So, what are the best headphones for drummers? Drummers always carry a lot of gear on gigs – cymbals, crashes, rides, drumsticks, thrones, you name it. Now, if you’re a pro (or consider becoming one), you should know that best drummers also use headphones to better hear what’s happening on stage. We’re here to recommend several models. Let’s go:
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over Ear Professional Studio Monitor and Mixing Headphones,Music Listening,Piano,Sound Isolation, Lightweight and Flexible | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | KAT Percussion KTUI26 Ultra Isolation Headphones | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones V2 | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Shure SE215-CL Sound Isolating In Ear Stereo Earphones (Clear) with 3 Pairs of Triple Flange Sleeves for Better Sound Isolation | Prime | Buy Now |
1. LyxPro HAS-10
Brief overview of key specs and features:
HAS-10 is next on the list – we’ve just seen what in-ear headphones should be like, and now we’ve decided to recommend an over-ear set for people who prefer this headphone type over the former.
The HAS-10 comes outfitted with powerful neodymium drivers that provide a huge dynamic range. They’re quite comfortable overall due to squishy earpads and the headband made of leather while the ear shells are made of highly durable aluminium.
What we liked about these:
These headphones are exquisitely durable, and that’s a major understatement. The leather headband and ear shells made of aluminium are more than enough to back up that statement. Furthermore, the drivers are very strong and provide high-fidelity sound, as well as impeccable ambient noise reduction.
What we thought could be improved:
Truth be told, LyxPro HAS-10 comes packed with a plethora of features, but they’re not perfect. They’re just slightly less comfortable than average over-ear headphones due to their bulky design, but they make up for this little flaw with excellent performance and durability.
Our verdict:
If you’re looking to sport a high-quality drummer headphone set that will last for a while, HAS-10 is a safe bet. These headphones don’t cost much and boast excellent performance for the money.
Pros:
- Great price
- Pro-grade sound quality
- Powerful drivers
- Highly durable construction
Cons:
- Slightly less comfortable than average headphones
2. KAT Percussion KTUI26
Brief overview of key specs and features:
KTUI26 Ultra isolation headphones are absolutely great for drummers and percussionists who’re performing live. They feature a shortened headband and oversized earcups which combined provide outstanding ambient noise reduction and excellent comfortability.
The external noise isolation is passive, hence you won’t need any batteries to begin with, but what’s really great about this feature is that you’ll be able to negate up to 26 decibels of ambient noise while wearing them. The overall construction is pretty sturdy, and it’s safe to say that these headphones are among the lightest in this review.
What we liked about these:
Practicality and comfortability of these headphones, atop the given ambient noise reduction are the most notable things you’ll grow to love about Kat’s KTUI26 headphones. The earcups feature padded foam cushions that ensure maximum comfort, and they’re not even that expensive.
What we thought could be improved:
While the overall construction of these headphones is pretty robust, there’s a rubber part at the joint between the earcups and the wiring that’s very flimsy.
Our verdict:
We encourage you to expect a lot from these headphones – even though they’re not boutique level, they provide excellent sound quality, outstanding noise isolation, and they will last you for quite a while given proper maintenance.
Pros:
- Lightweight and robust construction
- Excellent ambient noise reduction
- Completely passive sound isolation
- Great sound quality
Cons:
- Certain parts are flimsy
3. Vic Firth
Brief overview of key specs and features:
In truth, Vic Firth’s Stereo Isolation headphones are pretty versatile. They are intended for studio and musicians who perform live, drummers included as they boast next-level sound isolation. The oversized caps are padded and feature gentle foam cushions that prevent the ambient noise from reaching the wearer’s ears while providing as much comfort as possible.
While we’re at it, these headphones also self align once you start wearing them, ensuring perfect fit at all times. The quality of sound is pretty great and the overall soundstage is well-rounded.
What we liked about these:
The reason why we’ve picked these headphones for our fellow drummers is because they offer a tremendous level of ambient noise reduction. The earcups are huge, and the foam cushions are very big and broad, so you can rest assured that you’ll only hear as much as you want to.
On top of that, the sound quality isn’t lagging behind – with a perfectly balanced soundstage, they sound awesome, to say the very least.
Lastly, these headphones are very versatile. Even though we’re mainly speaking about headphones for drummers who perform live concerts and gigs, this model will be valuable for virtually every musician, be it a bass guitar player, a guitarist, or even a violin player.
Related Read: Top Rated Audiophile Headphones
What we thought could be improved:
Even though these headphones self align as soon as you start wearing them, most people point out that they’re not so good for people with “bigger heads” in a sense. Notably, the headband isn’t fully adjustable, let alone stretchable, probably due to the self-alignment mechanism.
Our verdict:
These headphones are perfect for drummers who perform live – excellent sound, versatility, and durability are just some of the benefits they bring to the table. However, they’re not for drummers with bigger heads.
Pros:
- Very versatile
- Great price
- Decently durable
- Outstanding ambient noise reduction
- Self-aligning mechanism
- Very comfortable
Cons:
- Not for drummers with bigger heads
4. Shure SE215-CL
[amazon box=”B004PO10E2″]
Brief overview of key specs and features:
We’ve saved Shure’s SE215-CL for last, and we’ll feel comfortable enough to dub them as one of the best headphones for drummers. Even though they are a bit more expensive than most models we’ve reviewed so far, they excel in virtually every field of performance.
These headphones can pass as “in ear monitors” as well, given their compact size and tremendous quality of ambient noise reduction.
They come with a durable cable that’s fairly easy to replace or customize due to the MMCX connectors, and what’s more, there’s an exquisite lock-snap mechanism which will allow you to swivel the cable for up to 360 degrees. Lastly, you’ll get a compact case as a complementary feature.
What we liked about these:
Compact, small, and very powerful would be the words that best describe how Shure’s SE215-CL earphones perform in the field. They come outfitted with a powerful Micro driver and provide superb sound quality and noise isolation. Furthermore, you’ll even get a free carry case.
What we thought could be improved:
The cables of SE215 are very durable. So durable, in fact, that most people label them as “rigid”. This could be a problem if you’re bouncing a lot while you’re drumming, as they will eventually get tangled.
Our verdict:
Great for the buck, even though they do cost quite a lot. SE215-CL are easily among the most valuable, if not the best.
Pros:
- Superb value for the buck
- Available in multiple color options
- Excellent ambient noise reduction
- Perfectly balanced soundstage
- Very durable cables
- Free carry case
Cons:
- Tangy cables
Conclusion
Weather you’re a drummer playing nightly gigs, or a kid that just got his first drum kit, this list should have a comfy option for anyone out there. Remember to analyze things from a perspective that suits the type of drummer that you are, and the type of headphones that you’ll need.
