Impressive as your growing record collection may be, it’s an unfortunate reality that not everyone will be as receptive to hearing them – particularly if you, like I, are inclined to spin borderline-unlistenable albums on your turntable in the early hours.
Listening to your faves needn’t be quite as antisocial, though. After all, you can enjoy your oblique noise-rock records at any volume and any hour, provided you have a sturdy set of over-ear headphones.
Headphones are a different experience to listening on speakers, sure, but that different experience is by no means worse. Indeed, with the right set of headphones, you can discover intimate details you’d never noticed before, even in your most familiar favourites. In this way, a good set of headphones for vinyl can be trebly (geddit?) beneficial; you get to listen at your leisure, in high fidelity, and without annoying your neighbours/dog/partner/.
Choosing the right set of headphones for your vinyl listening party-of-one is easier said than done, though. There are loads of options, with big brands like Sony, Sennheiser, AKG and Beyerdynamic producing many models of quality headphones across styles and price-points. To make your life a little easier, I've picked out a small selection of products which run the gamut, from affordable headphones to luxury picks.
Whether your setup is an austere all-in-one hi-fi or a major system with amplifiers, a phono preamp, and extra speakers, the following sets of headphones for vinyl will undoubtedly play ball.
Note, though, that this list isn’t exhaustive; rather, it's illustrative of the wide world of over-ear audio available to the curious late-night listener.
Quick list
These classic studio headphones deliver at a hyper-competitive price. A set of the AKG K271 MkII will step up and do the job asked of them remarkably well considering they come in at around a tenth of the price of some rivals here. They sound great and offer a sense of scale and prioritise a clear, uncluttered sound stage, and are very comfortable to wear for long sessions.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are some of the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones on the market right now. They might now fold down like the XM4s but they are light and comfortable. When it comes to sound, they're all about balance and deliver a wide soundstage. Audio can also be fine-tuned through the Sony headphone app. They're versatile and I wouldn't be without them.
The Shure SRH1540 might fly a little under the radar, but they're light, spacious and very comfortable thanks to their Alcantara ear pads, making these comfort-focused headphones pitch-perfect for marathon listening sessions. That’s a really good thing too, because sound-wise, the Shure SRH1540 deliver the goods in style and are worth a closer look.
Landing around the midway point in Meze Audio's price range, the 99 Classics are a beautiful set of headphones thanks to that unmistakable walnut finish on the ear cups. Thankfully, they perform just as great as they look, offering clear and balanced audio when spinning your favourite vinyl albums.
The Beyerdynamic Amiron are perfect for those looking at a mid-range headphone upgrade. If your budget can stretch, these are the best headphones for detailed sound at this price point. They’re open-backed, offering the usual sense of space, but they can also handle all sorts of sonic mayhem if asked to. Balancing detailed treble and mid-ranges with bass that does exactly what’s needed.
The Dan Clark Audio Ether 2 headphones are extremely lightweight - making them ideal for long listening sessions - and are stylish in their industrial chic way. The audio delivery is designed to be open and responsive, reacting to the dynamic requirements of a wide range of styles. If you’ve got the cash and are seeking something high-end, these might be for you.
The Louder Choice
✅ Buy if you want quality for a low price: The AKG K271 MkII might fly under the radar, but for the money they are hard to beat for vinyl listening.
❌ Avoid if you want a robust set of headphones: For the budget price, there's little to complain about, but I'd like the plastic chassis to be a little less flimsy.
AKG’s a big name among professional musicians and studio engineers, for both their iconic range of staple microphones and their expansive range of studio-quality reference headphones. Even the entry-level AKG K72 headphones wowed us for fidelity, despite costing less than a night on the tiles. These, the K271 MkIIs, are a shade into triple figures for price, but knock the socks of plenty of (often pricier) competitors – both in professional and personal settings.
Where many closed-back headphones can get a little stuffy aurally, these allow for a little more aural breathing space – a huge boon for listening to records. The K271 MkII has a decently wide frequency range too, which serves the comfortable soundstage it sets forth. Feature-wise, there’s also a nifty auto-mute feature when you take them off, which serves to protect the peace a little if you’re grabbed for an errand.
There are many little ways in which the K271 MkII could improve, but at this price they’re difficult to beat. They’re versatile, light, comfortable and will doubtless do your records justice.
Best noise cancelling
✅ Buy for top-tier noise cancelling: These Sony headphones boast amazing noise cancelling - and they sound incredible. Seriously good headphones.
❌ Avoid if you want headphones that fold: Unlike the XM4s, the XM5s don't pack away as neatly, so go for the older model if travelling.
These things arrive packed to the rafters with features. Alongside a cracking mic system and remote, they’re wireless and noise cancelling. Crucially, a set of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are also light and comfortable.
Sound-wise, these headphones are all about balance. They work hard to present a wide open sound stage, neatly situating vocals and lead lines at the forefront. And they don’t skimp on the bass either, keeping things nicely grounded.
With the battery going from dead to offering 5 hours of listening with just a 10 minute charge (a full charge gives you up to 40 hours) and the noise cancelling easily coping with the hustle and bustle of daily life, these are as good a pair of wireless headphones as you’ll find. You can also tweak the EQ settings via the Sony app - and update firmware etc.
Just make sure your record player has Bluetooth functionality before taking the plunge. A solid set of headphones that come highly recommended.
Read the full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
Best comfort
✅ Buy for comfort and sound: These are a great headphone pick if you're into prog epics as they're comfortable for long listening sessions.
❌ Avoid if you want noise cancelling: The Shure SRH1540 sound great, but there's no noise cancelling included.
Sometimes I just want to settle in with a few favourite albums back-to-back, and that’s where a pair of Shure SRH1540s enter the picture.
Light, spacious and supremely comfortable thanks to their Alcantara pads, these headphones won’t aggravate you even after a marathon prog-style listening session. That’s a really good thing as sound-wise, they supply the goods in some style.
The SRH1540s are texturally literate and open to new things, laying bare the intricacies of a wide range of styles through propulsive bass and an expressive overall presentation.
Read the full Shure SRH1540 review
Best mid-range
✅ Buy if you want great headphones with top design credentials: Not only do the Classics look amazing, they also offer excellent audio.
❌ Avoid if you want something for the daily commute: For me, the Classics could offer a more secure fit - and I'd rather use them at home than on the road.
Have you ever seen a nicer pair of headphones? The answer is no, and that’s that. These beautiful cans are the Meze 99 Classics – and if I'm to read a book by its cover, I would naturally assume these are great headphones for vinyl, on account of those distinguished walnut-veneered earcups. And I'd be absolutely right.
The Meze 99 Classics are actually at the lower end of that mid-range price bracket, and yet outperform a great many of their contemporaries. I found them to be hugely tactile things, with a responsive mid-range and some respectable, representative bass too. These are clear from bottom to top, but by no means bright; this is the aural equivalent of looking at a canvas bare, as opposed to through a pane of glass.
This tactility sets them up especially well for listening to vinyl, particularly records with some dynamic range or unique textural approaches. Of course, they’ll handle AC/DC just fine too.
Read the full Meze Classics 99 review
Best for detail
✅ Buy if you want crisp, detailed sound: Don't discount these Beyerdynamic headphones because of their open-back design - they sound fantastic.
❌ Avoid if you want to minimise sound leakage: Anyone else in the room will be treated to second-hand sound when the volume is cranked.
The Amiron headphones, from German audio equipment manufacturer Beyerdynamic, are a sumptuous option for anyone looking at a mid-range upgrade. If your budget can stretch, these are the best headphones for vinyl right now.
They’re open-backed, offering the usual sense of space, but can handle all sorts of sonic mayhem if asked to. Balancing detailed treble and mid-ranges with bass that does exactly what’s needed, they’re a great utility player.
And, adding to that, they’re comfortable and boast clean, slick design choices that drive home the idea that they’re a high-end choice. There's also a wireless version available, so a Bluetooth connection with your particular turntable is a must.
Read the full Beyerdynamic Amiron review
Best high-end
✅ Buy if you've won the lottery: These headphones are super expensive, but deliver the kind of audio quality you'd expect with an outrageous price tag.
❌ Avoid if you want bang for your buck: The eye-watering price takes the Dan Clark Audio Ether 2 out of the reach of most of us - and you can get awesome headphones for a fraction of the price.
Designed and crafted in San Diego, California, the Ether 2 is an exercise in assembling the best vinyl headphones for audiophiles possible with a price tag to match.
Comprising interlocking metal and carbon fibre elements, these things are extremely light (the Dan Clark team boast that they’re 90 grams lighter than other models in the Ether Flow range) and very stylish in their industrial chic way.
The sound is designed to be open and responsive, reacting to the dynamic requirements of a wide range of styles. If you’ve got the cash and are seeking something high-end, then these lovingly designed headphones might be the perfect fit for you.
FAQ
How do I choose the best headphones for vinyl?
Headphones – and which headphones qualify as the best headphones for vinyl – are hugely subjective, as topics go. There are qualities which appeal to some but not to others, and features which apply themselves better to certain use-cases than others. As such, my own shortlist above is by no means exhaustive. It does, however, touch on a number of the qualities which are often lauded in the pursuit of superior vinyl listening.
Notice, also, that our focus here is on headphones – the over-ear variety, as opposed to earbuds or on-ear DJ-style headphones. While these have their place, over-ear headphones are much better for immersion, and in a couple of ways too. For one, over-ear headphones of all types have more room for bigger drivers, which enable better extension into low bass frequencies as well as more volume. Closed-back over-ears, too, are passive insulators of sound – serving to separate you from the outside world a little more cleanly.
The main tension in any best-of headphones list is between closed-back and open-back. The former is better for immersion, but can suffer from bass build-up and a close soundstage; the latter, with an open or mesh-covered back that allows the movement of air through the ear cups, benefits from a clearer sound and wider soundstage at the cost of increased audio bleed. Between these two, the best option is the one that suits your needs, and that doesn’t fall apart from regular use! Past this, variables like frequency response are a matter for personal preference.
Who makes the best headphones for vinyl?
There are a great many manufacturers in the headphones-for-vinyl space, each of which have their own USPs and claims-to-fame. There are some brands often seen in best-of shortlists, though: namely Sony, Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser, each of which offer headphones catering to every budget and musical preference.
It’s also worth remembering that technology is having an increasingly sizeable say in the vinyl market, and headphones space isn’t immune. There are Bluetooth turntables that can be paired with Bluetooth headphones for maximum wire-free convenience, for example.
Remember, though, that this is an often-lossy, digital protocol that could take a little of the shine off your warm vinyl experience; if you’re dead-set on wireless connectivity, or if your turntable demands it, look out for Bluetooth headphones capable of aptX HD or better communication.
Active noise cancelling has also been a major selling point with headphones for some time now, and continues to get better with development. If you want even more immersion in your music, choosing vinyl headphones with active noise cancelling would be the platonic ideal for letting you relax with your wax.
How do you use headphones with a turntable?
Record players and hi-fi systems are more diversely-designed than ever before, meaning there are many ways in which a given setup might work with your headphones. Conventionally speaking, record players are separate elements which translate sound and deliver it to an amplifier. Hence, in many cases, you won’t be able to plug your headphones straight into your record player, but will rather need to locate the headphone output on your separate amplifier – or use a headphone amplifier specifically designed to drive more detailed sound to your headphones.
Another option is to use a Bluetooth turntable or Bluetooth transmitter with Bluetooth-enabled headphones. Keep in mind that some Bluetooth protocols will be demonstrably worse-sounding than the analogue signal path of a plugged-in pair of headphones, though.
How do I choose the right set-up for vinyl listening?
A good vinyl-centred hi-fi system is a versatile one, that makes the most of the various ways you might want to hear your records. As well as a decent integrated or headphone amplifier for intimate, neighbour-appeasing headphone listening, you might want to invest in a good pair of speakers for a more immersive ambient listening experience – or for when the neighbours are away, and you can properly test the limits of your amp’s volume knob. With specific regard to headphones for vinyl listening, the main choice you face is, again, between open-back or closed-back designs.
Open-back headphones are often described as ‘freer’, or ‘natural’ sounding; this sound is at the expense of bleed, meaning anyone sitting near you will hear exactly what you’re listening to. Closed-back headphones are fully contained, with no exposed elements. The sound bleed is therefore greatly reduced, so you won’t annoy anyone else in the living room if you’re listening to your vinyl collection on your headphones. The trade-off is a slightly ‘thicker’ sound, and a claustrophobic feel after long periods of listening.
In an ideal world, the best headphones for vinyl are open-back over-ears, but where you regularly listen to your record collection, who else is in the room, and your budget are all major factors to keep in mind.
How we test
When accessing headphones to partner with a vinyl turntable, specific criteria apply, depending on the type of record deck you’re likely to own.
Increasingly, modern turntables are arriving with Bluetooth on board. Models like the Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT, Pro-Ject Essential III and Sony PS-LX310BT are three of Louder's favourites. These record decks can be paired with Bluetooth speakers and Bluetooth wireless headphones, as they behave like any other music source.
Consequently, all the usual Bluetooth headphone buying criteria still applies - specifically battery life (how much playtime do they offer?), comfort (are they light enough to wear for extended periods?) as well as general kickass musicality.
If a turntable isn’t Bluetooth enabled and you’re opting to run it through a separate headphone amplifier, then your choice of headphones is likely to be wired and audiophile-centric.
Attributes that make a pair of headphones particularly suited to vinyl include their ability to convey the warm tonality often associated with records. We want to hear an openness to Lzzy Hale’s vocals, and a lack of splashy sibilance when it comes to treble reproduction. Ideally they should sound as smooth as Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford’s pate.
Related buyer's guides
You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
- Best record players: Treat your vinyl collection to a top turntable
- The best classic rock albums to own on vinyl
- How to properly set up a record player: Get the most from your system
- 7 ways to make your vinyl sound better: Get the perfect set-up
- 9 cheap upgrades you can make to improve your vinyl setup
