Best Studio Headphones for Beatmakers on a Budget

The best budget studio headphones for most beatmakers are the Sony MDR-7506 at $99.99 if you need to keep spending under $100, and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro at $199.99 if you make 808-heavy trap and drill and can stretch your budget. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x ($159) is the easiest first pair, the Rode NTH-100 ($159) is the most comfortable, and the AKG K240 Studio and Behringer Alpha are the cheapest ways into a semi-open or open-back sound.

• Can you make beats on headphones only?
• Open-back vs closed-back for beatmakers
• Comparison table
• Sony MDR-7506
• Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro / Pro X
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
• Rode NTH-100
• AKG K240 Studio
• Behringer Alpha
• How to mix 808s on headphones
• FAQ
• Verdict

Can you make beats on headphones only?

Yes. Most bedroom producers write and mix on headphones, and a good pair in an untreated room is often more reliable than cheap speakers bouncing off bare walls. The catch is that every pair of headphones colors the sound, so you have to learn yours with reference tracks and check your mix on a phone, earbuds or a car before you upload.

For trap, drill and phonk, the most important question is how a pair handles sub-bass. If you cannot hear the bottom of your 808, you will either turn it up until it clips the master or leave it too quiet. That is why the low-end notes below matter more for this audience than soundstage or detail.

Open-back vs closed-back: which one for beatmakers?

Buy closed-back if you record vocals, share a room or produce late at night. Buy open-back or semi-open if you only mix, work alone and want a wider, less tiring sound.

• Closed-back headphones seal around your ears. They keep sound in and out, so they work for tracking a rapper without the beat bleeding into the mic. They usually have more bass than open-backs.
• Open-back headphones let air and sound pass through the cups. They feel more like speakers and are easier on the ears over long sessions, but everyone near you hears your beat and a microphone picks them up.
• Semi-open designs sit in between. MusicRadar notes the AKG K240 bleeds enough that it is “not great for tracking vocals.”

If you record artists in the same room, closed-back is not optional. Our guide on how to mix rap vocals in FL Studio assumes a clean vocal take, and headphone bleed is one of the most common reasons a take is not clean.

Budget studio headphones compared

Prices come from each brand’s official US store (Sony Pro, Beyerdynamic North America, Audio-Technica, Rode, AKG), checked in November 2026. Driver and impedance figures come from the brand pages or from MusicRadar’s budget studio headphones guide, where reviewer Matt McCracken measured every pair on a Neumann KU 100 dummy head (last updated September 30, 2026). Street prices move often, so check before you buy.

Sony MDR-7506: best studio headphones under $100

The Sony MDR-7506 is the best pick under $100 because it has a flat, detailed midrange and a build that survives years in a backpack, at a $99.99 US list price. It has been a studio standard since the early 90s, and Sony’s pro page lists it as a closed, around-the-ear design that ships with a carry pouch.

• 10 Hz to 20 kHz, coiled cable with a 3.5 mm plug and 6.3 mm adapter
• About 229 g, light enough to travel with

Where it falls short for trap: the sub-bass. MusicRadar’s frequency response test shows “not buckets of sub bass,” and on Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” the reviewer found the 808 “a little clouded.” The midrange is where the 7506 shines, which makes it great for vocals, snares and melody. The coiled cable is also long and heavy, and the pads are thin.

Choose the MDR-7506 if your budget is $100, you record vocals, and you are willing to check your 808s on a second system.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro / Pro X: best for 808-heavy beats

The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is the best budget pair for trap and drill because it reaches deep into the sub-bass, where your 808 lives, and stays closed-back for tracking. The classic DT 770 Pro is $199.99 on Beyerdynamic’s North America store, in 32, 80 or 250 ohm versions, with a 5 to 35,000 Hz response and a fixed cable. Beyerdynamic says the impedance versions exist so the headphone matches your setup, from a compact home studio interface to a dedicated headphone amplifier.

The newer DT 770 Pro X is $229.99 and swaps the fixed cable for a detachable mini XLR cable. Beyerdynamic lists it at 48 ohms, 5 to 40,000 Hz and 305 g without the cable, with velour pads. Beyerdynamic says the Pro and Pro X “share a similar sound signature.” MusicRadar named the Pro X its best overall budget pick and found it “the closest match I found to the Harman Curve in all my testing,” with “excellent” sub-bass that makes it “a boon for those working in electronic genres.”

• Closed-back, over-ear, velour pads (80 and 250 ohm Pro, and the Pro X)
• Made in Germany, metal headband
• Pro: fixed cable, 375 g with cable. Pro X: detachable cable

Where it falls short: the treble. MusicRadar warns the highs can be “a bit fatiguing during longer listening sessions” and noted a slight boost around 150 Hz, so be careful not to under-mix your bass. The cups do not fold, so they are bulky to carry. If you plug straight into a laptop or a phone, the 32 or 80 ohm Pro or the 48 ohm Pro X is the safer pick than the 250 ohm version.

Choose the DT 770 Pro if 808s and sub-bass are the center of your beats and you can spend about $200. Pick the Pro X if you want a replaceable cable.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: easiest first pair

The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is the easiest first pair of studio headphones because it sounds good straight away, folds up, and ships with three cables, starting at $159 on Audio-Technica’s US store. It launched at a $239 MSRP in 2014, according to Audio-Technica’s launch press release, so the current price is well below where it started.

• Detachable cable, three cable options and a carry case included
• Ear cups swivel 180 degrees, about 285 g, 15 Hz to 28 kHz

MusicRadar picked it as the best beginner pair and told readers “don’t believe the internet hate.” On sub-heavy tracks, the reviewer found the sub-bass “loud and clear.”

Where it falls short: that same low end is hyped. MusicRadar measured overhyped lows, a dip in the low mids and a 10 kHz bump, so an 808 that sounds perfect on M50x may be too quiet on flatter systems. The cable connector is proprietary.

Choose the ATH-M50x if you want one pair for producing, listening and taking on the go, and you will reference your mixes elsewhere.

Rode NTH-100: most comfortable for long sessions

The Rode NTH-100 is the most comfortable pair on this list, with memory foam pads and a locking headband, at $159 on Rode’s US store.

• 5 Hz to 35 kHz, memory foam cushions, FitLok locking headband
• Removable cable with a locking connector that plugs into either earcup

MusicRadar found the NTH-100 “very much in line with the Harman Curve,” calling it a flat, mixing-friendly response for the price.

Where it falls short: MusicRadar found it “lacking slightly in the low end,” which is fine for a mixing headphone but less fun when you are writing 808 patterns. The earcups can feel cramped for larger ears at first.

Choose the NTH-100 if long sessions hurt with your current pair, or if you want a flatter closed-back than the M50x at the same price.

AKG K240 Studio: lightweight semi-open option

The AKG K240 Studio is a lightweight semi-open headphone at $99 on AKG’s US store, good for long mixing sessions in genres that are not built on sub-bass.

• Semi-open, 15 Hz to 25 kHz, about 240 g, self-adjusting headband

Where it falls short for this audience: MusicRadar says plainly that it is “a little lacking in the sub-bass region, so not great for EDM or hip hop,” and that it bleeds too much for vocal tracking. The full MusicRadar review also found it fairly quiet.

Choose the K240 if you also make lo-fi, R&B or sample-based beats, you mix alone, and you have a second system for checking 808s. Skip it if trap and drill are your main lanes.

Behringer Alpha: cheapest open-back

The Behringer Alpha is the cheapest pair here, priced “well below $/£100” according to MusicRadar, which named it the best budget pick for pure value. We could not find an official US price, so check current listings.

• Detachable 3 m cable, self-adjusting headband, case included
• Open-back, 10 Hz to 28 kHz, about 332 g

Where it falls short: MusicRadar measured a midrange push “way above the Harman Curve” that made mixes sound “a little cloudy,” and said you would need correction for surgical mixing. As an open-back, it is also a poor choice for recording.

Choose the Alpha if your total budget is tiny and you would rather put the rest of your money into sounds. Upgrade once you start selling beats.

How do you mix 808s on headphones without guessing?

Use a reference track, a spectrum analyzer and a second playback system, because no budget headphone shows sub-bass perfectly. These habits matter more than which pair you buy:

1. Load a commercial type beat you like into your project and match levels before comparing. Compare your 808 to theirs, not to your memory.
2. Watch the low end on an analyzer such as Fruity Parametric EQ 2 in FL Studio. If the 808 fundamental sits far above or below the reference, trust the meter over your ears.
3. Check on phone speakers and earbuds. If the 808 disappears, add saturation so its harmonics carry on small speakers.

Our full guide on how to mix 808s without mud covers EQ, sidechain and saturation step by step.

FAQ

Are the Sony MDR-7506 good for 808s?

The Sony MDR-7506 is good for mixing vocals, drums and melodies but light in the sub-bass. MusicRadar found the 808 on “A Milli” sounded “a little clouded.” It works for trap if you check your low end on an analyzer or a second system.

DT 770 Pro or ATH-M50x for trap beats?

For trap and drill, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is the stronger choice because MusicRadar measured excellent sub-bass and a response close to the Harman target. The ATH-M50x is cheaper at $159, folds and is more portable, but its hyped lows can make your 808 sound bigger than it is.

Do I need a headphone amp?

For most pairs on this list, no. The MDR-7506 (63 ohms), ATH-M50x (38 ohms), NTH-100 (32 ohms) and Alpha (32 ohms) are all low impedance and run from a basic audio interface. Higher impedance versions such as the 250 ohm DT 770 Pro need more power, so pick a lower impedance version if you plug into a laptop.

Is there a good open-back above this budget?

If you can stretch past $200, the Sennheiser HD 560S is $279.95 on Sennheiser’s US store, an open-back pair with a detachable 3 meter cable.

Verdict

Buy the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro if you make 808-heavy trap or drill and can spend $200. Buy the Sony MDR-7506 if you have $100 and record vocals. Choose the ATH-M50x if you want one portable pair for everything, the Rode NTH-100 if comfort is the problem, and the K240 or Alpha only if your budget is the hard limit and you mix less bass-heavy styles.

Headphones show you what is wrong with a beat. They do not give you better sounds. Once your monitoring is sorted, the next upgrade is the sounds you start with: Pendora VST V3.0 has 275+ presets (pads, bells, orchestras, plucks, dark 808s) for a one-time 149 euros, rated 4.71/5 across 59 reviews, and runs as VST3/AU on Mac and Windows. On a tighter budget, Pendora Lite gives you 30 presets for 29 euros, and the rest of our kits are in the shop.