Hip hop is officially the most popular genre in the US. Yes, that’s right! According to a report by Forbes, hip hop and R&B are now responsible for 25.1% of all music consumption in the US. Therefore, with an increase in the consumption of hip-hop music over the years, the need for hip-hop headphones has also spiked. However, with thousands of headphones on the market, it can be extremely daunting to find the most suitable ones for hip-hop music.
Hip hop music is typically bass-rich; therefore, you need headphones that perform well toward the lows. You also need fantastic vocal audio quality to enjoy the lyrics while you’re grooving to the hip-hop beats.
Whether you’re a music producer or a pure hip-hop fan, we’ve got you covered. In this hip-hop headphones guide, we’ll discuss essential factors that you need to consider while finding the most suitable hip-hop headphones.
4 Essential Factors You Should Look at While Buying Hip Hop Headphones
When you’re looking for hip-hop headphones, ensure you look at all the following factors! We bet they’ll help you make an informed purchase!
Overall Sound Quality
With hip hop headphones, you need to be more critical while assessing the sound quality than any other headphones. Even though hip-hop music comprises deep bass, too much bass can be overbearing. Therefore, it’s important to understand that hip hop is not all about the bass.
Many hip-hop artists incorporate a wide range of sounds into their music. In fact, some hip-hop artists love experimentation and the inclusion of various musical instruments.
Another factor to look at when buying hip-hop headphones is the soundstage. Hip hop music sounds fantastic with headphones having a detailed soundstage. This is where the best audiophile headphones fit the picture. They deliver a rich hip-hop listening experience and rich bass. Audiophile speakers are also good for hip hop music, if you wish to look beyond the realm of headphones.
Ease of Use — Portable or Studio
To find the right hip-hop headphones, you need to assess and evaluate your requirements. If you’re looking for headphones to enjoy music in your own time, we recommend portable hip-hop headphones. However, if you’re looking for headphones primarily for recording hip-hop music in the studio, we recommend studio-grade headphones.
Connectivity — Wired or Wireless
The second most important factor is connectivity. Be it hip hop or any other music genre, the type of connectivity is of utmost importance.
Design — Open- or Closed-Back
Hip hop and rap benefit from open-back headphones. As open-back headphones allow sound to leak, the sound output that reaches your ears is more clear and more crisp. Therefore, if you’re looking for hip-hop headphones only from a music-listening perspective, open-back headphones would be the right choice. However, if studio recording hip hop music is your goal, you would benefit from closed-back headphones.
Closed-back headphones are completely covered from the back; therefore, there is no sound leakage. Moreover, hip-hop music will sound more natural with these headphones as they block external disturbances. Another reason why closed-back headphones may be a good choice for recording hip-hop music is that they deliver better bass quality. As hip-hop music is richer in the bass, it sounds fantastic with closed-back headphones during studio recordings.