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Black metal production is treble-forward, lo-fi, and heavily compressed, with blast beats and tremolo-picked guitar that gets smeared into mush by warm, bass-heavy consumer headphones. Harsh, sibilant headphones make it unlistenable at the other extreme. These eight real models are picked specifically for resolving that genre’s mix without either problem.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sennheiser HD 660S2 | $480-$600 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro | $550-$700 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro | $150-$180 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Sennheiser HD 6XX (Drop) | $200-$230 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | $150-$170 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | AKG K702 | $150-$300 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Philips SHP9500 | $65-$90 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | HiFiMan Sundara | $280-$350 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Sennheiser HD 660S2
Refined, extended treble that stays detailed without turning sibilant on heavily-compressed black metal masters, resolving tremolo picking cleanly.
- Open-back design
- Extended, non-fatiguing treble
- Dynamic driver
- Detailed without harshness on bright, compressed mixes
- Premium price
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro
An analytical, treble-forward open-back studio headphone that lets guitar harmonics and blast-beat cymbals cut through a dense mix.
- Open-back studio design
- Tesla driver technology
- Interchangeable ear pads for tuning
- Excellent instrument separation in dense mixes
- Can be bright to the point of fatiguing on already-harsh masters
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
The budget-friendlier, brighter sibling to the DT 1990 Pro, with a genuinely energetic presentation that many thrash and black metal fans prefer.
- Open-back design
- Bright, treble-emphasized tuning
- Available in multiple impedance versions
- Much cheaper than the DT 1990 Pro with a similar bright character
- Can tip into harsh territory on the most aggressively mastered albums
Sennheiser HD 6XX (Drop)
An open-back with a smoother, less fatiguing top end — a good pick if the genre’s harshness gets tiring over long listening sessions.
- Open-back design
- Smoother treble presentation than the DT 990 Pro
- Sold via Drop
- Comfortable for long sessions
- Widely regarded as excellent value
- Less aggressive treble than the DT 990 Pro or DT 1990 Pro
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
A closed-back studio standard with elevated treble and tight bass — the pick here if you need isolation rather than an open soundstage.
- Closed-back design
- Elevated treble response
- Detachable cables
- Isolation for commuting or late-night listening
- Widely available
- Narrower soundstage than the open-back options here
AKG K702
An open-back reference headphone with a wide soundstage that helps separate tremolo-picked layers in a wall-of-sound mix.
- Open-back reference design
- Wide soundstage
- Self-adjusting headband
- Strong instrument separation for layered guitar work
- Pricing varies significantly by retailer
Philips SHP9500
A budget open-back with surprisingly extended treble for the price — the cheapest genuinely good option on this list.
- Open-back design
- 50mm drivers
- Lightweight build
- Best value on this list by a wide margin
- Build quality feels less premium than the pricier options
HiFiMan Sundara
A planar-magnetic driver gives fast, well-controlled treble that handles blast-beat cymbal work without smearing.
- Planar-magnetic driver
- Open-back design
- Detachable cable
- Fast transient response suits blast-beat drumming
- Heavier clamp than dynamic-driver alternatives for some listeners
Buying tips
- Open-back designs (DT 1990 Pro, HD 660S2, HD 6XX, K702, SHP9500, Sundara) give more separation in dense, wall-of-noise mixes but leak sound and offer no isolation; closed-back (M50x) is the pick for late-night listening or commuting.
- Watch for sibilance: black metal’s heavily-compressed treble can push already-bright headphones (DT 990 Pro) into harshness at high volumes. If that happens, back off the volume a touch or step to the more neutral HD 6XX.
- Budget-first buyers should start with the Philips SHP9500 — it punches well above its price for this specific use case.
- Overly warm, bass-forward consumer headphones will smear tremolo-picked guitar into mush regardless of price — avoid anything marketed primarily for bass-heavy genres.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.