We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-08 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a purpose-built personal monitoring hub that lets you blend your own mic and instrument into your headphones for zoom calls, choose ART MyMONITORII Personal Headphone; if you need a proper pair of semi open-back studio headphones for mixing, tracking and critical listening, choose Rockville PRO-E90.
• ART MyMONITORII — biggest strength: it is a personal monitor mixer, not just headphones. It blends a microphone, an instrument and a stereo source into one headphone feed, with mic and instrument thru jacks and phantom power pass-through.
• ART MyMONITORII — biggest trade-off: it is a wired desktop/battery-powered box with a single XLR mic input and a stereo monitor input. It does nothing without a source plugged in, and it is not a listening device on its own.
• Rockville PRO-E90 — biggest strength: real studio-grade headphone specs — 45 mm dynamic drivers, 10 Hz–25 kHz response, 80 ohm impedance, under 0.06% THD and up to 135 dB max SPL, with a detachable OFC cable and hard case included.
• Rockville PRO-E90 — biggest trade-off: it is a passive headphone. It cannot mix a mic into your ears, cannot pass phantom power, and gives you no blend control — you need a separate interface or mixer to feed it.
• Who each is for: ART MyMONITORII is for the performer or home-studio user who wants one knob for "more me" while they talk, sing or play on a call or a session. Rockville PRO-E90 is for the listener, mixer and editor who already has a signal source and wants accurate, comfortable over-ear headphones.
The MyMONITORII is best understood as a tiny monitor console that lives on your desk or in your gig bag. It takes a microphone input with a thru jack, an instrument/line input with a thru jack, and a stereo monitor input, then lets you blend those sources into your own headphones with a blend control. In practical terms, that means you can hear yourself plus the backing track at whatever ratio you want, without asking anyone at the board to change your mix.
Who should buy it: anyone who needs a personal "more me" mix — a vocalist tracking in a home setup, a guitarist practising with a backing track, or someone whose zoom calls involve a mic and an instrument going into the same computer session and who wants to hear both cleanly. Who should skip it: if you just want headphones to listen to music or edit audio, this is the wrong tool. It has no drivers, no ear cups and no listening function of its own — it is a mixer, and it needs a headphone and a source to be useful.
Rockville PRO-E90: Who It's For
The PRO-E90 is a semi open-back, over-ear studio headphone built around a 45 mm dynamic driver with a PET diaphragm and NdFeB magnets, set at a 10-degree offset angle. The numbers Rockville publishes are the ones a studio buyer actually reads: 10 Hz to 25 kHz frequency response, 102 dB ±3 dB sensitivity, less than 0.06% THD at 1 kHz/1 mW, ±1.5 dB channel matching, and up to 135 dB max SPL. That combination points to detailed playback and stable stereo imaging rather than a boosted, consumer-style sound.
The 80 ohm impedance is the spec that decides how you will use it. It is efficient enough to run from a smartphone, laptop or portable player, but still controlled enough to pair with audio interfaces, mixers, home audio gear and dedicated headphone amps. The semi open-back, circumaural design supports an open monitoring response while helping limit excessive bleed — useful when you are tracking and do not want your cue mix spilling into the mic.
For daily handling, the package is unusually complete: swivel ear cups, memory foam cushions with protein leather padding, replaceable slip-on ear pads, a stainless steel headband with extendable arms, a detachable 9.8 ft OFC copper cable, a gold-plated 3.5 mm connector, a 1/4-inch adapter and a hard case with a fabric finish. At 272 g it is a light over-ear set, which matters over a long editing or mixing session.
Who should buy it: mixers, mastering engineers, tracking musicians and critical listeners who already have an interface or mixer feeding them. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a headset to combine a mic with their own monitoring in one box. The PRO-E90 has no microphone, no blend control and no phantom power — it only plays back what you send it.
• Best for blending your own mic into your headphones → ART MyMONITORII Personal Headphone. The whole point of the unit is mic-plus-stereo blending with a blend control.
• Best for accurate listening and mixing → Rockville PRO-E90. 45 mm drivers, 10 Hz–25 kHz response and under 0.06% THD are the specs of a monitoring headphone, not a mixer.
• Best for powered condenser mics → ART MyMONITORII Personal Headphone. Its mic thru passes phantom power from the board, and the mute switch is pop-less.
• Best for long sessions and comfort → Rockville PRO-E90. 272 g, memory foam cushions, swivel cups and replaceable ear pads.
• Best for portable use with a phone or laptop → Rockville PRO-E90. 80 ohm impedance and a detachable 3.5 mm cable make it a plug-and-go headphone.
• Best for sending your signal onward while you monitor → ART MyMONITORII Personal Headphone. Both the mic and instrument inputs have thru jacks.
• Best for a complete boxed kit → Rockville PRO-E90. Detachable OFC cable, 1/4-inch adapter, gold-plated connector and a hard case are all included.
• Best if you already own headphones and a source → ART MyMONITORII Personal Headphone. It slots into an existing setup rather than replacing anything.
In my opinion, these two are not really rivals — they solve different halves of the same problem. If your goal is to hear yourself plus a track or a call mix on your own terms, I would buy the ART MyMONITORII Personal Headphone: the mic input, the blend control, the thru jacks and the phantom power pass-through are exactly what a personal monitor mix needs for zoom calls and studio work, and the option to run it on a 9V battery is genuinely handy. If your goal is simply to hear everything accurately, I would buy the Rockville PRO-E90 — the driver specs, the 80 ohm impedance and the included case and cable make it the more useful purchase for mixing, tracking and critical listening. Pick the tool that matches your job, not the one with the longer spec sheet.
FAQ
No. At 80 ohms with 102 dB sensitivity, it is designed to run from smartphones, laptops, portable players, audio interfaces, mixers and home gear. A dedicated headphone amp will give you more headroom, but it is not required.
No. It is a personal monitor mixer, not a headphone — you plug your own headphones into it. It blends a microphone, an instrument/line source and a stereo monitor input, and can be powered by the supplied 12V DC supply or a 9V battery.
No. It is a passive headphone with no mic input, no blend control and no phantom power. For a mic-plus-monitoring setup you need a mixer or interface in the chain.
That depends on the job. If you need local control of your own mix, the ART MyMONITORII is the more capable tool; if you need accurate over-ear monitoring with a cable, adapter and case included, the Rockville PRO-E90 gives you more in the box. Check the current price on Amazon for each before deciding.
• Audio-Technica 3 vs Anker Soundcore ANC Over-Ear
• SINOWO Ear Pads Replacement vs HTINDUSTRY ATH SR50BT
• Btootos Earbuds vs HAOYUYAN Sports: Budget Headphones
• MKJ Cisco Headset vs Wantek RJ9
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.