Digital pianos have come so far since they were first introduced. The quality of piano samples is mind-blowing – ever the more reason why you need a quality set of headphones.
There are many headphones out there on the market that will be good for listening to music, but won’t be well suited for the digital piano. What we really want to look for is detail (
Lot’s of consumer headphones are going to be bass heavy – it’s what sells. These headphones won’t be ideal as the lower octaves on a digital piano only get so low.
The same principles will apply for digital piano headphones as they did for headphones for classical music – a flat, high-definition frequency response.
After doing some research, we found that there are definitely a lot of useful options out there, but you need to take certain factors into account if you wish to buy the best headphones for digital pianos.
In this guide, you will discover five of the top options you can opt for if you are looking to buy a headphone to use with a digital piano.
In addition to sharing some of the best options you can choose from, we will also give you some guidance that will come in handy when you start to look for an ideal pair of headphones to buy.
5 Top Headphones For Digital Pianos
I’m very familiar with most headphones on the market, so I’ve chosen the ones I know will work well with digital pianos. I’ve personally used both over-ear headphones as well as earbuds.
If you want the most enjoyment from your piano then you’ll want over-ear headphones, but if you’re going for long practice sessions then I’d recommend earbuds.
I don’t like wearing over-ear headphones for more than 2 hours.
I tried to pick a range of prices, but it’s difficult to find a flat frequency response under $50.
#1. BOSE QuietComfort 25
- Apple compatible devices Applies to: QC 25 noise cancelling headphones Apple devices The remote and mic are compatible with the following Apple devices: iPhone 3GS or later iPad iPod touch 2nd generation or later iPod classic 120GB, 160GB iPod nano 4th generation or later
- Deep, powerful sound for the music you love
First up is the BOSE QuietComfort 25, which is definitely one of the most comfortable sets of headphones on the market.
I know the noise canceling feature isn’t important here, but the sound quality of these headphones is fantastic. Personally, I’m a big fan of Bose and the quality of audio they are able to produce on both their speakers and headphones.
Sure, the price of this pair might be a little high, available for just under $180, but the technology and comfort surpass many of the alternative options that you might find.
These headphones are so light and comfortable, one of the reasons they’ve made my list.
They are reasonably flat when it comes to their frequency response and
These headphones are my number one pick for someone looking for the best value for their money.
#2. Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
- Cutting edge engineering and robust construction
- 40 millimeter drivers with rare earth magnets and copper clad aluminum wire voice coils
Next is another of my favorite pairs of headphones – the ATH-M40x. I’ve been using their big brother (ATH-M50x) for producing for a number of years now and they just can’t be beat for the price.
I’ve decided to suggest the ATH-M40x for those who are shopping in the under $100 price point. They really are some of the best headphones on the market (you’ll start to notice them everywhere once you’re aware of them.)
No extra noise canceling, which is good because we don’t really need to pay the extra price just for use with a digital piano.
Trust me on this one, if you are looking for headphones under $100 you will not be
#3. Sennheiser Momentum Headphone
- Closed back, over-ear design isolates ambient noise to maximize musical enjoyment..Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Premium leather ear pads and headband deliver softness and breathability for extreme comfort during long listening sessions
Another fan favorite – I have such a hard time making a “best headphone list” without including something from Sennhesier.
The Sennheiser Moment Headphone is a
I find they squeeze my head a little too much for my liking – meaning I can’t really wear them for over 2 hours. So if you like to practice for hours on end you will probably be better of with the Bose headphones above.
But if you’ve spent money on an amazing digital piano it would be a shame to ruin the sound with a $50 pair of headphones.
If you can afford it, and want the absolute best sound quality these are your headphones.
#4. Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphone
- Bluetooth apt gives you the freedom of a wireless headphone
- All encompassing hi-fi sound
If you would like to invest in a branded pair of headphones without spending too much money, then the Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphone is an option that you should consider.
These headphones cost less than $100 and come with a range of useful features, such as built-in Bluetooth aptX technology, which allows for faster and more stable connections to your devices – you can, of course, also connect a cable between the headphones and your digital piano.
The battery is also able to provide you with more than 30 hours of active playtime before recharging.
#5. V-MODA M-100-U-SHADOW Crossfade M-100
- Award-winning M-Class sound tuned by over 200 audiophile aficionados. Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Patented 50mm Dual Diaphragm Drivers to separate bass from mids and highs
Last on our list is the V-MODA M-100 U-SHADOW Crossfade M-100, a high-quality set of headphones that delivers exceptional quality sound and a very sturdy design to ensure the product will last for multiple years.
The product comes at a price that is just under $250 and is available in three great colors, including Shadow, White, and Matte Black.
Some of you may point out that these headphones aren’t exactly balanced. They tend to lean heavily to the low-end. But I find the sound quality to be pleasing enough that I’m okay with having it on this list.
One factor that makes this pair of headphones very unique is the patented Dual Diaphragm technology that helps to enhance bass in mids and high notes, without affecting the overall quality of the sound that is produced.
Personally, I’d take the Bose or the Sennheisers over these if I was just looking to use them for piano practice. But if you want an amazing overall headphone then these will be a good option.
Buyer’s Guide To The Best Headphones For Digital Pianos
While it may seem like an advantage that there are hundreds of different headphones you can choose from when you are looking for a pair you can use with a digital piano, not all of these will offer you the quality and performance that you need.
While searching for a good option to purchase, I recommend you take the tips we share below into account. This will help you ensure the particular pair of headphones you buy will be more appropriate to use with a digital piano.
Comfort
You will be using the pair of headphones you buy for an extended period of time in each session, so comfort should really be at the top of your priority list while you are looking at the options that you can choose from.
You want them to be lightweight with comfortable earpads. You don’t need something with a ton of noise isolation (something like you’d find in DJ headphones.)
You need to be able to wear the headphones for an hour at minimum. I used to own a set of Monster headphones that I would only be able to wear for 30 minutes max.
When I tried to use them for practicing piano I just ended up frustrated – usually switching to earbuds halfway through the practice.
Size
The size of the headphones that you are going to buy should play just as an important role in the selection process while you are looking for a good pair to buy.
With this particular factor, you will have to take your head size into account – if you have a large head, then consider opting for headphones that are larger than the average size.
If your head is small, then ensure the headphones you buy will not fit too loosely. If you’ve always had issues with finding headphones that fit you can check out my article on headphones for small heads.
Some products offer you the ability to easily adjust the size of the headphones – this way, and you can adjust the headphones so that they fit comfortably on your head.
Quality
It should be obvious that the quality of the headphones you are interested in buying need to be another factor you consider when trying to determine which particular option you should buy.
The quality of these products vary – and this affects how the digital piano will sound in your ears. You want to opt for a product that can deliver high-quality sound to ensure you can hear every note that you play.
Look for a well-balanced frequency range of at least 20-20,000 Hz. This will be enough to cover the entire frequency range of the piano.
Also, consider the quality of the headphone’s construction – some headphones are manufactured with better quality materials in order to make them more durable.
This is something that you want – you do not want to continue buying new pairs of headphones every few months. You want to buy a pair of headphones that will last you several years. To achieve this goal, you need to ensure the product you buy is made from top-quality materials.
Just consider anything under $50 to be garbage. You won’t have any issues regarding quality with any of the headphones on this list.
Cost
The amount of money you will be paying for a pair of headphones to be used with your digital piano should also be important while you are looking at the various options that are currently on the market.
For this particular factor, be sure to know exactly how much money you can spend on the headphone – even if you only have a rough budget, this will help you set up appropriate filters to see which headphones fall within your budget.
Also, ensure you consider how much each of the headphones you are interested in cost – avoid paying more than you should. With some research, you will often be able to find that some brands or suppliers are able to offer you better deals than others on headphones that are appropriate for digital pianos.
Conclusion
The headphones you pick is really going to come down to your budget. If you can only spend under $100 then you need to be buying the Audio Technica – trust me! You will be blown away at the value.
If you have a little more budget to play with and just want the best, the Sennheiser is your option. The Bose will be your other great choice if spending more than $300 on a set of headphones scares you off.
The V-Moda is only for those who want a headphone they can use in other areas of their life.
I hope this helps. Until next time!