Best Headphones for Video Editing in 2023

We’ve discussed it a lot on the Artlist blog, and won’t stop anytime soon. Audio really matters. Alongside great visuals, you also need a great-sounding video if you want your audience to keep watching. We’ve already mentioned multiple ways you can improve your video sound (for example, considering an audio monitor) and today, we’re looking at another important factor: headphones. 

If you want the best possible sound for editing your films and videos, you need to invest in the right gear to achieve that. Below, we’re breaking down why headphones are so important, the different types of headphones out there, what to look for and, lastly, a list of the best headphones for video editing.

Why headphones are essential for editing

Making a case for buying headphones is similar to the case for an external microphone. While the in-built mics on cameras are pretty good these days, if you want really high-end results, you should invest in the external mic.

The same applies to headphones. While the in-built speakers on your PC monitor or laptop may be pretty good, there’s always room for improvement. The sound played through your speakers may well be lost to other noises in your environment, for example. With headphones, you can block out all the external noise around you and really hone in on small, subtle items in your audio.

What about earbuds?

There are a few reasons I wouldn’t recommend earbuds when it comes to video editing. Firstly, earbuds tend to produce lower-quality audio because their drivers aren’t as large as headphones. They also bypass the outer part of your ear, which affects how you hear the sound.

On the flip side, headphones offer better sound quality, superior noise cancellation and tend to be far more comfortable thanks to their padding. So while it can be tempting to opt for earbuds (mainly because they tend to be a little cheaper), I’d advise that it’s worth investing in proper headphones. 

The different types of headphones

As with most other filmmaking gear, there are a few different types of headphones, and it’s a good idea to get to know the differences between them.

On-ear headphones vs. over-ear headphones

Sometimes known as supra-aural headphones, on-ear headphones are designed to rest on your ears rather than around them. Their small design means they’re usually lighter than their over-ear counterparts. Still, it’s important to note you may experience discomfort after wearing them for an extended period of time, thanks to the pressure resting on your ears. They’re also more susceptible to sound intrusion (certain noises from the outside can be heard) and sound leaking (some loud audio may “leak” outside the headphones).

On the flip side, over-ear headphones rest around your ears, enclosing them. This means they should block out more of the outside sounds around you. Because they’re larger, they can also fit bigger drivers, producing a more accurate sound. Therefore, you’ll find that over-ear headphones often tend to be the best headphones for editing.

Closed-back vs. open-back headphones

When deciding which are the best video editing headphones, you’ll also need to choose between closed-back and open-back headphones. The difference is quite simple. Closed-back headphones have a solid enclosure on the outer shell. This design aspect keeps audio inside the headphones, trapping different tones and sending them straight into your ears. 

Meanwhile, open-back headphones have a softer, more breathable outer shell designed to help with airflow and ear sweat (yes, that’s a thing during long editing sessions…trust me). Unfortunately, noise cancellation is not so good because of this open design.

In conclusion, and as you’ll see below, most of the best headphones for audio editing are over-ear, closed-back designs. But, of course, there are exceptions to the rule, and everyone has different preferences. So, what do you look for when trying to pick the best headphones for sound editing?

What to look for

A few key factors can help you in your research and decision-making when looking at the best headphones for video editing. We’ll break each of them down here.

Frequency response

In short, this is the range of tones the headphone driver can produce. Our ears can hear a range from 20Hz to 20,000Hz, so you’ll want a pair that covers this as a bare minimum. However, you’ll actually find that many of the best headphones for editing have an even wider range.

Impedance

All you need to know here is that the higher the impedance, the more power is needed to drive the headphones (meaning vibrate the sound waves into your ear). So, higher impedance headphones (above 50 ohms) sound much clearer and less distorted (better for editing), but you will need something like a dedicated pre-amp to run them. And they require more power than your laptop or PC can provide.

Lower impedance headphones won’t sound quite as good as the high impedance options, but they can be powered by your laptop or PC. These are anything below 50 ohms.

Connection

While wireless can be tempting for mobility, I’d recommend going for a traditional cord connection (a 3.5mm headphone jack). With a cord, you avoid the possible quality drop that comes with possible wireless interference.

Comfort

We all know how long video editing sessions can last. Therefore, the best headphones for editing will need to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. As discussed above, there are a few different designs, such as on-ear, over-ear and different materials and padding, all having an impact.

Noise cancellation

The best headphones for audio editing will also have excellent noise cancellation. If you really want to hone in on the finer details of your audio, you need to be completely focused on that and block out all outside interference. Make sure that your headphones can do the job properly.

The best headphones for video editing

With all those factors and knowledge in place, we’re giving you a list of the best headphones for video editing. Here is a list of five, from cheapest to most expensive.

Sony MDR-7506

Price: $79.00 on Amazon

Style: Over ear, closed back

Connection: Wired (3m coiled cable) 

Driver size: 40mm

Frequency response: 5-20,000Hz

Impedance: 63 ohms

Weight: 261g

The Sony MDR-7506 are some of the best headphones for sound editing out there. While the impedance is slightly high and frequency could be wider, you’re getting big, comfortable earcups, a long 3m cord and great sound for a very affordable price.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (32 ohms)

Price: $149.00 on Amazon

Style: Over ear, closed back

Connection: Wired (1.6 straight cable) 

Driver size: 45mm

Frequency response: 5-35,000Hz

Impedance: 32 ohms

Weight: 270g

The DT 77O PROs actually come in 3 variants of impedance: 32 ohms, 80 ohms, and 250 ohms. The 32 ohms I recommend here are great because they have such wide device compatibility while remaining tuned to sound the same as the higher impedance versions. These are certainly one of the best headphones for audio editing on the market at the moment.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Price: $169.00 on Amazon

Style: Over ear, closed back

Connection: Wired (1.2 – 3m coiled cable, 3m straight cable, 1.2m straight cable)

Driver size: 45mm

Frequency response: 5-28,000Hz

Impedance: 38 ohms

Weight: 285g

While a little bulky, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are some of the best video editing headphones thanks to their very comfortable over-ear closed-back design that’s perfect for noise isolation. They’ve been tuned for a flat, neutral response, which basically means no part of the sound profile is boosted, making them perfect for editing audio editing.

Sennheiser Professional HD 300 PRO

Price: $199.95 on Amazon

Style: Over ear, closed back

Connection: Wired (1.2 straight cable)

Driver size: Unknown

Frequency response: 6-25,000Hz

Impedance: 64 ohms

Weight: 297g

They’re expensive, but the Sennheiser Professional HD 300’s are worth it with the specs on offer. Comfortable and durable, with closed ear cups for great noise isolation and an accurate, linear sound, these are some of the best video editing headphones out there.

Sony WH-1000XM4

Price: $348.00 on Amazon

Style: Over ear, closed back

Connection: both Bluetooth and wired

Driver size: 40mm

Frequency response: 4 Hz-40,000 Hz

Impedance: 16 ohms (unit on), 47 ohms (unit off)

Weight: 254g

Yes, they are very expensive. But they’re also the best headphones for video editing on the market right now, in my opinion. The build quality is sublime, the noise cancellation is exceptional, the audio quality, the luxury of both wired and wireless connection… It’s hard to look past these if you have a larger budget.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, these are just 5 of the best headphones for video editing out there right now. There are many more options, and everyone has different budgets and preferences. So we recommend you try out a few different products to see what suits you best. Armed with this new understanding and knowledge, you can now make a much more informed decision about which headphones will be best for editing the best audio for vlogging and filmmaking.