TOP 8 Best Headphones for Digital Piano Playing and Practice

Looking to make 2022 the year you find the best headphones for digital piano playing and practice? Then read on for the best the market has to offer!

The TOP 8 Best Headphones for Digital Piano Playing and Practice have been researched and tried and tested by users to bring you the best the market has to offer.

Piano is ranked in the top 10 most difficult instruments to learn. Hours can be spent playing the same section of a melody until you get it right. This is why owning a decent set of headphones is so important.

But what should you be looking for in headphones primarily for your digital piano?

Sound

For piano sound, headphones with neutral well-balanced sound and an even frequency response are ideal.

Comfort

For long practice and recording sessions, you will need a pair that provide enough comfort without getting too sweaty or heavy. You also need a padded headband that doesn’t exert too much pressure. The better the earpads, the better the sound isolation. This is another important feature of the best headphones for digital piano. You want enough external sound blocked out to be able to focus on playing, but not so much that you feel like you’re down a well. This is one of the reasons we don’t recommend getting a pair of wireless headphones for digital piano with noise cancelling features. The other reason is it can affect the sound quality of your audio.

Cable length

Is the cable supplied long enough? You need it to be long enough to give you some freedom of movement without getting disconnected, but not so long you get caught up in it! Obviously this would not be an issue with wireless headphones for digital piano, but as discussed wireless headphones are not great for digital instruments.

Connectivity

It is recommended that you go for a wired rather than wireless pair of headphones for your digital piano practice. Some digital pianos do have Bluetooth connectivity, but it is not designed to stream audio from your headphones. Instead, it is designed to stream audio from another device. The other danger with a Bluetooth connection, is latency or lagging of the audio.

Closed Back vs Open Back

The final consideration is the design of your headphones. Closed or open back? Closed back headphones give great bass response and noise isolation, making them great for focussed practice. The fit can be tighter and a little hot after extended periods of wear. But due to the larger ear cups, you may find that they are more comfortable on your ears. In terms of sound, closed back headphones will give a smaller soundstage than the open back headphones with less of a live feel.

Open back headphones provide less sound isolation than their closed back counterparts. But the soundstage is much wider, deeper and spacious, and you will get more natural sound, making for a more “live” feel to your practice. The open back option is also great for ASMR (The Best Headphones for ASMR). The downside is that the open back design allows more external noise in. So, not great if you live in a household with noisy children or pets, or on a noisy street. Of course, this could also be a benefit if you need to pay attention to your surroundings while you’re playing. Open back headphones provide an airier and cooler fit due to the wired mesh on the earcups that allow air flow. This can make them more comfortable for extended periods of time.

Introducing the TOP 8 Best Headphones for Digital Piano Playing and Practice!

Tried and tested by users to bring you the best the market has to offer.

Good quality noise isolation 

Great sound quality

Lightweight design

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Get that pro performer feel with Audio-Technica. These professional studio monitoring headphones feature 45mm large-aperture drivers, soft isolating ear cups and copper clad aluminium voice coils. Enjoy clear, detailed sound with deep bass and an extended frequency range. The rich low-end resonances, shiny highs and concert hall feels, make these the best headphones for digital piano.

The over-ear, over-sized design ensures long lasting comfort for long practice sessions and deliver good noise isolation from unwanted external noise. Need to take your practice on the go? These headphones are collapsible and portable.

Specifications Pros Cons
Closed back, over ear Sound quality Heavy and bulky
Wired with detachable cable Portability
 
45mm dynamic drivers Comfortable fit
 
Frequency Response 16Hz-22kHz Noise isolation
 
Impedance 70 ohms Solid build quality
 

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Austrian Audio Hi-X15

Austria has been home to some of the world’s most famous pianists, so it is no surprise they have also made and designed some of the best headphones for digital piano playing. The Audio Hi-X15 are designed to deliver clear, precise sound with the use of High Excursion technology giving you high quality, low distortion sound even at the lowest frequencies. The design is as assertive as the sound profile, with a black, silver and red design, soft-cushioned ear cups and a solid durable headband. Get serious about your playing and practice with these best headphones for digital piano.

Specifications Pros Cons
Closed back, over-ear Sturdy build quality A rigid fit
Drivers dynamic, closed Great value for money Short cable
Frequency response 12Hz-24kHz Good sound quality
 
Impedance 25 ohms
 
 
Wired with detachable cable
 
 

 

Shure SRH440

With Shure you are guaranteeing quality. The Shure SRH440A headphones offer a more transparent, natural and accurate sound profile than the Audio Technica ATH-M50X. The frequency response range goes a little lower, but the drivers are the same 40mm neodymium drivers. In terms of fit and style, these provide more comfort than either the Audio-Technica or Austrian Audio’s above. As a result, the noise isolation is also better with Shure. Like the other 2 above, these headphones feature a removable cable, giving you greater versatility and freedom. The collapsible design only adds to this and makes these some of the best headphones for digital piano practice at home, in the studio and during performances.

Specifications Pros Cons
Closed back, over ear Detailed, clear sound Heavy cable
Drivers dynamic, neodymium magnet Collapsible design  
Frequency response 10Hz-22kHz Sturdy build quality  
Impedance 40 ohms    
Wired with detachable cable  

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Yamaha HPH-100

If you’re looking for the best headphones for digital piano playing and practice, then look no further than Yamaha. They make great pianos, and these headphones are specifically designed to reproduce the unique sound needed for an intensely satisfying practice. The 40mm dynamic drivers deliver high quality, dynamic sound with rich tones to bring out the best in you during practice and performance. The design is flexible, compact, comfortable and lightweight, with swivelling ear cups that mould to your ears. The cable on these headphones is detachable like the others above and designed to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Specifications Pros Cons
Closed back, over ear Optimised for digital pianos No headband padding
40mm dynamic, closed drivers Lightweight design Build doesn’t look very sturdy
Frequency response 20Hz-20kHz Great sound reproduction  
Impedance 46 ohms    
Wired, detachable cable    

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Roland RH-5

Like Yamaha, Roland know pianos and other digital instruments and have made some of the best headphones for digital piano. They have designed these headphones for everyday solo practice, music making, studio mixing and just plain listening. The 40mm drivers deliver clear, invigorated, dynamic sound with a balanced response for a range of digital instruments. These drivers are encased in lightweight, plastic ear cups with lightweight leatherette padding, offering the perfect comfort for long practice and recording sessions.

Specifications Pros Cons
Closed back, over ear Perfect for digital pianos Plasticky build
40mm dynamic drivers Extra long cable Non-removable cable
Frequency response 10Hz-22kHz Lightweight  
Impedance 32 ohms Great value for money  
Wired non-detachable cable    

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Kawai SH-9

Kawai have teamed up with a leading piano manufacturer and Audio-Technica, to bring you high-performance headphones specifically for digital and hybrid pianos. With Audio-Technica influenced 40mm drivers, a perfect frequency response range, and a semi-open back design, you will experience solid, clear, rich sound reproduction. These headphones will allow you hours of comfortable playing with padded over-ear, ear cups and an adjustable padded headband. If you’re looking for the best headphones for digital piano playing, these should definitely be at the top of your list.

Specifications Pros Cons
Semi-open back, over ear Designed specifically for digital pianos Heavier than other brands
40mm dynamic drivers Semi-open design  
Frequency response 20Hz-20kHz Comfortable fit  
Impedance 47 ohms    
Wired non-detachable cable    

AKG K72

These closed back AKG K72 headphones are one of the best headphones for digital piano. They are under $100, provide good sound and a comfortable fit and design. The 40mm drivers produce sensitive, yet powerful sound and the frequency response range provides the detail. These AKG headphones have a unique acoustic chamber found between the earcup and the hinge to produce a balanced high frequency response. The low impedance level of these headphones means the sound reproduction is as good on your digital piano as it will be on your phone or studio equipment. The breathable earpads, self-adjusting headband and lightweight  design guarantee a comfortable, airy feeling fit or hours of practice time.

Specifications Pros Cons
Closed back, over ear Lightweight, comfortable design Bulky design
40mm dynamic drivers Great value for money  
Frequency response 16Hz-20kHz Good sound quality  
Impedance 32 ohms Versatile  
Wired non-detachable     

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Roland RH-A7

Experience a truly immersive musical experience with the Roland RH-A7. Designed specifically for digital piano’s, these headphones will allow you to experience the full dynamics of your piano day or night. Roland have used an open-back design for a fuller, more natural sound. This feature also provides enhanced comfort, along with the soft suede earpads, offering up a luxurious feel. The 40mm drivers and open air design provide dynamic, nuanced sound, crystal highs and booming lows.

Specifications Pros Cons
Open back, over ear Lightweight, breathable design Sound leakage
40mm dynamic closed drivers Open back  A bit bulky
Frequency response: 10Hz – 25kHz Comfortable   
Impedance: 34Ω Natural sound  
Wired non-detachable design    

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Sony MDR-7506

Experience superb quality sound and isolation with these over-ear, closed back, wired Sony MDR7506 headphones. They are designed for sound monitoring in recording studios, radio, film production, video and electronic news gathering so will give you clear, detailed, full spectrum sound. They have a frequency response of 10-20000Hz which is sufficiently low to pick up even the lowest piano frequencies. The large over ear cups and padded headband deliver a high level of comfort for long practice sessions. The closed back design and good fit provide a good seal for noise isolation so you can enjoy your practice anytime, anywhere.

Specifications Pros Cons
Over ear, closed back Great sound quality Bulky
40mm dynamic drivers Sturdy design
Frequency Response: 10-20000Hz Comfortable fit  
Impedance: 63 ohms Long anti-tangle cord   
Connection: Wired Includes a carrying bag and ¼ adapter  

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Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO

These closed over-ear headphones are designed with piano playing and practice in mind. Suitable for all types and brands of piano, these headphones are great for focussed practice and composition due to their unique noise isolation technology. These are a favourite amongst famous musicians and performers. Beyerdynamic’s design provides ultimate comfort for long term use, although their ear cups can get a little hot. The Bass Reflex technology will give you clear, defined, powerful sound when playing and listening, making them the best headphones for digital piano. You can choose from 3 levels of impedance. The best for digital piano is the 32 ohm version. Not only is this the closest match to the output of your piano amp, but also allows for greater versatility with other devices and recording equipment.

Specifications Pros Cons
Closed back, over ear Clear, well defined, powerful sound with Bass reflex technology Earpads can get a little hot
45mm dynamic Tesla Neodynium Good quality noise isolation   
Frequency Response: 5Hz-45kHz Velour earpads for comfort  
Impedance: 16-250 Ω Robust German build  
Wired connection    

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The Final Chord…

On the best headphones for digital piano playing and practice is to go with a set that suit your individual needs and sound preferences. Those listed above are over ear, wired headphones. If you are looking for a wireless option for increased versatility or gym use then head over to our article showing the best wireless over ear headphones for working out

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Paul Goral

I am the founder of North Creek Music and I have a master’s degree in Engineering Acoustics. Sound is my passion. I wanted to start this blog and share my passion with others.

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