If you’re currently hunting down the best headphones for rock music listening, make sure you stop to consider a few important factors first: natural and balanced sound quality, wired or wireless options, comfort factor, and price. I took it upon myself to search for the best in the business right now and have them all reviewed right below. If you want to find out what made the cut and how these factors influenced my list, go ahead and scroll along now!
I listen to almost any genre of music. From pop to ballad to country to EDM to rock. One of my favorite music genres is rock and its many subgenres. One major thing I always seem to look for in music is the different sounds and layers of instruments. I love listening to music where I can hear and distinguish the different instruments used to make the song come together.
I have always had and used the typical earphones that come with buying a new phone. I’ve recently had the urge to look for new headphones to keep me company while I work, commute, and to watch my shows. I wanted to get headphones that will also help me achieve a better music listening experience, especially with rock, classic rock, and indie rock songs and its many, many underlying layers.
I hope you’re ready to find out what my favorites are for metal and rock music because we are diving right in!
Our Top Picks for the Best Headphones for Rock Music
| Product Image | Product Name | Price | |
| Our Pick |  | V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Headphones | Check Price |
| Best Noise Cancellation |  | Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones | Check Price |
| Best Wireless Battery Life |  | Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Headphones | Check Price |
 | Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Headphones | Check Price | |
 | AKG K240 Studio Headphones | Check Price |
The Best Headphones for Rock Music
1. V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Headphones – Our Pick!
Our number one pick for the best headphones for listening to rock music is the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Headphones! You are sure to hear metal and rock music that sounds rich and with a lot of depth with this one. You will hear very present and clean deep bass lines without it ever being muddy. This produces tight and defined bass sounds from any of your favorite rock songs without being too much. They are powerful and you can definitely feel them but they’re not at all overbearing.
If you’re like me and enjoy the distinct sounds of instruments, you are going to enjoy this as it lets you hear and distinguish a song’s many layers and instruments. It produces a well-balanced sound that is adequately loud but without any distortions. The lifelike vocals and clean, deep bass will surely immerse you in the music you’re listening to as if you were really there listening to it performed live. Not only does this work well for rock music but it also sounds great with other music genres.
This is an over-ear headphone and is designed to envelop your ears so the music stays in and the noise out. For maximum versatility, this can be used both in wired and wireless mode. Its wired mode is excellent for zero latency experience and is certified hi-res audio for superior sound quality. When used in wireless mode, this gives you 14 hours of continuous use. Its bluetooth range also offers outstanding performance and allows you to pair it with multiple devices for easy switching from one device to another.
This V-MODA Crossfade pair is equipped with big memory foam ear cushions for maximum comfort even on extended hours of use. The headband is also flexible, cushioned, and adjustable to ensure the perfect and most comfortable fit for each user. This has intuitive controls on the right ear cup side so you can control your audio and media playback. It also comes with a built-in and hidden microphone for hands-free phone calls and voice assistance.
To ensure that this is easy to carry and travel with, this is foldable and comes with an exoskeleton carry case for safekeeping and easy carrying. Although a favorite among many music enthusiasts for its sound quality, this does still come with a few drawbacks you should know before going ahead with your purchase. Though many found this to be comfortable for long-term use, a select few found this a bit uncomfortable due to too much clamp pressure for some. If you decide to go with this one, make sure to factor that one in.
Pros:
- Very present and deep, clean bass lines
- Powerful, deep bass without being overbearing
- Hear songs’ distinct layers, sounds, and instruments
- Immersive music listening experience
- Over-ear design keeps music in and the noise out
- Wired and wireless mode use
- Memory foam ear cups and headband for absolute comfort
- Intuitive media control and built-in microphone
- Foldable and comes with carry case for travel
Cons:
- Clamp pressure might be too strong for some
2. Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones – Best Noise Cancellation!
If what you’re looking for in the best headphones for listening to rock and metal music is its noise cancellation feature, you better check this one out. Equipped with industry-leading active noise cancellation, you can trust this Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones to give you a soundproof music listening experience! You can rest assured that with this one, your music stays in and the noise around you stays out. This also offers a personal noise canceling experience by adjusting the ambient noise according to what you’re doing.
When used for listening to music, you can expect to hear bass-rich sounds, definitely a good choice for all bass heads out there. This allows you to hear every detail of the song for a full and immersive listening experience through its production of balanced and neutral sounds and wide frequency range. When used to listen to your favorite rock songs, you can expect all the bass and treble to come through clean and clear thanks to its great sound quality. As this has a lot of bass, this has been a popular choice among those who enjoy listening to rock music.
For added convenience, this can be used for all of your media consumption in both wired and unwired options. This comes with an audio cable for wired use and offers up to 30 hours of playback time when used in wireless mode. This is designed to fold for easy storage and with an included carrying case to make travel with this so much easier. The ear cups are designed to swivel so it stays on and intact even if you move your head.
This pair from Sony is equipped with touch controls on one side of the ear cups to control your media playback, activate voice assistance, and take phone calls when you need to. It is Alexa-enabled for convenient voice assistance and comes with a built-in mic for hands-free phone calls. Another smart feature many users have loved and found convenient is the quick attention mode that allows you to cover the right ear cup and your music will turn down for instant conversation or paying attention.
Many users have also praised this pair for their outstanding comfort and how you can’t feel it on you even after hours of use and wear thanks to the comfortable ear pads and headband. Though it offers an amazing sound quality for rock songs and music due to the base-heavy and full experience, it can get loud for others who would not prefer the heavy bass sounds. You might need an equalizer app to get it to sound as you would want it. This is also on the more expensive side of headphones so just keep that in mind.
Pros:
- Active noise cancellation for soundproof listening experience
- Bass-heavy sounds work great for rock music
- Bass and treble comes through clean
- Wired and unwired use
- Foldable design and comes with carry case for easy travel
- Swiveling ear cups for comfort and security
- Outstanding comfort after long hours of use
- Touch control, built-in mic, Alexa-enabled, and quick attention mode
- Full immersive music experience while eliminating ambient noise
Cons:
- Can get loud with too much bass
- Expensive
3. Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Headphones – Best Wireless Battery Life!
The Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Headphones might be the one for you if what you’re looking for is a wireless pair of best headphones with outstanding battery life! Boasting 30+ hours of wireless playtime, you are sure to never be out of music or media whenever you are out and about. The outstanding battery life of this pair will allow you to recharge the system once about every week! This is designed to fold and comes with a canvas carrying case for when you have to travel with it as well.
Built with an ergonomic over-ear design, this provides you with great noise cancellation so you can rest assured that there is no music leakage and that the noise around you is minimized. This comes equipped with a multidirectional knob that lets you control your music and media without having to do it on your phone. A quick reminder as others have shared, this control knob may take some getting used to and some practice.
As for the build quality of the headphones, this is quality-made as to be expected from the brand. It has a lot of padding on both the ear cups and the headband for the maximum comfort. The metal frame also feels heavy-duty and sturdier than others in the market. Though the snug fit goes well with others, some with bigger heads might find the clamping pressure a little too strong. The embossed Marshall name on the side of the ear cups will give you a classic, sleek, and stylish look that will surely turn heads.
Listening to rock and metal music with this Marshall pair, this provides a crisp and precise sound quality. The sound quality and there-but-not-too-heavy bass also works well for any rock song of your choice. As some have claimed in their reviews, this shines in the classic rock genre. Don’t fret though because this also handles other music genres really well. Any music genre will see itself benefiting from the clean and nice sound reproduction from this Marshall pair.
This has been equipped with aptX technology that allows you to play music and media at a higher bitrate and also works to minimize syncing issues so you can watch movies without experiencing any problems. This outstanding bluetooth range also allows you to move 30 feet and still find yourself connected to your device.
Pros:
- Outstanding wireless battery life with 30+ hours of media playback
- Ergonomic over-ear design for noise cancellation
- Multidirectional knob for media playback control
- A lot of padding for maximum comfort
- Offers a classic, sleek, and stylish look and build quality
- Clean, precise, and crisp sound reproduction
- Bass is there but not heavy for rock songs
- Higher bitrate song playback and no syncing issue with movies
Cons:
- Control knob takes some getting used to
- Clamping force may be too strong for some
4. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Headphones
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Headphones is the next item to make into our list of the best headphones for rock and metal music! When used to listening to your favorite rock songs, you can expect every song to come alive and surprise you with details you may have never heard before. It produces the right amount of bass the songs require and isn’t overbearing at all. You can rest assured that you are able to hear every word of the song and feel the drums and guitars through your pair.
Having been designed with professional-grade ear pads and headband, this makes sure you stay comfortable while wearing this for all your needs. The ear cups are also designed to contour around your ears for sound isolation, keeping your music in and the noise out. Its sound isolation system is sure to prevent sound leakage. They also swivel up to 90 degrees for your maximum comfort while making sure they stay on and secured. You can use this in both wired and wireless options. As this is designed to fold and comes with a protective pouch, traveling will always be easy and convenient.
This Audio-Technica ATH purchase comes with two straight cables in different lengths and an adapter for maximum compatibility wherever you choose to use this. You can expect the clean and balanced sound production to work not only for rock music but across many music genres as well. With this for all your media consumption needs, you will be able to distinguish a song’s many layers and levels due to the wide frequency range. The bass sounds natural and pure without being exaggerated.
Though a favorite brand and product by many music enthusiasts, this comes with a few drawbacks you should be aware of before purchasing. Some have shared that this can be tiring to wear after a couple of hours. The ear pads are also not up for everyone’s taste as some may find them uncomfortable for long hours of use. You may opt to change the earpads to something you would prefer to solve this issue.
Pros:
- Songs come alive with underlying details
- Professional-grade ear cups and headband padding for comfort
- Swiveling ear cups for secure fit and comfort
- Wired and wireless use option
- Collapsible design and included protective case for easy travel
- Great sound isolation
- Natural and pure bass sounds without being overbearing
- Clean and balanced sound production
Cons:
- Might feel uncomfortable on some after a couple of hours
- Ear cups and headband padding might feel uncomfortable for some
5. AKG K240 Studio Headphones
And our next favorite headphones for listening to rock and metal music are the AKG K240 Studio Headphones! The semi-open style of this pair of wired headphones allows you to listen and enjoy your music while also staying aware of what’s happening around you. No worries though as the over-ear and circumaural ear pads envelop your ears for a balanced and neutral sound experience. This has also been designed to be durable with the thick and high-quality materials used. It is both flexible and strong enough for long-term use for all music lovers.
You can trust this to work really well for your favorite rock songs. It produces good bass sounds without heavy thumping that may be overwhelming for many. It sounds neutral, natural, and more life-like and three-dimensional as if to take you there to listen live. You can rest assured that you will clearly hear the guitars, drums, and heavy bass response of your favorite songs. Many users have been surprised at how well this works with rock songs. No worries though as this does not only bid well with rock music but works well and neutral enough for any genre of music.
You can put your trust in this one to let you hear rock and metal music as it was intended by the artist without any distortion or exaggeration. The headband has been designed to self-adjust so anyone can wear it with much comfort. A purchase of this AKG pair comes with a replaceable cable, a stereo plug, and a screw-on adapter. The only drawback users have shared regarding this is that because of its semi-open design, there is a little bit of background noise that comes through.
Pros:
- Semi-open style keeps you aware of your surroundings
- Flexible and durable structure
- Good bass sounds without heavy thumping
- Neutral, natural, and more life-like sound reproduction
- Clear sounds of guitars, drums, and bass response
- Neutral enough for any music genre
- No distortion and lets you hear music as it was intended
- Self-adjusting headband for perfect fit and comfort
Cons:
- Semi-open design lets a little background noise come through
How to Choose the Best Headphones for Rock Music
Natural and balanced sound quality
When it comes to listening to rock and metal music, you would want to make sure that your new headphones produce sounds that are natural and balanced. Rock music has many layers, components, and instruments to it. Because of that, you want a pair of headphones that will give you neutral sound and music as it was recorded and intended to be heard. You don’t want your new headphones to add any color or adjustments to the music you’re listening to.
It’s also important that the music your headphones reproduce is balanced. Meaning, all the lows, mids, and highs are there for you to listen to and feel. This will also allow you to hear and feel every detail and layer there is to your favorite song. With the right pair of headphones, you might even be surprised with details in your favorite metal music you never knew were there.
Wired or wireless
Headphones can be used and operated in either wired or wireless mode. Each option has its own pros and cons so make sure you factor those in. Wired headphones means there is a chance of the chord tangling but it also means that you won’t have to worry about battery life and charging it. Just plug it in and you’re good to go.
Wireless headphones give you a tangle-free experience. You won’t have to worry about dangling chords but you do have to worry about its battery life. You just have to make sure that you fully charge them before using. Conveniently, there are also headphones that offer both wired and wireless use. If that is something more up your alley, consider one with such versatility.
Comfort
As you can be wearing your new headphones for hours on end, you would want to make sure that your new pair offers maximum comfortability. You don’t want something that feels heavy or too snug on your head and ears as you listen to rock and metal music. The ear cups and headband pads come into play for this. You want to get something that is padded enough to keep you comfortable through long listening sessions.
Price
Headphones are available in varying price points. A pair can range from $50 to $500, depending on the brand and features it comes with. Lower-priced headphones do not equal low quality as high-priced headphones do not mean higher and better quality. You are sure to find quality pairs in all price ranges. Consider the price point you’d be willing to pay and make sure to get the best one from that range.
Conclusion
Headphones can make all the difference in your rock and metal music listening experience. With the right pair of headphones, you can discover new layers and details in your favorite rock song!
Our number one pick for the best headphones for rock headphones is the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Headphones thanks to its powerful and clean bass lines without ever being too much. Our best noise cancellation headphones pick is the Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones! With its outstanding active noise cancellation feature, you are sure to achieve a soundproof metal music listening experience. And the Marshall Monitor Bluetooth Headphones is our pick for the best wireless battery life. With 30+ hours of wireless media playback, you are sure to never run out of music and media for days on end!
And there you have it – our favorite and picks for the best headphones to upgrade your rock listening experience! We hope you enjoyed reading our review and guide as much as we enjoyed writing it. Happy shopping and a satisfactory music listening experience to you!