Whether you’re making sound effects, filtering noise from raw content, or enhancing its audio quality, we’ve rounded up the best headphones for video editing.
Good-quality sound is essential to making great videos.
Sound engages the audience, helps deliver information, evokes emotional responses, and adds depth to your visual content.
However, for you to edit sound properly, you need to be able to hear it loud and clear.
That said, you need a reliable pair of headphones to start with.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to find the right product here to make your task easier.
Best Headphones for Video Editing: Brief Reviews
1. Sennheiser HD1
The Sennheiser HD1 is a closed-back, around-ear headphone with active noise cancellation (ANC).
It delivers above-average sound quality for neutral listening, making it a top choice among many video editors.
Review
Here are the best features you’ll get to enjoy from these headphones:
- Sound Quality
In terms of frequency response, the HD1 delivers an average consistency.
It has very good bass, which some even say near excellent. This means you can successfully add thumps and rumbles to your edits.
While the high-bass is a bit flat and hyped, overall, the bass range of the HD1 is deep, extended, and heavy.
Its mid-range performance is balanced and even, although you might notice that the overall sound of this device is a bit boxy.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t do well with high-frequency ranges.
In particular, its treble is often inconsistent and quite underemphasized.
- Fit and Comfort
The Sennheiser HD1 delivers an uncompromised style.
It is lightweight and features a high-quality build and stainless-steel headband.
The earcups are well-cushioned and covered with luxurious leather that feels soft and cozy, perfect for long hours of video editing.
We just hope the headband has some padding, too, for better comfort.
- Noise Control
The HD1 has one of the most reliable active noise cancelation technologies.
It uses two pairs of internal and external microphones to catch external noise at both low and high frequencies.
ANC is such a very helpful feature when editing videos because it allows you to hear the sound much clearer.
Pros
- Crisp and clear sound quality
- Quality build
- Reliable active noise cancellation
- Classic-modern design
- Lightweight
- Up to 20 hours of battery life
Cons
- Sub-par treble range
- Headband lacks padding
2. Sony WH-1000XM4
The combination of great sound, improved noise control, and high-quality Bluetooth Codecs make the Sony WH-1000XM4 a great option for video editing.
Compared to its predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM3, it comes with an added multipoint connectivity and an improved noise-canceling feature.
Review
Here are the best reasons why the WH-1000XM4 is a great choice:
- Sound Quality
The sound profile of the WH-1000XM4 is heavy on the bass, making it ideal for editing musical effects.
It also has a good frequency response, especially in the bass range.
There’s a bit of inconsistency in the high-mid and treble frequencies, but it’s less noticeable.
You’ll find that it delivers an excellently accurate mid, which means you will hear vocals and lead instruments in their neutral and most balanced range.
When it comes to treble, the WH-1000XM4 has a good accuracy rating, but there’s a bit of overemphasis on the mid-treble.
As a result, it can make vocals and instruments in the high-frequency range sound a bit piercing.
- Noise Control
Sony nailed ANC this time. The Sony WH-1000XM4 uses two microphones on each earcup to capture ambient noise.
The external sound signals are then processed through an algorithm-based processor, canceling them in real-time.
Along with Sony’s Bluetooth Audio System, this noise-canceling feature adjusts to your music and noise signals, canceling ambient sound over 700 times per second.
Even more interesting is that you can further optimize its noise-canceling capabilities according to your environment.
When you need to do some video editing while on a plane, you’ll find these headphones really helpful.
- Compressed File Restoration
When editing videos, you are likely to deal with small- and large-scale data files.
The WH-1000XM4 uses artificial intelligence to restore high-range sound lost in compression.
That said, you can guarantee that when you’re editing sounds for your video content, every element in the music (vocals and interludes) will sound clear and precise.
- LDAC Codec
Sony’s own LDAC codec delivers one of the highest streaming qualities for audio over Bluetooth connections.
Unlike other codecs, it operates without downsizing the high-resolution audio content.
This means you can maintain the quality of your sound edits from start to finish.
Pros
- High-quality sound
- Industry-leading noise canceling
- High-res Bluetooth codec
- Consistent frequency response
- Intuitive controls
- Dynamic sound with lots of details
- Up to 32 hours battery life
Cons
- Expensive
- No aptX
3. Audio Technica ATH-DSR9BT
Audio-Technica is a well-known brand that makes great-quality headphones at more affordable price points.
The ATH-DSR9BT is made of premium and solid materials and has good battery life.
Review
Here’s what makes these headphones stand out from the competition:
- Sound Quality
This headphone has a very good bass performance, making it appropriate for editing or adding hip-hop, EDM, and heavy bass music.
Its mid-range performance is decent and well-balanced, and it delivers an excellent treble range.
Overall, the ATH-DSR9BT sounds great.
The only downside is the sub-par treble consistency, with a 9dB of deviation in the treble range.
Furthermore, it provides a spacious soundstage and less neutral sound.
- Pure Digital Drive
Unique to this headphone is its ability to simplify the processing of sound signals.
You can do this without using Digital-to-Analog conversion.
Unlike traditional wireless headphones, the audio signals from your source remain fully in the digital domain.
Hence, you’re able to maintain a high resolution.
Pros
- Clean audio quality
- Durable build
- Stylish
- Light and comfortable
- Good bass range
Cons
- Lacks active noise cancelation
- The sound produced is less neutral
- Battery life could be better
4. Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Bose makes no-mediocre headphones.
The brand is known for making some of the best headphones for gaming, music, and audio production.
Review
The QuietComfort 35 II features best-in-class active noise cancelation tech.
The best part? You can adjust it between two levels to fit your environment and focus on your editing task.
- Sound Quality
This headphone has a markedly neutral, well-balanced sound profile, so it’s perfect for editing videos that involve different types of audio content.
It delivers an overemphasized bass range that adds thump, punch, and boom to your mix in a not-so-overwhelming way.
The mid is remarkably accurate, and the entire range is very well-balanced.
That said, vocals and lead instruments won’t sound cluttered.
The treble is quite impressive because it’s well-balanced and accurate. However, the mid-treble is where the sound gets a little dull or piercing.
The frequency response consistency is good, with a standard sound deviation of 0.45 dB.
Unfortunately, this headphone seems to have a relatively wider soundstage. This is most likely due to its closed-back design.
- Noise Control
Bose is a pioneer in active noise cancelation technology, so it’s not surprising if the QuietComfort 35 II has a very reliable noise control system.
This model uses a patented active and passive noise cancellation technology.
As such, you get clear and crisp audio, as well as rich and deep bass.
Another unique thing about the ANC of this headphone is that you can adjust it into three levels (off, low, and high).
If you’ve ever worked using ANC headphones, you probably experienced that your sound does seem boxed or confined at times.
By allowing you to control the active noise cancelation of your device, you can keep your sound as neutral as possible amidst the background noise.
- Fit and Comfort
While these headphones are bulky, they are exceptionally comfortable.
Do note that this model is engineered for gamers, so they are comfortable on your ears and head for long hours.
The minimal clamping force contributes to the overall comfort of QuietComfort 35 II.
- Active EQ
This headphone also comes with Bose’s signature volume-optimized equalizer.
This technology automatically boosts the lows and highs of your sound.
Pros
- Neutral range of sound frequency
- Very comfortable
- Customizable ANC
- Up to 40 hours of battery life
Cons
- Not everyone likes a wide soundstage
- No touch controls
5. V-MODA Crossfade 2
The Crossfade 2 is another premium-quality headphone at an attractive price point.
It’s one of the most versatile headphones that give you a good bit of everything.
Review
These headphones sound warm and punchy, which is great for adding modern music and sound effects to your videos.
Here are other interesting features you’ll find:
- Sound Quality
This headphone has an average frequency response consistency, which is affected by the user’s head shape and size, as well as positioning preferences.
The treble range is plausible, with just about 3 dB variance, and can go as low as 10K Hz.
It produces a heavy bass range with a relatively flat response, which is a good thing.
You will also appreciate its mids’ performance. The response is flat and almost flawless, particularly in the mid-range.
The problem is, this headphone doesn’t do so well in the treble range.
The big dip in the treble does create a noticeable effect on the vocals and lead instruments at high frequencies.
On another note, the Crossfade 2 features powerful 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers.
These produce the same quality of sound with or without wires.
You will appreciate the clean, deep bass and vivid mids that it creates, along with a wide 3D soundstage.
- Noise Control
The Crossfade 2 doesn’t have an active noise cancelation system.
However, it does offer a good level of noise isolation, given that it’s a closed-back headphone.
Furthermore, compared to the previous version, the new Crossfade has earpads that create a better seal around your ears, which significantly help cut external noise.
- Superior Build
The Crossfade 2 features durable materials. You will not find cheap plastic in its build.
It boasts a strong yet super flexible metal-core headband and large memory foam earpads.
While the lack of plastic materials means this headphone is on the heavy side, it’s a not-so-bad trade for durability and comfort.
Pros
- Above-average sound quality
- Great build and quality
- Extremely comfortable
- Great bass and mid-range
Cons
- Mediocre noise isolation
- The treble range is inconsistent
- Battery life can be improved
- Quite heavy
Final Verdict
Looking for a reliable pair of headphones you can use for simple to complex video editing projects?
It’s impossible to go wrong with any of these headphones.
Among our list of the best headphones for video editing, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is our top choice.
It has one of the best sound qualities that remain remarkably neutral and well-balanced in low to high-frequency ranges.
That said, you can play with different types of audio and not miss a beat.
Plus, the adjustable ANC system will keep your sound as neutral as possible.
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