10 Most Amazing Headphones For Drummers – No More Disturbing Ambient Sounds!

Do you plan on learning how to play drums, or you are already practicing them with your band? Even if you are a star rocking at concerts, you still need the best headphones for drummers to optimize your performance. Headphones will enable you to reduce ambient noise and follow the beat correctly, which will allow you to demonstrate the playing skills you have.

It is not easy to pick drumming headphones especially if you are not an expert. That is why our dedicated team decided to help you. We examined the top-rated products currently available on the market. Our focus was on the most important features, such as sensitivity, frequency response, nominal impedance, weight, and even cable length. The goal was finding the perfect headphones for your needs.

We calculated that our team had spent more than 63 hours studying and comparing the features of drumming headphones, and products that can meet your expectations. We consulted with the experts, analyzed reviews and feedback to come up with the most honest round-up of drumming headphones. Start with our comparison table to get an idea of the units that we are reviewing. You can find out more about each product in our detailed reviews, and don’t forget to check the buying guide to learn more about factors to consider when purchasing headphones.

Top 10 Headphones for Drummers Review 2024

Drumming headphones variety

Before we go into discussing the feature of drumming headphones, how about we say a few words about their variety? You can use these products in different situations and for different drum types. In the section below, we are telling you more about the potential benefits and the amazing versatility of headphones for drummers. Let’s find more about suitable units for acoustic and electric drums, as well as home and studio sessions.

Headphones for acoustic and electric drums

If you already set your mind on a single type of drums, you also need matching headphones. Truth to be told, the differences in performance of these products are subtle. You may go with KAT KTUI26 for acoustic drumming since it prevents ear fatigue, and does a good job in dealing with ambient noise. As for electric drums, you are pretty much looking for the same features – excellent sensitivity, comfort, and optimal noise reduction.

Home vs studio drumming sessions

When you are playing at home, it is most likely that you are practicing alone or with a band. Although you want to simulate being on a gig, you might not need the best noise-canceling headphones for drummers. Noise reduction is far more critical if you are in a studio and you need to focus and ensure your entire performance goes flawlessly. That being said, Alesis DRP100 can be a budget pick that you can use at home, but go for premium headphones if you plan on playing in a studio.

Multipurpose usage of your headphones

Where else can you use your headphones? You might need them not only during the practice, live performances, or in a studio. It is possible to just listen to music with them. Noise isolation can be a crucial factor when choosing versatile headphones, but you also need a unit that is very adjustable, such as the Sony MDR-7506.

You may think that versatile headphones may lack some quality. To be honest, it all depends on the price and the brand name. The quality of sound of the expensive models is usually up to the standards of a professional drummer.

How to pick the best headphones for drummers

Now that you are familiar with different types of headphones for drummers, let’s discuss the performance features you should consider. You have several factors to analyze, but always keep in mind one thing – you want a solution that is the best for you. Forget about one-size-fits-all mantra because it doesn’t exist in drumming headphones. Take a look at the features, and pick the product that seems the most suitable for your needs. Now, here is what drummers usually consider when buying headphones.

Sound quality

You are buying headphones because of the way they can reproduce sound. You need to rely on them while performing. It is as simple as that, and that is why the sound quality is your primary consideration.

If you are a professional drummer, the chances are you know what makes sound quality optimal.

Design

The next factor you should consider is design, and there are two headphone types to mention here:

• Over-the-ear
• In-ear

Professionals usually go with over-the-ear headphones for drummers because they offer better noise cancellation. Apart from that, over-the-ear design tends to be more comfortable and suitable to wear during long performances. Thanks to padded ear cushions, these can maintain optimal comfort, especially if you go for a sweat-proof product.

If you want in-ear headphones, you need to choose them carefully. You do not have many models capable of reproducing the sound quality you expect. Etymotic Research hf3 Earphones + Headset might be an exception. It offers impressive noise isolation, and it is also easy to transport due to its compact design.

Sensitivity

The headphones work like this – they receive an electrical signal, and they have the task of processing and converting it into the acoustical signal. Sensitivity describes how well they perform in doing that.

You could also say that sensitivity tells us about the headphones’ loudness at a specific power level. The higher the sensitivity, the louder the device will be.

Frequency response

If you are an experienced professional, you will need the highest frequency range out there. That way, you will be able to hear every detail of the music played, keeping in mind that you have a great hearing. On the other hand, if you are an ambitious drummer at the beginning of music career, a frequency range between 20Hz and 20,000Hz is more than enough.

It may be interesting to note that manufacturers use dummy heads to measure frequency range. However, they might not be completely precise, especially when it comes to in-ear headphones, which is where the ear canal also plays a role in determining frequency range.

Cable length

Now, consider where you plan to plug-in the cable of your headphones. If it is nearby, you might not need a large cable, and four feet will be more than enough. But if you want extra mobility and flexibility, it may be wise to go for a long cable, such as the one in Shure SRH840 headphones, which have a ten feet long cord.

Weight

You should consider the weight of your headphones for two reasons – if you plan to travel frequently, and if you plan on using them for hours. Heavy headphones may cause discomfort after a while. Nevertheless, some heavier products, such as Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, deliver generous paddings to keep you comfortable when playing for a long time. Large and heavy headphones are also not a great choice for traveling as they require a lot of space.

Noise isolation

The reduction of outside noise is extremely important, especially if you plan to use headphones in a studio. In-ear headphones for drummers offer excellent noise reduction, but if you like more comfort, you can also go for over-the-ear units. Vic Firth SIH2 delivers the required isolation that makes the product suitable for live performances and studios. The optimal noise isolation level should be around 25dB, but the more you get, the better you can hear the sound without the need to increase the volume.

Durability

Do you wish to use your headphones every day? In that case, pay a little extra and buy a more durable product like Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. It will be a smart long-term investment that will deliver consistent performance for the time to come.

Strong construction makes headphones resistant to damages from falling or hitting objects with them, and sturdy components promote overall longevity.

FAQ

Our Verdict

Remember how we said that a single pair of headphones couldn’t be the best for everyone? That remains true, but our top picks come quite close to prove the opposite.

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is our first candidate for the best headphones for drummers. It offers an excellent ratio of price and quality. The unit provides impressive sound quality, especially for the price. It is also foldable, which means you can easily pack it when going on a tour.

Second comes Vic Firth SIH2 Stereo Isolation Headphones V2 which is an excellent choice for drummers who plan to play live. Their 25dB noise reduction is suitable for live performances, and the product is also durable and ideal if you want to buy headphones so that you can completely focus on music.

Finally, you can’t go wrong with Roland RH-300. These headphones are a part of a reputable brand famous in the music industry for top-quality products.

We hope that you found the best headphones for your drumming needs, so go ahead and test them as they will surely take your performance to the next level!