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Best Headphones for Rock and Metal

 


Good old rock 'n' roll. This popular musical genre got its start with 1950s rockabilly with the likes of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Buddy Holly, to name a few. Rock's roots lie in rhythm and blue and country, with elements of gospel, jazz, and more. Over time, rock and roll has evolved into dozens of styles and subgenres. For our purposes here, we're focusing on non-acoustic rock 'n' roll and heavy metal.

Rock and metal usually feature electric guitars, electric bass, percussion, keyboards (electronic, piano, or organ), and, of course, vocals. There can be many other instruments in the mix: think sax with Bruce Springsteen, flutes in Jethro Tull, or bagpipes in Korn. Vocals and lyrics play a huge role in rock and metal, be they screaming vocals or more soulful or fun-sounding lyrics. You want a headphone that will bring out the best in your favorite singer's voice and won't let it get lost amid the instrumentation. When your headphone is well-matched to your music, it makes for a better listening experience.

Rock and roll is not so much about deep bass as it is snare drums and punchy, faster-paced bass. For audiophiles who love rock 'n' roll and heavy metal, we like headphones with an open-back design. Open-back headphones feature ventilation in the ear cups, which allows air and sound to pass in and out of the headphone.

Typically, open-back headphones have an airy, natural sound quality and a wider sense of presentation than closed-back headphones. Open-back headphones also sound dynamic and lively and are faster, making them a good match for aggressive and high-energy music. A "faster" headphone will generally be more detailed and have tighter, quicker bass.

With these guidelines in mind, we've curated a list of what we consider to be our best headphones for rock music and heavy metal. If you're looking for the best headphones for rock and metal under $1,000, you've got some great options. If you're looking to spend a little more for a set of headphones, we've recommended a few headphones in the $1,000 to $2,000 price range. Finally, you'll see some "cream of the crop" high-end headphones over $2,000. Click on any headphone image to learn more.

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Under $1,000

Sound signature: Forward, aggressive
Style: Open back

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Sound signature: Snappy, resolute
Style: Open back

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Sound signature: Forward
Style: Open back

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$1,000-$2,000

Sound signature: Warm side of neutral  Style: Open back

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Sound signature: Forward  
Style: Open back

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Focal Clear MG Headphones with Black Dragon

Sound signature: Warm-neutral
Style: Open back

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Audio Technica ATH-ADX5000 Headphones

Sound signature: Forward, bright
Style: Open back

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Over $2,000


Sound signature: Neutral yet exciting
Style: Open back

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Sound signature: Dynamic, detailed
Style: Open back

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Sound signature:  Forward
Style: Open back

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Best Headphones for Rock, Metal