Headphones

Headphones for Sale

Headphones are everywhere you look, but they’re not all designed for the same listening purposes. If you’re in a noisy environment like the subway, you may prioritize features like noise cancellation. If you’re in a recording studio, you’ll want music headphones that deliver the highest level of accuracy and fidelity. If you’re a student who wants a casual pair for lunch-break streaming, you may care more about size, price and portability. At Music & Arts, you’ll find high-quality, affordable headphones for sale to suit every situation.

Choosing the Right Music Headphones

From music producers to DJs to ordinary consumers, everyone has unique needs. Selecting the right music headphones all boils down to function and listening preferences.

Headphone Basics:

In-Ear (Earbuds and In-Ear Monitors)

In-ear music headphones rest in or at the entrance of the ear canal. Many models feature sealing tips that provide noise isolation and enhance bass response. They’re the smallest and most portable, which makes them ideal for the gym and public transportation. Their downsides include ear fatigue, battery-life concerns for wireless models, a narrower soundstage and the fact that their size makes them easier to lose.

On-Ear (Supra-Aural)

On-ear music headphones feature padded cups that sit directly on your outer ear. Compared to over-ear models, they’re lighter and more compact. When it comes to downsides, they let in and leak more sound, and they can apply pressure to the ear that some users find uncomfortable. Once ubiquitous in the Walkman era, they’re less popular now.

Over-Ear (Circumaural)

Over-ear music headphones feature large cups that fully surround your ears. They’re often the most comfortable option for long recording or listening sessions, and typically offer the best sound as well as noise cancellation. The downside here is primarily their size and weight, which limit portability.

Open-Back vs. Closed-Back Headphones

When shopping for over-ear music headphones, you’ll come across the terms “open-back” and “closed-back.” Open-back headphones have perforated or mesh ear cups that let air and sound pass through, so outside noise reaches your ears and your music leaks out. This design produces a wider, more natural soundstage, making them ideal for quiet environments and mixing sessions.

Closed-back headphones have sealed ear cups that block some outside noise and keep sound from escaping. That makes them well suited to recording, where you don't want audio bleeding into a microphone, and to noisy places like airplanes. The tradeoff is usually a narrower, less spacious sound.

Headphone Applications:

• Studio and professional monitoring: Studio music headphones are designed for accurate, neutral sound reproduction and detailed listening. These are the clear choice, as the name suggests, for a studio environment — for recording, mixing and editing, where uncolored clarity and balance are critical.
• DJ and live use: DJ headphones are built for the loud, intense environment of a live performance. For that reason, durability, audio isolation and comfort are top priorities, making it easier to cue tracks and monitor mixes.
• Wireless and everyday listening: Not everyone is recording an album or staging a DJ set — and, luckily, there are plenty of ideal music headphones for the everyday listener. Between Bluetooth headphones, Bluetooth earbuds and consumer headphones, there are numerous wired and wireless options in various styles. Noise-canceling headphones are perfect for travel or busy environments, helping you focus on music by reducing background distractions.
• Amplification: There’s an entire other universe of headphone amplifiers and mixers, which provide additional power and control for particular setups and scenarios. Whether you’re an audiophile listening at home or a studio musician balancing multiple sound sources, there are plenty of options to explore.

For more information on choosing the best music headphones for you, check out our headphone and earphone buying guide.

Shop Headphones at Music & Arts

At Music & Arts, we offer music headphones for a variety of applications, from studio monitoring to DJ performances to everyday use. Shop online for convenience or visit a local store for in-person guidance on our best headphones for sale.

Headphone Buying FAQs

How do I choose headphones for long listening sessions?

If sound quality is essential, you’ll need to take that into account. But in general, you should prioritize comfort for extended listening. After all, the last thing you want is to feel excess pressure and heat after a long mixing session. If you’re shopping in person, you might want to compare in-ears, on-ears and over-ears, noting which feels most natural for the size and shape of your ears. (For example, you may feel most comfortable with over-ear headphones where the cup covers your entire ear, not just part of it.)

Can the same headphones be used for DJing and everyday listening?

If you’re an ordinary listener who wouldn’t know a PA from an LP, you might be better off pursuing a conventional pair. That said, DJ headphones are designed to be durable and powerful, with propulsive bass response and plenty of volume. As always, it’s all subjective. If you try out a pair of DJ headphones for casual listening, you might just love them.