Are Bose Headphones Good For Recording?
If you use headphones for recording, you probably want to get the absolute best possible sound quality, especially if you’re investing in an expensive pair of headphones like the ones made by Bose.
Bose is well known for creating high-quality speakers and headphones that create a meaningful music experience, but are they good for recording audio?
Are Bose Headphones Good For Recording?
Bose headphones aren’t ideal for recording music or audio. Bose headphones have noise-canceling abilities and produce quality sound, but they use advanced sound technology to improve the quality of playing audio. A microphone won’t get an accurate representation of sound from Bose headphones.
It may seem peculiar that high-quality headphones aren’t great for recording audio, but read more below to learn why you should choose a different brand when it comes to recording audio through headphones.
Why Aren’t Bose Headphones Good for Recording?
Bose is well known for its high-quality headphones and speakers.
Their brand name reaches many “top” lists when it comes to speakers, sound systems, and headphones.
While most people out there enjoy the audio experience presented by Bose, audiophiles tend to avoid Bose like the plague.
Bose does offer a great listening experience, but that comes at the price of perfect accuracy.
Advanced Sound Technology
The founder and chairman of Bose Corporation, Amar Bose found himself disappointed in the sound produced by other speakers.
When he started Bose Corporation, he invested in a team that studies psychoacoustics.
This team researches the way people interpret sound, and find ideal settings that all people tend to like.
They find nuances in the sound of live music and recorded sounds.
By studying these nuances, they found ways to manipulate the sound to make it seem more lifelike and powerful.
Once the research team has found those targeted ideals, the engineering and design team creates speakers that alter the sound waves as they are amplified to imitate these ideals.
Bose tries to create a sound that feels realistic.
Bose focuses on creating a meaningful music experience, rather than merely amplifying sound.
Audio Distortion
Because Bose works to improve the music listening experience by changing the audio as it’s amplified, the sounds played back after recording become distorted and lose accuracy.
While Bose headphones make recordings sound amazing, they aren’t ideal when you are trying to produce the best original sound.
Because of the sound distortion, you may not be able to tell how your music or other audio actually sounds.
Your audio will likely sound great through Bose headphones, but later while using other headphones find there are parts of the recording that you aren’t satisfied with.
As an audio recorder, you need to know exactly what your music will sound like through various headphones.
You want to make sure the average listener has a positive experience with your music, so listening with only high-quality headphones that produce an exceptional sound won’t tell you what all of your potential listeners will hear.
Overall, Bose is great for listening, but when it comes to sound accuracy they are at the bottom of the list.
Noise Canceling Ability
While Bose can’t offer a great recording headphone set, there is much to be said about the noise canceling ability Bose headphones have.
A review on the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 on PC Mag praises Bose for their noise-canceling technology.
Bose doesn’t just block out the noise, but they offer levels of noise-cancelation.
Because of their advanced technology with noise cancelation, Bose headphones can be tempting to a new audio recorder.
While excellent noise cancellation should be sought after when it comes to listening to recorded audio, Bose doesn’t take the cake for best recording headphones.
You should look into other brands when it comes to recording to ensure that you hear the most accurate version of your music.
Other Headphones to Consider for Recording
When looking for a pair of headphones to use while recording, there are many different factors to consider, and it can get overwhelming to see all of the options and consider the quality of each.
Looking to those in the field with some experience is a great way to help you decide which recording supplies and accessories to get.
While some audiophiles or recording artists may recommend pricey professional headphone sets, there are still some headphones out there that beginners recommend for recording and mixing.
Below are listed some recommended favorites from audiophiles, hobbyist audio recorders, and recording artists:
Sony MDR-XB450
The Sony MDR-XB450 headphones are simple and easy to use.
They offer a high-quality, accurate sound that will aid in the recording process.
These are made for everyday use, but their accurate sound quality makes them a great option for beginner or amateur audio recorders.
They can easily be connected to a smartphone for casual listening as well.
These Sony headphones do accentuate the bass, giving you a less accurate sound.
While this is a setback, they are still of decent quality and can improve your recording situation.
Audio-Technica M40X
Audio-Technica M40X headphones are frequently recommended by recorders as an affordable headphone option.
The Sound Guys reviewed these Audio-Technica headphones, remarking that they are like a “Swiss Army Knife of audio.” These headphones have everything you need to get started with recording audio.
They do have an emphasis on lower frequency notes, but they still present clear highs as well.
Beyerdynamic DT 990
Sweetwater claims the Beyerdynamic DT 990 headphones are “Some of the world’s finest headphones.” They are another affordable option for those looking for a solid pair of headphones to rely on in the recording studio (or the makeshift recording corner in your bedroom).
They also offer a comfortable cup covered in soft viscose that allows for long hours wearing them.
Sennheiser HD650
The Sennheiser HD650 headphones come recommended by intermediate recorders.
They offer an accurate sound at a median price.
These are a bit more costly than the other options listed above, but the higher price has something to offer.
Using the Sennheiser headphones, you will hear every detail in your music at high fidelity.
The Sennheiser headphones were built for audiophiles and they aim to reproduce sounds perfectly.
Using these, you will get a very accurate representation of your music as it’s recorded.