9 Best Headphones for Guitar Amp (2024) – Peaceful Practice!

Audio-Technica has quickly become one of my favorite brands for studio headphones. And their ATH-M50x headphones do not disappoint for guitar practice!

These headphones are perhaps the best studio headphones for guitar players available. They boast an impressive frequency response of 15 Hz to 28 kHz. This is great because it allows you to fully appreciate the tone of your guitar and all of its various tonal features when using the built-in effects that modern and vintage amps offer.

So, the reason these headphones have such impressive frequency response is that AT used 45 mm drivers with rare earth neodymium magnets in their design. And if you've read my other reviews and articles, you know I'm not a fan of hyped frequency responses, but these are tuned for flat response, which means they're super accurate across the entire range.

I've used these when I'm setting up guitars for sessions and need to focus on dialing in the right sound with the whole band playing around me. The design of the contours around the ears is amazing for sound isolation. Even if I'm 5 feet from the drummer, I can still work on the guitar tone without any interruptions.

Guitar players have also given these headphones rave reviews, especially the nice low end when using seven-string or baritone guitars.

One really cool feature is that they're foldable and come in a nice drawstring bag, making them easy to take back and forth from home to the studio.

But, if I had to complain about one thing, it's the detachable cable. I can't tell you how many times I've gone home with headphones with detachable cables only to realize I forgot the cable at the studio. I'm sure I'm not the only one that's happened to, right?

Boss has been creating guitar effects for ages, so it's no surprise that they've come up with a smart way to practice the guitar without having to carry an amp everywhere. The Waza-Air wireless guitar headphone amp is a smooth way to plug in and move around.

It has high-quality headphones with 50mm drivers and a low-latency wireless transmitter. You don't even need to worry about carrying an instrument cable around, like in the days of those weird IK Multimedia iRig setups. Do you remember those?

One of the coolest features is Bluetooth compatibility. You can stream songs and play along with them. If you're a guitar player of my generation, this would have been a dream come true.

Of course, no guitar practice system would be complete without some nice Boss effects. They didn't only include amps but also effects from their Katana amplifiers, which are really lovely.

They could have stopped there, but they went one step further and created an app called the Boss Tone Studio app, where you can store presets. 

I checked out the app and had a blast creating various presets for different genres. I had one for clean, one for jazz, one for classic rock, one for metal, and so on. It was so much fun!

These must be the best guitar practice headphones out there. They might have earned that title from the Bluetooth streaming alone, but the fact that they included an onboard tuner is just mind-blowing.

The only issue that I wasn't thrilled with is that the device runs on a rechargeable lithium battery that only lasts for five hours of playtime. I'm not a fan of lithium batteries for wireless devices because they can't be easily swapped out.

Sennheiser and Audio-Technica are like head-to-head rivals when it comes to the best studio headphones. The HD 280 headphones are just gorgeous and they really stand out when it comes to transient response.

Now you might be wondering, "What's transient response got to do with guitar? It's not exactly a percussion instrument or a production tool." But I feel like being able to really listen to the detail of the guitar strings, their plucking, and overall rhythm actually helps you stay in time.

That's super important when you're practicing. From my experience, a lot of young guitar players tend to rush ahead of the beat when they're playing fast passages. 

I think that's partly because unlike drummers and piano players, who are very tuned to the attack quality of their instruments, electric guitar players sometimes get lost in the effects.

These headphones also have excellent frequency response, just like the Audio-Technica ones. They go from 8 Hz to 25 kHz, so a little bit lower but slightly less high. 

I don't think guitar players really need to go down to sub-harmonic levels like that, but it’s good for tracking.

I've used these headphones in a couple of sessions and also in practice, and I really dig their overall sound. To my ears, they're a little bit heavy on the bass. 

It doesn't affect your natural guitar tone as much, but if you start adding some pedals to your setup, it could get a little muddy on the low end.

One thing I do have to say is that these headphones are incredibly comfortable for practicing long hours - probably the most comfortable headphones that I've worn practicing guitar. They're not as heavy, which is a plus.

The Vox AC30 is a cool set of headphones designed for practicing guitar. They are modeled after the famous Vox AC30 Tweed amp that the Beatles made famous back in the day.

The best part is that these headphones are easy to use. You don't need to connect them to anything else to get your sound going. Just plug your guitar straight into the headphones, and you're good to go.

Plus, like the Boss Waza-Air, you can add some effects. There are three classic options to choose from: chorus, delay, and reverb.

One great thing about the Vox AC30 is that they run on AAA batteries instead of lithium-ion. That's a huge plus if you're comparing them to the Boss Waza-Air.

You can even listen to your favorite tunes with these headphones. Just plug your phone or other device into the port on the cup, and you're ready to roll.

However, there is some background noise that comes through when you use the auxiliary port. It's not the end of the world, but it's something to keep in mind.

Personally, I think Bluetooth is way better when it comes to sound quality. Have you ever tried to play music from your iPhone through one of those old-school aux inputs in your car? It's rough. So the fact that these headphones use an auxiliary port is kind of outdated, in my opinion.

All in all, the sound quality of the Vox AC30 is decent, but it's not going to blow your mind. That being said, if you're looking for convenience when you're on the go, these headphones are the way to go. 

Just plug them in and start jamming. It's simple and effective.

AKG is one of the heavyweights in Europe when it comes to top-notch microphones and headphones. I have these AKG K240 in the live room for all my guitar players, singers, and instrumentalists.

When it comes to recording guitar, getting the right rhythm or solo part can take numerous takes. Therefore, comfort is key.

The AKG K240 are the ideal headphones for guitar players because they won't cause discomfort after hours of use. The adjustable band is great because it minimizes the weight on your head.

Additionally, their semi-open back design makes them lighter and more comfortable for your ears. I would name these the most comfortable headphones for guitar.

And don't even think about sacrificing quality, these headphones have incredible acoustic isolation and a frequency response from 15 Hz to 25 kHz. That's up there with the competition.

Oh, and one more thing, they have replacement ear cups available. I mean, let's be real, when you're jamming for hours in a room full of musicians, you're going to get sweaty and could eventually ruin your headphones.

Now, here's the deal with their sound. Personally, I find them a little bright. It's not necessarily that they're hyped, it's just their technology, which is a high-quality low-impedance transducer, that actually over-accentuates highs to my ears.

They sound pretty cool when you're singing, mixing, or playing along to Spotify, but for guitar amps only, they could be a bit too bright for some people. 

It all comes down to personal taste of course.

Okay, so the Beyerdynamic DT 770 headphones are probably the most high-fidelity headphones in the group. They've got an insane frequency response of 5 Hz to 35 kHz. But, scientifically speaking, the human ear can only hear sounds between 20 Hz and 20 kHz.

Are the specs snake oil? Nah. It means that they can translate overtones and subharmonic low end better. Overtones are a big part of guitar amp recording and practicing because lots of guitar amp recordings have a fair amount of distortion.

In my case, I even use a SansAmp pedal before the actual amp to add extra boost and crunch. So, the richness of your sound when playing guitar has to do with how you hear the overtones and harmonics.

I wrote an article about this subject if you want to read more about it in detail. Concerning guitar, when dialing in really good distortion settings, the more highs you can hear, the better. That goes for balancing pedal board effects chains as well.

The cool thing about headphones like the DT 770 is that they are tailored and frequency-cued to diffuse field EQ effects. This means that even though you get some incredibly expanded high-end, it won't hurt your ears or affect your hearing. It will be the "air" that engineers and producers leave as a reference.

The only bummer about these headphones is that, although they're comfy, they do seem to be a little heavy around your ears and may cause some serious fatigue, which nobody wants.

Everyone knows Sony, right? They've been making some of the best home theater and even pro-grade studio equipment for decades. To me, Sony is a brand that audio enthusiasts can still take seriously.

Their MDR-7506 headphones are great for listening to music. When you put them on, everything sounds so immersive. It's almost like you're in a surround sound system.

I have to say, these headphones are also great for playing guitar. I always thought of them as more for mixing or vocals. But a couple of years ago, a friend of mine who's a guitar player used a pair while recording at Capitol Records. She's been using them ever since.

I asked her what made her use them for guitar, and she said that when she's dialing in some of her Eventide and streaming effects, she really wants to hear the full spectrum. It's almost like she's listening to them through professional studio monitors. 

I tried it, and I totally get what she's saying. If you're into sound design and ambient-style guitars, these headphones might be the best for guitar amp effects.

If you're a fan of artists like Daniel Lanois, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, and Blur, then these headphones are perfect for you. A lot of people don't realize how difficult it is to dial in complex effects for guitar, both for practice and performance. Having great headphones definitely helps.

The only downside is that Sony's strength is also its weakness. The headphones sound so beautiful that they aren't exactly accurate. So, if you're going to record, make sure you double-check that the engineer is hearing what you're hearing. But for playing live, I don't think it makes that big of a difference.

When I'm making beats, I always go for my trusty Sennheiser headphones. DJs and beatmakers all swear by them. And get this, they're pretty sweet for guitar too!

If I had to compare the HD 599 to something else, it would be the Sony headphones, which are maybe a little less natural-sounding. That's not a huge deal for practicing, but when it comes to recording, the Sonys might be a better choice.

Now, if you're into modern music and want to jam out with your guitar, then these headphones are definitely going to be your best bet. They have a way of letting every instrument in the mix occupy its own space, including your guitar. 

So even if you're playing along to songs with heavy bass and powerful beats, your guitar will still shine through. They really shine for transients and power.

And here's another important thing to remember: wearing these headphones won't fatigue your ears. When you're practicing, it's easy to get worn out from hearing the same thing over and over again. But with the Sennheisers, the separation between the track and your guitar's sound is just right.

Oh, and did I mention that Sennheiser knows you'll be jamming along to your devices? That's why they included converters for different types of playback systems. How cool is that?

Now, the only downside I can think of when it comes to Sennheiser headphones is that they seem to focus more on the lows and punch, and not so much on the highs. It's not a huge deal if you're just practicing with your guitar and amp, but if you're using a ton of crazy effects, it might be something to keep in mind.

Alright, let's talk about the Philips SHP9600 studio monitor headphones. Now, I know what you're thinking - Philips, the home appliance company? Yeah, they make screwdrivers too. But don't be too quick to judge because these headphones are pretty sweet.

When it comes to sound quality, I'd put them up there with Beats by Dr. Dre or Audeze. They have a super cool open-back design, and the 50mm driver delivers a modern, crisp sound that's surprisingly professional.

These headphones are made with professional-grade quality, using neodymium magnets to give you that bold guitar presence. They're perfect for jamming along with your Spotify tracks or mastered mixes, which is where they really shine.

They're super comfy and well-designed, from the gold-plated adapters to the reinforced headband, showing that a lot of care and quality went into making these headphones. As someone who spends hours practicing with a guitar amp, I love it when headphones are comfortable.

Even though the guitar isn't my first instrument, I picked it up about 5 years ago when I started doing more film scoring. One of my specialties is creating sound design with guitars. That's why headphones are important; when you use a lot of effects, you have to monitor the noise closely. These headphones are great for that.

However, these headphones are a bit heavier than some of the others we've talked about, weighing in at just under 3/4 of a pound. Now, I used them for a 55-minute session and felt fine, but some folks might feel the weight after longer sessions. Just for reference, I've used the AKGs and Sennheisers for up to 34 hours straight without feeling fatigued.