How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a closed-back studio monitor with legendary long-session comfort and a truly repairable, handcrafted build, choose Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770; if you need a complete bundle with a long extension cable for kicking back and watching TV across the room, choose Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Both are wired, closed-back, over-ear designs aimed at critical listening — the real split is in comfort, cable strategy, and how much gear comes in the box.
• Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770 — biggest strength: velour pads, a lightweight 11.45-ounce build, and a spring steel headband made for hours of fatigue-free monitoring, plus a 5–35,000 Hz frequency range.
• Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770 — biggest trade-off: it's a refurbished unit with a 90-day limited warranty, a short 1.6 m straight cable, and no carrying pouch or extra cables in the box.
• Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X — biggest strength: a full bundle — three detachable cables, a 25-foot extension cable, a screw-on 1/4" adapter, a pouch and a polishing cloth — with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
• Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X — biggest trade-off: the 15 Hz–28,000 Hz range doesn't reach as high as the DT 770 on paper, and the heavier aluminum-and-faux-leather design is less of a featherweight for marathon sessions.
• Pick the Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770 if you prioritize comfort, isolation and a repairable German-made monitor for focused editing and mixing.
• Pick the Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X if you want one box that covers studio work plus relaxed TV watching on the couch, thanks to that 25-foot cable.
The DT 770 in this 32-ohm version is the low-impedance model, which the data sheet says is tuned for smartphones, tablets, game consoles and laptops — no external amplifier required. That matters more than it sounds. A lot of studio headphones want a dedicated headphone amp before they wake up. This one is built to sound full straight out of everyday gear, which makes it the friendlier pick if your "studio" is really a laptop and a pair of monitors on a desk.
Where it earns its reputation is comfort and isolation. The closed-back design with soft velour ear pads gives you strong passive noise cancellation, so you can mix or edit in a noisy room or a shared workspace without fighting the room. The velour is also the reason people wear these for whole afternoons: it breathes in a way that faux leather doesn't. Add the adjustable sliding earpieces, the single-sided cable that stays out of your way, and the 11.45-ounce weight, and you have a monitor designed for long, still sessions rather than quick checks.
The trade-offs are honest ones. This is a renewed unit: the data sheet says it's been functionally tested, cleaned, inspected and repackaged, and it carries a 90-day limited warranty rather than a full manufacturer term. You get a 1.6 m straight cable and a 3.5 mm plug with a threaded 1/4" adapter — fine at a desk, short if you like to move around. The frequency range is genuinely wide at 5–35,000 Hz, and every part is replaceable, which is the long-game argument for buying one. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants a factory-fresh box, a long warranty, or a cable long enough to watch TV from across the living room without an adapter purchase.
The Liquid Audio bundle takes the ATH-M50X and turns it into a small kit. You get the headphones, three detachable cables (a 1.2–3.0 m coiled cable, a 3.0 m straight cable and a 1.2 m straight cable), a screw-on 1/4" adapter, a carrying pouch, and a Pig Hog 25-foot extension cable. That last item is the quiet headline. Twenty-five feet of cable is the difference between being tethered to your interface and being able to sit back on the sofa with a movie on. If you were searching for deep bass wireless headphones for TV watching but you're actually fine with a wire, this is the bundle that solves the distance problem without adding latency.
On sound, the data sheet points to 45 mm large-aperture drivers, a 38-ohm impedance, and a 15 Hz–28,000 Hz range. The circumaural pads contour around the ears rather than pressing on them, and the headband adjusts for a custom fit. For mixing, mastering or just listening, that's a credible monitoring setup — and the foldable design plus swivel ear cups (90 degrees, for one-ear monitoring) make it far more portable than the DT 770. The detachable cable system is the other practical win: if a cable fails, you swap it, you don't send the whole headphone away.
The trade-offs: this is a heavier, aluminum-and-faux-leather build, so extended sessions can get warmer than velour, and the passive isolation depends on those ear pads sealing well. The frequency ceiling is lower than the DT 770's on paper. And the warranty is the standard 1-year manufacturer term, which beats the renewed unit's 90 days. Who should skip it? Someone who wants maximum long-session breathability and the lightest possible fit, or who already owns a stash of cables and just wants the bare headphone.
• Best for long-session comfort → Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770. Velour pads, 11.45 ounces, adjustable spring steel headband.
• Best for TV watching from the couch → Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. The 25-foot extension cable is the deciding feature.
• Best for noise isolation in a shared room → Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770. Closed-back plus velour sealing, per the data sheet.
• Best all-in-one kit → Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Three cables, 1/4" adapter, pouch and cloth in one box.
• Best for repairability and long-term ownership → Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770. Every part is replaceable.
• Widest stated frequency range → Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770. 5–35,000 Hz versus 15 Hz–28,000 Hz.
• Best for portable or one-ear DJ-style work → Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. Foldable design and 90-degree swiveling ear cups.
• Best warranty coverage → Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X. One year from the manufacturer versus a 90-day limited term on the renewed unit.
• Best for a phone or laptop with no amp → Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770. The 32-ohm tuning is explicitly aimed at mobile gear.
In my opinion, the Liquid Audio Audio-Technica ATH-M50X bundle is the one I'd buy for general studio monitoring plus TV watching, because the 25-foot extension cable, three detachable cables and 1-year warranty remove the two annoyances that actually make people stop using wired headphones — a too-short cord and a cable that can't be replaced. If comfort over five-hour sessions is your top priority and you're mainly mixing at a desk with a laptop, I'd take the Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770 instead and accept the shorter cable and 90-day coverage. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide, then match it to how you'll actually listen.
what is studio monitor headphones
Studio monitor headphones are closed- or open-back headphones built for critical listening — hearing a mix accurately rather than flattering it. Both the DT 770 and the ATH-M50X are closed-back, over-ear dynamic designs, which is why they also isolate you from room noise.
what are the best studio monitor headphones
"Best" depends on your priority, and I won't pretend otherwise. The Amazon Renewed Beyerdynamic DT 770 stands out for comfort, isolation and the widest stated range at 5–35,000 Hz, while the Liquid Audio ATH-M50X bundle wins on included cables, portability and a 1-year warranty.
do i need studio monitors if i have headphones
You can do a lot with headphones alone, since both of these are closed-back dynamic designs with passive sound isolation. Speakers let you check how a mix translates in a room; headphones let you work late without disturbing anyone and catch detail a room won't reveal.
what are studio monitor headphones
They're headphones voiced for monitoring — accurate, closed-back, over-ear, and comfortable enough for long sessions. The DT 770 uses velour pads and a lightweight build, while the ATH-M50X uses 45 mm drivers, circumaural pads and a foldable frame for on-the-go work.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: EPOS H6Pro vs ReliGow Gaming Headset comparison, Hemobllo 10pairs vs Sosoport 10pcs: Secure Fit Earhooks, Kanayu 100 vs CMF BY NOTHING Buds 2a, our LEXiBOOK vs Gvyugke Gaming Headset: Wirele pick