Electronic drums have been around since the 1980s and have recently made a comeback. Aside from being highly customizable, electronic drum sets consume less space compared to acoustic drum kits. What’s more, high-end electronic drum kits possess the sound and feel of acoustic drums while offering a myriad of sound options.
Sound quality is essential to electronic drum kits, especially if you aim to pinpoint specific sounds or elements in your setup. Using good headphones is essential as this will enable you to truly immerse yourself in the sounds you’re producing—whether you’re practicing at home, combining live and virtual recordings, or playing at a concert.
Another advantage of playing on electronic drums is that the sounds they produce can be isolated. By using your headphones when playing electronic drums, you can analyze your performance more closely and play at louder volumes without incurring the wrath of neighbors and roommates.
Top Headphones for Electronic Drums
Roland VMH-D1 V-Drums Over-Ear Headphones
These headphones were designed specifically to be used with V-Drums and electronic drum kits. The product came to fruition in a partnership with the Roland’s V-Drums team and V-MODA. The headphones have large memory foam ear pads and a cushioned headband for additional comfort during long sessions int eh studio. The ear pads are also form-fitting enough to provide sound isolation from acoustic pad noise and other outside sounds.
There are personalization options available through V-MODA’s shield customization service. The headphones also come with two detachable cables: 3 m/10′. cable for tangle-free drum playing and 1.5 m/5′. cable for everyday music listening.
Key Features:
- Memory foam earpads and cushioned headband
- Design by Roland’s V-Drums team and V-MODA
- Has a dynamic transients, wide frequency range, and rich overtones of electronic drums
- Comes with rugged headphones hanger with urethane grip and carrying pouch
Roland RH-5 Around-Ear Stereo Headphones
The Roland RH-5 is an affordable pair of drummer headphones. They have a circumaural, closed-back design and come equipped with large 40mm drivers capable of giving the RH-5 a 10 Hz to 22 kHz frequency response. These high-quality drivers, coupled with large-scale housings, make the Roland RH-5 comfortable to use.
What’s more, the Roland RH-5 comes equipped with conversion plugs that are compatible with mini and standard headphone connectors, making them convenient to use. Capable of producing clear and natural sound, you can use these headphones to listen to audio playbacks or monitor your playing on your electronic drum kit.
Key Features:
- Closed-back cup style and over-ear earpiece
- Lightweight design
- Has a flat and natural response that is consistent across the frequency spectrum
- Comes with conversion plugs for compatibility with various audio devices
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Circumaural Closed-Back Monitor Headphones
The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro was initially released back in 2003 and has continued to be one of the best isolation headphones available in the market. The HD 280 Pro features a robust build that facilitates exceptional noise isolation and extended low-end reproduction, giving it an 8 Hz to 25 kHz frequency response. It has swiveling earcups and a collapsible design for added flexibility, making it easier to store and transport. Its earpads are comfortable and easy to replace. The pads are also sweat-resistant, which is a big boon when playing on an electronic drum kit for prolonged periods.
The HD 280 Pro has well-sealed earcups and good bass definition, which allows you to listen to electronic drum playbacks or recordings as loud as you can without losing quality or disturbing those around you. Given these features, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is one of the best headphones for electronic drums as its noise isolation capabilities and ergonomic design are essential to listening to particular sounds during long studio sessions.
Key Features:
- Foldable and rotating earcups for easy storage and added mobility
- Has up to 32 dB noise attenuation
- Comfortable, replaceable, and sweat-resistant earcups
- Includes a single-sided, coiled cable, 3.5 mm mini-jack, and a 1/4″ locking adapter
Roland RH-300V V-Drums Stereo Headphones
The Roland RH-300V is a specialized pair of high-isolation headphones that are meant to be used with V-Drums and other electronic instruments. These over-ear headphones come with a padded head strap and soft-cushioned ear cups for added comfort, while also giving it a secure fit. The RH-300V has a frequency response of 10 Hz to 22 kHz and a sensitivity of 103 dB/mW. It also comes with a removable 8.2′ foot cord, which makes it convenient to use. The RH-300V is a great companion to use with other electronic percussion instruments from Roland like the OCTAPAD SPD-30, SPD-SX, and HandSonic HPD-20.
The RH-300V can produce high-quality sound, while its closed-back and circumaural design helps isolate ambient sound even more. Enjoy maximum sound clarity without experiencing bass distortions at full volumes thanks to its heavy-duty 50mm drivers.
Key Features:
- Compact and foldable design
- Compatible with a wide array of electronic percussion instruments
- Closed-back, circumaural design for excellent sound isolation
- Padded head strap and earcups for a secure & comfortable fit
- Comes with a gold-plated 1/8″ stereo mini-plug and a 1/4″ threaded adapter
CAD Audio DH100 Drummer Isolation Headphones
The CAD Audio DH100 Drummer Isolation Headphones is a bargain considering its high-performance capabilities. The DH100 has high-output neodymium drivers and can attenuate noise of up to 19 dB. It also has high-output stereo isolation and an extended low-frequency response, allowing you to hear your electronic drums when performing to a crowd. This feature also lets you monitor music, making it possible to record tracks during practice or performances while maintaining clarity.
If you’re looking for affordable headphones that won’t compromise the quality of your recordings and performance, then the ambient noise-canceling features of the CAD Audio Drummer Isolation Headphones are the perfect accessory for the job.
Key Features:
- Comes with 50mm neodymium drivers
- Foam padding for added comfort and noise isolation
- Can cut ambient noise levels by 19dB
- Has an extended bass response of up to 10Hz
- Includes a 39.37″ cord as well as 1/4″ and 1/8″ plugs
