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When it comes to evaluating your mixes properly, you’ll want both headphones and studio monitors.
And not just any headphones.
Good ones.
REALLL good ones.
To be able to pick apart a mix and judge it objectively, you’ll need open, clear headphones with excellent resolution. No buts about it, mister.
Trust me; I would know about mixing on headphones. It’s basically all I used to do when I was younger, and at this point, I have experience with over 135+ of them.
Over the years, I’ve heard an array of different types, but I’m here to tell you that most of them can be safely discarded like last night’s pizza box when it comes to any serious studio work.
This is because many companies sell atrociously tuned products that would be a disaster to try and mix with. Bloated mid-bass, scooped-out mids, overly dark treble and more are all commonalities in poor sound signatures.
And, even the headphones that are tuned well don’t necessarily translate to a good mixdown.
What we’re looking for is a flat or somewhat rolled-off sub-bass, flat mid-bass, rolled off mid to high bass (200-300Hz should be cut), a mild boost in the presence regions of 2-3kHz, and a somewhat bright-ish treble.
- For a full list of good options, check out The 12 Best Studio Headphones For Mixing, Mastering, And Music Production.
The headphones should also be comfortable and lightweight enough for extended listening sessions. This allows for a fatigue-free experience in the studio while you’re mixing tracks into the wee hours of the morning.
This can only happen with a good set of reference headphones, but you’ll also want to snag a good pair of studio monitors as well.
Studio Monitors
This way, you can go back and forth and determine what needs tweaking.
While I primarily mixed on headphones in my younger years, I think a good pair of monitors gives me a more accurate representation of what’s going on. This is because the stereo imaging is a lot wider, deeper, and much more immersive. You really get a sense of how and where to pan instruments according to the track in question, as separation tends to be better (as long as you’ve got the right monitors, of course).
As good as studio headphones can be, nothing can replace a good pair of monitors, in my opinion.
Moreover, mixing on studio monitors is a lot less fatiguing, but if you have roommates or a wife, you’ll need a good pair of closed backs.
- Related: Closed Back vs. Open Back Headphones
This ensures you’re not disturbing loved ones during those times when let’s be honest, your ass should be sleeping.
When it comes to monitors, you don’t have to run out and buy the most expensive pair. Starting small is completely fine, especially since there are some fantastic budget monitors out there.
The Presonus Eris e3.5 or Yamaha HS3 are both excellent choices for around $100-$200.
From there, you can upgrade to a JBL LSR305.
After that, a Yamaha HS7 was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made for my studio.
In case you were wondering, I’ve used all 3 of these (haven’t owned the HS3) and recommend them without reservation. If money isn’t an object, I’d go straight for the HS7.
My very first serious purchase in audio came in 2010 when I bought a pair of Sony MDR-7506s.
And I still have a pair!
In fact, I have 3: The MDR-V6, 7506, and the MDR-CD900ST, which I just picked up recently overseas from Japan.
After purchasing a 7506, my beats started to sound better because I could now make better decisions based on what the headphones were telling me.
I wasn’t relying on a pair of Logitech speakers anymore, and in many ways, they completely changed my perception of music in general.
That was in 2010.
It wasn’t until 2014 that I decided to take the plunge on some monitors.
In the 4 years leading up to it, I didn’t have the funds available to spend on a decent set, but I wanted my purchase to be a well-thought-out, well-researched, and ultimately informed decision.
I scoured the internet for weeks trying to narrow down my choices. I had heard a lot about the ever-popular KRK Rokit Series, but after more digging, I found them to be over-hyped in the low end, and generally just something that an amateur would buy on impulse. That said, I believe KRK has improved tremendously since then so I’m in no way dogging them.
Anyway, I kept digging and eventually stumbled upon a peculiar name: JBL. Huh? Surely, this no-name company (in my own mind) didn’t have much to offer.
Wrong again.
The JBL LSR305s were my first studio monitors.
I kept reading review after review from as many sources as I could, trying to find a negative word about them. I couldn’t find one.
The rest is history. I ended up purchasing a pair and enjoyed 5 amazing years with them until I had to sell them for some quick cash.
This experience illustrates the importance of not making a knee-jerk reaction when it comes to buying something. It will save a lot of headaches in the long run, but fortunately for you, I’m here to point you in the right direction.
Investing in a good set of monitors is a must. Don’t skip this step!
I was able to get by just using my PC’s internal sound card for a while, but it’s not recommended. I could have progressed a lot faster than I did had I just invested in some amazing monitors.
Let’s move on!
What You’ll Learn In The Next Section:
- ✅ Amp/DAC Importance – Understand the role of amplifiers and DACs in a home studio setup, and why they aren’t the ultimate audio gear some audiophiles claim them to be.
- ✅ When You Need One – Learn when investing in an Amp/DAC makes sense, especially if you own high-end headphones.
- ✅ Choosing the Right One – Focus on what matters: the right features for your needs, such as bass boost, output impedance, and power output. The FiiO K5 Pro is a solid recommendation for versatility.
- ✅ Sound Quality vs. Speculation – Clarify why the difference in sound quality between DACs is often negligible, and why choosing based on needs, not hype, is key.
- ✅ Personal Preference – Explore how output impedance and power output impact the sound, with neutral options like the JDS ATOM being a go-to for clean, uncolored audio.
2 comments
The boyfriend recently dropped a fair amount on some monitoring speakers, so this write up helps me understand how it is actually worth the money!
He ended up getting some fancy isolation pads as well – basically a bit of foam sponge that the speakers sit on. Do you think they offer much benefit for the amateur?
Hey Jolie!
Yeah I would say so. My Scarlett 2i2 has something similar on the bottom. It keeps them from getting damaged and scratched.. and also from moving around too much. The audio interface literally does not move, and never has. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
-Stu