These are the best podcast headphones mostly recommended by podcasters. You don’t need to spend a lot of time looking for the best ones elsewhere because you can find it here, on this list.
1. Audio Technica ATH-M50X
The ATH-M50X headphones are quite a durable pair but they are also very stylish. Not to the extend that they stand out too much but they have a subtle taste. They are entirely made out of plastic and have a soft padding so they are very comfortable as well. You can rotate the ear cups 90 degrees which makes them extra adjustable to fit to your ears.
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However, the ATH-M50X don’t provide a lot of ventilation for your ears. In that case, expect a bit of sweating. Also while they are durable, they are still made out of plastic, so you still need to be careful with them or around them.The ATH-M50Xs come with three detachable cables, a ¼” to 3.5mm adapter and a carrying pouch.
The two cables that come with them are six feet long. One cable is straight and the other one is coiled. The third one is very useful as it allows you to plug it in your phone when you’re on the go. The maximum power input is up to 1600 mW and the headphones produce frequencies ranging from 5-28,000 Hz. The ATH-M50X aren’t said to be noise-cancelling but you can still use them in public as it isn’t too bad.
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The sound performance of the ATH-M50X headphones is rather neutral. The neutrality makes them great for the podcasts. They also focus more on the lower frequencies. That can be good or bad, depending on the taste. However, that doesn’t mean high frequencies sound bad. In fact, they offer great detail and there is no harshness which is the reason this pair made it to our list with the best podcast headphones.
- Great sound
- Quite comfortable
- Come with additional cables
- Adjustable ear cups
- Adapter
- Don’t provide good ventilation; ears are likely to get sweaty
- Emphasis on low frequencies
- Plastic build might make them less durable
2. Sennheiser HD 558
The reason why professional podcasters love these headphones is firstly because of their build. The Sennheiser HD 558 headphones is mostly made out of plastic but it’s a high-quality one and it’s quite sturdy. They are also extremely lightweight which is ideal for long sessions. The comfort the HD 558 headphones provide is amazing, you feel absolutely no pressure while wearing them.
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On the other hand, the ear cups aren’t adjustable but they perfectly fit on your ears. The HD 558s provide little to no clamping force. You can also adjust the headband and it’s easy to do so. There is an adjustment click which is suitable for those with small and also larger heads. They also come with a detachable cable and hold-plated adapter.
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When it comes to the sound, the HD 558 headphones provide rather detailed and neutral sound and this makes it one of the best podcast headphones. It’s also very well-balanced and the soundstage is both wide and deep. These are ideal for podcasting, gaming and listening to music. Being open-back headphones, the isolation isn’t too great. However, you can use them when the volume is on average but once it’s high, the noise will leak. The bass is absolutely great and they probably provide one of the best ones in open-back headphones market.
- Extremely comfortable
- Great build; durable
- Wide soundstage
- Fantastic bass
- Noise-leaking
3. Sony MDR 7506
The MDR 7506 headphones are entirely made out of plastic as well. However, this might be conflicting. That is because while they are lightweight, therefore not providing any sort of pressure, they are also not very durable. On a brighter note, they are portable because you can fold them by pushing the ear cups towards the headband. There is also no soft cushion or padding on the ear cups and clamping force is a little too hard on the head.
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THe MDR 7506 headphones come with a gold-plated 3.5 mm cable with a ¼’’ adapter. The impedance is of 63 ohms so if you use weaker mobile device it’s going to need an amplifier. The sound is mostly flat and neutral. This means they produce each frequency in the frequency range at the same sound-pressure level.
In fact, a lot of headphones want to achieve this neutral and flat sound. But, the truth is not many can succeed in it but MDR 7506 definitely can. What’s interesting as well is that they mainly focus on the mids and highs. The bass is clear and audible but it’s not over the top and powerful like most headphones are producing.
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There is also sensitivity of 106 dB/W/m which gives boost to these headphones. This results in a very clear and detailed sound a lot of podcasters love and we included in our list with the best podcast headphones. The MDR 7506 are also closed-back headphones which means they have great isolation and there is no noise leakage. This makes them ideal for both indoors and outdoors.
- Portable
- Very clear and detailed sound
- Neutral sound
- Noise isolation
- Not very comfortable
- Low bass
4. Bose QuietComfort 35 Series 2
The QC35 are wireless headphones and they are also considered one of the most comfortable headphones currently. That’s for a good reason as you don’t even feel like wearing them even after long listening sessions.The ear cups can rotate up to 90 degrees and the headband is also adjustable. This makes them portable. They are also extremely durable and flexible. You can bend them however you wish and they won’t nudge.
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The QC35 headphones feature microphone and volume buttons. There is even a noise-cancellation toggle button so you can easily use them in public. The added feature, in comparison to the previous model, is also Google Assistant button. Also the headphones are compatible with Amazon Alexa so it can be quite useful for some.
The headphones feature a microUSB charging cable and a 3.5 mm audio cable. So you can choose between using Bluetooth and having them wired. The battery life is also quite long – they can last you for 20 hours. The connection to Bluetooth is quite easy, all you need to do is press the power switch, and it’s also quite stable and strong. The connection range is standard so it’s about 33 feet.
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When it comes to the sound, the QC35 provide neutral sound and clarity which is great for podcasters. There is a slight focus on lower frequencies but it’s definitely not over the top. Mids are very clean and the vocals are quite detailed and come through loud and clear. There is also no distortion or harshness. The airness is also brought to a minimum
- Strong bluetooth connection
- Durable, flexible, comfortable and portable
- Neutral and clear sound
- Additional features such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
- Adjustable ear cups
- Noise-cancellation toggle button
- Lower frequencies a little enhanced
- Less details in highs
- Microphone picks up a lot of background noise
Conclusion
The headphones mentioned above are the best ones when it comes to podcasting. These are also suitable for listening to music. All of these headphones can give you comfort and high sound quality. Hopefully we helped you out in your decision-making. And maybe you will decide on one of these from the list with the best podcast headphones.
