Digital Piano Headphones: How to Choose
Digital piano headphones open up playing to every hour of the day: plug them into the jack and the full sound of the piano comes straight to you, with every shade of your touch. A good pair turns evening practice, a lesson with a teacher or a home recording into a complete experience. In this guide we go through the types of headphones, the numbers in the spec sheet and the way to find the pair that will accompany your playing.
Closed or open headphones
In closed headphones each ear is wrapped in a cushion and the sound stays with you. Most studio headphones are built this way, for example the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and ATH-M40x, and they suit a home where someone is reading or sleeping in the next room. In open headphones the back of the earcup is vented and the sound feels spacious and natural, and a teacher can talk to the student mid-lesson without the student taking them off.
What to check in the specs
Three numbers help compare models. The first is the driver diameter, the small speaker inside each side: in the models in our store it ranges from 40 mm on the ATH-M20x to 53 mm on the ATH-A990Z. The second is the plug. Most headphones have a 3.5 mm plug with a 6.3 mm adapter, and many digital pianos have one jack of each size. The third is the cable: a 3 m length reaches easily from the jack to the bench, as on the ATH-AVC200, and the HP-CC coiled cable stays tidy by the instrument and extends when you stand up, and for those who prefer a straight cable there is the 3 m HP-LC.
Digital piano sound through headphones
Digital piano makers design the sound especially for headphone listening, and on many models it comes alive the moment you plug in a pair. Alexian digital pianos, available exclusively at Zohar Pianos, sound wonderful through headphones: the sound is rich and full, and every piece feels close and personal. Alexian pianos have a connection for two pairs of headphones, so two people can play and listen together. You are welcome to meet, for example, the Alexian F5100.
An acoustic silent piano also sends its sound to headphones in silent mode, so one pair serves both instruments. More about the instruments themselves in the digital piano guide.
Headphones at the Zohar Pianos store and gallery
At the Zohar Pianos store and gallery you will find a selection of Audio-Technica headphones, and you can also order them online. The ATH-M20x and ATH-M30x are excellent for students and long practice sessions, and the ATH-M30x has a folding headband that is easy to store by the piano. The ATH-M40x gives precise sound with a straight and a coiled cable. The ATH-A550Z from the Art Monitor series brings a wide sound with a 53 mm driver and soft cushions, and the ATH-MSR7b suits those who play and listen to a lot of music, at home and on the go.
Connecting several pairs of headphones
In a lesson, teacher and student listen to the same playing. Many digital pianos, portable models included, have inputs for two pairs of headphones. When you want to add more listeners, the 4-channel headphone amplifier gives each person a volume knob of their own, and the 5-way splitter works without power and fits in any bag. And if you practise with a digital piano metronome, some models send their beat straight to the headphones.
Recommended listening volume
According to the World Health Organization, listening at an average level of 80 decibels suits up to 40 hours a week, and every small reduction extends that time. A moderate volume looks after your ears for years, and a digital piano lets you set it exactly to your taste. Between sessions, a hard case keeps the pair, the cable and the adapter together, also on the way to a lesson.
Try headphones at Zohar Pianos, Ben Atar 28
At our store and gallery at Ben Atar 28 the headphones are waiting for you to try, and you can also order them online. You can bring your own headphones, plug them into a digital piano and play the same passage until you feel which sound speaks to you. We will be happy to introduce you to the Audio-Technica headphone series in our store, from the ATH-M20x for students to the ATH-M70x for players who record at home. We are here for you.
Links: Digital piano · Silent piano · Piano metronome · Piano keys · Back to playing
FAQ
Which headphones suit a digital piano?
Headphones that cover the whole ear, with balanced sound and a cable that reaches the bench. Closed ones keep the sound with you, and open ones give a spacious sound that is light for long wear.
Which plug fits a digital piano?
Many pianos have a 6.3 mm jack, and sometimes a 3.5 mm one too. Most headphones come with an adapter that connects the two, so the same pair works with the piano, the phone and the computer.
Can two pairs of headphones be connected to the same piano?
Yes. Many models have two jacks, and for group lessons there is a headphone amplifier that connects four pairs, with a separate volume knob for each.
Do the same headphones work with a silent piano?
Yes. In silent mode a silent piano sends its sound to headphones, and the same pair serves the digital piano too.