10 Best ASMR Headphones – Open Your Soul to Relaxing Sounds!

By
reviewed
Reviewed by
Last updatedLast updated: August 29, 2024
Prime Sound is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

Looking to treat yourself to the sounds of nature or to daily sounds that bring you a comforting and relaxing experience? If you are into ASMR, you can improve your listening experience by using headphones. But not just any ordinary model is suitable for the task. While choosing the best headphones for ASMR sounds like a no-brainer, many factors are involved in this process.

Not all ASMR headphones are created equal, so we bring you our selection of the top-rated picks. Our research is based on various factors, such as type, because some might want an in-ear option, while others prefer over-the-ear headphones. You must also check sensitivity, which affects how loud the headphones can be, impedance, frequency response, connectivity, and weight. Do you wish to learn more? Stick with us; by the end of this article, you can pick the best ASMR headphones!

ADVERTISEMENT

Top 10 ASMR Headphones Review 2024

1.

Sennheiser HD 599Editor's Choice

Features
  • Type: around-ear, open-back headphones
  • Sensitivity: 106 dB
  • Impedance: 50 Ω
  • Frequency response: 12-38,500 Hz
  • Connectivity: 9.8’ (6.3 mm jack) or 3.9’ (3.5 mm jack) detachable cable
  • Weight: 250 g (8.8 oz.)

 More features: padded headband, velour covered ears pads, 2-year warranty

The Sennheiser HD 599 is a pair of high-quality open-back headphones that provide a natural and spatial performance, which makes them perfect for your ASMR listening needs. They feature large ear cups and soft ear pads that offer a comfortable experience and are suitable for long-time use. Also, they are equipped with the Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement design that routes the audio signal directly to your ears and helps you listen to every little detail.

Why are we impressed? The Sennheiser HD 599 provides you with a couple of connectivity options – two detachable cables with different lengths and jack sizes. Its open acoustic design makes it easy to wear for extended usage. Next, it outputs a rich and clear bass that is easy on the ears, and the highs are much more clean and audible. This allows you to listen to ASMR and watch videos while feeling each sound as if it is happening in front of you.

ADVERTISEMENT

What negatives must you be aware of? While these headphones are amazing to use for ASMR, thanks to their excellent sound and comfortable ear design, there is no Bluetooth for cordless connection.

RELATED: 8 Headphones for Digital Piano – Experience the Clearest Sound Possible While You Play
2.

TOZO T10Best Value

Features
  • Type: wireless earbuds
  • Sensitivity: not specified
  • Impedance: not specified
  • Frequency response: 10 Hz (low)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
  • Weight: 0.02 lbs.

 More features: IPX8 waterproof, one-step pairing, 4+ hours of playtime, compact charging case

The TOZO T10 is a pair of high-quality stereo earbuds with Bluetooth 5.0 technology that provides rapid connectivity and allows you to enjoy each sound with utmost clarity and richness. They have an IPX8 waterproof rating and durable construction that gives them a long-lasting, high-quality performance. Apart from that, they have a built-in microphone and come in a wireless charging case.

ADVERTISEMENT

What makes it stand out? These ASMR earbuds provide you with a rich and clear sound with deep bass and clear highs that allow you to listen to every sound made in tracks and videos. Their advanced Bluetooth connectivity provides you with stable transmission without any delays. As if it’s not enough, they provide more than 4 hours’ playtime on a single charge.

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind? While these ASMR headphones deliver crisp natural sounds, one thing that comes as a setback is a fact that they might fail to stay connected to each other occasionally. While this happens rarely, this can be quite disconcerting, especially when you are in the middle of an ASMR video.

3.

Sony WH1000XM3Premium Pick

Features
  • Type: around-ear, closed-back headphones
  • Sensitivity: 104.5 dB
  • Impedance: 47 Ω
  • Frequency response: 4-40,000 Hz
  • Connectivity: detachable cord, Bluetooth
  • Weight: 255 g (9 oz.)

 More features: digital noise canceling, built-in mic, quick attention mode, touch controls, up to 30 hours of playtime

The Sony WH1000XM3 is a pair of over-the-ear headphones that provide you with the signature rich and clear sound. These are among the best headphones for ASMR that have digital noise canceling feature to give a natural soundproof experience, thus enabling you to focus on each sound coming from your ASMR videos. Also, it adjusts ambient sound to your activity to offer personalized noise cancellation.

Why did it make our list? These ASMR headphones have wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 5.0 that provides seamless transmission without any delays. Its large ear cups are comfortable and soft and don’t feel heavy or weary even if you wear them for some time. On top of that, they can be easily recharged by the included USB cable and provide up to 30 hours of performance on a single charge.

What is not ideal about it? While this headphone for ASMR stands out in many areas, they are expensive.

4.

Apple AirPods with Charging CaseBest Versatility

Features
  • Type: wireless earbuds
  • Sensitivity: 104.27 dB
  • Impedance: 45 Ω
  • Frequency response: 5-21,000 Hz
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Weight: 3.5 oz.

 More features: charging case, up to 5 hours of playing time, double-tap function

These Apple AirPods with Charging Case are one of the best earbuds for ASMR that you can find out there. They provide rapid and instant connectivity to all your Apple devices and get automatically connected as soon as you turn them on. Additionally, they are equipped with the upgraded and fast Apple H1 headphone chip that ensures instant wireless connection, and they provide rich, high-quality audio that makes listening to ASMR more enjoyable and relaxing.

What makes it stand out? The Apple AirPods have a high-quality and durable construction with a sleek white finish. They come in a charging case that ensures your AirPods are always at 100% and ready for you to use. Also, they work for up to 5 hours on a single charge, whereas the charging case can store up to 24 hours of battery life. They have a one-tap setup to quickly connect to your device and can also switch between multiple devices seamlessly.

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind? While the Apple AirPods lead the charge when it comes to providing exceptional sound quality, there are some areas in which it needs improvement. Although it does provide rapid connectivity and seamless transmission, most people complain about varying levels of charge on both AirPods, even when using them simultaneously.

5.

COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling HeadphonesBest Noise Cancellation

Features
  • Type: around-ear, closed-back headphones
  • Sensitivity: 75 dB
  • Impedance: 32 Ω
  • Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Weight: 10.6 oz.

 More features: built-in microphone, 90° swiveling earcups, 30 hours of playing time, 18-month warranty

The COWIN E7 Headphones are an over-the-ear Bluetooth model that has a sleek metallic construction and durable body. They’re equipped with brilliant 45mm large-aperture drivers that provide you with a deep bass response and rich sound, which enhances your listening experience. Moreover, they are equipped with an Active Noise Cancelling feature, which helps mellow out the surrounding sounds to provide you with more realistic output.

What makes it special? These ASMR headphones are equipped with professional protein earpads that enrich you with a comfortable listening experience and prevent any pain in your ears. They are attached to 90-degree swiveling earcups that add to the durability and comfort. Thus, they are suitable for long-time wear without the pain and provide the rich sound that you need for ASMR.

What cons did we find? Most people have complained about hearing a low crackling sound in one of the earpieces after a few months of use. Otherwise, they are one of the best headphones for listening to ASMR.

6.

Beats Solo3Longer Listening Time

Features
  • Type: around-ear, closed-back headphones
  • Sensitivity: not specified
  • Impedance: not specified
  • Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, cable
  • Weight: 7.58 oz.

 More features: up to 40 hours of playing time, touch controls, Fast Fuel technology, comes with carrying case

The Beats Solo3 are premium quality over-the-ear headphones equipped with the signature Beats sound, along with wireless Bluetooth connectivity that makes ASMR listening convenient and handsfree. It features the Apple W1 headphone chip that allows for better and more rapid connectivity and seamless transmission with zero delay. Additionally, it comes with a built-in microphone that enables you to answer your calls while listening to music or videos.

What are its best features? These headphones for ASMR provide up to 40 hours of battery life, which makes them suitable for use throughout the day. The Fast Fuel feature charges your headphones for only 5 minutes and provides 3 hours of playback, even when the battery is low. Also, the sleek design makes it look great on your ears or wrapped around your neck.

What could be improved? While the Beats Solo3 provides you with rich and deep bass sound and also makes your ASMR listening experience even better, they don’t come with an audio cord, so if you are ever looking to use them with wired connectivity, you will have to purchase one separately.

7.

Bose 700 HeadphonesHigh-End Design

Features
  • Type: around-ear, closed-back headphones
  • Sensitivity: 100.5 dB
  • Impedance: not specified
  • Frequency response: not specified
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth
  • Weight: 8.8 oz.

 More features: touch control, active noise canceling, up to 20 hours of playing time, built-in microphone

The Bose 700 Headphones are over-the-ear wireless headphones specially designed to provide you with a dynamic and clear sound, along with 11 levels of active noise cancellation that drown out the surroundings so you can focus on your ASMR videos. Thus, they provide natural and real sound, regardless of the volume. They come with a lightweight stainless steel headband and slightly tilted ear cups to ensure comfortable listening without any difficulty.

Why is it special? These ASMR headphones have exceptional wireless connectivity that allows you to enjoy your music and videos for up to 20 hours on a single charge, and the wire-free feature ensures that you can have a handsfree listening experience throughout the day. Not only that, but their stunning black finish makes them look incredibly wonderful around your head.

What are the flaws? These headphones are among the best headphones for ASMR, and they provide an unrivaled listening experience. However, one thing that is particularly disturbing is that these headphones don’t seem to work without the BOSE App, and this may not sit well with most users.

8.

Marshall Major IIIMost Comfortable

Features
  • Type: around-ear, closed-back headphones
  • Sensitivity: 97 dB
  • Impedance: 32 Ω
  • Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, cable
  • Weight: 6.28 oz.

 More features: 30 + hours of playing time, control knob, collapsible design

The Marshall Major III wireless headphones provide you with the stunning and exceptional audio quality that you must have heard from Marshall amplifiers in music concerts. They bring you unlimited convenience and comfort with their over-the-ear wireless headphones, which allow you to move around freely while listening to ASMR videos. Next, they have a wireless listening range of 30 feet, as well as 30+ hours of playtime on a single charge. They feature high-quality 40mm dynamic drivers that provide an enhanced bass response, smooth mids, and clear highs for an overall listening experience.

What stands out? These ASMR headphones have a solid and durable construction with a padded headband, as well as cushioned ear cups that provide comfortable wear and make them suitable for all day long use. They also have a multi-directional knob that lets you adjust the volume, play, pause, or change tracks, and toggle the power.

What cons did we manage to find? While the Marshall Major III is one of the leaders when it comes to the best headphones for ASMR, some users have complained about its ear cups being too small for them.

9.

Shure SE215-KBest Bass Response

Features
  • Type: wired earbuds
  • Sensitivity: 107 dB
  • Impedance: 17 Ω
  • Frequency response: 21-17,500 Hz
  • Connectivity: cable
  • Weight: 1.05 oz.

 More features: lock-snap mechanism with 360-degree rotation, sleeves block up to 37 dB of ambient noise, soft carrying case and cleaning tool

The Shure SE215-K are high-quality in-ear buds that provide a rich and natural sound to make your ASMR listening experience more immersive. They’re equipped with comfortable sound isolating sleeves that block up to 37 dB of ambient noise and prevent outside sounds from interfering with your listening. On top of that, they are lightweight with a low profile that provides a comfortable fit for your ear, making them suitable for long-time wear or all-day use.

Why did it make our list? These ASMR earbuds are made with a durable reinforced cable that can be replaced or customized easily, as well as a gold plated MMCX connector that locks securely in place. Also, it comes with the Fit Kit, with three different sizes of the flex and black foam sleeves, so you choose the ones that fit best. The earbuds can be easily carried around in a soft compact case with a zipper. Additionally, the bass response here is exceptional.

What is not ideal about it? While everything appears to be perfect about these ASMR earbuds, their detachable cable design causes them to lose connectivity every now and then, especially if you are on the move.

10.

OneOdio Pro-50Best with Foldable Design

Features
  • Type: around-ear, closed-back headphones
  • Sensitivity: 110 dB
  • Impedance: 32 Ω
  • Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
  • Connectivity: cable (6.35mm and 3.5mm jacks)
  • Weight: 9.1 oz.

 More features: built-in microphone, comes with carrying pouch, foldable design

The OneOdio Pro-50 are dynamic and high-quality headphones with wired connectivity and provide immersive and natural sound perfect for listening to ASMR. The high-performance Japanese voice coil and a Japanese driver diaphragm deliver professional-quality sound, and the noise isolation feature drowns outside sounds so you can enjoy your ASMR listening and relaxation. Also, the dual-duty cable makes connectivity easy.

What stands out? These ASMR headphones feature 50mm driver units that deliver sound with utmost clarity and bass, along with accurate mid to high tones. They feature memory-protein earmuffs that fit perfectly on your ears and also disperse heat and pressure build-up caused by excessive wearing. Also, they have a foldable design and an adjustable headband for more comfort.

What cons did we manage to find? These ASMR headphones provide brilliant sound and are highly suitable for listening to ASMR. However, they are a little on the heavier side and may feel bulky for some listeners. Therefore, they can be difficult to wear for longer periods.

Things to Consider

Buying the best ASMR headphones requires much more research and consideration than getting a model for simply listening to music or watching movies. The headphones for ASMR that you buy will be a significant investment, as they will ensure how much you can enjoy tracks and videos, especially if you use them to relax or sleep.

How to pick the best ASMR headphones?

10 Best ASMR Headphones – Open Your Soul to Relaxing Sounds!There are hundreds of different headphones out there, making your search for the best headphones for listening to ASMR even more difficult. But with our help, you can shortlist the best options and weigh them against each other to see which one suits your needs. Our ASMR headphones reviews are designed to help you make the right choice.

Type

When selecting a pair of ASMR headphones, you can choose between two types of headphones: in-ear and over-the-ear. Both types have their pros and cons. For instance, in-ear headphones, such as the Shure SE215-K, are compact and can be worn anywhere and anytime without any hassle or discomfort. On the other hand, over-the-ear headphones, like the Sennheiser HD 599, are relatively bigger, and since they are wrapped over the head, they are easily visible and thus can’t be used as freely as you would want.

Over-the-ear headphones are further divided into two types: closed-back and open-back. In closed-back headphones, you would see the outer part enclosed in a piece of metal or plastic. Open-back headphones have the outer part open or free.

The major difference between the two is that closed-back headphones provide more sound isolation and noise cancellation than open-back headphones, which tend to release the sound out.

Sensitivity

10 Best ASMR Headphones – Open Your Soul to Relaxing Sounds!Sensitivity is another factor that comes into play when considering buying ASMR headphones. It measures how loud the headphones can output a sound at a certain power level. If you compare two different headphones at a power level of one milliwatt, the headphone with a greater output also has more sensitivity.

However, you shouldn’t rely solely on the sensitivity levels of the headphones you are pitting against each other. This is because all headphone manufacturers measure sensitivity using different methods. Therefore, it might be hard to find any consistency between these ratings. You should consider headphones with a sensitivity rating in the 90-110 gap since that is neither too high nor too low.

Impedance

While evaluating ASMR headphones, or any headphones for that matter, one of the key factors is impedance. It measures the power your headphones will need before they can output a sound that the human ears can pick up. Impedance is measured in ohms and also refers to the volume level at which you can start hearing the sound from your headphones.

You would want to select headphones with greater impedance, but be careful. If you are plugging them into a smartphone, the phone might not be able to generate enough power to output a decent sound from the headphones.

Frequency response

All types of sound and music have a certain frequency for output, and frequency response refers to the range of frequencies that a particular set of headphones can reproduce or output. Typically, audiophiles prefer headphones with flat frequency response, i.e., headphones that don’t alter the levels of bass, middle, and treble too much, such as the Sony WH1000XM3. This will help you hear each sound clearly and as naturally as possible, which is one of the basic aims of ASMR. Headphones that fiddle with the frequencies too much or tend to change their levels end up projecting sound with a few frequencies muted out.

Connectivity

10 Best ASMR Headphones – Open Your Soul to Relaxing Sounds!Another major factor to consider when choosing the best headphones to listen to ASMR is the headphones’ connectivity, which refers to whether the headphones have Bluetooth or wired connectivity. Some headphones come with Bluetooth and wired connectivity, such as the Beats Solo3, and you can alternate between the two as your usage demands. Getting Bluetooth headphones seems wise, as it allows you to be free from tangling wires and also allows you to work and move around while using them.

However, Bluetooth headphones come with battery charging, and if you often forget to charge your devices, you will have trouble keeping them ready for use. On the other hand, wired headphones come with different types of jacks, but the most common ones are 3.5mm and 6.3mm jacks. Since you will be mostly using the headphones with your smartphone or laptop, you can do well with the 3.5mm jack.

Size and weight

The size and weight of the ASMR headphones you choose play a major role in your selection if you wear them for a longer period or all day.

For instance, if you wear your headphones for more than 4 hours each day, your ears will certainly start to hurt if you choose bulky or heavy headphones. Mostly, in-ear headphones are compact and hardly have any weight.

However, if you have your heart set on buying over-the-ear headphones, be sure to check whether their headband is adjustable or not and also whether the earmuffs are big enough to fit your ears comfortably. Otherwise, you will end up having a painful listening experience.

Comfort

10 Best ASMR Headphones – Open Your Soul to Relaxing Sounds!Comfort refers to how good or easy you feel when you wear your headphones. Since you will be listening to ASMR for concentration, relaxation, or sleep, you will need to be as comfortable as possible.

You should choose headphones that are big enough to fit around your head or in your ears easily or are adjustable. If you opt for in-ear phones, check whether the earbuds are not too big or hard.

Durability

Last but not least, you should also consider durability when buying the best ASMR headphones. Since you are spending quite a lot of money to buy these headphones, you should be confident that they will last long. Otherwise, your investment isn’t safe at all, and you will have to buy a new pair of headphones eventually. Therefore, you should always check the materials from which the body or cables of the headphones are made. This way, you will be able to ascertain how durable they actually are.

What else can be important?

The aforementioned features are extremely important when buying the best headphones to listen to ASMR. However, you can consider some value-added features while buying headphones. One key feature is touch controls on your headphones, such as with the Bose 700. Typically, you would find these on over-the-ear closed-back headphones and in-ear Bluetooth earbuds. This feature is handy if you listen to ASMR while outside or doing your chores.

It’s always a good idea to check whether the headphones are foldable or come in a carrying case, and this is particularly important if you travel a lot.

Prices

The prices for ASMR headphones greatly vary, but we can make a safe estimate for it to lie between $30 and $350. If you consider buying in-ear headphones, you can find them for as low as $30, with the TOZO T10 being a great example here that features a Bluetooth connection.

On the other hand, over-the-ear headphones are more costly, with some high-end options like Sony WH1000XM3 available for $350. The wired variants are still less expensive, whereas the wireless headphones cost more.

Generally, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get great quality headphones for listening to ASMR. But you can’t go wrong if you can set aside $250-300 for this purpose.

FAQ

 
 

Certainly, headphones enhance the ASMR listening experience tenfold, as they bring the sound directly to your ears and help you listen to every crackle, every snap, every rustle, and every pop with much more clarity than you would get by listening to ASMR through your phone or laptop speakers.

Even if you use Bluetooth speakers or any other set of speakers, you still won’t be able to fully enjoy ASMR as you would by listening in with your headphones.

While people generally opt for ASMR to relax and calm down, it can also have a triggering effect caused by certain sounds. Therefore, if you listen to ASMR at a high volume level, you are exposing yourself to the risk of getting triggered or disturbed.

Therefore, it is wise to start at a low volume and slowly bring it up as you start to feel more comfortable. Another thing you can do is to monitor the ASMR content that you are playing and notice beforehand if any loud or triggering sounds might agitate you or damage your hearing.

ASMR is all about sounds and an audio experience, and while it doesn’t damage hearing or cause hearing loss per se, some ASMR sounds may have that effect on a certain group of people. No matter what you listen to, there is a certain volume range your ears can handle.

Therefore, in general, ASMR is not responsible for causing hearing loss, but the volume you have.

Our Verdict

With our reviews, you don’t have to shuffle through hundreds of different headphones to find the right ones for yourself. We can go even further here with our top three picks.

We suggest you go for Sennheiser HD 599, as they provide the best sound quality and are comfortable to use overall.

Our second pick for the best ASMR headphones would be the TOZO T10, which has Bluetooth connectivity and a waterproof design.

Lastly, we recommend Sony WH1000XM3 as a premium option because it offers exceptional sound clarity and can run up to 30 hours without recharging the battery.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *