Whether you want to play a little louder or practice at unusual hours, a pair of headphones can become handy. But what do you need to know when looking for the best guitar amp headphones?
Check out my own selection of the best headphones for guitar amps just below.
Contents
The Best Headphones for Guitar Amp Reviewed
In our selection of the best headphones for guitar amps, you can find any sort of price range and quality headphones. They all have incredible value for money and great customer satisfaction.
1. Audio Technica ATH – M50x
Great isolation features. The closed-back is my favorite when it comes to practicing an instrument. This model also prevents the leaking of sound to keep your practice to yourself.
Comfortable, durable, and foldable makes them my perfect choice to make have them on for as long as the practice requires, and easily take them around when you are on the go.
Best wireless headphones for guitar amp if you want to buy the wireless version. From an amateur guitarist to a professional, these Audio Technica headphones have the utmost quality. Great isolation feature to keep it loud inside and quiet on the outside.
Particularly good when it comes to providing smooth clear and loud sound. Not crack or dysfunction on high pitch sounds. Definitely looks good in any professional recording studio.
They have 38-ohm Impedance and an extended frequency range from 15hz to 28hz. Thus, have a great and clear sound both on high pitch and bass. The bass response in these headphones is also very accurate.
These can be the best headphones for a bass guitar amp because of that. Talking about the design, you can rotate the ear cups to 90 degrees for extra accessibility.
Pros
- Closed-back Headphones
- Wireless or wired
- Circumoral design so very comfortable to wear
- Audio Technica’s great sound quality
- Bluetooth headphones with removable cord option
Cons
- Bass can be quite strong if you are playing an acoustic guitar
- Enclosed Cups can start hurting your ear when used for a long time
2. AKG K240 Semi-Open
They have a self-adjusting headband made from flexible steel. You can rotate and bend the ear cups. It will help you to work with a single ear when connected to your guitar amp or when you are singing along. AKG headphones are also very lightweight.
These professional studio headphones provide high performance at an affordable price. They are semi-open headphones with a good frequency response and cover well both highs and lows.
The 55 Ohms impedance headphones make them perfect to use in your guitar amp. You get two different cables with the complete package and a set of extra cushions.
They are affordable headphones with a stereo plug and a screw-on adapter. Perfect for practicing but also for casual mobile or laptop use.
Pros
- Great sound response
- 3-D sounds and complete listening experience.
- Very comfortable thanks to the gimbal-type suspension.
- Foldable
- Affordable
Cons
- The impedance may be low for DJing or recording studio use.
- The bass can be very strong for some guitar players
3. OneOdio Pro-50
You can wear them for long hours and you will never get tired. It has comfortable and thick padding on the ear cups and head strap.
Its design makes it easy to carry it anywhere and It covers the entire ear which makes it perfect for listening and monitoring every sound. It has a matte finished plastic which gives it a soft rubbery feeling. You can find this product in different colors and designs as well as different models for different uses.
A perfect headphone for a guitar amp, OneOdio has a 50mm driver. It provides high and accurate sounds for every frequency. They are great noise-isolation over-ear headphones.
They have 32ohm impedance and 110db +-3db sensitivity thus a good projection of sound and no distortions. A unique thing about the design of these headphones is that you can rotate the ear cup up to 180 degrees.
Easy to fold and take with you outside the practice. Great value for money, these headphones can be a perfect choice for those on a budget who still want to get a professional crispy sound.
Pros
- 50mm driver provides clear and quality of sounds
- Come in 3 different foldable designs
- Durable and stylish look
Pros
- They do not have Bluetooth connectivity
4. Philips SHP9500 Open Acoustics
We like it comfortable and the Philips SHP9500 Headphones have cushions around the headband and ear cups. On top of that, they are very light to make practice longer without hurting your ears. The large driver helps to provide clear high and mid frequencies while enhancing the overall sound quality.
These headphones from Philips for guitar amps come with 50mm neodymium drivers. It helps to provide every frequency sound and prevents any sound leakage.
With over 50 years of experience, Philips is a well-trusted brand when it comes to headphones. It is an open-back headphone that has supreme comfort. It has a low 32ohm impedance and works well with guitar amps.
It has a total frequency range from 12 to 35khz and a sensitivity of 101db and a great power input of 200mV. Thus, provide a quality of sound on both highs and lows frequency sound, a good bass response without sound distortion.
Pros
- Open-back headphones
- Great quality of sound
- Very attractive and stunning design
- Comfortable cushions around the headband and earcups
Pros
- Not too strong bass
5. Sony MDR7506
These pair of headphones have an excellent bass level and work well in almost every frequency response level. If you like a little extra bass these may be the best bass headphones for guitar amps at this price as they work great in mid-range frequencies. It’s all about that bass.
Welcome to the world of Sony Headphones with neodymium magnets. The Sony MDR7506 Headphones have 40-millimeter drivers with a closed design. They provide powerful sounds with a total frequency response of 10hz to 20khz and outstanding isolation.
Extra spiral cords a non-detachable plug and an adapter are also present. Foldable makes them easy to carry around and has an impedance of 63ohms. It makes them perfect for any professional home studio setting. An external amplifier could make them give the best performance.
This model is perfect for mid-range sounds and works well on heavy bass levels. The coiled and spiral cable is 3m long. You will also get a nice carry bag with the complete package.
Pros
- Great quality of sound
- Good bass response
- Light and Comfortable
- Foldable
- The 40 mm drivers produce clear and crisp sounds.
- Great frequency range with 5hz to 30khz
Pros
- No Bluetooth
- Many professionals find the treble quality of these headphones a little problematic.
6. Samson SR850 Semi-Open
Samson’s headphones are that they provide immense depth to your music. Good frequency response to have good colors of sound is brilliant and above all, they are not very expensive.
For incredible value for money, I believe these are the Best cheap headphones for the guitar amp. Check it out if you are on a budget.
Another premium quality headphone designed for guitar amps. Samson SR850 is an open-back headphone, designed for every professional setting and at a very affordable price.
The 50mm drivers give them a clearer and crispy sound and great frequency response of 10hz to 30khz with a strong mid-range and highs. Good on the bass too.
Pros
- Deep and rich sound
- Semi-open design improves bass responses
- Very lightweight
- 32ohm impedance
Pros
- The ear cups are not covered which is why the isolation quality can be a problem.
- The cable has a fixed position and the Bluetooth option is not available.
What is the Headphone Impedance
Impedance is measured in “ohms” and determines the amount of electric charge a device needs to work properly. The higher the impedance the more electrical current it’s necessary.
High-impedance headphones are built in a way that they can provide better overall sound quality. And that is why they need an amplifier. To “amplify” or power the headphones so that they can explore their best potential. Can a Ferrari work with the engine of a Vespa scooter?
Same concept.
If you wanted to use your headphones for regular use (i.e. listening to music on a mobile or laptop), an impedance of fewer than 35 ohms will be enough.
The electric impulse given by the device itself will be enough to power them and an amplifier isn’t necessary. You may actually damage the headphones with low impedance if you use an amplifier. Too much electric charge to handle.
But for your purpose, you are looking for headphones with an impedance above 35 ohms. What happens if you use a high impedance headphone for regular use (ie. listen to a mobile or laptop)? It happened to me with a pair of JBL headphones before knowing all this.
You cannot hear much even at the top of the volume. Not enough power to boost. I basically bought an expensive item but never got to see its real power. The topic is actually quite interesting and not as simple.
At the same time, not all headphones with an impedance above 35 ohms need an external amplifier. It depends on each individual model. For sure you need an external amplifier for headphones with an impedance above 100 ohms.
Check out this video if you want to go a little deeper into this.
Open or Closed-Back Headphones
When it comes to overhead headphone design you have the option to choose between these two styles: Open-back or closed-back headphones.
What’s the difference?
Open-back headphones let music leak out of the headphones and can be heard by those around you. You are not completely isolated inside your sound. In fact, you are still able to listen to what’s going on around you.
You can hear the phone ringing or someone knocking at your door. If you intend to use your new headphones for hours on end, open-back headphones allow your ears to breathe better.
Closed-back headphones do the exact opposite. Music does not leak out of them and no one can hear what you are listening to. Also, you won’t be able to hear any sound from your surroundings. You are inside your own world.
I think open-back headphones are more suitable for video game players who do endless hours of use. Although it is good to know the meaning and the difference between these two types, I believe this choice is all up to you and which one of these two models suits you best.
Mini-Jack to Jack State of Mind
My question is: do you want to use your headphones exclusively for guitar practice? If the answer is no, you may want to think about a pair of guitar amp headphones with a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) that come with an adaptor for standard Jack (1/4 inch).
The 3.5 mm or 1/8 inch jack is the small and common one you use for portable devices like mobiles, laptops, etc…The standard Jack or 1/4 inch is the bigger one used to plug your guitar into your amp for example.
Having a pair of 1/8 inch jack Headphones with a 1/4 inch adaptor, allows you to use your headphone both for your guitar amp and also for standard use. I personally like to have this option. Usually, I leave the 1/4-inch adaptor on top of the amp, ready to use when it’s time to practice.
How to Choose Headphones for Guitar Amp
To improve your music and guitar skills, a good quality headphone is necessary. But choosing the best headphones for a guitar amp can be a tough task.
With advancements and different varieties nowadays, you will find many products to find exactly what you are looking for. Here are some criteria you may find useful to choose the best guitar amp headphones:
- If you want to use your new headphones also with mobile and laptop, buy a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) jack headphones and a 1/4 inch adapter for the amp.
- Go for an impedance above 35 ohms.
- Closed-back design for full practice immersion is my personal suggestion.
- Consider buying noise-canceling headphones to avoid distraction.
FAQs
Here are some other questions related to the topic.
How Can You Use Headphones with a Guitar Amp?
Plug directly into your normal amplifier, this is the most obvious way to play your electric guitar through headphones. Nowadays, most guitar amplifiers have a dedicated headphone output jack. If you want to use a standard pair of headphones that use a 3.5mm, or 1/8”, cable, you’ll need to purchase an adapter.
How to Practice Electric Guitar without Getting in Trouble with The Neighbours?
- Practice acoustically. That means without the use of an amplifier.
- Put the volume of the amplifier at the lowest volume possible
- Use headphones.
- Use an attenuator or power soak if you have an amplifier 50 or 100 watts amplifier.
How Can I Amplify My Electric Guitar without an Amp?
Plugging into a home stereo or boom box if you plug your electric guitar into the auxiliary input of your home stereo, you can get away without buying an amp at all. All you need is a special, inexpensive adapter that you can purchase at any electronic or music store for less than $3.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed our best headphones for the guitar amp selection. This list has been compiled after considering every single sound quality you can find in a headphone.
From bass to treble, there are many different features of a headphone. Headphones have various purposes and different aspects. You may also need to wear them for a long time so make sure you check the comfort levels and durability of your product.
Choose according to your preferences and make a wise choice to find the best product for your needs. And if you are still not sure, our first choice goes to the Audio Technica ATH – M50x Headphones.
