Looking for the best headphones for your electronic drums?
Perfect, you're in the right place!
In this insider's guide, you'll learn:
- What Are Headphones For Electronic Drums (Are They Different From Normal Headphones)?
- What Are The Different Types Of Headphones For Electronic Drums?
- How Do You Connect Headphones To Your Electronic Drum Kit?
- What Should I Look For In Electronic Drum Headphones?
- And Much More!
Below is a quick list of all my top picks. Keep scrolling to learn more about my best buying tips and tricks for the best headphones for your electronic drumming needs.
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
My Top Pick  | My Top Pick | Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones V2 (SIH2)
|
| View on Amazon |
Best High-End  | Best High-End | Roland V-Drums Stereo Headphones (RH-300V)
|
| View on Amazon |
Best Budget  | Best Budget | Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones
|
| View on Amazon |
 | Alesis DRP100 Extreme Audio-Isolation Headphones
|
| View on Amazon | |
 | Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Monitor Headphones
|
| View on Amazon |
My Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated 3/30/2020
Out of all the headphones I've used, and a BIG staple in my studio are the Vic Firth Stereo Headphones.
Why?
Because they are super affordable, durable and the absolute best for isolating just the sounds you want to hear.
They work incredibly well with electronic drum kits, allowing you to be fully immersed in the playing experience.
They may not have the best frequency response compared to some higher end studio monitor headphones, but for drummers looking for great isolating headphones at an affordable price….they can’t be beaten!
Keep reading to learn about how to use these bad boys and more details on my picks.
Top 5 Best Headphones For Electronic Drums
In a hurry? Check out my top 5 headphones below! Keep reading to learn more about these best headphones for your electronic drums.
What Are Headphones For Electronic Drums (Are They Different From Normal Headphones)?
Essentially you could use any pair of headphones you have lying around for your electronic drum set and they would work.
HOWEVER!
There are some characteristics of some headphones that are desirable to have the best experience whilst playing your electronic drums.
Therefore many companies make headphones that are specifically designed for use with electronic drum kits….
In this article, I’m going to compare some of the best headphones to give you the best audio experience on your electronic kit!
What Are The Different Types Of Headphones For Electronic Drums?
There are three main types of headphones you can use for your electronic kit:
- Electronic drum kit specific headphones (Isolation headphones)
- Studio Monitor Headphones
- General consumer headphones
Electronic Drum Kit Specific Headphones (Isolation Headphones)
Electronic drum kit specific headphones (often called ‘Isolation Headphones’) are designed to give you the best audio experience with your electronic drum kit (as well as acoustic drums!)
They are designed to accurately reproduce the large range of frequencies an electronic drum kit produces.
The difficulty with using headphones with your electronic drum kit is that you are going to have to compete with the sound of your sticks hitting the electronic drum pads and cymbals.
These headphones are designed to block out as much external sound as possible...leaving you with just the pure sounds coming from your e-kit.
Studio Monitor Headphones
These headphones aren’t strictly designed for use with an electronic drum kit but they can often work really well.
They are designed for use in studios for engineers and musicians to monitor the instruments they’re recording, as well as use for mixing and mastering audio once it’s already been recorded.
Good quality versions of these types of headphones often have excellent overall sound quality, accurately reproducing the low end of the kick, mid-range tom rolls and those high frequency cymbal accents!
However be aware that some may not be great for use with electronic drums due to their lack of noise isolation.
General Consumer Headphones
These are headphones that are primarily designed for listening to music on your iphone, mp3 player and computer etc.
In general, these are the worst for use on electronic drum kits. They aren’t designed to isolate enough sound and often the sound quality can be lacking as they’re not designed to accommodate the extreme frequency range of electronic drums.
However, they are often cheaper than studio or isolation headphones….just make sure you pick ‘over-ear’ ones, as they’ll be the best for isolating the sound from the kit as much as possible.
Read Also: What are the best strings for your acoustic guitar?
How Do You Connect Headphones To Your Electronic Drum Kit?
Connecting headphones to an electric drum kit is very simple.
In the back of your electronic drum kit module, there will be an input labelled ‘headphones’, ‘phones’ or it will just have a picture of a pair of headphones.
You simply take the headphone ‘jack’ end and plug it into the headphone input of the sound module…..simple! (make sure the volume is up too!)
NOTE!
Most electronic drum kits will have a ¼ inch jack input, which is generally the standard size for Studio monitor or Isolation headphones.
HOWEVER
Most general consumer headphones will use a ⅛ inch (3.5mm) jack, therefore you’ll need an adaptor to use them with your electronic drum kit.
What Should I Look For In Electronic Drum Headphones?
The main thing to look for in headphones for electronic drums is their ability to ‘isolate’ the sound of the drums (i.e block out outside noise) as well as their overall sound quality.
In general ‘Isolation’ headphones or studio headphones that are ‘Over-ear’ and have a closed-back, are ideal for use with electronic drum kits.
Another thing to consider when buying headphones is overall comfort.
If you’re looking to play the drums for long periods of time you’ll need a pair that won’t become excessively uncomfortable (or sweaty!). Breathable/ sweat-proof ear pads can also help for the more active electronic drummers!
Therefore going for a pair of headphones that have good padding and are adjustable to your head size is a must.
Also make sure they have a long cable to reach the electronic drum kit module with enough give to allow you to move freely (I have been taken out headfirst by many a small cable in the past!)
My Reviews Of The Best Headphones For Electronic Drums
They may not have the high-fidelity sounds of some equivalent studio monitor headphones, but at this price range, you won’t find better isolation headphones for your e-kit!
Pros
- Excellent isolation
- Affordable
- Durable
Cons
- Can become slightly uncomfortable during long sessions
Roland V-Drums Stereo Headphones (RH-300V)
They have a closed back for great sound isolation as well as ample cushioning and an adjustable head strap….. to make smashing away for hours on your kit a pleasure!
Pros
- Excellent isolation
- High-quality sound
- Optimised for electronic drums
Cons
- Higher price point
Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones
Pros
- Very affordable
- Adjustable
- Good sound for the price
Cons
- Not very durable
Alesis DRP100 Extreme Audio-Isolation Headphones
If you’re looking for an extremely affordable pair of isolation headphones that are designed for use with an electronic drum kit then look no further than the Alesis DRP100’s.
A cheaper alternative to the Vic Firth V2’s, they have effective isolating over-ear speakers with an adjustable silicone headband for comfort.
They may not have the best sound or be as durable as more expensive alternatives, but you’ll struggle to find a better pair of isolation headphones at this price point.
Pros
- Affordable isolation headphones
- Excellent sound Isolation
- Designed for e-drums
Cons
- Not very durable
Sporting high quality audio drivers that will excellently reproduce the extreme frequency and dynamic range produced by an electronic drum kit.
Comfort is also excellent, with large padded ear pads for those long electronic drumming sessions.
They also have a detachable cable and are foldable for storage, which is a great touch!
Pros
- Excellent clear sound
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Well made
Cons
- Higher price point
- Not as isolating
Final Thoughts On The Best Headphones For Electronic Drums
So there you have it! Some excellent headphone options that will work perfectly with your electronic drums….whatever your budget.
There are loads of other sets of headphones out there that will do a great job that I wasn’t able to fit onto this list.
So remember, as long as you look for a pair of well reviewed ‘Closed-back’ headphones that have good isolation and sound quality…..you can’t go far wrong!
