- Discover our top 5 headphones for electronic drums
- Learn the benefits of drumming with headphones
- Find out what to look for when choosing a pair
- Also, check out our post on the best headphones for drummers!
Electronic drum sets are becoming increasingly popular. That is because they allow drummers to practice quietly while still being able to produce quality drum sounds.
Electronic drum sets don’t have a great acoustic sound. So, a decent set of drumming headphones is essential.
Confronted with a world of choice, finding useful information in between the marketing jargon is not always easy. Not to worry; you are in good hands here.
We have put together a list of the best headphones for e-drums for any level of drummer to suit every budget.
Every set of drumming headphones was tested on the following categories:
- Sound quality
- Durability and build
- Comfort
- Affordability
What Are The Best Headphones For Electronic Drums?
Our Pick is the Beyerdynamic DT770. It combines outstanding features with value for money.
Our Budget Pick is the Alesis DRP100. A feature-packed set of headphones comes in at around the $50 USD mark.
The best Premium Pick is the Roland V-Drums RH300V.
With that out of the way, our top 5 picks for the best headphones available for drummers are:
- Beyerdynamics DT770 (Our Pick)
- Alesis DRP100 (Best Budget)
- Roland RH-300V V-Drum (Best Premium)
- Vic Firth SIH2
- Sony MDR 7506
1. Beyerdynamic DT770 (Our Pick)
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro closed studio headphones provide professional-quality sound for critical listening applications. Whether you're in the control room or on the recording floor, Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones are made to deliver accurate sound while providing a very comfortable fit — a real necessity for long sessions.
- Crisp, clear mids, punchy low-end
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
It’s no surprise that the DT770 is our top pick. The headphones provide the perfect balance between build, quality, price, and sound isolation and reproduction.
These headphones are a great practice and studio tool.
Key Features:
- Closed back
- Beyerdynamics’ “Bass Reflex” gives exceptional low-end response
- Soft ear pads and adjustability make them comfortable for long periods
- Sound quality is neutral for recording and studio monitoring
- Prices start at about $130
Review
These headphones are by quite a long way my headphone of choice. Full disclosure I am a long-time Beyerdynamics fan, but biased or not, they have done a great job here.
Beyerdynamics’ proprietary “Bass Reflex” system does an awesome job of sound reproduction, and I can’t fault the lows, mids, or highs
The over-ear design and soft fabric ear pads make these headphones comfortable to wear during marathon practice sessions, long studio sessions, and everything in between.
The build quality is rugged and sturdy, so you won’t be afraid that dropping them will ruin your day.
They come in at a fairly high price point, starting around the $130 USD mark. That will be unsuitable if you are on a budget or just looking for a pair of headphones when needed.
Overall, an excellent choice for beginners, intermediates, and pros alike.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality
- Very comfortable
- Great low-end
Cons
- May be too pricey for some
2. Alesis DRP100 (Best Value)
The DRP100 headphones from Alesis allow you to realize your drum kit sounds exactly the way you want. These high-quality 'phones were purposefully built for electronic drum monitoring, and it shows.
- Accurate sound reproduction
- Good audio isolation
- Extremely affordable
Although this set of headphones comes in at a budget-friendly price point, don’t think you will be short-changed.
These headphones are a pleasure to use, with features comparable to much more expensive alternatives.
Key Features:
- Lightweight
- Built specifically for drum monitoring
- Very affordable
Review
The Alesis DRP100 is made specifically with electronic drums in mind. You can hear that from the outset. The sound reproduction from these headphones makes playing with them a breeze.
The phones feature a 40mm diaphragm, which, according to Alesis, allows for the wide dynamic range of a standard drum kit.
The quality of sound from these headphones is astonishing at this price point. I am a huge fan of those really clear highs and growly low ends. The headphones are extremely comfortable, and their over-ear design offers good sound isolation.
Unfortunately, a place where money saving can be seen is in durability. The silicon headband tends to wear quickly, so keep that in mind when shopping. It wasn’t a deal-breaker for me; if I was on a budget, this is 100% the set I would get.
Pros
- Affordable
- Fantastic audio isolation
- Adjustable “sweat-proof” silicon headband
- Prices start at around $50
Cons
- A bit bulky
- Could have had a longer cable
- Build quality is not as good as it could be
If you’re a fan of Alesis check out our review of the Nitro Mesh Kit here.
3. Roland RH-300V V-Drum (Best Premium)
Roland's RH-300V headphones are optimized for monitoring while playing V-Drums. From your bass drum to your cymbals, the RH-300Vs are designed to deliver punchy, accurate sound.
- Optimized for V-Drums
- Good bass response
- Clear, crisp highs
For drummers looking to invest in a long-term pair of headphones, Roland does a great job with the RH-300V V-Drums. The 50mm neodymium driver and exceptional sound quality make this premium choice a no-brainer.
Key Features:
- Closed back
- 50mm driver
- 8ft2 cable length
Review
This premium pair of headphones come at a base price of $199 USD. Roland has been at the forefront of electronic drumming since its earliest days, and its headphone offering does not disappoint.
This is another redesign. Based on the popular RH-300, Roland redesigned the RH-300V to make it specifically for electronic drums, even more specifically for Roland’s V-Drums.
The padded headband and earpieces make them a comfortable fit, and the sound reproduction is exceptionally good.
One small thing to note is that the sound can be a bit trebly for some drummers, so if that is a deal-breaker for you, maybe look at another option
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality
- Wide frequency response
- Captures crisp and clear highs while maintaining a steady low-end
Cons
- Expensive, so it may price-out drummers on a budget
4. Vic Firth SIH2
Vic Firth SIH2 Stereo Isolation Headphones offer the full-range feedback and hearing protection you need to perform at the top of your game, night after night.
- Solid low-end, clean mids, clear highs
- Padded headband and earpieces
- Reduces outside noise
A redesign of Vic Firth’s popular SIH sound isolation headphones, the SIH V2 features upgraded headbands and a much larger driver to give decent low-end while maintaining clean mids and clear highs.
Key Features:
- 50mm dynamic speaker Mylarcon
- Can reduce outside noise by up to 20dB
- Padded headband and earpieces make for playing comfort
- Prices start at around $85
Review
The update to Vic Firth’s SIH headphones brings some great improvements. The first of these is a brilliant low-end. The original SIH headphones drew some criticism from drummers that felt the headphones produced a “too sharp” tone, especially in the low end.
That is no longer the case, and a meaty low-end, clean mids come with an improved diaphragm.
The SIH2 also has a 20-decibel noise reduction. This feature alone is worth the $80 price tag. Nothing is more precious to me than my hearing, and loud drums are not great for that.
Anything that helps me keep doing what I do for longer is okay by me.
The padded headband and earpieces make them a comfortable fit for long sessions.
A great balance of value and features makes these headphones worth a look.
Pros
- High level of sound isolation
- Good audio quality
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Felt a little more unwieldy than other models
- Leatherette ear pads got very sweaty
5. Sony MDR 7506
The Sony MDR-7506s are exceptionally affordable headphones that give you studio-quality sound and impressive sound isolation.
- Good sound isolation and quality
- Sturdy and reliable build quality
- Padded earpieces make them very comfortable
A reasonably budget-friendly offering from Sony. Although they have smaller drivers than many other models mentioned, that does not hold them back in terms of sound quality.
While the folding design and free carry bag make the headphones extremely portable.
Key Features:
- Closed back
- Lightweight and portable
- Folding design
- Good sound reproduction with good lows, relatively clear mids, and nice clean highs
Review
The Sony MDR range has been a staple in the audio industry for almost three decades. That has to say something about the quality of these headphones. The sound reproduction is superb and backed by a good design.
The headphones are light and portable, while the padded headband and the earpieces provide a comfortable fit. With prices starting below $80 USD, this offering from Sony is worth a second look.
I will add that if you wear glasses as I do, you might find the fit a little uncomfortable after a while.
Pros
- Lightweight, very portable
- Tried and true industry standard
- Great sound quality
Cons
- Not made specifically for drums
FAQs
Can You Use Any Headphones With Electronic Drums?
All electronic drum kits come with a headphone jack, and any set of headphones will work. To get the best out of the kit, look for a neutral sound, like studio monitor headphones.
Remember that standard headphones come with a standard 3.5mm jack when using regular headphones. Some electronic drum kits use a quarter-inch jack. You may need to get an adapter to connect your headphones.
They are widely available online.
Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones With Electronic Drums?
Yes, you can use Bluetooth headphones with electronic drums, although I wouldn’t advise it. Bluetooth has some latency issues, which means there’s sometimes a delay between hitting the drum and hearing the sound.
An issue that doesn’t happen often with wired headphones.
How Do You Connect Bluetooth Headphones To Roland V-Drums?
The Roland TD-17 V-drums have a wireless Bluetooth connectivity feature. When this is enabled, you can connect your mobile device directly to the kit with playback through the drum module.
To connect V-Drum Bluetooth, follow the following steps:
- Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your mobile device
- Place your device near the module or dock
- Select the “Bluetooth” option using the dial on the module
- Press F1 to pair
- On your mobile device, go to the Bluetooth menu and tap “TD-17 AUDIO”
- The module screen will display “connected” when the device is paired
Before you go, check out our post on wether Electronic Drums Need An Amp?