If you are looking for a new pair of headphones for watching movies, we have prepared the following list for you.
If you enjoy watching movies, you have surely experienced a situation when you can’t turn on your surround system, but you still want to enjoy that awesome sound to the fullest. Using the right headphones might be a long-term solution for such issues.
A pair of good headphones can solve a lot of problems and let your mom and your neighbor’s sleep would be just the beginning. Decreasing the overall noise level and enjoying the detailed and interesting sound, while maintaining a high comfort level even after a long movie marathon is things to be considered when choosing your best headphones for watching movies.
These are far from all requirement we may have.
What to consider
When choosing your headphones for watching movies there are a few things to consider:
- The ability to reproduce the places of musical instruments or other sound sources in your head is referred to as soundstage.
- Good lows are critical when you would like to enjoy a movie. Boosting mid-low frequencies, a little can be quite beneficial to your listening experience. However, a little too much might just ruin everything, making the audio muddy.
- In some of our favorite movies there are often sound details which can fall even deeper into the overall atmosphere of the movie. Therefore, refinement of your headphones sound is of major importance.
- Comfort is also not to be underestimated. With movies lasting an hour, two or even more, you need to consider the comfort your headphones provide. If the phones are too tight they may cause ear pain. That is why over-ear headphones designs are often preferred.
- Connectivity is another main feature to consider. Bluetooth, wireless or wired connection depends on your needs. Nevertheless, nothing beats the signal running through the cable.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x – For those who like an awesome bass depth
An all-time favorite, ever since its introduction, this is the Audio-Technica ATH M50x. And Audio-Technica seems to have covered all you need. They are lightweight and pretty comfortable even when spending long hours watching and listening to your favorite stuff.
In addition to this, the ATH M50x has a nice level of noise cancellation and at a price of about $120, there’s hardly something more you could wish for.
The guys at Audio-Technica, however, don’t leave it there. With the new changeable cable and the three different cables included, the M50 is now even better.
Construction
The over-ear design of the M50x is just one of the major differences with most other headphones in the price class. Made mostly out of plastic, Audio-Technica’s M50x has an inlaid metal ring in the ear cups and a steel-reinforced headband.
Although these headphones are pretty big, they are not too big and don’t stick out of your head too much.
The one main improvement from the M50, which we mentioned above, is that they now have a removable cable. Actually, they have included three cables: 1×1.20m and 2x3m longer cables (a coiled and a straight one).
The M50x is foldable and work great with mobile devices.
Sound Quality
Audio-Technica’s M50x has a very appealing sound. They provide a powerful, beefy low-end, without clogging the sound up.
At this price, the sound range provided by the M50x is indeed a rarity even for closed-back headphones.The high end is detailed, smooth and makes the sound quite lively.
Because there’s a little too much bass, these headphones are probably not the best options for studio monitors. They are actually far better suited for leisure listening than professional use, and this in our case would only be a plus to your cinematic experience.
There is a little low-end resonance, however, when listening to music separation is well kept, which ensures the emphasized bass does not mess with anything else.
With more power and awesome bass depth, the M50xs are perfect for gaming and movies where those extra lows can only add to the impact of your favorite scenes.
Sound Isolation
Although such large over-ear headphones usually come with amazing external noise cancellation, with the M50x that is not the case.
This is not to say the noise cancellation is bad but it is no more than just good.
This could prove to be an issue if you are trying to use the M50x for monitoring your drums perhaps. But such extreme noise levels are can’t really exist when using the headphones for watching movies. It is sufficient to enjoy a late-night movie marathon without bringing your sleeping girlfriend’s wrath on yourself.
Conclusion
With their awesome sound, leveling up to what headphones twice the price of the M50 would produce, and the pinch of additional bass, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x might not be the perfect pair for a studio, but they are surely a top-rank consideration when choosing new headphones for watching movies. And there is hardly anything else to ask for.
Pros
- Powerful low-frequency range
- Nice stereo imaging and separation
- Great price for what’s offered
Cons
- Overemphasized bass
- Isolation could be better
Sennheiser HD419 – For those who like comfy plush cushions
Sennheiser has built a reputation over the years for creating some of the best headphones out there, and the Sennheiser HD419 is yet another amazing pair.
Construction
With its circumaural (or over-the-ear) design, the HD419 covers your ears completely. The HD419s aren’t noised canceling but still dampen the ambient noise.
Although big and bulky the HD419s are light and made all out of durable plastic material. They weren’t exactly made with portability in mind, however, enjoying your favorite sci-fi movie on the couch does not require you to go out.
Being large and bulky, as well as the fact that these headphones don’t fold should convince you to keep them home.Still, Sennheiser’s HD419 is pretty lightweight at around 200 grams but they are nonetheless durable.
The headband is flexible but doesn’t provide any options to adjust it.
Comfort is guaranteed even after numerous hours of wearing the Sennheiser HD419 by its soft plush cushions.
Sound Quality
Packing a pair of large drivers, the HD419 provides great quality of sound with a cool punch in the lows and some warm mids. These headphones provide a full-range of acoustics, with clear percussive and bass-enhanced sounds.
With an impedance of 32Ohm, the HD419s are suitable for use on MP3 players, phones, and other mobile devices, however, the volume isn’t too high.
They would work pretty well for watching movies at home, though.
The Sennheiser HD419 doesn’t have the best detail, but the sound imaging is decently accurate so games and epic movies can be enjoyed to the fullest.
Sound Isolation
Sound isolation was obviously not taken in mind when creating the HD419s, so they probably aren’t the best choice for more demanding environments.
Conclusion
At a price of fifty bucks or so, the Sennheiser HD419 headphones provide a sound quality above the average for the price range. The bass is handled well, and so are the mids. Not to mention they are quite comfy with their plush cushions.
So, if you want a pair of headphones to watch movies with and you don’t want to go overboard with the investments, you should definitely consider the HD419s.
Pros
- Decent sound quality above the average for the price range
- Affordable
- Durable and comfortable
Cons
- The cable is changeable and looks a little weak
- Not portable
- Large and bulky
Panasonic RP-HTF600S – For those who like a bass boost
Panasonic’s RP HTF600S are considered amongst the best headphones one can buy on a budget. These cans are full-size semi-open monitoring headphones and come at a price of just around $60.
The package includes some pretty decent sound too.
Construction
The HTF600S is built to be simple and tough. It is made almost entirely out of plastic, with a few metal components, and almost no moving parts, apart from the headband adjustment mechanism.
Ear cups and headband padding were made of synthetic materials which at tie can get hot but still fairly comfortable.The thick cable is single-sided and, since the HTF600 are marketed as studio monitors, it is quite long.
Sound Quality
The Panasonic RP HTF600S headphones have an overall well-balanced sound with some boost on the low end. This makes them ideal for watching movies. The bass is strong and has decent depth, but it isn’t too much. The midrange is smooth and provides a good level of detail. Trebles are well-balanced and airy.
With plenty of widths, depth and height to the soundstage these Panasonics should do for an awesome pair of headphones for watching movies.
Sound Isolation
Due to the semi-open design, the isolation is significantly limited.
Conclusion
The Panasonic RP HTF600S at an excellent value, while the sound quality is way beyond anything in the price class.
The bass impact is plentiful but does barely take away anything from the clarity, detail and spacious presentation.The bass boost will definitely add a little more emotion to the next movie you watch with the HTF600s.
Although technically a full-size headphone, the HTF600 is still sleek and lightweight enough to be used outside without standing out too much.
Nevertheless, with an impedance of 56Ohm, it is likely that you won’t get the best result when using mobile devices.
Pros
- Long cable
- Well-balanced sound
- Durability
Cons
- Cheap looking
- Little to none sound isolation due to the semi-open design
Sennheiser RS 185 RF – For those who like great sound
Sennheiser’s RS 185 are wireless headphones, but unlike most, they don’t use Bluetooth connectivity but rather an RF system delivering a far better range as well as an uncompressed audio stream.
As hi-fi wireless headphones, the RS 185 requires a docking station to be constantly plugged in, thus rendering them impossible for outdoor use.
Although you can get better sound for the same money with wired headphones, the RS 185s were designed for audio and home-cinema enthusiasts who require a wireless connection for their headphones.
Construction
The RS185s are full-size open-back headphones delivering a natural, spacious sound. With their large pads, these headphones are all about comfort. The opposite, however, is valid about noise isolation.
The base station can be connected to either analog or digital outputs. It also serves as a charging device and claims to have a wireless range of 100 meters and none of the glitches observed in Bluetooth headphones.
Sound Quality
These headphones were designed to provide sound quality and comfort superior to other wireless headphones.
There is a nice sense of scale, due to their open-back design, so even with the lows boosted the sound doesn’t go bogging down.
Among the different sound styles heard from Sennheiser’s HD-series headphones, the RS185 falls to the darker sounding sets.
The sound is rich and thick but it isn’t bright.
RS185’s low distortion levels mean that you can turn the headphones volume up pretty high before distorting their sound or feel like you are going to hurt your hearing.
Sound Isolation
It is obvious no one really cared about sound isolation when creating these wireless beauties.
Conclusion
The Sennheiser RS 185 RF need no radical improvements, as they have just a few quality rivals in this area.
With their great sound, the amazing wireless system and its range, and fact that the RS185 by Sennheiser created with comfort in mind, they are likely the best option to choose if you require a great set of wireless headphones to watch movies with.
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Good sound quality
- Reliable wireless with good range
Cons
- Lower frequencies could be a bit muddy
Golzer BANC-50 – For those who likes a great noise cancelation
In case you like the idea of walking around the room with your headphones while listening to your favorite TV show, music or movie, but you also require the noise cancellation the Sennheiser RS 185 lack, you should surely take a close look at the Golzer BANC-50.
The BANC-50s are an awesome pair of headphones to watch movies with, without being bound with any cables. They are smartphone compatible, complete with both wireless Bluetooth and backup wired mode.
Construction
These high qualities, versatile and quite comfortable active noise-canceling headphones from Golzer are charged over USB and come with a cool case, so you are covered for the weekend trip and for the movie night too.
The headphones are notably light and comfortable. They have an adjustable fit and a smart placement of its controls which are easily accessible at all time.
With an enviable Bluetooth range, the Golzer’s are perfect if you don’t like always carrying your phone around, while the wired mode could also prove quite useful if you want to save some battery.
Sound Quality
Soundwise, the Golzers don’t disappoint either. They definitely sound better the average $100 headphones, although I wouldn’t say they were intended for audiophiles.
The low end is strong so every time you watch some crazy action movie with the BANC-50 headphones on, it is sure to be an adventure.
The BANC-50s also support the aptX codec which would provide the highest quality of sound when using the headphones wirelessly, the device used with them supports it too.
In addition, there is a pretty cool built-in microphone which not only works well, but you won’t even know it’s there.
Sound Isolation
Noise cancellation is the best feature in these Golzer headphones. Offered with a noise-canceling rate of up to 85%. Using the noise-canceling button you can make your next flight more pleasant or temporarily ignore your mom’s nagging.
Conclusion
Golzer BANC-50 headphones are pretty much unbeatable in what they offer for their price. So, in case you are looking for a pair of Bluetooth headphones, with great noise-canceling, battery life, clear sound and even the option for a wired connection to your device without having to sell a limb first, these awesome headphones come at a price well below $100 and still perform better and provide more options than some actual $100 headphones.
And the best part is you can easily enjoy them when traveling, as well as on your favorite couch watching your favorite shows.
Pros
- Active noise cancelling
- Build-in microphone
- HD sound
Cons
- Could have used more durable materials
- Not comparable to high end gear
Verdict
Each pair of headphones just reviewed would have their strengths and weaknesses, which could turn out to be a problem if your choice is not well thought through.
Comfort is also not to be underestimated if you don’t want to turn a favorite movie into a terrible headache.
However, as much as we have tried to describe the build quality and comfort level provided, it is best to go and try the headphones you like.
As noted, sound isolation and noise cancellation might also be important for you, based on your use case and noise intensity of the environment where the headphones would be used.
As for me, the choice is pretty clear. As legendary as it is, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x does not need an introduction. As a matter of fact, these headphones barely need anything.
They are lightweight, rugged, with awesome sound and a great level of noise cancellation. The M50s produce a powerful, beefy low-end, without clogging the sound up, while high-end is detailed, smooth and makes the sound quite lively, thus rendering those headphones perfect for watching movies for hours and even days.
The 3 switchable cables included in the box go up to 3 meters, so they should be able to sit comfortably without pulling the cord and keeping it under constant tension.
Add the decent level of noise cancellation the M50x provides and there is hardly anything more to want from the best headphones for watching movies.
Conclusion
As we all know, headphone choice (or as a matter of fact any other choice based on our perceptions) is specific to every person. Since written language can describe sound only so much, we did our best today to cover as much ground as possible on the topic.
I have tried covering build quality, soundstage, connectivity, comfort, sound isolation and any other significant feature our contenders might have, so anyone who reads this article would have at least a basic idea what they require from they movie headphones and what features they can ignore.
