Binaural beats are popular nowadays, especially on platforms such as YouTube. They help the listeners with a wide range of benefits including relaxation, concentration, more focus, and an overall better mood throughout the day.
To be able to experience binaural beats in the best way possible, you need a pair of stereo headphones with excellent sound quality and a good frequency response range. It is interesting too to choose cans with noise cancellation technology because external noise can be a great distraction while relaxing or focusing.
Today, we will review 9 products to find the best headphones for binaural beats. There are options for everyone on the list, no matter what is your budget or preference.
Before we head on to our product-roundup, we will briefly explain what binaural beats are and how they work. Keep reading below to learn more about this technology and how you can utilize its benefits to achieve better life quality.
What Are Binaural Beats and How Do They Work?
Binaural beats work by creating two separate tones, one for each side of the stereo channel. That’s why they’re called binaural. The thing is that, by listening to these two independent tones, your brain will create a third sound by joining them together.
This can create some positive feelings in the human body. If you ever listened to ASMR, you know what we’re talking about: certain sounds may trigger a feel-good response or a tingling sensation. With binaural beats, it is similar, but more focused on stimulating your mind and your brain.
Adepts of this kind of “meditation” frequently report that binaural beats music helped them relax, be more focused and energetic, and improve overall life quality. If you have a pair of cans lying around, you can try it for yourself to see how you feel about it and decide if the investment on quality, more expensive headphones is worth it. Without further ado, let’s start our review.
We Tested 9 Products and Found the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 to be The Best Headphones for Binaural Beats
The beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (32 Ohms) and the Anker SoundCore Life 2 Were Our Runner-Up and Budget Choices, Respectively
Best Headphones for Binaural Beats in our Tests
Table of Contents
- Bose Quiet Comfort 45
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (32 Ohms)
- V-MODA Crossfade 2
- Beats Studio3
- Shure SE215-CL
- Anker SoundCore Life 2
- AKG K371
- Sennheiser HD 206
1. Bose Quiet Comfort 45
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is one of our favorite headphones for day-to-day usage because they offer a great listening experience and are very versatile and convenient for your routine. Apart from listening to binaural beats, you can use this pair for pretty much anything.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Bluetooth
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- These Bose headphones have active noise cancellation technology, meaning they will use a series of built-in microphones in the body of the pair to calculate the amount of external noise and minimize it.
- Speaking of noise cancellation, there are two modes: Quiet Mode and Aware Mode. In Quiet Mode, the background will be greatly reduced; In Aware Mode, you can still hear and interact with the world around you. This feature is great if you also want to use them on subway rides and noisy environments in general, for example.
- The active EQ technology works to maintain a neutral response regardless of the volume of the headphones.
- They have an extended battery life of 24 hours and charge super fast: a 15-minute charge can give you 3 hours of playback, all according to the manufacturer.
- The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is, in fact, pretty comfortable and feels very solid particularly the ear pads material.
Cons
- None that we found.
Conclusion
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is a pretty expensive investment, but the sound quality and performance for binaural beats are unmatched. One of the flagship features of this model, as the name implies, is the comfort factor and the noise-cancelling technology. There won’t be any distractions while wearing this pair.
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2. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
We reviewed this pair on several other product-roundups and, in our opinion, they are an honest pair. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 offers a great deal of comfort and sound quality at a medium price range and performs well for music and binaural beats.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Bluetooth
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Comfort is a priority in the design of the ATH-M50xBT2 as the pair has extra cushioned headband and soft ear pads.
- The built-in controls are well-positioned in the ear cups, so you don’t have to pick up your phone while relaxing if you want to pause, change track, or control the volume.
- The noise-cancelling capability of this pair is amazing.
- There are two built-in microphones in case you want to use them for making audio and video calls too.
- These Bluetooth headphones have a boosted bass response, which can be beneficial for binaural beats.
- Low-latency mode Bluetooth for improved synchronicity between your headphones and your audio device.
- Available in three colors.
- 50 hours of battery life on continuous use, according to the manufacturer. This is pretty amazing.
- Fast charging: 10 minutes of charging gives you 3 hours of playback.
- There’s an app from Audio-Technica called A-T Connect where you can control some parameters of these binaural beats headphones, such as EQ.
Cons
- Can feel a bit heavy and bulky on persons with smaller heads.
Conclusion
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 is comfortable to use. Big but lightweight enough, these can make you forget you’re wearing headphones. The best feature in our opinion, apart from the excellent noise isolation, is the A-T Connect app, which you can install on your phone and use to control certain parameters and adjust the EQ to your liking.
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3. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (32 Ohms)
The beyerdynamic DT 770 are one of the best pairs of headphones in the market, and the manufacturer is widely acclaimed in the music production world for their attention to detail and sound quality. This particular model comes with different impedances depending on its version. We reviewed the 32 ohms one since it is the most compatible with standard audio devices.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Wired
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The velour ear pads feel nice to the touch and are really comfortable.
- The ear cups are very big so they will probably cover the ears of most people. This can improve sound isolation and give you an overall better listening experience when we talk about binaural beats.
- The pair is very robust and the materials feel very durable.
- beyerdynamic headphones are among some of the most trustable pairs in the music industry and by sound engineers, so you know that they have superb sound quality.
- Although this pair is big, it is very lightweight.
- The noise cancellation is a strong point in these.
- Neutral sound in the high frequencies.
Cons
- Can feel a bit bulky.
- The cable is not detachable.
Conclusion
The beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 32 ohms edition are solid closed-back headphones. Due to their quite neutral frequency response, they do the job pretty well for listening to binaural beats. This pair is comfortable and lightweight, but be aware that the size itself may feel a little too big or bulky, especially if you have a smaller head.
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4. V-MODA Crossfade 2
Upon first glance, the first thing you will notice about the V-MODA Crossfade 2 is its design. I mean, let’s be honest: it looks amazing. But looks are not the only thing these closed-back headphones are great at, they do offer a solid performance for binaural beats and music in general.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Bluetooth
- Includes Carrying Case
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- These headphones are extremely comfortable. They gently hug your head and adapt to provide the best fit possible.
- The materials used in the construction of the V-Moda Crossfade 2 look great and feel durable to the touch.
- Includes a small carrying case for optimal portability and safely taking your V-MODA’s with you.
- Can be used with a cable.
- 14-hour battery-life.
- Can be fully recharged in 100 minutes, according to the manufacturer.
- Passive noise cancellation.
- Built-in buttons in the ear cups are easy to reach.
- These are very versatile and can be used both for binaural beats and music.
- The pair can be folded for easier storage.
- Built-in microphone in the ear cups for taking calls and controlling your voice assistant.
Cons
- None particularly concerning.
Conclusion
The V-MODA Crossfade 2 is a nice match for binaural beats. It is versatile enough to be used on a variety of occasions, looks good, and feels comfortable. The built-in buttons on the ear cups, by the side of the headphones, are easy to reach and can be very convenient while relaxing to binaural beats. We also like the fact that these come with a very nice carrying case.
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5. Beats Studio3
You’ve probably heard about the famous Beats products before. It’s a popular brand among music fans and these work great for binaural beats too. The Studio3 are a pair of wireless headphones designed and fine-tuned for day-to-day usage.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Bluetooth
- Case included
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Beats products work perfectly with Apple devices such as the iPhone and the iPad.
- Up 22 hours of battery life with the noise-cancelling feature activated and up to 40 hours with noise-cancelling deactivated.
- Pure adaptive noise-cancelling technology and real-time audio calibration.
- The Beats app makes it easier to pair these stereo headphones with your smartphone or mobile device.
- The built-in controls are minimalist and fairly simple to use.
- Includes a well-built and durable case.
- Compatible with Siri voice assistant.
- One of the best noise cancellation technologies on the list.
Cons
- Some buyers reported a fragile structure.
Conclusion
The Beats Studio3 are great, particularly if you, apart from listening to binaural beats, enjoy listening to bass-heavy music too. These wireless Bluetooth headphones have minimal sound leakage and provide one of the most immersive experiences among the products on the list.
Some buyers, though, reported that this pair has a fragile structure. In fact, it feels a bit more delicate than other pairs on the list, so you have to handle them with care.
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6. Shure SE215-CL
Unlike most other options on the list, the Shure SE215-CL are an in-ear pair of earbuds. An in-ear design has the advantage of more easily adapting to your ear canal: the product includes 3 sizes of foam inserts (S, M, L) so that you can try and test which one is the best for you. Those earbuds give a quite immersive listening experience.
Product Specifications
- In-Ear Headphones
- Wired
- Case Included
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Like mentioned before, the model comes with 3 sizes of foam inserts (S, M, L), for better adaptation.
- These have the advantage of being more compact than other options on the list.
- The cable is detachable.
- As the in-ear foam inserts mold to your ears, they provide an unmatched sense of sound isolation.
- A wireless option is also available.
- Shure is very transparent about the components inside this pair and explains their technology in a very easy-to-understand manner. This is a plus for us.
- The bass response is quite solid.
- The pair, particularly the cable, feels very durable and reinforced.
- The Shure SE215-CL can block up to 37dB of ambient noise, according to the manufacturer.
- Those are comfortable, particularly for those who don’t like the sensation of using full-size headphones.
- Very good for listening to music too.
Cons
- No built-in controls.
Conclusion
The Shure SE215-CL ear buds offer a broad frequency range and a great deal of isolation to external sounds for an ok price. Among in-ear pairs, they are the best ones for binaural beats in our opinion. You can’t really beat the comfort and the adaptive factor.
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7. Anker SoundCore Life 2
We’ve heard great things about Anker and its audio products. The Anker SoundCore Life 2 was priced at $50 by the time this article was written and is one of the most affordable binaural listening wireless options on this list.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Wireless
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The ear pads are extra cushioned for optimal comfort.
- These headphones are well-reviewed by a lot of professional audio platforms and websites.
- The ear cups of these over-the-ear headphones are big enough to cover the ears of most people but not so big that it feels uncomfortable. We like this.
- The built-in controls are easy to reach and to use. We like this feature since a lot of headphones tend to have controls that are not very conveniently placed.
- One of the most affordable pairs with active noise cancellation in the market.
- Up to 40 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation activated and 60 hours with the feature deactivated. This is impressive.
- Extremely fast charging: 5 minutes of charge for 4 hours of playback. These are some of the best numbers we’ve seen on wireless headphones.
- Detailed sound with a great deal of clarity.
- BassUp technology.
- Can also be used with a cable.
- The design and the materials feel pretty solid and durable.
Cons
- None that we found.
Conclusion
The Anker SoundCore Life 2 was our favorite budget pair of binaural headphones. For an affordable price, you get a wireless unit that can go 60 hours without needing to be charged and has extremely fast charging capabilities. Not only that, but this pair has a solid sound quality and are among the best headphones we’ve ever reviewed in this price range. You can’t go wrong with it.
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8. AKG K361BT
This is a product from a reference brand in the music industry: AKG. These binaural headphones look pretty comfortable, particularly if you like large and well-cushioned pairs. Despite its size, the weight of the K361BT really impressed us: only 260 grams; Putting them among the most lightweight headphones on the list.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Bluetooth
- Includes Two Cables and An Adapter
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Like mentioned before, one of the most lightweight pairs of headphones we’ve ever reviewed.
- Large 50mm transducers with pure OFC voicecoils for improved frequency response and detailed sound.
- Completely adjustable, the earcups can be positioned higher or lower depending on your personal preference.
- Thickly cushioned ear pads.
- Can be folded for easier storage and transport.
- Can also be used as wired headphones with the provided cables.
- Improved frequency range: 15Hz – 28kHz, according to the manufacturer.
Cons
- Can feel a little bulky for people with smaller ears.
- No built-in controls.
Conclusion
The AKG K361BT binaural headphones have a great sound profile. Sound-wise, they are somewhat similar to the Beats Studio3, so great for binaural beats listeners who are also fans of bass-heavy music. One thing that we missed a lot with this pair is the built-in controls.
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9. Sennheiser HD 206
Despite its low price, the Sennheiser HD 206 is considered an entry-level professional studio headphones pair. Priced at around $27 by the time this article was written, they are a guaranteed way to get superb performance at an affordable value.
Product Specifications
- Over-Ear Headphones
- Wired
- Adapter Included
- Closed Back
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- These are extremely lightweight and great for those who don’t like headphones that feel bulky to wear.
- This is one of the most affordable high-quality headphones on the market.
- Very comfortable to wear, even for long listening sessions.
- The ear pads and the headband are well-cushioned.
- Low distortion levels.
- Can isolate external sound to some extent.
Cons
- Weak bass response.
- The cable feels a little fragile.
Conclusion
Being a simple pair, the Sennheiser HD 206 is the ideal headphones for those who want to get into binaural beats without spending too much. They have a great sound quality and are comfortable enough. However, if you want a more versatile pair, we recommend spending a little more and going with the Anker SoundCore Life 2.
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What to Look for When Choosing Headphones for Binaural Beats
Before we head on to our favorite headphones for binaural beats, we would like to list a few things that we considered when choosing the products for this review and what you should keep in mind too when you go shopping.
Comfort
Probably one of the most important factors of all, after all, binaural beats are made for you to either focus or relax, and on both occasions, you need a comfortable pair that can make you forget you’re wearing headphones at all.
This factor will depend on the materials that the headphones are made out of, how they fit and adapt to your head, and their overall size.
For standard cans, we decided to stick with the over-ear type since they can fully cover your ears and provide a better experience for long listening sessions. When it comes to earbuds, we favored the in-ear headphones type since they usually come with different rubber insert sizes that can adapt to your ear canal and give you a more immersive sound.
Noise Cancellation (Active vs Passive)
When listening to binaural beats, you want to tune out from ambient noise distractions. And, as we live in a loud and busy world nowadays, noise isolating headphones are a must for this kind of use.
There are two types of noise cancellation: active and passive. Pairs with active noise canceling will use a series of built-in microphones to detect background noise and automatically compensate for certain things to give you more sound isolation. The Bose Quiet Comfort 45, for example, has this feature.
Passive noise-cancelling headphones will rely on physical characteristics to give you a more immersive experience. For example, a narrower fit between the ear cups and your ears, a strong clamping force in the headband, and a design with no air leaks.
Both types will do a great isolation job, but depending on how much ambient noise you have in the environment you plan to listen to your binaural beats on, an active noise canceling pair may be the best solution.
Closed Back Design (For Headphones)
Headphone cans have three basic ear cups design: closed-back, a semi-open back, and open back. Closed-back headphones provide the best isolation out of the three since the back of the ear cups have no openings on them. These are the optimal type for binaural beats and day-to-day usage.
Semi-open back and open-back headphones are more reserved for studio usage where you have a controlled soundproof environment.
In-Ear Design (For Earbuds)
If you choose to go with earbuds, we recommend an in-ear design. These can provide more sound isolation and, as we said before, most models will come with rubber inserts of different sizes to adapt to your particular ear canal size. Make sure that’s the case before purchase.
Frequency Response / Frequency Range
Last but not least, the frequency response will determine how well your pair of headphones will reproduce the sound frequencies across the spectrum. Ideally, we want a pair that has a sufficiently flat response, although most consumer-grade products have a few boosts on certain frequencies to enhance the sound and that’s ok.
Frequency range, on the other hand, states how low and how high it can go: most cans have a range around 30Hz to 20kHz and that’s optimal for the human ear.
FAQs
Can You Use Any Headphones for Binaural Beats?
Are Headphones Needed for Binaural Beats?
What Are the Benefits of Using Binaural Beats?
Conclusion
After reviewing these 9 products to find the best headphones for binaural beats, we came to the conclusion that a versatile pair that can be used not only for binaural and brainwave entrainment purposes but also for listening to music, for example, is the best choice for most people. The unit must be comfortable and have a great frequency response as well. Here are our top choices:
Bose Quiet Comfort 45 – Overall Best Headphones for Binaural Beats
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is the overall best pair for binaural beats. These are versatile, comfortable, and perform great for any kind of consumer-grade application.
beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (32 Ohms) – Runner-Up
The beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro is our runner-up because, while not as versatile for day-to-day usage, it still has one of the most high-quality and accurate sound on our list.
Anker SoundCore Life 2 – Budget Choice
The Anker SoundCore Life 2 are a good pair of Bluetooth headphones for a small price. They are totally worth the investment, as they can be used for so many applications.
How to Buy
If you’re interested in any of the products on this list, you can find the link to buy them on their respective titles on the list. When buying headphones for binaural beats, remember that comfort and sound quality are key. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions!
Ian Sniesko is an experienced music producer and musician who loves to share his knowledge about the best audio equipment for making and enjoying great music. For the past 6 years, Ian has written extensively about the audio equipment industry and has contributed to many of the top music magazines.