5 Best Headphones For Electronic Drums in 2023

Updated: January 26th, 2023

One of the best things about a good set of electronic drums is you can practice at any time without others complaining about that racket! It is one of the best tools available to accelerate your drumming skill fast.

But what is the point in having invested in a good set of electronic drums if the sound that meets your ears while you are playing is only mediocre because you aren’t using good headphones designed to pick up the beat?

Don’t just use any headphones while beating out rhythms on your electronic drums. Below, you can check out our recommendations for the five best headphones for electronic drums.

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5 Best Headphones For Electronic Drums

1. Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones – Best Overall

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Sony is one of the most trusted, premium brands in the music biz, and that is because they manage to produce excellent quality products that are affordable. These professional, large diaphragm headphones are one of them!

• Neodymium magnets 40mm drivers
• 10-20,000 Hz frequency response
• Folding design and carry bag included

The headphones use top-quality neodymium magnets with 40mm drivers to produce a natural and smooth sound with a frequency range from 10-20,000 Hz. These quality speakers slip over the ears comfortably with a fully adjustable over-ear design. The headpieces are firm but don’t apply excess pressure or cause discomfort.

The headphones come with a sturdy, coiled 9.8-foot cord which gives you plenty of room to move around. You also get both ¼ and ⅛-inch adaptors so it is compatible with all of your tech. The folding design makes them easy to transport, and a convenient carry bag is included in your purchase.

What we like: The excellent quality of the drivers produces a great sound, and the headphones are well-designed for comfort. What’s more, this is all available at a very affordable price tag.

What we don’t like: The headphones have a kind of basic design that doesn’t tick the “cool” box, and more expensive 50mm drivers are a bit better for drumming.

If you are looking at higher-end headphones for electronic drums that won’t break the budget, these Sony headphones are available for less than $100.

2. Vic Firth SIH2 Stereo Isolation Headphones – Best For Bass

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These Vic Firth headphones are ideal for serious drummers who want to focus on their bass, since they use 50mm drivers. However, they are still affordable if you’re on a bit of a budget.

• 50mm bass drivers
• 20dB passive sound reduction
• Cool carbon fiber finish

The 50mm drivers are not the only feature that stands out about these Vic Firth headphones. They also deliver 20dB passive noise reduction, which means you are less likely to damage your ears with sudden changes in volume. The headphones themselves are comfortable with extra large ears and also have a cool carbon finish. A 5.5-foot cable with both standard and mini adaptor plugs is included.

What we like: We love the 50mm drivers and the passive noise reduction functionality to protect your precious ear drums.

What we don’t like: The cable on these headphones could be a little longer, but you can always buy an alternative cable if necessary.

These Vic Firth headphones provide drum-worthy 50mm drivers for less than $100, and they just look so cool.

3. OneOdio A71 Wired Over Ear Headphones – Best Affordable

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If you want a very affordable and highly functional set of headphones for your electronic drum kit, OneOdio offers a good range of options, and this is one of our favorites.

• Neodymium magnets 40mm drivers
• 90 degree swivel earcups
• Daisy chain multiple headphones

These headphones start with high-quality neodymium magnets, 40mm drivers for a good and natural sound, and a frequency response range of 20-20,000 Hz. The headphones have a cool, retro design, but with modern features such as 90-degree swivel cups for single ear monitoring. The kit comes with a 9.98 foot cord and a multifunctional jack for both mini and standard audio adaptors.

If you want to share what you are listening to with someone else, you can simply daisy chain their speakers into yours.

What we like: Aside from the very good price, we love the design of these headphones and the excellent quality of the sound they produce. We also like how you can daisy chain various headphones together if you want to share your music.

What we don’t like: You can expect these headphones to have a shorter lifespan and fewer features than more expensive competitors.

If you want something highly affordable that will still produce an excellent sound with your electronic drums, then OneOdio is a good choice.

4. Roland RH-5 Quality Comfort-Fit Headphones – Best Multipurpose

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We have always loved Roland headphones, and these latest over-ear headphones are among our favorites for the electronic drums.

• High performance 40mm drivers
• Lightweight design
• 3 meter cord

These are great multipurpose headphones that will work well with your electronic drums but also other instruments and music outputs. They use high-performance 40mm drivers with a wide 10-22,000 Hz frequency range. The headphones themselves are not just secure and comfortable but also lightweight, weighing just 190 grams. They come with a 3-meter cord and conversion plug for both mini and standard connectors.

What we like: These are high quality at an affordable price and have a big frequency range so you never miss a note!

What we don’t like: As you would expect, these headphones aren’t as feature-rich as more expensive options.

If you want a good pair of headphones you can use with your electronic drums (and everything else), these Roland headphones are a great option.

5. Audio-Technica ATH-M70X – Best Premium

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If you are looking for premium headphones and you are happy to pay for them, then these headphones from Audio-Technica are worth the hefty price tag.

• 45mm large aperture drivers
• Large frequency range 5-40,000 Hz
• Comfortable swivel ear cups

These Audio-Technica headphones use patented 45mm large aperture drivers, so they deliver excellent bass and still sound natural. They are the best of both worlds when it comes to 40mm or 50mm drivers, with a huge frequency range from 5-40,000 Hz.

The headphones have a comfort design with 90-degree swivel cups for single ear monitoring. A three-meter cable and dual mini and standard adapter are included.

What we like: We love these 45mm drivers and the amazing sound they deliver.

What we don’t like: These headphones are very expensive, but you get what you pay for.

If you are looking for premium headphones for your electronic drums, you won’t find a better option than these Audio-Technica headphones.

Buying Guide: Headphones For Electronic Drums

While we have shared our top picks with you already, there are still many other great options on the market you might be considering. To help you make a more informed decision, we have shared our list of essential features to consider when shopping for headphones for electronic drums.

Design

You will notice all of our headphones are over-the-ear, and we haven’t included any in-ear monitoring (IEM) headphones. While you will want IEMs for performing on stage, they can be quite harsh and uncomfortable on the ears, so we don’t recommend them for long practice sessions. Instead, over-ear headphones tend to be more comfortable, and they do a better job of canceling out ambient noise. They also deliver more accurate sound at lower volumes, which means you are less likely to damage your ears with excessive volume.

Finding the right over-ear design for comfort is down to personal preference. Read reviews to see what people think, and look for headphones with adjustable elements, since no two heads are the same.

Find our recommendations for the best in-ear monitors here.

Drivers

When choosing headphones for electronic drums, you will want to look for high-quality 40mm, 45mm, or 50mm drivers. 40mm drivers tend to provide a natural and smooth sound, 50mm bring up the base, and 45mm sit somewhere between the two.

Which of these options is best for you is all down to personal preference. Make sure your headphones deliver a frequency range of at least 20-20,000 Hz.

Accessories

Whatever headphones you buy should come with a cable as an essential accessory. These are usually the first thing to break on a set of headphones, as they get worn out through movement.

Choose something with a strong cable, perhaps even coiled. It should be at least three feet, but no more than three meters, or tangling can become a serious issue. The cable should have adaptors for both standard (⅛-inch) and mini (¼-inch) adaptors to work with all your audio tech.

FAQs

Do you need special headphones for electronic drums?

While you can technically use any headphones with electronic drums, the earbuds that came with your phone won’t produce a satisfying drumming experience. Look good sound canceling headphones with 40mm, 45mm, or 50mm drivers for a more authentic sound. It is not advised to wear in-ear monitors, as they can be heavy on the ears during long practice sessions.

Can you use Bluetooth headphones with electronic drums?

If your electronic drum kit is Bluetooth enabled, you can use Bluetooth headphones with them. However, most drummers choose not to, as there can be minor latency issues, and these can become very noticeable when you are waiting for audio feedback from your playing.

Can neighbors hear electronic drums?

While electronic drums certainly don’t produce the same kind of noise as a standard drum kit, you are still hitting a hard rubber surface, which will produce an audible tapping noise.

However, you should be able to minimize noise leakage by carefully choosing where in your home to place your kit and with some fairly basic and affordable soundproofing. In most cases, sound is escaping through door gaps and windows rather than through walls.

Do drummers use noise-canceling headphones?

It is a good idea to use noise-canceling headphones with electronic drums, as your focus can easily be invaded by ambient noise. It also means you are getting a single feedback through the headphones rather than double feedback and hearing the sound through the headphones and the sound of your stick hitting the rubber.

The Verdict

Your kit is always only as good as its weakest link! If you have invested in a decent set of electronic drums, you also need a decent set of headphones to properly hear the beats you are producing. Your drumming won’t sound great if you are listening through basic headphones.

Choose from our top recommendations, or use our buying guide to find your perfect headphones for electronic drums. Whether you’re looking for a simple and inexpensive option or wanting to invest in something a bit more advanced, our list of top picks has great products for drummers of all experience levels and budgets.