As a musician, it’s important that you own a good set of headphones. This is because headphones capture the true sound quality of recordings, giving depth to what you’re listening to.
This is especially true if you own a set of electronic drums. Since most people use electronic drums for sound-related purposes, you need a pair of headphones that help express the true quality of your digital drums.
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones are a great pair of headphones for someone looking for some seriously high quality. These headphones are packed with features to get the best sound possible.
They come with two sets of earpads that exhibit different sound characteristics. They also come with two separate cables with one being coiled and the other being straight. These headphones have great lows, mids, and highs, ensuring that you get the fullest sound reproduction out of your drums.
The quality of the materials picked by Beyerdynamic for the DT 1990 Pro are something else. Since the first time a pick them I could tell the difference with other headphones from the aluminium structure to the soft sensation of the ear pads when you put them on.
The only issue is that the headphones have blinding highs. This is so that older people that lose hearing in higher frequencies. It can be a bit much for young people. However, it can easily be fixed in the EQ settings on your electronic drum kit.
Overall, the DT 1990 Pros are a great choice for anyone looking to invest a fair bit of money into a set of wired headphones.
The Zildjian ALCHEM-E PerfectTune Headphones are designed specifically for drummers, offering superior sound clarity and an immersive experience for electronic drum monitoring.
Featuring advanced sound tuning technology, these headphones provide a precise balance between deep bass, crisp mids, and clear highs, ensuring every nuance of your drumming is faithfully reproduced.
During testing, these headphones immediately stood out for their ability to handle the full dynamic range of electronic drums.
The clarity in the highs and the depth in the lows made every beat and nuance come to life. Whether playing intricate grooves or heavy, bass-driven tracks, the sound was natural and balanced.
The closed-back design also did an excellent job isolating external noise, creating an intimate playing environment even in a busy studio.
Built for long practice sessions, they are lightweight construction and have plush ear cushions, offering excellent comfort without compromising durability.
After a few hours of wearing them, I was impressed by how comfortable they felt, no ear fatigue or discomfort, which is a big win for marathon practice sessions. The detachable cable adds convenience for storage and minimizes wear and tear.
While the Zildjian ALCHEM-E PerfectTune Headphones are a premium option, their performance and drummer-focused features make them a worthwhile investment for serious players.
If you’re looking for headphones that truly enhance your drumming experience, these are a fantastic choice.
Roland is one of the top sellers of electronic drum kits. So, it’s no surprise that they’ve put out headphones that are tailored specifically for their electronic drum kits. The RH-A30 are designed to bring out the best from Roland V-Drums. However, they’re not limited to Roland products. They sound great with any electronic drum kit you use them with.
They bring out a fantastic kick sound. The lows feel punchy, allowing you to feel it in your chest when you play the kick. The cymbals also sound crisp and articulate.
A great feature of these headphones is that they have an extra-long cable. This stops you from feeling tightly connected to wherever the headphones are plugged in, allowing you to move around freely.
They’re comfortable, affordable, and designed to make electronic drums sound amazing. An overall great investment. The one downside is that they don’t isolate ambient noise too well, meaning you’re going to hear the sticks hitting the pads when you’re playing with them.
Beyerdynamic‘s DT 770 Pros provide similar quality to the DT 1990s but at an affordable price. These headphones are accurate, comfortable, and translate sound very well. They’re made specifically for mixing sound, meaning they give a clear sound that is great for electronic sets.
They feature a closed-ear design which is one of the features that separates them from the other headphones on this list. The closed-ear design will block out more sound from the environment around you, making you feel more immersed with the sound coming from the headphones. This is great for electronic drums since you won’t hear any of the tapping on the pads.
The one downside is that the cable is quite short. This can be easily fixed by getting an extender. However, it’s a bit of an inconvenience.
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x stands out with its exceptional clarity across an extended frequency range. While testing the headphone I could appreciate its accurate bass response and detailed high and mid frequencies, perfect for nuanced electronic drumming. The circumaural design contours around the ears, offering excellent ambient sound isolation in loud environments.
These headphones are renowned for their durability and comfort, crucial for long studio sessions or rehearsals. The detachable cable is a practical feature, enhancing portability and ease of use.
The ATH-M50x is a robust choice for drummers seeking quality sound reproduction and comfort. The balance between performance and price makes them a valuable addition to any drummer’s gear.
The AKG K240s are one of the best pairs of headphones for anyone on a tight budget. They offer comfortability and clear sound at an extremely affordable price.
They have a wide dynamic range that expresses great lows, mids, and highs. This means that kick drums and cymbals will sound just as good as each other. This dynamic range is thanks to the unique design of the headphones. They have a mixture of open-back and closed, giving you the best of both worlds.
They’re quite heavy, meaning you may not be able to wear them for extended hours at a time. However, nothing can beat their price.
The Alesis DRP100 headphones are specifically designed for electronic drummers, offering a mix of comfort and sound quality that suits long practice sessions.
They have a tight sound isolation, ensuring minimal leakage and distraction from external noises. The sound profile is balanced, giving clear representation of the electronic drum tones.
These headphones were designed specifically for drum monitoring, which is essential during dynamic electronic drumming sessions.
The Alesis DRP100 is a solid choice for drummers looking for reliable headphones that focus on the unique requirements of electronic drumming, offering a good balance between quality and affordability.
Drums have a wide range of sounds from low frequencies to high frequencies. This is thanks to the deep tones of kick drums and the high tones of cymbals.
So, a good pair of headphones for e-drums will be able to reflect all those frequencies to get a good drum sound. Some headphones have better bass drum frequency response while others have better mid or high-frequency response.
A good pair of headphones for e-drums will sit somewhere in the middle.
Electronic drums are designed to work with headphones or amps, meaning headphones are about 50% of the deal when it comes to playing electronic drums. Every electronic drum kit has a headphone port to connect headphones to.
This is why it’s so important to have a great pair of headphones. You’re going to be hearing your drums through them a lot and high-quality headphones will make it a great experience every time.
For more about E-drums amplifying you can check this guide.
There are a few reasons that drummers wear headphones. One of them is to listen to music while they play. Playing along to music on the drums is one of the best ways to express yourself and improve.
This is why every drummer should have a pair of headphones, no matter what kind of drum kit you’re playing on.
Another reason is monitoring. Monitoring is when you’re playing with a band and their instrument sound is sent to your headphones. This lets drummers hear the band clearly.
Some drummers wear headphones just to protect their ears. Drums get seriously loud, meaning they can do some damage. So, drummers will wear headphones while they’re jamming to prevent any hearing loss.
Many electronic drum kits have play-along features on the modules. This means that they come with music tracks to play along to. You just have to plug in headphones and you’ll hear the tracks as well as the drums.
This is a great practice tool. However, those tracks will become a bit stale after a while.
When it comes to listening to your own music, a lot of electronic drum modules allow you to play tracks through them via USB. This is the best way to play along to music with your electronic drums. When getting a set, just make sure that it has this feature.
As drummers, the fidelity and clarity of the sound we receive from our headphones can make a significant difference in our playing.
A pair of headphones that offer excellent audio quality ensures that every beat, fill, and cymbal crash is heard clearly, allowing us to stay in sync and maintain the rhythm. Look for headphones that boast clear highs, punchy mids, and deep lows, ensuring a full auditory experience.
When playing electronic drums, it’s crucial to have headphones that offer good external noise isolation. This ensures that the acoustics of the room or the tapping of sticks on the drum pads do not interfere with the drum sound reproduction you’re hearing.
Over-ear headphones tend to excel in this area, giving a sealed environment that minimizes external noise.
Long practice sessions are typical for drummers, which makes comfort paramount. The headphones should have cushioned ear cups that fit snugly without exerting too much pressure.
An adjustable headband can also be beneficial, allowing a fit tailored to individual head shapes.
The last thing a drummer wants is to feel tethered too closely to their drum module or to trip over a short headphone cord.
A decent cable length, preferably with some elasticity or coiling, offers flexibility and freedom to move without feeling restricted. However, ensure it’s not too long to avoid tangling or tripping hazards.
Drums encompass a wide frequency range, from the deep thuds of bass drums to the sharp sizzles of cymbals.
A good pair of headphones should be able to reproduce a broad spectrum of frequencies accurately, allowing drummers to hear each element of their kit distinctly.
Sensitivity refers to how loud headphones can get for a given input power. As drummers, we sometimes need to crank up the volume to feel the energy and dynamics, especially when playing along to tracks.
High sensitivity headphones can deliver louder volumes without distortion, ensuring that every detail remains audible.
While most electronic drum kits use a standard headphone jack, some modern kits and devices may offer different connectivity options like USB or wireless Bluetooth.
Ensure that your headphones are compatible with your drum module and other devices you might connect to.
If you’re a gigging drummer or travel often, portability can be a key factor. Foldable headphones or ones that come with a carrying case can make life easier on the road, ensuring that your headphones remain protected and compact when not in use.
Given the dynamic nature of drumming, it’s not uncommon for headphones to be put through their paces.
Sturdy construction, reinforced cables, and high-quality materials will ensure that your headphones can withstand the rigors of drumming and last for years to come.
A good pair of headphones will make a world of difference when it comes to the sound reproduction of your electronic drums.
It’s important that you invest in a great pair that is comfortable and sounds good. There are great headphones for all budgets.
So, choose some and get playing.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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“9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
