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For a lot of guitarists, headphones are the amp they use most. If you share a flat, have young children, or do most of your practice after dark, the headphone output on your amp or multi effects unit is where your playing really happens. That makes the headphones themselves surprisingly important. Cheap earbuds make even a great amp model sound thin and fizzy. A good pair makes practice feel like playing through a real rig.

I am a songwriter, and I build FencyGuitar, a guitar learning app, so I care about gear that makes daily practice something you look forward to. This list covers studio headphones that work brilliantly for guitar, plus two headphones with amp modelling built in. UK prices were checked on 25 October 2026, and I will be clear about what each pair gets wrong as well as right.

Top 3: Headphones for Guitar

Below are all nine picks, honourable mentions and a guide to choosing headphones that suit your amp and your ears.

9 Best Headphones for Guitar Right Now

1. Audio Technica ATH-M50x

The Audio Technica ATH-M50x is the pair I would recommend to most guitarists. It was £139 at guitarguitar. It is a closed back studio headphone, which means it keeps sound in and outside noise out, so it works for late night practice and for recording without bleed into a microphone. It folds for travel and has a detachable cable.

The sound is lively and detailed, with a slightly emphasised low end and top end. With guitar, that makes amp models sound full and exciting rather than flat, which is part of why so many players love practising on it. For critical mixing, some engineers prefer something flatter, but for guitar practice and tracking it is hard to beat.

It also has a long track record. You will find it in home studios everywhere, and spare ear pads are easy to buy when the originals wear out.

Who should skip this: players with large heads who are sensitive to clamping pressure, and anyone who wants the most neutral possible sound for mixing.

Models Worth Checking Out

2. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm

The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is famous for comfort. UK prices were around £110 to £119 when I checked. It uses soft velour ear pads and a relaxed clamp, so it is the pair many people choose for long practice or recording sessions. It is closed back, and the 80 ohm version is the one to choose for guitar amps and interfaces; the higher impedance versions need more power than most practice amps provide.

The sound is clear with a bright top end and a solid low end. Some players find the treble a little sharp with bright amp models, which a small EQ adjustment on the amp usually fixes.

Most versions have a long, fixed cable. It is fine at a desk, but less convenient if you want to fold the headphones into a bag.

Who should skip this: players who want a detachable cable or a pair to carry around, and anyone sensitive to bright treble.

3. Audio Technica ATH-M40x

The Audio Technica ATH-M40x was £99 at guitarguitar. It is a close sibling of the M50x with a flatter, more neutral sound. For guitar, that means amp models sound less hyped but more honest, which is useful if you record demos and want to hear exactly what you are getting.

It shares the M50x's closed back design, detachable cable and rugged build. If you plan to mix your recordings as well as practise, it is arguably the more useful of the two.

The flatter sound also has a practice benefit. Because it does not flatter your tone, it makes timing slips, string noise and uneven picking easier to hear. That can be humbling, but it is exactly the kind of honest feedback that helps you improve. At £40 less than the M50x, it is also one of the best value closed back headphones you can buy for guitar.

Who should skip this: players who want practice to sound big and exciting rather than accurate.

4. Yamaha HPH-MT5

The Yamaha HPH-MT5 was £119 at guitarguitar in black, with a white version at £139. It is a closed back studio headphone with a balanced, controlled sound and comfortable pads. Yamaha makes some of the most respected studio monitors around, and these headphones aim for a similarly even sound.

For guitar, the balance is the selling point. Clean tones sound natural, and high gain tones stay clear rather than muddy. It is a strong alternative to the Audio Technica pair if you want something a little less common.

Who should skip this: players on a tight budget, since the ATH-M40x does a similar job for less.

5. Sennheiser HD 25

The Sennheiser HD 25 was £119 at guitarguitar. It is an on ear headphone rather than over ear, light and tough, and originally designed for DJs and broadcast. It isolates surprisingly well for its size and is very loud even from weak headphone outputs, which makes it a great match for small practice amps and plug in headphone amps.

Its compact size and replaceable parts make it a favourite for travel and gigging. Pads, headband parts and cables can all be swapped, so a pair can last for many years. If you carry a travel guitar and a pocket headphone amp, the HD 25 is the headphone that fits best alongside them. The trade off is comfort over long sessions: on ear pads press on your ears, and some people find that tiring after an hour or two.

Who should skip this: anyone who practises for long stretches and prefers pads that sit around the ear.

6. Audio Technica ATH-M20x

The Audio Technica ATH-M20x was £49 at guitarguitar, and it is the best budget pair on this list. It is closed back, over ear and comfortable enough for normal practice sessions. The sound is not as refined as the M50x, but it is far better than earbuds or cheap consumer headphones for guitar.

It has a fixed cable and a simpler build, so it will not survive rough treatment as well as the pricier models.

For a first pair, or a spare to keep by a practice amp, it is exactly what most people need. Pair it with a plug in headphone amp or a modelling amp and you have a complete silent practice setup for under £200. If you later upgrade to the M50x, the M20x makes a good second pair for a bandmate or for recording sessions where someone else needs to listen in.

Who should skip this: players who also want to record and mix seriously. Spend more if you can.

7. AKG K240 Studio

The AKG K240 Studio was £59 at guitarguitar. It is a semi open headphone, which means it lets some sound in and out. That gives a more natural, spacious sound that many players find less tiring than closed headphones, and it feels more like playing an amp in a room.

The downside is that people nearby will hear a little of what you are playing, and it will leak into a microphone if you record vocals or acoustic guitar while wearing it. For guitar practice on your own, or for recording electric guitar directly into an interface, it works very well.

Who should skip this: players who need total silence for others in the room, and anyone recording with microphones.

8. Positive Grid Spark NEO

The Positive Grid Spark NEO takes a different approach. It is a pair of wireless headphones with Positive Grid's amp modelling built in. A small transmitter plugs into your guitar, the headphones handle the amp and effects, and the Spark app controls everything. It was £189 at guitarguitar, and the Spark NEO Core, without the headphones, was on offer at £69 to use with your own headphones.

The appeal is freedom. There is no amp, no cable and no separate headphone amp, so you can practise anywhere in the house. It also streams music over Bluetooth for playing along with songs. Our Boss Katana vs Positive Grid Spark comparison covers the Spark app's learning features.

Who should skip this: players who already own a good amp with a headphone output, and anyone who prefers to plug headphones into their own rig.

9. Boss Waza-Air

The Boss Waza-Air is the premium option in this category. It is a wireless guitar headphone system with Boss amp sounds and a spatial effect that makes the amp sound as if it is in the room with you, staying in place when you turn your head. UK prices were around £319 to £349 when I checked.

It is the most immersive way to practise on headphones, and many players say it feels closer to playing a real amp than any other headphone option. The price is high, though, and like any battery device it needs charging.

Who should skip this: anyone on a budget. A good practice amp and a pair of studio headphones cost less and do more.

Honourable Mentions

Fender Mustang Micro Plus. Not headphones, but the perfect partner for them. This plug in headphone amp, at £129, turns any of the studio headphones above into a complete silent rig with amp models, effects and Bluetooth. Our best practice amps roundup covers it in more detail.

Valeton GP-5. Another way to turn studio headphones into a full rig is a tiny multi effects unit with a headphone output. Fency Music, our sister store, carries the Valeton GP-5, a pocket sized amp modeller and effects pedal, and our Valeton GP-50 vs Boss GT-1 vs Zoom G1X Four comparison explains how it differs from its bigger sibling.

Sony MDR-7506. A long standing studio favourite with a bright, detailed sound and a coiled cable. It is widely available in the UK, but I did not find a reliable current price at the shops I checked. Its fixed coiled cable makes it best suited to a desk or studio rather than travel, and its bright voicing suits players who like to hear every detail of their picking.

AKG K72. A very cheap closed back option at £39.99 at guitarguitar. It is a step up from earbuds if the ATH-M20x is out of budget.

How to Choose Headphones for Guitar

Closed back or open back

Closed back headphones keep sound in and outside noise out. They are the right choice if you share a room, practise late at night, or record with a microphone. Open back and semi open headphones sound more natural and spacious, but they leak sound both ways. For most guitarists, closed back is the safer choice.

Impedance and your amp

Impedance, measured in ohms, tells you how much power headphones need. The headphone outputs on practice amps, multi effects units and plug in headphone amps are often not very powerful. Headphones rated at around 80 ohms or below are the safe choice. High impedance studio headphones, such as 250 ohm versions, can sound quiet and thin from a small amp.

Comfort

You may wear your headphones for hours. Clamping force, pad material and weight matter. Velour pads, such as on the Beyerdynamic, feel softer and cooler. Leatherette pads, such as on the Audio Technica pair, isolate better but can get warm. If you wear glasses, pads that sit around the ear rather than on it are usually more comfortable.

Cable and connections

Most studio headphones use a small 3.5mm plug with a screw on or snap on adapter for the larger 6.35mm headphone sockets found on amps and interfaces. Check that the adapter is included. A detachable cable is a big advantage, because cables are the part most likely to fail. Coiled cables are handy at a desk; straight cables are lighter for travel.

Why ordinary Bluetooth headphones are a problem

Standard Bluetooth headphones add a small delay between playing a note and hearing it, called latency. For listening to music, you do not notice. For playing guitar, even a short delay feels wrong. Use wired headphones with your amp, or a system designed for guitar, such as the Spark NEO or the Waza-Air, which handle the signal differently. Noise cancelling headphones also tend to colour the sound and are not ideal for practice.

What to plug them into

Your headphones are only as good as the sound you send them. A modelling amp with good cabinet simulation, a multi effects unit, or an audio interface with amp simulator plugins will all sound good through studio headphones. A valve amp's headphone output, if it has one, varies widely in quality, and many classic valve combos, such as those in our Blues Junior vs Princeton Reverb comparison, have no headphone output at all. Our modelling vs valve amps guide explains why modelling has become so popular for headphone practice.

Headphones or In Ear Monitors?

In ear monitors, the earphones musicians wear on stage, are another option for practice. Good ones isolate extremely well, are tiny to carry and are comfortable for players who dislike headphones pressing on their head or glasses. Many players who gig with in ear monitors simply use the same pair for practice at home.

For most people starting out, though, over ear studio headphones are the better buy. They are easier to fit, more forgiving of how you wear them, cheaper for the same sound quality, and they do not need custom tips or careful insertion. Ordinary consumer earbuds, especially the ones bundled with phones, are rarely a good choice: they tend to sound thin with guitar and often lack the low end that makes amp models feel full.

If you do go down the in ear route, look for a wired pair designed for musicians, and check that it comes with a range of tip sizes. A good seal is what makes in ear monitors sound right.

Headphones for Bass and Extended Range Guitars

If you also play bass, or a seven or eight string guitar, low end response matters more. Closed back headphones with a solid bass response, such as the Audio Technica ATH-M50x and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, handle low notes well and stay clear when you play fast. Smaller on ear headphones and budget models can struggle to reproduce the lowest notes, which makes it harder to hear timing and tuning. Semi open headphones such as the AKG K240 Studio sound natural but have a softer low end, which some bass players find less satisfying.

Using Headphones for Recording

If you record at home, closed back headphones are essential when you use a microphone, because open headphones leak the backing track into the recording. The ATH-M50x, ATH-M40x, DT 770 Pro and HPH-MT5 are all good recording choices. For mixing, a flatter pair such as the ATH-M40x helps you avoid adding too much bass or treble to compensate for the headphones themselves. Our guide to recording guitar at home walks through simple setups that work with any of these headphones.

Protecting Your Hearing

Headphones put sound very close to your ears, and it is easy to turn up gradually over a long session without noticing. Start each session at a low volume and raise it only as much as you need. Take short breaks, especially after loud high gain practice. If your ears ring after playing, you have been too loud. Your hearing is the one piece of guitar gear you cannot replace.

A Simple Headphone Practice Setup

If you are starting from nothing, here are three complete headphone setups at different budgets, all built from gear on our lists.

Around £150. A plug in headphone amp such as the Fender Mustang Micro Plus, or a pocket multi effects unit, with the Audio Technica ATH-M20x. It is silent, portable and fits in a coat pocket.

Around £350. A Boss Katana 50 Gen 3 or Positive Grid Spark 2 with the Audio Technica ATH-M50x. You get a speaker for daytime practice and excellent headphone sound at night.

Around £350 with no amp at all. The Boss Waza-Air on its own, if you want the most immersive headphone experience and never need a speaker.

If you are still choosing a guitar for any of these setups, our Squier vs Epiphone comparison covers the most popular first guitars, and our best travel guitars roundup includes compact electrics that pair well with a headphone amp.

What I Don't Like About Guitar Headphones

Headphones never feel like an amp in a room. Even the best pair cannot recreate the physical push of a speaker. Spatial systems such as the Waza-Air come closest.

Closed back headphones can sound boxed in. Over long sessions, some players find them tiring compared with open designs.

Comfort is personal. A pair that suits one head shape can pinch another. If you can, try headphones on before buying.

Smart headphones tie you to an app. The Spark NEO and Waza-Air depend on their software, so check that it supports your phone.

Pads wear out. Every pair on this list will need new ear pads eventually. Check that replacements are available.

Who Should Skip Studio Headphones

FAQ

What are the best headphones for practising guitar?

For most guitarists, the Audio Technica ATH-M50x is the best headphone for practice. It is closed back, comfortable, detailed and works well with amp headphone outputs and audio interfaces. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm is better for long sessions, and the Audio Technica ATH-M20x is the best budget choice.

Can I use Bluetooth headphones for guitar practice?

Ordinary Bluetooth headphones are not good for guitar practice, because they add a noticeable delay between playing and hearing. Use wired headphones plugged into your amp or interface instead. Systems designed for guitar, such as the Positive Grid Spark NEO or Boss Waza-Air, are the exception, because they are built around low latency playing.

Do I need open or closed back headphones for guitar?

Closed back headphones are the better choice for most guitarists, because they stop sound leaking out to people nearby and keep outside noise from distracting you. They are also essential for recording with a microphone. Open back headphones sound more natural but leak sound, so they suit solo practice in a private room.

What impedance headphones should I use with a guitar amp?

Choose headphones rated around 80 ohms or lower for a guitar amp, multi effects unit or plug in headphone amp. These devices usually have modest headphone outputs, and high impedance headphones, such as 250 ohm models, can sound quiet and weak. All of the studio headphones on this list work well with typical guitar gear.

Are studio headphones better than gaming headphones for guitar?

Yes, studio headphones are usually better for guitar than gaming headphones. Studio models aim for an accurate sound, isolate well and use standard cables that connect to amps and interfaces. Gaming headphones often boost bass heavily, rely on USB or wireless connections and may add latency, which makes them a poor fit for playing.

The Bottom End

Good headphones turn quiet practice from a compromise into something you enjoy. For most guitarists, the Audio Technica ATH-M50x is the pair to buy: comfortable, detailed and equally good for practice and recording. If you play for hours, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is the comfort pick, and if money is tight, the ATH-M20x is a huge step up from earbuds. If you want the amp built in, the Spark NEO and Waza-Air are fascinating alternatives. Whatever you choose, keep the volume sensible, because the best tone in the world is no use without your hearing.