Whether you listen to the satisfying sounds from ASMR videos to relax, or you want to block out the annoying noise from your hectic workplace or the heavy traffic, ASMR headphones are your best friend when it comes to unwinding. ASMR headphones are also great if you are the type of person who listens to podcasts or calming ASMR to fall asleep faster.
Lucky for you, there are now a lot of headphones that are designed for optimum comfort and excellent sound quality that will cater to all types of audiophiles and ASMR enthusiasts out there (like me).
This list of ASMR headphones covers a range of options while varying the balance between affordability and performance.
What is ASMR?
You’ve probably heard of the term ASMR from various online platforms of famous vloggers, and you’re wondering how they can produce such crisp and clear sounds that are satisfying to hear. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response which describes the tingling sensation you feel due to the auditory-tactile synesthesia and specific gentle stimulus.
ASMR video creators often include whispering voices, paper tearing, and other sounds that trigger that “static-like” euphoric sensation that usually starts in the scalp and runs down the spine.
Choosing the right ASMR headphones (Buying guide)
Because ASMR-listening is an auditory-focused activity, buying the perfect headphones that can cater to delicate and clear sounds is crucial. Some of the factors you should consider are the:
Sound Quality
This is the most crucial aspect that you should focus on when buying ASMR headphones. You should look for balance in the audio output and comfortability at the same time. Since ASMR requires high-quality output, the specific standards of professional audiophiles and ASMR enthusiasts should also be high.
Noise Canceling
There are ASMR headphones that are noise-canceling, while others are noise-isolating. Either way, you should pick the pair of headphones that are suitable for your environment. If you are in a noisy environment, noise-canceling will be ideal, while if you only love to listen to ASMR before bed, noise-isolating headphones will do better.
Material and Design
Check the material of the headphones to ensure that they won’t hurt your ears or head when you use them for a long time. The construction should generally be light and high-quality for it to be considered a good ASMR headphone. The design also includes the type of connectivity. Whether you prefer Bluetooth wireless or wired headphones, make sure that it is the most convenient choice for your lifestyle.
Top 7 Best Headphones for ASMR
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Editor's Choice  |
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Runner- up  |
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Runner- up  |
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List of the Best Headphones for ASMR
Wireless AcousticSheep SleepPhones
The first on our list is the Wireless AcousticSheep SleepPhones. These headphones are designed like a headband to provide optimum comfort. You can connect these with any device and go to sleep without worrying about the wires getting tangled up because, yep, you guessed it– the SleepPhones are wireless.
These premium headphones are made in the U.S.A. from globally sourced components and have a one-year limited warranty. The ultra-thin speakers are comfortable enough to wear while lying down or sleeping on your side. The module’s built-in volume and play/pause/skip controls easily let you control your Bluetooth-enabled devices so you can get the best possible listening experience.
Key Features
- Wireless via Bluetooth
- Great sound quality
- The estimated battery life lasts for about 10 hours
- 15-30 feet connectivity range
- Machine washable
- It comes in multiple sizes, colors, & fabrics
- It can also be used as an eye mask
- Soft and stretchy headband made from exclusive SheepCloud fabric
Product Review
The Wireless AcousticSheep SleepPhones are soft and cozy, which is perfect if you are someone who loves listening to ASMR before or while you are sleeping. With an average of 10 hours battery life, it will last you from night to morning, guaranteeing a peaceful sleep free from unwanted noise from your surroundings.
Another great thing about this product is that it has a long-range of 15-30 feet connectivity, so you don’t have to worry if your phone or laptop is charging from another room. You can still listen to music and ASMR wherever you are in the house. They are also washable and lightweight so that you can bring them to your trips hassle-free.
Whether you are trying to block out your partner’s snoring or you simply find it relaxing listening to ASMR, these comfortable headphones will help you fall asleep naturally and without the pain from wearing bulky earbuds. You don’t have to worry about your headphones fitting you perfectly because the AcousticSheep SleepPhones also come in various sizes suitable for everyone in all age groups.
Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort 20 is a compact in-ear headset with an excellent noise cancellation capability. Bose technologies are known for their dramatic noise cancellation feature that can rival almost any full-sized headphones in the market today. They also come with Stay Hear+ ear tips in three different sizes where you can pick the perfect fit for your ears, so you can leave it on for hours and hours without hurting.
Key Features
- Deep, clear sound from Active E.Q. and TriPort technology
- StayHear+ tips provide a comfortable, secure fit
- 16 hours battery life with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (built-in)
- Inline microphone and remote so you can switch easily between calls and music
- Bose noise-canceling technology reduces noise from the outside world
- Aware mode lets you hear what’s around you at the press of a button
Product Review
The Bose QuietComfort 20 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to 16 hours of use. That’s pretty impressive battery life for headphones, and the great thing about this product is that even if the battery runs out, you can continue listening using the wires that come with it.
Thanks to the Bose Active E.Q. and TriPort technology, you can enjoy lifelike, digital-quality sound that any audiophile will surely appreciate. All the controls are right at your fingertips with its slim control module. It also has an Aware feature that you can easily switch to if you want to hear what’s happening around you, i.e., crossing a busy street or listening to an important airline announcement.
Even though these headphones are on the pricier side of the market, your investment will still be worth its price because of their superior sound quality output. Whether you want to cancel the world out, or you want to listen clearly to that very satisfying ASMR, the Bose QuietComfort 20 will give you what you want and more. Just make sure to buy the right model because it varies for Android and Apple devices.
Shure SE215-CL Professional Sound Isolating Earphones
The Shure SE215 offers detailed sound with enhanced bass for personal listening or professional monitoring. Sound isolation means that there is no active noise cancellation, unlike the Bose QuietComfort, but the position of the Shure earphones blocks outside noise. This means that the Shure SE215 acts like earplugs even when they aren’t turned on. The SE215 also comes in other color variations– SE215-CL for clear, SE215-K for black, etc.
Key Features
- Comfortable sound isolating sleeves that can block up to 37 dB of ambient noise
- Durable reinforced cable allows easy replacement or customization.
- Lightweight, low-profile shape with optimized nozzle angle
- Fit Kit includes three sizes (S, M, L) of the flex and black foam sleeves.
- Wireless Bluetooth communication
- Gold plated MMCX Connector has a lock-snap mechanism for 360-degree rotation and a comfortable fit.
Product Review
Shure’s SE215 earphones are discrete and small, making them perfect if you like to wear noise-canceling headphones when you sleep. The cord of SE215 is designed to go up and over your ears rather than down like most other earbuds making the wires less likely to get tangled up or damaged during the night. The earbuds are actually flat along the outer ear when inserted.
The main feature of the Shure SE215 is its noise-isolating capability. This feature is perfect for ASMR enthusiasts out there because this means that it can block out a ton of external noise—up to 37dB, to be precise. Most users recommend this product because all the details of ASMR will be clear from muddy sounds and external distractions.
Overall, these headphones are packed with great features that are great for professional musicians, audiophiles, and ASMR enthusiasts. Even though the over-the-ear design will take some getting used to, once you are used to it, these headphones are actually pretty comfortable. The sound quality is good, and the design is ergonomic for outdoor and indoor use. The price is also within the mid-range, so for a quality in-ear headset, the SE215 is very much an excellent choice.
Sennheiser HD 599 Open Back Headphone
The Sennheiser HD 599 is a premium headphone for those seeking sophisticated sound, design, and build quality. It is powered by the Sennheiser proprietary transducer technology and featuring the ‘Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement (E.A.R.) design giving it a natural tonal balance and an excellent spatial performance. With over 75 years of experience, the Sennheiser brand continues creating products to get the perfect sound and set new audio benchmarks.
Key Features
- Robust 3-meter detachable cable and 6.3-millimeter jack
- It comes with a padded headband and luxurious velour-covered ear pads.
- An open-backed design makes for a natural listening experience.
- Super comfortable and light (8.8 ounces)
- Spacious, clear sound
- The frequency range extends from 12 Hz to 38,500 Hz
- Aluminum voice coils delivering excellent dynamic and extremely low distortions
Product Review
For audiophiles who are looking for high-quality headphones for listening to ASMR, the: Sennheiser HD 599 is one of the best options in the market. Even though some may consider the HD 599 series to be on the pricier side, these headphones’ performance is professional-level. This is why ASMR enthusiasts still go for this pair despite its triple-digit price range– the sound quality is exceptional.
What makes the HD 599 unique is its open-back design that allows a more natural sound similar to what we actually hear in the real world. The sense of space or roominess between your ears and the sound itself is precise because of the open-back design. For ASMR contents, this feature will add an overall sensory experience.
The Sennheiser H.D. series also comes in HD 598, which has a closed-back design to produce a more vacuum-like sound. The HD 598 is ideal for environments with noisy backgrounds that you need to block out. While for the HD 599, you will need a more quiet environment to enjoy its features thoroughly. Whatever you prefer, Sennheiser delivers exceptional sound quality with comfortability that is perfect for long listening sessions.
COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
Next on the list is the COWIN E7 with its powerful active noise-canceling functions. These headphones significantly reduce the noise when you are traveling, working, and doing everything in between. These lightweight and comfortable headphones can be worn throughout the day with their 30 hours of playtime and advance Bluetooth 4.0 for better connectivity without the messy cords that tangle up easily.
Key Features
- The wireless designs (Bluetooth and N.F.C. connections) allows you to use it anywhere
- Active noise cancellation feature
- Built-In Microphone
- 30 Hours playtime with its built-in 750mAh battery
- The sound quality is great for the price
- 45mm big speaker drivers for deep and powerful sounds
Product Review
The Cowin E7 is an affordable pair of ASMR headphones with pillowy-like softness on the headband and ear cushions for your maximum comfort. These headphones’ features are almost similar to their pricier counterparts, making these the perfect pair for those on a tight budget but still want to enjoy a fun ASMR and music listening session.
The active noise-canceling function of the Cowin E7 can block out background noise and make your ASMR videos sound extra-clear. Lower frequency sounds like engines, aviation environment, trains, and traffic noise will not get past these headphones, so you can enjoy your music, movies, or books without being disturbed by outside noises. And for its 30 hours of playtime, you can get the best out of the Cowin E7 without any problems.
The only downside of these headphones is that the audio quality is not as great and clear as the brands with big names in the audio system business. It is expected from a pair that belongs in the lower price range of professional headphones, though. However, considering its price, the Cowin E7 is still a reliable headphone with decent sound quality and all the modern features you are looking for in headphones.
Apple AirPods with Charging Case
The next one on our list is the Apple Airpods. These are different from the usual headsets on the list because they feature a ‘true wireless’ design and convenient connectivity for people who are always on the go. Whether you just want a small earbud to keep it lowkey or want something that will fit your ears perfectly when you are about to sleep, the Apple Airpods can give you comfortability and the excellent ASMR sound quality that you’re looking for.
Key Features
- Quick access to Siri by saying, “Hey Siri.”
- Stellar sound quality
- The new Apple H1 headphone chip delivers a faster wireless connection to your devices.
- It automatically turns on and automatically connects.
- Motion-detecting accelerometer
- Dual beamforming microphones
- Water-resistant
- Lightweight and comfortable
- It comes with a charging case that carries more than 24 hours of battery life.
Product Review
Even though the Apple Airpods are technically earpods more than headphones, we can’t help but include these on our list because of their superb sound quality. These earpods have an ultra-modern “true wireless” design, perfect for listening to relaxing ASMR sounds because they are so light that you’ll forget you were wearing earpods in the first place.
The Apple Airpods also come in a rechargeable case that acts as an on-the-go power bank if you run out of battery. You can easily pop the earbuds into the handy casing for a quick charge, and you’re good for another 5 hours or so. When it comes to its design, the earbuds are small enough that you don’t have to worry about it being uncomfortable when you are sleeping.
These babies might be small in size, but they are not lacking in having modern features that are similar to high-quality professional headphones. Although Apple products have always been known for their high-price, these wireless Airpods are one example of a worthy investment that won’t disappoint you in the long run.
Bose QuietComfort 35
Last but not least is the Bose QuietComfort 35. It is the most expensive headphones on our list and for a good reason. With their beautiful, firm, and premium design, these are by far one of Bose’s most comfortable headphones for long sessions of listening to music and ASMR. Everything you are looking for in ASMR headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 35 can produce crystal-clear audio to first-class active noise cancellation.
Key Features
- World-class noise cancellation makes quiet sound quieter
- 20-hour battery life per charge
- Wireless, with easy Bluetooth and N.F.C. pairing
- Noise-rejecting dual-microphone system for clear calls
- Volume-optimized EQ for balanced audio performance
- Premium, lightweight materials make for a comfortable fit.
Product Review
Our list ends with another Bose product because if you have experience with previous Bose noise-canceling headphones, you know that the noise canceling is excellent, which is great if you are an audiophile who wants loud and clear audio output. The QC35 II gives you plenty of flexibility to block out unnecessary noise and distractions so that you can focus on your triggers.
The main difference between the Bose QuietComfort 20 and QuietComfort 35 is that the latter has an even better sound quality and has a more balanced output than its predecessor, which is why it is slightly more expensive.
Bose QuietComfort 35 is lightweight and comfortable, weighing only 8.3 ounces. These are the kind of headset that you won’t notice you are wearing even for a while because they are that comfortable. The main downside of this product is that it is expensive, and they are not exactly comfortable to wear when sleeping. Other than that, the QuietComfort 35 is no doubt one of the best ASMR headphones in the market today.
The Best ASMR Headphones?
The products we have listed above are only there to serve as a guide and give you a more organized choice for picking the best ASMR headphones. The features and design vary from every brand, so consider all aspects before purchasing one. Overall, you don’t have to worry about buying the wrong thing because most modern headphones are already equipped with essential functions that will produce quality sound output while maintaining comfortable wear for their users.