What are the BEST Headphones for Voiceover? -- (Tips from a Pro VO)

Summary

Jay explains why headphones are important for voiceover work. In a treated booth, acoustic reflections that normally help people judge their speaking volume are absent, so headphones let performers monitor their voice and recording quality. They also help catch unwanted sounds, such as barking, aircraft, lawn equipment, and microphone pops.

Guidance for Choosing Headphones

• Choose closed-back headphones for recording. They help prevent headphone sound from leaking into the microphone and reduce outside noise interfering with what the performer hears.
• Consider comfort and personal preference. Headphones vary in sound, fit, padding, and clamping pressure. Jay suggests budgeting roughly $50–$150, checking the return policy, and trying a pair for several days. If they’re uncomfortable, exchange them.
• Check impedance (ohms). Higher-impedance models, such as 150- or 250-ohm headphones, need more power and may be too quiet when connected directly to a laptop, phone, or game controller. Lower-impedance models—around 40–80 ohms—are easier to drive from those devices. Jay says high impedance is not necessary for voiceover.
• Avoid Bluetooth during recording, according to Jay, because latency can interfere with the work.
• Consumer headphones can work if connected by cable and features such as noise cancellation and bass boost are disabled. However, Jay recommends purpose-built, closed-back monitoring headphones as the main booth pair. They’re designed to provide a more neutral, detailed sound rather than enhance the bass or otherwise alter the audio.

Reviews, Guides, or Tutorials

This is a general buying guide rather than a review of specific models. It covers headphone design, comfort, impedance, connectivity, and monitoring needs, but does not rank or test individual products.

Main speaker/source: Jay Myers, a voiceover artist, speaking from his booth.