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Buyer's guide

Best Headphones for Electronic Drums

For an e-kit you want closed-back headphones that seal in sound and handle the kick's low end — not earbuds. All three below are closed-back studio monitors that work for practice now and recording later.

By Sashko · Updated August 19, 2026

Illustration for “Best Headphones for Electronic Drums”
Best overall

Sony MDR7506

Beginners who want one long-lasting pair for practice and recording

Check price
Budget pick

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x

First practice headphones for most beginners

Check price
Upgrade pick

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Committed beginners who also want to record and mix

Check price

Why trust these picks →

What to look for

Closed-back, over-ear — not earbuds

An e-kit still makes noise: sticks on mesh or rubber, the pedal thumping, your foot on the floor. Closed-back over-ear cups seal around your ear and cover that clatter, so you can hear the module and a play-along track without cranking the volume. Earbuds and open-back headphones let the pad noise straight in, which pushes you to turn up louder than you need to.

Cable length and the plug on the end

Drum modules often use a 1/4 inch (6.3 mm) headphone jack, while most headphones ship with a 3.5 mm plug — so check that an adapter is included or budget a couple of dollars for one. Length matters too: a short cord means you're tethered close to the module, and a long one reaches a laptop or interface across the room. Whether the cable detaches is a real tradeoff — a fixed cord that fails can mean replacing the whole pair, while a detachable cable is a cheap swap.

Enough low end to hear your kick

The kick pedal on an e-kit is mostly low frequency, and small or tinny headphones can make it hard to tell whether your foot landed with your hand. Look for over-ear studio-style headphones with 40 mm drivers or larger — that's the common size range in this price bracket and it's plenty for practice. You don't need bass-heavy "gaming" cans; a fairly even sound helps more once you start recording.

Comfort for a 30–60 minute sit

Practice sessions are where cheap headphones show their weakness: clamp pressure builds, cups get warm, and glasses arms press into your head. If you wear glasses, softer or deeper earpads tend to help, and it's worth taking the pair off for a minute between exercises either way. If a pair hurts, you'll practice less — that's a real buying criterion, not a luxury.

Wired only, at least for drumming

Bluetooth adds a small delay between your stick hitting the pad and the sound arriving, and even a little lag makes your timing feel wrong. Stick with a wired pair for the kit; use your wireless ones for listening away from the drums. Any money you'd spend on wireless features is better put toward build quality.

Our picks

PickProductCordDriversEar placementFrequency responseCableWarrantyIn the boxPrice
Best overallSony MDR7506Sony9.8 ft, gold-plated plug, non-detachable40 mmOver ear, closed back10 Hz - 20 kHz———Check price
Budget pickAudio-Technica ATH-M20xAudio-Technica—40 mmOver ear (circumaural)—Single-side exit, wired2 years, parts and labor—Check price
Upgrade pickAudio-Technica ATH-M50xAudio-Technica—45 mm large apertureOver ear (circumaural)—Detachable, 3 included—Pouch, 6.3 mm adapterCheck price
Best overall$$ · Mid-range

Sony MDR7506

Sony

Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone | MDR-7506, 40mm drivers, 10Hz-20kHz

Best for: Beginners who want one long-lasting pair for practice and recording

  • 9.8 ft cord reaches from the kit to a laptop or interface without an extension
  • Comes with a 1/4 inch adapter, so it plugs into modules and amps directly
  • Folds into the included soft case for travel to lessons or band practice
  • Long-standing studio standard; reviewers report years of use
  • Cord is not detachable and only a 90-day warranty is listed
  • Costs roughly twice a basic entry pair, which is a lot alongside a first kit
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick$ · Budget

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, Black

Best for: First practice headphones for most beginners

  • Closed over-ear design blocks a fair amount of kit noise so you can hear play-along tracks
  • 40 mm drivers tuned with a bit of extra low end, useful for hearing kick and bass lines
  • Reviewers call build quality solid rather than flimsy at this price
  • 2-year warranty on parts and labor
  • Cable is fixed and not detachable, so a damaged cord means new headphones
  • One reviewer noted the fit gets uncomfortable if you wear glasses
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick$$$ · Premium

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, Black, Professional Grade, Critically Acclaimed, with Detachable Cable | Includes 3 cables, pouch and 6.3mm adapter for monitoring, mixing and tracking

Best for: Committed beginners who also want to record and mix

  • Detachable cable — three cables included, so a worn cord is a cheap fix
  • 45 mm drivers give clear detail across the range with solid bass
  • Earcups swivel 90 degrees for one-ear monitoring while tracking
  • 2-year warranty and a pouch plus 6.3 mm adapter in the box
  • Priced well above what a first practice pair needs to cost
  • One reviewer felt they sound best with a headphone amp, an extra purchase
Check price on Amazon

How we picked

We looked for closed-back, wired, over-ear pairs that handle a kick drum's low end, plug into a drum module without hunting for parts, and hold up to being pulled off a hi-hat stand every day. The ATH-M20x is here because it covers what a first practice pair needs and has a 2-year warranty, at the cost of a fixed cable. The MDR7506 earns its spot on cord length and a bundled 1/4 inch adapter for people who want one pair for practice and recording; the ATH-M50x is the pick only if you're already sure you'll record, since its main advantages — bigger drivers, swiveling cups, three detachable cables — matter more at a desk than on a practice pad.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need headphones for an electronic kit, or can I use the speakers?
You need something, and headphones are the cheapest route. Most drum modules have a small built-in speaker or none at all, so without headphones you're playing to a thin sound and hearing mostly pad clatter. A drum amp or monitor works too, but it costs more and it's louder for everyone else in the house.
Can I use my regular earbuds or wireless headphones?
Earbuds work in a pinch but they let pad and pedal noise in, which nudges you to turn the volume up. Wireless headphones add a small delay between hit and sound, and that lag makes your timing feel off — stick with a wired pair for the kit.
Why do headphones for drums cost more than cheap ones from a supermarket?
You're mostly paying for build quality and comfort over long sessions, not fancy sound. A budget studio pair around the price of the ATH-M20x is a fine place to start, and there's no need to spend more until you're recording or your first pair breaks. If money is tight right now, borrow a wired over-ear pair you already own and see how far it gets you.
Will headphones protect my hearing while I play?
Closed-back headphones cover some of the pad and pedal noise, which means you can keep the volume lower than you otherwise would — that's the useful part. They aren't hearing protection, and turning them up loud to drown out the kit works against you. Set the module just loud enough to hear the parts clearly, and take breaks.
Do I need a headphone amp?
Not for practicing on an e-kit — the module's headphone output drives normal studio headphones fine. A headphone amp becomes relevant later if you're running a quiet interface or want more volume headroom for mixing, and it's a separate purchase you can put off.
What's the difference between the 3.5 mm and 1/4 inch plug?
They're the same signal, different sizes: 3.5 mm is the small plug on phones and laptops, 1/4 inch (6.3 mm) is the larger one on drum modules and amps. Some headphones include a screw-on adapter; if yours don't, one costs very little at any music shop. Check before you order so your first practice session isn't spent looking for a part.
Should I get open-back headphones since people say they sound better?
Open-back cups do sound more spacious, but they leak sound both ways — kit noise in, your practice track out to the room. For playing drums, the seal of a closed-back pair is worth more than the extra air. Save open-back for quiet listening if you ever want a second pair.

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