My first practice headphones were old earbuds from my phone. Tinny sound, fell out constantly, cord too short. Then I bought gaming headphones – comfortable but the sound was all wrong, bass-heavy and muddy.
Piano needs different headphones than gaming or casual music listening. Here's what actually matters.
Flat frequency response: You want headphones that reproduce sound accurately, not ones that boost bass or treble. "Monitoring" or "studio" headphones aim for this. Consumer headphones often color the sound in ways that hide your mistakes.
Over-ear vs in-ear: Over-ear is generally better for long practice sessions. More comfortable for extended wear. Better sound isolation. In-ear works but gets uncomfortable after an hour.
Wired vs wireless: Wired is simpler and has no latency issues. Bluetooth can have slight delay between pressing key and hearing sound – annoying for practice. Stick with wired unless you have a specific reason for wireless.
Closed-back vs open-back: Closed-back isolates you from outside noise and doesn't leak sound. Better for apartments and shared spaces. Open-back sounds more natural but everyone nearby hears your practice. Most people want closed-back.
Cord length matters. You need enough slack to move comfortably, turn your head, reach across the keyboard. Too short and you're tethered awkwardly. 3-5 feet minimum, ideally with an extension option.
What I use now: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Around $150, closed-back, accurate sound, comfortable for hours. The standard recommendation in most piano forums for a reason.
Budget option: Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. Around $50. Same concept, less refined. Perfectly fine for practice.
Cheaper still: Sony MDR-7506. Classic studio headphones, around $80. Been the industry standard for decades. Less comfortable for very long sessions but sound is accurate.
What to avoid: Gaming headsets with "surround sound" processing. Beats and other bass-heavy consumer headphones. Anything wireless with noticeable latency. Open-back if you have roommates or thin walls.
The headphone jack on your keyboard matters too. Most use 1/4" or 1/8" jacks. Adapters exist but check compatibility before buying.
For rest of your setup, see piano setup at home and keyboard buying guide.