Every single piano of modern times is now equipped with a headphone jack, that facilitates us to plug a pair of headphones and play the instrument, both day and night without disturbing others. It is one of the best features of the digital piano, that we cannot find with the acoustic pianos of the olden times. Unfortunately, most people use cheap low quality over-ear headphones with their digital piano, thus mitigating the scope of rich and accurate sounds that their digital pianos can deliver.
Choosing the right headphone for the digital piano will help in accurately and naturally reproducing the sound of the instrument. This is as important as choosing the right piano itself. The right pair of headphones will allow the users to listen to the slightest details and nuances of the performance, that are hard or impossible to hear with the built-in keyboard speakers. Here are the best headphones for digital pianos from leading brands.
What Are the Best Headphones for Digital Piano?
Must read: How to Connect Headphones to Digital Piano or Keyboard?
Table of Contents
- What Are the Best Headphones for Digital Piano?
- Top 5 Best Headphones for a Digital Piano
- #1. Sennheiser HD 599 SE Around-Ear Open-Back Headphone – Best Overall
- #2. Sony MDR7506 Professional Headphone – Runner Up
- #3. Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphone -Editor’s Pick
- #4. Philips Audio SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphone – Good Sound Quality
- #5. Beyerdynamic DT 880 Over-Ear Stereo Headphone – Premium Choice
- Types of Headphones for Digital Pianos
- What to look for in the digital piano headphone?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Final Words
Top 5 Best Headphones for a Digital Piano
The headphones for the digital pianos should focus on comfort and expert audio performance. The headphones give the freedom for the players to practice piano without disturbing their neighbors and family members. The choice of the headphone you make has an immense impact on the overall music experience. The better the piano sounds with the headphones on, the better will be the inspiration and this reflects on how best you wish to continue with the instrument. Here are the top 5 best headphones compatible with digital pianos from the best brands.
#1. Sennheiser HD 599 SE Around-Ear Open-Back Headphone – Best Overall
| Features | Rating |
| Sound quality | 9.6 |
| Comfort | 9.5 |
| Durability | 9.4 |
| Noise cancellation | 8.8 |
| Value for money | 9.4 |
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This is a premium open-back headphone with audiophile-grade over the ear. The headphone is extremely lightweight and it features luxurious velour-covered ear pads for extreme and exceptional comfort. The headphone is compatible with virtually every single audio device including tablets, phones, and computers. The headphone comes with two detachable cables. The two cables are of length 3 meters and 6.3 mm jack and 1.2 meters with 3.5 mm jack.
The frequency response for this headphone is between 12 and 38,500 Hz. We won’t require an amplifier for this headphone, and it is capable of emitting high-quality sound. The impedance rating of these headphones in OHMs is 50 Ohms. It is possible to drive these headphones pretty well with the help of a mobile device or an iPad. These headphones for a digital piano are powered by the Sennheiser proprietary transducer technology for truly excellent sound performance.
The open-back HD 599 special edition delivers impressively natural spatial sound performance. This is an excellent full-sized premium headphone that offers entry-level audiophile sound quality and exceptional wearing comfort. Thanks to the large ear cups and the soft replaceable ear pads of this headphone. The headphone features a distinct classic black finish with matte metallic silver detailing. These headphones are an exceptional choice for those who wish to enjoy the sophisticated sound, build quality, and design.
Pros
- The headphone features superior wearing comfort with large ear cups.
- Its two detachable cables help with versatile connectivity and are of ambient use in tablets, phones, and laptops.
- It is a classic choice of headphones for music lovers.
- It features an ergonomic acoustic refinement design
Cons
- It doesn’t come with a mic and we have to invest in it separately.
- Its open-back design allows sound to leak from the back of the ear cups.
#2. Sony MDR7506 Professional Headphone – Runner Up
| Features | Rating |
| Sound quality | 9.5 |
| Comfort | 9.4 |
| Durability | 9.3 |
| Noise cancellation | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.4 |
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The Sony MDR7506 is a professional stereo headphone that is ideal for monitoring sound in radio, recording studios, film production, electronic newsgathering. The headphone adapts to virtually any application, where high-quality sound is required and doesn’t just appeal to digital pianos. The best feature of this headphone is that it features a closed-ear design, and it is exceptionally popular in both professional and home recording situations and studios. The piano features a rugged design and has a convenient folding construction.
The piano features 40 mm driver units, gold connectors, and a professional-quality cord (that is made of oxygen-free copper). The headphone has a practical design and is been used by many professional broadcasters and studios. As the headphone features a rugged design, it is extremely reliable to use even in the toughest situations. As the headphone has a foldable design, it is compact to store. It is also capable of emitting clear and high-quality sounds and is capable of reducing external noise interference considerably.
The Sony MDR-750 has a professionally large diaphragm headphone and is designed for professional studios and in many live broadcast applications. The large diaphragm of these foldable headphones offers it a rugged construction. The headphone features a secure, highly constructive, and rugged closed-ear design. Its neodymium magnet offers excellent power handling capacity and its 40-mm driver delivers high-quality sound with a wide frequency response of 10 Hz to 20 kHz. The headphone comes with a stereo UniMatch plug that is compatible to use in a ¼” and 1/8” application.
Pros
- This is an excellent earphone that renders crystal clear highs and presents Mids.
- The headphone features a closed-ear design that renders both comfort and reduction of external noises.
- Comfort in this headphone is enhanced by the generous headband padding.
- Its 9.8-foot coiled cord offers enough slack for working in the studio without removing the phones.
- It comes with protective storage to fold the headphone and store them safely.
Cons
- The headphone gets warm on the ears pretty quickly.
Check out: Top 5 Best Digital Pianos for Composing
#3. Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphone -Editor’s Pick
| Features | Rating |
| Sound quality | 9.6 |
| Comfort | 9.3 |
| Durability | 9.3 |
| Noise cancellation | 9 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
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The best feature of this headphone features a 90-degree swiveling ear cup and it comes with a pro-grade ear pad with detachable cables. It comes in an elegant black design and is made elegantly beautiful with robust construction and cutting-edge engineering. The headphone comprises 40-millimeter drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils.
Circumaural design of this headphone contours around the ear exceptionally well for ambient sound isolation even in loud environments. The headphones have swiveling earcups that feature 90 degrees swinging for easy and ambient usage of the earphones. The headphone features professional-grade earpads and a headband made of superior material to offer more comfort and durability. Being a professional-grade headphone with an optimal ear pad, it is made of high-quality material for great comfort and durability.
Apart from being used in digital pianos, these headphones are great for live performances, DJ use, and studio performances. They are tuned for accurate sound monitoring across the entire frequency range. The circumaural design of these headphones helps in rendering excellent sound isolation even in loud environments. the 90 degree swiveling ear cups helps with easy and one-ear monitoring. They will also collapse for easy portability and storage.
Pros
- The headphone features a durable design with cutting-edge engineering and robust construction. They are accurate and great for live performances, DJ use, and studio music performances.
- Offers excellent sound isolation features.
- The 90 degrees swiveling ear cups are great for use in the studio and road.
Cons
- No Major Con
#4. Philips Audio SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphone – Good Sound Quality
| Features | Rating |
| Sound quality | 9.5 |
| Comfort | 9.5 |
| Durability | 9.2 |
| Noise cancellation | 8.6 |
| Value for money | 9.2 |
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This is an exceptional over-ear headphone from the Philips brand. It is black and is wired. It’s 50 mm neodymium drivers offer the full spectrum of sounds for the digital pianist. It features a long 1.5 mm cable that offers the pianist great freedom of movement for indoor use as well. The headphones feature a comfortable double-layered cushion along with a breathable ear cushion, for long-lasting wearing comfort.
The maximum power input in these headphones is about 200 Mw. Its hearing sensitivity is about 101 Db and its speaker diameter is about 50 mm. The frequency response in this headphone is between 12 and 35,000 Hz. The sensitivity of these headphones is 101 dB. Its maximum power input is 200 mW and its impedance is 32 Ohm. The speaker features an open acoustic system and its speaker diameter is 50 mm. We should buy these headphones for two unique reasons. One is, that the back of this headphone is more open and its drivers are closer to the ears. It helps its users enjoy an authentic music listening experience in style.
The headphones for digital pianos from Philips feature an exquisite open-back design for delivering high-quality and authentic sounds. It features 50 mm neodymium drivers that are capable of delivering the complete sound spectrum. It features angled drivers that are capable of aligning perfectly with the ear for comfortable wearing and music listening experience. Its breathable air cushions render a long-wearing comfort for the users.
Pros
- The headphone features a steel headband for extended strength and durability.
- It features a comfortable double-layer headband cushion for comfortable wearing.
- Its 1.5 m cable offers enhanced freedom of movement during indoor use.
- the 3.5 mm jack on the headphones helps in easy removal of the cable to switch sources or to add a microphone.
Cons
- The headphones feature a boosted bass and muted highs.
- It is an expensive headphone for a digital piano.
- The earpads are not replaceable.
#5. Beyerdynamic DT 880 Over-Ear Stereo Headphone – Premium Choice
| Features | Rating |
| Sound quality | 9.3 |
| Comfort | 9.3 |
| Durability | 9.2 |
| Noise cancellation | 8.6 |
| Value for money | 9.1 |
Check Price on Online Stores:
This is a premium over-the-ear stereo headphone and it features a semi-open design. Its high-end wired design makes it extremely adaptable for tablets and smartphones. The legendary DT 880 premium features a 32 Ohm version. It is an excellent stereo headphone for iPhone, iPod, MP3, and home audio applications. It is capable of true sound reproduction and its innovative bass reflex system helps with excellent audio performance. The cable length of these headphones is about 10 feet or 3 meters in length.
This is a semi-open headphone and features a single side cable with a gold vaporized stereo mini jack and ¼” adapter. The headphone also comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. The DT-880 Edition helps attenuate ambient noise and conveys a harmonious sound experience. All the components of this headphone are available are replacement parts, thus making the DT-880 a reliable companion for many years. Its ear pads are known for their skin-friendly and breathable velour, enabling the listener to enjoy music for years.
The headphone sounds very natural and relaxed and their bass reproduction penetrates quite deeply. Some of the features of this headphone appeal to jazz and classical music lovers. Its semi-open design allows the ambient noise to escape and penetrate, but attenuates music more strongly, than in the case of the fully open headphone. The headphone is very light for their size, and ensures a pleasant fit, owing to their carefully selected materials.
Pros
- The headphone offers the best combination of comfortable headband and ear pads.
- Its yokes are made of aluminum, which renders a stable exterior and pleasant fit for long music listening sessions.
- Their softer headband helps with a comfortable music hearing experience.
- They also fit tighter on the head, so that it doesn’t move, even in case of faster movements in-studio use.
Cons
- These headphones do leak sound similar to open-back headphones.
- Its overly bright sounds make it tough to wear for long periods
Types of Headphones for Digital Pianos
There are many different types of headphones available for digital pianos, such as earbuds, over-the-ear headphones, in-ear, and on-ear headphones. While the in-ear and the on-ear headphones are not the best options to use in the digital piano, over-ear headphones are exactly what we require. All these types of headphones have their advantages and disadvantages and you can pick the best headphone, that works best for you personally.
1. Closed-back headphones
The closed-back headphones are probably the best type of headphones, that we will find at the electronic store. The open-back and the closed-back headphones have a solid outer shell, and they do not allow the air to pass through the cups. From the perspective of sound, the headphones with sealed ear cups offer more powerful and deep bass, compared with headphones with open back cups.
The best advantage of closed-back headphones is their good noise isolation feature. The headphones with closed-back cups help in blocking out a lot of outside noise, which makes these headphones more suitable to use in noisy environments. With these headphones on, you will be able to play and listen to the music of digital pianos with background TV noise, kids around, traffic, etc. These headphones will also be great to use in the office and for commuting. The open-back headphones are rare to use outside the home.
The closed-back headphones not only block our ambient noise, and also prevents the sounds from leaking into the surroundings. But owing to the lack of airflow, the closed-back headphones tend to trap moisture and heat. Thus, they are not comfortable to wear for extended periods. After a few hours of wearing, you might want to put your fears to rest. But the closed-back headphones with bigger ear cups and softer padding, tend to be more comfortable than others. They are not comfortable for long sessions, similar to open-back headphones. The soundstage of the closed-back headphones is smaller and is less airy compared with open-back headphones.
2. Open-back headphones
Open-back headphones are less common compared to closed-back headphones, as they have a serious drawback of lack of music isolation feature. Though this is not a real problem, these types of headphones are not suitable for everyone. Most digital piano players prefer this type of piano, as they tend to deliver more natural sounds and a wider sound stage, making the piano listening experience much more enjoyable. The reason for the poor isolation of these open-back headphones, is that their ear cups have openings, grills, and perforations, thus allowing the air and sound to pass in and out of the headphone cups.
Thus, with these headphones on, you will be hearing all the sounds from the surrounding environment, sometimes slightly reduced, which may be a trouble, if you live in a noisy environment. Also, the open back headphones tend to leak sound into the surrounding, and thus others could also hear the sound when the volume is turned up.
There are two main benefits of the digital piano with an open-back design. Firstly, owing to the airflow provisions, excess moisture and heat will easily escape the cups, making the open-back headphones more comfortable to wear for long periods. Secondly, the open-back design of the headphones offers a wider and airy soundstage, than the closed-back models. It makes the sound more natural and realistic and it offers a more enjoyable experience, especially when you are playing instrumental music on the digital piano.
What to look for in the digital piano headphone?
An ideal headphone for the digital piano should render an even response across the frequency range, along with good exclusion from the external distractions. It should keep you focused on your playing and also be comfortable enough to wear for long practice sessions. The digital pianos are designed in a way to emulate the spread of stereo sounds from the left to the right, across the keyboard. Thus, you should pick a piano with a wide stereo soundstage, to reproduce this natural piano behavior effectively in the headphones.
Sounds from the headphone
It is important to choose headphones that offer a very natural and well-balanced sound, with even frequency response. Such a natural frequency response is best suited for natural piano sounds. It is better to avoid DJ headphones, including popular bass-oriented headphones should be avoided.
The comfort of the headphone
If you are someone who wants to wear headphones for a long time, without feeling any pain or discomfort, then you should concentrate on the comfort factor. Make sure that the piano headphone you buy, stays comfortable for extended listening sessions and also exerts the right amount of pressure on the head. Apart from comfort, there are also other important characteristics to consider such as sound isolation, soundstage, sound leakage, and a lot more. These features will depend on whether your headphone features an open or closed-back design.
Cable length
It is important to pay due focus on the length of the headphone cable. Though the length of the piano doesn’t affect the way, how you use the headphones, headphones with enough cable length will not be restrictive while playing the instrument. Headphones with short cable length can be restrictive and this could be a great distraction when you are absorbed completely in the music playing experience.
Noise isolation feature
When you are playing the piano, you wish to experience very few distractions as possible. Thus, it is important to invest in a headphone with noise isolation and noise-canceling headphone. The environment in which you play to play the piano also plays a significant role in choosing the headphone. If you are in a noisy household, this becomes a more important feature. If you are living in a noisy household, this becomes an even more important feature. This feature is not so crucial if you are living in a quiet house.
Design, weight, and comfort
The design of the headphone will have a tremendous effect on the comfort of the wearer. Make sure, you search for a pair of headphones with solid construction and that they won’t fall off quickly. Also, make sure that the pair of headphones that you pick is lightweight and make sure that you would be able to wear them for long periods. To make sure the ears are secure while listening to music, make sure the ear cups come with cushioning and padding. Some of the headphones also come with interchangeable headbands, enabling the user to wear them comfortably for a long time.
Headphone impedance and sensitivity
The impedance of the digital piano is the root impedance and the impedance from the headphone is known as the load impedance. The Impedance in a headphone ranges usually between 8 and 600 Ohms. The Impedance from the audio source will be kept in mind generally and you should try matching the impedance between the headphone and the digital piano. If you want to get the best level of audio, make sure that the impedance from the two devices pairs well.
Frequency Response
When it comes to the frequency response of a digital piano, there are two things to remember. First, you have to verify the frequency spectrum that the headphone will reach. If your headphone can cover a wide spectrum of sounds, you can be sure to hear all the sound ranges perfectly. Headphones with larger frequency ranges will not be able to accurately replicate all the sounds. It is important to ensure that the sound level is stable in all the frequencies.
The durability of the headphone and warranty
If you are spending all your money on the digital piano in a pair of strong headphones then you should be sure that it should last for a reasonable amount of time. The durability of the headphone is an important feature to consider, and you should invest in a headphone with a solid build. The power of the headphone is not just determined by their content, but also by their solid construction. All of the headphones on our list are reasonably robust. You can also check the warranties of the headphone and choose the one with the longest warranty.
Budget of the headphone
You need not spend a lot of money on headphones if you are using them mainly for your piano lessons. Headphones that are available for under $30 are good enough for this purpose. If you want to listen to music in fine detail, then you should spend a little more on the headphones. Such a good pair of headphones will cost you about $50. You can also opt for high-end headphones that are useful for song mixing and song mastering. They are available at a budget of $100 to $200.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why headphones with open-back ear cups are much preferred?
The ability to deliver beautiful and spacious sound is probably the main reason why most high-end headphones have open-back ear cups. They are also great to work with a digital piano.
Are there wireless headphones available for digital piano?
There are Bluetooth headphones with wireless connectivity. Using these wireless headphones for listening to music frequently can be a little distracting. Several new-age digital pianos are made using wireless technology and you can try pairing them with wireless headphones.
Should you use over-the-ear or on-ear headphones?
All the headphones that we have suggested here are over-the-ear headphone styles. These headphones will help in isolating sound and result in less bleeding out. It is possible to use the on-ear versions, but they are not very convenient to wear and use and they can allow the sound to escape easily.
Final Words
Wearing the headphone while playing the digital piano helps in enhancing the piano playing experience in many folds. It also helps in playing the piano without disturbing others. We hope that the headphones that we have listed here and the buying guide that we have suggested here will help you in choosing the best headphone for your expert digital playing experience.
