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If you want true passive isolation for tracking and monitoring, choose Direct Sound EX-29; if you need a hands-on FL Studio production controller plus a monitoring headphone in one bundle, choose Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49. These two products both touch the word "headphones," but they solve completely different problems. One is a closed back studio headphone built to block noise and deliver accurate sound. The other is a 49-key MIDI keyboard controller bundle that happens to include a pair of closed back monitor headphones. This comparison is about the closed back studio headphone angle, so I will keep pulling the thread back to what actually matters at your desk or in a booth.
• Direct Sound EX-29 — biggest strength: a dynamic closed back design with serious passive isolation (36.7 dB attenuation at 8,000 Hz, NRR 29 dB) and no batteries required.
• Direct Sound EX-29 — biggest trade-off: it is a wired, single-purpose headphone, so it does nothing for you if you actually need a keyboard controller.
• Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49 — biggest strength: a full 49-key FL Studio controller (16 RGB pads, 9 faders, 8 pots) bundled with closed back PRO-M50 monitor headphones and a hard case.
• Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49 — biggest trade-off: the headphones are a supporting piece of a bundle, not the headline, and the whole kit is a heavier, desk-bound system.
• Who the EX-29 is for: singers, drummers, and anyone tracking in a loud room who needs isolation first.
• Who the FLkey 49 bundle is for: beat makers and producers working inside FL Studio who also want a monitoring headphone on day one.
The EX-29 is, at its core, an isolation tool. Direct Sound built it around closed back drivers and environmentally responsible natural passive isolation, which means the noise reduction comes from the physical design rather than from batteries or active circuitry. The numbers back that up: 36.7 dB of passive attenuation at 8,000 Hz and an NRR of 29 dB. For anyone who has tried to record a vocal take next to a humming computer or a live drum kit, that is the whole point.
Where it fits in daily life: overdubbing vocals in a room with a noisy HVAC, tracking drums while protecting your ears, or monitoring on a loud stage. It is also foldable for storage, which matters if you haul gear around. The headband is padded and fully adjustable, the cable is a 9 ft premium twin-lead design, and the plug is a straight 1/8" gold-plated connector with a screw-on 1/4" gold-plated adapter. Weight lands at 11.5 oz with cable and plug, so it is on the substantial side but not punishing.
Who should skip it? If you are a producer who never tracks live and needs a keyboard to build beats, the EX-29 does nothing for that workflow. It is also a wired-only headphone, so if wireless freedom is your priority, look elsewhere. For pure listening enjoyment, a more consumer-tuned headphone might be more fun. But for isolation, this is the specialist.
Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49: Who It's For
This bundle is really two purchases in one box. The centerpiece is the Novation FLkey 49, a 49-key MIDI keyboard controller built specifically for FL Studio. It gives you direct, hands-on access to the Sequencer, Channel Rack, Mixer, and transport controls, so beat making, pattern editing, automation, quantise, metronome, undo/redo, and score log functions stop being mouse-only chores. That native integration is the reason this controller exists.
The control surface is generous: 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 16 RGB backlit velocity-sensitive pads, 9 faders with 9 fader buttons, 8 customizable pots, pitch and modulation wheels, and a 16 x 2 character screen. Scale mode, Note Repeat, Fixed Chord, and one-finger chord options make it easier to sketch melodies and rhythms quickly. It is NKS-ready, so it plays with compatible Native Instruments software, and it offers 5-pin MIDI out plus USB bus power for flexible setups. It runs on Windows 11, 10, 8.1 and macOS 13, 12, 11, and 10.15, and it ships with a 6-month trial of FL Studio Producer Edition plus bundled software from several well-known plugin makers.
Now the headphone side, which is where this whole comparison lives. The bundled PRO-M50 is a closed back circumaural monitor headphone with 40 mm neodymium drivers, 32 Ohms impedance, 97±3 dB sensitivity, and a 10 Hz to 25 kHz frequency response. It weighs 290 g and includes a detachable 100% OFC coiled cable, gold-plated connectors, interchangeable leather and suede ear cushions, and a hard travel case. That is a genuinely useful monitoring package for tracking and practice.
Who should buy it? Anyone starting or upgrading an FL Studio setup who wants a controller and a monitoring headphone without shopping twice. Who should skip it? People who only need isolation for live tracking, or who work in a DAW other than FL Studio and would not use the deep native integration. If you already own a controller you love, the keyboard half is redundant.
• Best for noise isolation → Direct Sound EX-29. NRR 29 dB and 36.7 dB attenuation at 8,000 Hz is purpose-built for blocking sound.
• Best for FL Studio workflow → Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49. Native control of the Sequencer, Channel Rack, Mixer, and transport.
• Best for tracking vocals or drums → Direct Sound EX-29. Passive isolation and a neutral 40 mm closed back driver suit critical monitoring.
• Best for beat making and arranging → Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49. 16 RGB pads, 9 faders, and 8 pots keep you off the mouse.
• Best for a complete starter studio → Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49. Controller plus headphones plus case in one bundle.
• Best for low-impedance, easy-to-drive monitoring → both, at 32 Ohms. Each product's headphone is rated 32 Ohms, so both pair with modest gear.
• Best for portability → Direct Sound EX-29. Foldable design, 11.5 oz, and a 9 ft cable travel easily.
• Best for extended frequency reach on paper → Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49. The PRO-M50 lists 10 Hz to 25 kHz versus the EX-29's 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
In my opinion, if you asked me to buy one, I would pick the Audiosavings Novation FLkey 49 bundle for a producer's desk and the Direct Sound EX-29 for a tracking booth. They are not competing for the same job. The EX-29 wins on pure closed back isolation and single-purpose monitoring quality. The FLkey 49 bundle wins on flexibility, because it hands you a full FL Studio controller and a capable closed back monitor headphone together. Ask yourself which problem is actually on your desk right now, and the answer becomes obvious.
what are closed back studio headphones
Closed back studio headphones have sealed earcups that trap sound inside and block outside noise. The Direct Sound EX-29 is a clear example, with 40 mm closed back drivers and 36.7 dB of passive attenuation at 8,000 Hz. That sealing is what makes them the go-to choice for tracking and monitoring.
what are the best closed back studio headphones
There is no single "best," since it depends on your job. In my opinion, the Direct Sound EX-29 is an excellent pick if isolation is the priority, thanks to its NRR 29 dB rating. The bundled PRO-M50 in the FLkey 49 package is a sensible closed back monitor option if you want one included with a controller.
what is open back studio headphones
Open back studio headphones have vented earcups that let air and sound pass through, which typically gives a wider, more natural soundstage but almost no isolation. Neither the Direct Sound EX-29 nor the PRO-M50 in this bundle is open back. Both are closed back designs, which is why both lean toward tracking and monitoring rather than relaxed critical listening.
It depends on what you are missing. A dedicated closed back headphone like the EX-29 focuses entirely on isolation and monitoring. A bundle like the FLkey 49 gives you a 49-key controller plus a monitoring headphone and case. Check the current price on Amazon for each and match it to your actual workflow.
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