How We Research
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wired studio monitor that plugs straight into a USB-C phone or laptop and gives you an inline mic and remote, choose ENCASED USB-C Over Ear; if you need a long-cable, foldable, drum-and-instrument monitoring headphone with a wider frequency range, choose HXW DMH10.
• ENCASED USB-C Over Ear — biggest strength: true dual connectivity with both a USB-C audio cable and a 6.5mm aux cable in the box, plus an inline mic and full volume/playback remote — no adapter needed for modern phones or laptops.
• ENCASED USB-C Over Ear — biggest trade-off: it's a wired-only, closed-back monitor with no folding or swivel design mentioned, and the cable is a fixed 4ft length, so it's less suited to moving around a stage or practice room.
• HXW DMH10 — biggest strength: a 3m (roughly 10ft) OFC cable, a foldable collapsible body, and earcups that flip 180° for one-ear monitoring — genuinely useful for drummers and multi-instrument players.
• HXW DMH10 — biggest trade-off: it terminates in a 3.5mm jack with a snap-on 1/4" adapter, which means no USB-C option, and its warranty is listed at 6 months versus ENCASED's 2 years.
• Who each pick is for: ENCASED suits phone/laptop-based producers and DJs who want USB-C convenience and a mic; HXW suits acoustic drummers, e-drum players and instrument monitors who need reach and foldability.
The ENCASED USB-C Over Ear (V200 Pro) is built around one idea: getting studio-grade monitoring into a USB-C world without dongles. It ships with a 4ft USB-C audio cable and a 4ft 6.5mm aux cable, so you can move between a laptop, a USB-C phone and a mixer or interface without hunting for an adapter. That dual-cable approach is the headline feature here, and it's the thing most studio monitors at this level don't offer.
The sound side is a 50mm dynamic driver paired with neodymium magnets, running 20 Hz–20,000 Hz at 32 ohm impedance. ENCASED says each pair is RVRB-8 digitally tuned for consistency, and the stated goal is weighted, firm bass that doesn't smear the mids and highs. The 32-ohm impedance is the practical detail worth noting — it's low enough that a phone or laptop headphone output can drive it directly, which fits the USB-C pitch. Around the ears you get protein leather pads over foam, a closed-back polycarbonate enclosure, and a 16-point adjustable headband, all aimed at long sessions and sound isolation rather than portability.
HXW DMH10: Who It's For
The HXW DMH10 is aimed squarely at people who monitor themselves while playing. The 3m OFC cable is the giveaway — that's enough slack to sit at a drum kit, stand at a keyboard, or move across a small stage without yanking the plug. The earcups flip 180°, which is the classic one-ear monitoring move: keep one side on, one side off, and still hear the room or your bandmates.
On paper the driver specs are the more generous of the two: a 50mm dynamic driver with neodymium magnets covering 10 Hz–32,000 Hz at 32 ohm. You won't hear much below 20 Hz or above 20 kHz, but the wider stated range suggests headroom in the upper frequencies. HXW leans hard into bass — the marketing copy talks about deep, non-anemic low end for e-drums — and pairs it with a closed-back, rugged construction for passive noise isolation. Sensitivity is listed at 100 dB ±3 dB. It's light at 0.6 lbs, folds down small, and terminates in a 3.5mm jack with a snap-on 1/4" adapter for keyboards, guitars and other instruments.
Buy it if you play drums or another instrument and need cable length, foldability and one-ear monitoring without spending much thought on it. Skip it if you want USB-C, an inline mic, or a longer warranty — the DMH10 lists 6 months, and there's no remote or mic in this design.
• Best for USB-C devices → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. It's the only one of the two with a USB-C audio cable, and it includes a 6.5mm aux cable as well.
• Best for cable length and freedom of movement → HXW DMH10. The 3m OFC cable dwarfs ENCASED's 4ft (roughly 1.2m) runs.
• Best for one-ear monitoring → HXW DMH10. The 180° flip earcups are designed exactly for this; ENCASED doesn't list it.
• Best for portability → HXW DMH10. Foldable and 0.6 lbs, versus a non-folding ENCASED design.
• Best for calls and playback control → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. The inline mic and full-function volume/remote are built in.
• Best stated frequency range → HXW DMH10. 10 Hz–32 kHz versus ENCASED's 20 Hz–20 kHz, though both are 32-ohm dynamic drivers.
• Best warranty coverage → ENCASED USB-C Over Ear. 2 years versus HXW's 6 months.
• Best for drum and instrument practice → HXW DMH10. The 1/4" adapter, long cable and flip earcups line up with that job; ENCASED's mic, remote and USB-C lean more toward production and everyday listening.
My Verdict
how to wear over ear headphones
Place the earcups so they sit around your ears, not on them — both models here are over-ear, around-ear designs, so the pads should fully enclose your ears. Adjust the headband so it rests on top of your head without pressing down; the ENCASED has a 16-point adjustable headband, and the HXW DMH10 has an adjustable, padded one. If you need to hear your surroundings, the DMH10's earcups flip 180° for one-ear monitoring.
how do over ear headphones work
A dynamic driver converts electrical signal into sound: both of these use 50mm dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets. The driver size and magnet type shape how much air gets moved and how efficiently, which is why the DMH10 lists a wider 10 Hz–32 kHz range and the ENCASED lists 20 Hz–20,000 Hz. Both are 32-ohm, closed-back designs, so they isolate some outside noise passively and work with ordinary headphone outputs.
are studio headphones worth it
Worth it if you actually monitor, mix, practice or record — that's what these two are for. The ENCASED adds USB-C, an inline mic and a 2-year warranty for production and everyday listening; the HXW DMH10 adds a 3m cable, foldable body and 1/4" adapter for instrument and drum practice. If you only want casual wireless listening, a wired studio pair like either of these isn't the right tool.
what headphones do professional studios use
Studios generally use closed-back monitoring headphones for tracking and open or closed reference models for mixing — the key traits are a flat-ish, detailed response, a closed back for isolation, and a detachable or long cable. Both products here fit that broad category with 50mm dynamic drivers and closed-back designs, though neither is a claim about what any specific studio uses. What matters is matching the connectivity (USB-C vs 3.5mm/6.35mm) and cable length to your setup.
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