Headphones have become an indispensable part of daily life, whether for casual listening or professional music production. While there are countless options on the market, choosing the right pair of headphones for classical music requires specific features, such as accurate sound reproduction, comfort for long listening sessions, and an open-back or semi-open design for an immersive auditory experience.
For classical music lovers and musicians who want to dive deep into every note, subtle instrument, and intricate arrangement, choosing a high-quality pair of headphones is essential. This article explores the 7 Best Headphones for Classical Music, focusing on sound fidelity, comfort, build quality, and features ideal for orchestral and classical genres.
In case you are looking for something more affordable check out the best studio headphones under $100.
Top 7 Best Headphones For Classical Music
1. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Open Headphone : Best for Accurate Sound Reproduction
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro open-back headphones are an excellent choice for those who want to experience the full range of orchestral music. Known for their superb tonal clarity and immersive soundstage, these headphones provide a truly natural listening experience.
Beyerdynamic is an all-rounding efficient headset to pair along with any of your classic music instruments. With the matter of ear protection and comfort, these earphones can be used both casually and professionally.
Built Quality and Design
The DT 990 Pro features an open-back design that minimizes sound distortion and maximizes depth and spatiality, offering an authentic listening experience for classical compositions. With its 250-ohm resistance, it delivers clear and detailed sound, even at high volumes, making it ideal for audiophiles who demand high-fidelity sound reproduction.
The build quality is robust, with a metallic frame that ensures durability, while the soft ear cushions and adjustable headband provide lasting comfort during extended listening sessions.
It’s exceptionally light in weight and specific in dimensions like 8.7 x 4.7 x 9.1 inches only. Moreover, it has a 3 meters coiled cable that allows you to move freely in your studio. The DT990 is also a great pair of headphones for music production and mixing & mastering.
Sound Quality
These headphones shine when it comes to sound clarity and accuracy. The frequency response of 5 Hz to 35 kHz allows for the reproduction of the most intricate details in classical music, from the deep bass of a cello to the delicate strings of a violin. The highs are crisp, while the mids are warm and well-defined, ensuring that every instrument in an orchestra is clearly heard.
Comfort
Designed for long hours of listening, the DT 990 Pro features soft, circumaural ear pads that cushion the ears without causing discomfort. The open-back design reduces ear pressure and enhances breathability, making these headphones a top choice for musicians and audiophiles alike.
The circular circumference of the round-shaped headset covers your whole ear and blocks the extra noises from outside.
Pros:
- Wide frequency response for rich sound
- Open-back design for natural soundstage
- Comfortable ear pads for prolonged use
- Durable construction with a metallic body
- Ideal for critical listening and studio use
Cons:
- Single-sided cable might not appeal to all users
- Non-breathable ear padding
2. Audio Technica ATH-R70x: Best for Balanced Sound and Comfort
Top-of-the-line headphones for listening to music!
Audio-Technica’s ATH-R70x open-back headphones are crafted with the serious listener in mind, offering an unparalleled listening experience for classical music. These headphones excel at providing a natural and accurate sound signature, making them a top choice for musicians and audio engineers.
Quality and Design
The ATH-R70x features a lightweight, open-back design with high-efficiency drivers and a unique honeycomb mesh structure to improve airflow and reduce unwanted resonance. The result is a clean, balanced sound.
These headphones have a 470-ohm resistance, which allows them to handle high input levels while providing precise sound.
It is 1.63 pounds in weight and comes with accessories like detachable cords and a pouch. The cable is 3-meter long that allows freestyle work and usage.
Sound Quality
With a frequency range of 50 Hz to 40 kHz, the ATH-R70x delivers a detailed and transparent sound profile. Whether you’re listening to complex orchestral compositions or intricate chamber music, the sound clarity and accuracy are unmatched. The bass is deep and controlled, while the treble is bright and non-fatiguing, ensuring every note is faithfully reproduced.
Comfort
The headphones are designed for extended listening with breathable fabric ear pads and a lightweight frame. The open-back design enhances the sense of space, making these headphones ideal for classical music, where hearing every subtle nuance of the performance is crucial.
Audio Technica ATH-R70x also has detachable cords which prevent the cords from getting tangled, and also prevent them from wear and tear from daily use. The best thing is that this product comes with a pouch to keep your detachable headphone cords in to protect them for prolonged use.
Pros:
- Exceptionally clear and balanced sound
- Lightweight and breathable design
- Open-back design for an immersive soundstage
- Durable and comfortable for long listening sessions
Cons:
- Premium price tag may be a concern for some
- Not as noise-isolating due to the open-back design
3. Sennheiser HD 650: Best for Smooth and Rich Sound
The Sennheiser HD 650 is a legend in the world of audiophile headphones. Known for its rich and smooth sound signature, the HD 650 is a top-tier choice for those who want to experience classical music in all its glory.
It has a titanium finish that means that there are no worries about it breaking or getting loose. Also, it has a 2 years international warranty that renders you some peace of mind. It has a voice coil detachable cable in the package as well.
Quality and Design
With a robust construction and sleek design, the HD 650 features high-quality, low-resistance drivers that ensure an expansive soundstage. The large ear cups provide exceptional comfort, and the open-back design allows for a natural, lifelike reproduction of sound. Sennheiser’s use of metallic magnets helps keep distortion to a minimum.
HD 650 has coiled cords and a micro-phonic transient voice cord with excellent results. The design is overall grey and is considered a hi-fi stereo dynamic headset.
Sound quality
The Sennheiser HD 650 offers a frequency response from 10 Hz to 41 kHz, making it one of the most versatile headphones on the market. The sound is balanced and smooth, with a slight emphasis on the midrange, which is ideal for classical music that often features rich, melodic strings and vocals. The bass is controlled, and the high frequencies are never harsh, providing a natural and smooth listening experience.
Comfort
The HD 650 is incredibly comfortable for extended use, thanks to the soft ear cups and adjustable headband. The circumaural design ensures a secure fit, while the open-back design allows air circulation, preventing ear fatigue.
If Sennheiser is your brand, check out more models at the best Sennheiser headphones!
Pros:
- Wide frequency range for detailed sound reproduction
- Excellent comfort for long listening sessions
- Ideal for critical listening in classical music
- High-quality construction and materials
Cons:
- Not as portable due to open-back design
- Price is on the higher end
4. Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium: Best for Versatility and Style
The Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium Edition is a semi-open headphone that provides an ideal balance between the wide soundstage of open-back headphones and the noise isolation of closed-back models. This makes it a fantastic choice for classical music enthusiasts who need versatility in different environments.
Quality and design
The DT 880 Premium Edition features a semi-open design, offering both the warmth of a closed-back design and the spaciousness of open-back models. The 250-ohm impedance ensures high sound fidelity and minimal distortion, even when driven by portable devices.
It has a noise isolation feature along with an attractive body. It’s only 1.72 pounds like super light in weight.
Sound quality
With a frequency range of 5 Hz to 24 kHz, the DT 880 Premium Edition delivers rich, balanced sound with accurate bass and crisp treble. The sound signature is perfect for classical music, where the dynamics of each instrument need to be perfectly balanced. The semi-open design offers just enough isolation to ensure that external noises don’t interfere with your listening.
Comfort
The ear cups are padded with soft material that ensures comfort even after hours of wear. The lightweight construction and adjustable headband make it easy to find a perfect fit for any user.
Pros:
- Semi-open design for a mix of isolation and soundstage
- Excellent build quality and style
- Great for both casual and professional use
- Comfortable for long listening sessions
Cons:
- Not fully noise-isolating
- Expensive compared to other semi-open headphones
5. Shure SRH1540 Premium: Best for Durability and Comfort
The Shure SRH1540 Premium headphones are built for audiophiles who want both high performance and durability. These closed-back headphones are perfect for listeners who want to immerse themselves in classical music without being disturbed by external noise.
The accessories include a travel carrying zipper bag. It also has a 6ft wire that means that you can listen to it with high comfort whenever in whatever posture.
Quality and design
With neodymium drivers and a lightweight, durable construction, the SRH1540 Premium is designed to provide superior sound quality while maintaining comfort. The frame is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, making these headphones highly resistant to wear and tear.
The circumaural design ensures that the ear cups completely cover the ears, providing excellent isolation from external sounds.
Sound
These headphones deliver a balanced sound with deep bass, clear mids, and smooth highs. The frequency response is 5 Hz to 25 kHz, which is ideal for classical music’s wide dynamic range. The sound is rich and detailed, with no distortion even at high volumes, making them perfect for critical listening.
Comfort
The SRH1540 by Shure is designed with long listening sessions in mind. The ear cups are plush and comfortable, while the lightweight frame ensures a secure fit without causing strain. The padded headband further enhances comfort, even during extended sessions of classical music listening.
Pros:
- Exceptional durability with a lightweight aluminum frame
- Balanced and detailed sound signature
- Comfortable for extended listening
- Excellent noise isolation
Cons:
- Higher price point
- Closed-back design limits soundstage compared to open-back models
6. V-MODA Crossfade M-100: Best for Style and Soundstage
The V-MODA Crossfade M-100 headphones stand out due to their modern design, superior sound quality, and impressive bass response, making them a popular choice among classical music enthusiasts looking for both style and performance.
It can be folded for easier carrying with its exoskeleton structure. It also has a microphone in its wire. A perfect option if you are also looking for headphones for DJing.
Design
The Crossfade M-100 features a unique design with customizable shields, providing both a high level of durability and a premium aesthetic. The headphones are built to last, made with military-grade materials and featuring a foldable design that is both practical and sleek.
Sound quality
These headphones are equipped with 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers that produce clear and balanced sound. They handle both high and low frequencies well, offering an immersive listening experience. The frequency response of 5 Hz to 30 kHz makes them perfect for classical music, with detailed mids, sharp highs, and controlled bass.
Comfort
The ear pads are made from memory foam, providing comfort for long listening sessions, and the adjustable headband ensures a secure fit for most head sizes.
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality with balanced bass
- Durable, foldable, and stylish design
- Customizable appearance with interchangeable shields
- Comfortable for long listening sessions
- Affordable
Cons:
- Slightly heavier compared to other headphones
- Closed-back design might reduce spatial sound quality
7. Marshall Headphone
As we live in the era of innovation and technological advancements, here we stand for the latest updated devices. That’s what marshal is targeting as a goal and achieving it, not only does this set have a fine quality structure and design but is a wireless one as well.
It can be connected to your phone through Bluetooth. and you don’t need to carry it along in a bag as you can carry it to your neck and put your phone in your pocket and travel with comfort. This exceptional piece is the latest one to read ahead to know more about it.
One of the best headphones for rock music!
Quality and design
First and foremost it has an innovative design, all directly linked to your phone and not with wire or anything. Secondly, it has a control knob on the device to vary with sound. Thirdly, it’s black and classy in design to suit people of every nature every age.
Sound quality
It has a hi-fi acoustic sound quality all according to world standards with clear sound and padded circumaural to black excessive noise on the go. Its frequency varies between 20Hz to 20KHz which ensures a higher sound quality.
Comfort
It has a dual-frame design to fit according to your face shape and ear posture. Additionally, it has a padded circumaural to ease your ears and has no harm done to them. Also, it is wireless and easily controllable at the touch command of your phone. Furthermore, it has a control knob on it so you don’t have to accept or reject a call on the phone and simply listen to it through your headphones.
Pros:
- Noise-Isolating
- Wireless
- Custom-tuned drivers for exceptional audio
- Control knob
Cons:
- No accessories
These were our top 7 choices for the best headphones for classical music!
Final Thoughts
When choosing the best headphones for classical music, it’s essential to consider factors like sound quality, comfort, and build.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro and Audio-Technica ATH-R70x offer unparalleled sound accuracy, while the Sennheiser HD 650 and AKG K702 provide a deep and immersive listening experience. If you value versatility, the Beyerdynamic DT 880 and Shure SRH1540 Premium will suit your needs. Ultimately, the best headphones for you depend on your preferences, whether you prioritize sound precision, comfort, or durability.
By investing in any of these high-quality headphones, you can elevate your classical music listening experience and discover every nuance of your favorite compositions.
If you love both the electronic and classical sounds of musical instruments, check out these 8 brilliant live shows of electronic music with live orchestras!
