from each one I mentioned regarding design and everything else. These earbuds are very pretty and come in two color choices which are black and white. You can use them however and wherever you want, as they are sweatproof, making them great for usage during workouts as well.

As they work with the newest Bluetooth version, these headphones have a spectacular connectivity range. They are ready to work with any device you may already own, including devices that work via Bluetooth.

The industry-leading noise canceling technology cannot be a lack in these headphones from Sony, and I assure you that it works on its highest level. For music, the sound quality of these headphones is indeed mesmerizing, and they offer you a great feature which is using them for calls.

Why Should You Buy It?

Basically, Sony WF-1000XM4 are the earbuds you are looking for, and they bring out the best of them, especially regarding the sound quality part. You will be using these headphones in many fields of your life.

TypeOver-Ear/Closed-Back
Driver Measurements50mm
Frequency Response5Hz-40kHz
Sound Level Pressure106 dB
Impedance32 Ω
ConnectivityWired
Weight3.3 pounds

Pros

  • Sweat-Resistant
  • Fit Amazing
  • Good-Looking
  • Perfect Bluetooth Connection
  • Noise Canceling Included
  • Sound Perfect
  • Usable for Calls

Cons

  • Pricey for Earbuds
  • Not the Best Battery Life

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Japanese brands great for headphones?

Japanese brands of headphones, in general, are good enough to bring different types of headphones and earbuds, and I would like to assure you that you can have faith in them.

What are other Japanese brands of headphones?

As I mentioned Sony, Audio Technica, and Pioneer, it doesn’t mean that there are not found other brands that launch headphones. Denon, Luxman, Hitachi, Maxwell, Ikeda, and Onkyo will also be found. However, the three first brands mentioned are definitely the greatest and most famous brands worldwide.

Should I expect headphones with good quality sound from Japanese brands?

Based on what I mentioned and what you may find on the world wide web, you can be more than sure that the sound quality of Japanese headphones is indeed excellent, and the headphones coming from Japanese brands will not disappoint you in any way.

Final Words

Well, here we came to the end of this article. All the headphones mentioned from the Japanese brands of headphones are definitely the greatest ones that you will find on the market, and I am pretty sure that you will love them, no matter which ones you choose.

I hope that in this article you have found whatever you need, and I hope you find the best Japanese headphones for you!

Further Reading

When it comes to audio equipment everything is easily connected, so might need more than one item at once. And since in his article I’ve included earbuds and headphones, I bet you can’t decide if you are an earbud or an headphone person! Well, here you can find a proper comparison between earbuds and headphones, I guarantee that in the end you will be able to make up your mind.

And besides, if you are into any kind of sport, like snowboarding, you can read all about the best headphones for snowboarding and if you are into basketball, you can read all about the best basketball headphones and if you are into more fun sports, such as jumping rope, then here you can read about the best headphones for jumping rope.

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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