Best Headphones For ASMR

This article was originally published on Make the Sound Better. I have refreshed the content with product recommendations that are relevant for 2023.

You’ve probably come across ASMR videos at some point, and we wouldn’t blame you if you were wondering where they were, and how they work.

ASMR, which stands for an autonomous sensory meridian response, is best described as a tingling sensation.

It starts on the scalp and progressively moves down your head to the back of the neck and your upper spine.

It’s something that can be triggered by certain stimuli, both auditory and visual, and the result is the same as guided meditation – you’re relaxed, you’re prepared to sleep, and you feel like you don’t have a care in the world.

To add to this, ASMR videos are oftentimes used for insomnia and stress as well, with triggers like whispering, crisp sounds, and repetitive movements being the most popular ones.

Does it work?

According to many, yes, and pretty well.

There are millions of videos out there that make use of these triggers and stimuli to help you relax and get in a comfortable, peaceful state of mind, and all it takes is for you to find a good one that works well for you.

Not everyone responds to the same triggers, but when you find the ones that work for you, you’ll love the entire experience.

Best Headphones For ASMR Buying Guide

At the end of the day, as long as you’re comfortable and can separate yourself from the environment, you can enjoy the sounds of ASMR and relax in a nice atmosphere.  Therefore, let’s take a look at some of the best headphones for ASMR out there.

1) Sleep Headphones

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The previous recommendation list suggested AcousticSheep by SleepPhones. These are still available to buy, but they only have middling reviews and a lot of people have complained about the updated design of them. They also cost $100.

However, there are many alternative options, and most of these are very cheap and well-reviewed.

As the name suggests, these are designed to be worn when falling asleep and they are comfortable tow ear when lying down on your side.

These wireless headphones have mini speakers at two opposite sections, so when you put them on, they feel like a headband but sound like a pair of headphones.

Now, make no mistake, the actual sound quality you’ll get from them isn’t all that impressive – and you can blame that on the fit.

On the other hand, they’re extremely comfortable, and you can very well go ahead and fall asleep with them on, without feeling anything. They’re just right for ASMR.

Aside from the sound and fit, all of these sleep headphones are Bluetooth, so you don’t have to worry about catching cables.

Not only do you have no cables dangling around, but you also have a range of up to 30 feet (depending on the conditions), which means you can leave your phone or laptop further away so it doesn’t disturb you.

The battery life is great, too, you can expect up to 10 hours from most of the options available. Charging is done with the included USB cable.

Overall, if you need your headphones for ASMR only, then any of these sleep headband headphones are ideal.

Comfortable, creative design, a decent sound, and excellent wireless performance are pretty much all you’d need. Oh, and the price is pretty reasonable, too.

Pros:

• Headband design results in a very comfortable experience
• Wireless performance is excellent
• They come in three sizes so they’ll fit right

Cons:

• Sound quality isn’t all that good
• There is plenty of sound leaks and little to no isolation

2) Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO

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Quite possibly Beyerdynamic’s most popular headphones, the DT770 PRO can be a great choice for ASMR for plenty of reasons.

But even aside from ASMR, they have excellent sound, are very comfortable to wear for even extended periods, and their price is rather reasonable for a pair of high-quality headphones.

To begin with, you can choose between a 32 Ohm, 80 Ohm, and 250 Ohm variant of the headphones, and they all have slightly different sound signatures.

However, whichever ones you go for, you’re covered in terms of ASMR.

These are a pair of closed-back headphones, and they sound great. There is a slight emphasis on the highs and the treble, but that’s not that much of a problem.

You have an overall spacious sound that’s highly detailed and rather transparent. The fact that they’re closed does allow for quite a lot of ambient sound isolation, which is perfect for ASMR.

The comfort is phenomenal. The headband is plush and thick, and the velour earpads are very soft and plush, too.

While you can’t really sleep with them, as far as extended sessions go, you won’t feel them on your head after a few minutes.

However, they’re not exactly the lightest headphones out there, which is something to keep in mind.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, especially for the more powerful versions, you’ll want to get a headphone amplifier to make the most of them.Not something you’ll need for ASMR, but still.

A great pair of headphones overall.

Pros:

• Extremely good sound, detailed, rich and spacious
• Great levels of comfort thanks to the plush earcups and headband
• Good passive noise isolation

Cons

• Could be a bit expensive
• Higher power versions could be difficult to drive

3) Bose QuietComfort

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If you’re looking for active noise cancelling, then you will rarely go wrong with Bose. The older recommendation list had the wired Bose QuietComfort 20, which were amazing, but they are almost 10 years old. You can still buy them, but they are £200 on Amazon UK and not on Amazon US.

I swapped out the recommendation for the Bose QuietComfort TWS earbuds. There is a newer QuietComfort Earbuds II model, but the reviews are less positive, and they cost £/$100 more.

Their active noise-cancelling technology is great, and what’s even more impressive is that they’ve managed to cram it inside a pair of earbuds like the QuietComfort.

Unlike the QC20, these are true wireless earbuds so there is no cable to snag and they are much more convenient to wear.

Let’s discuss sound quality for a moment. The QuietComfort is excellent in this regard, with clear mids and highs, and punchy bass that sounds great with just about any music.

To add to this, you’re looking at active noise cancelling technology that has minimal impact on the sound quality, which is not something many other brands can boast.

The ANC is phenomenal, and you also get an Aware mode that lets you press a button and hear everything that’s going on around you.

We have no complaints here, but these are not the sort of earbuds you would want to wear while trying to go to sleep.

Pros:

• Excellent active noise-cancelling technology
• Comfortable fit, even for longer listening sessions
• Great sound quality

Cons:

• Expensive
• In-ear might not be for everyone

4) Anker Soundcore Sleep A10

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Apart from relieving us of stress, ASMR has actually been known to induce sleep and therefore I am listing another product that is designed for sleep.

While they don’t have the best Amazon reviews, I can personally vouch for them as I loved them when I reviewed the Soundcore Sleep A10 earbuds. Many people loved the Bose Sleepbuds, but they no longer make them so the Sleep A10 earbuds are your best alternative in my opinion.

The main selling point for these is that they are absolutely tiny with a quite flat profile. This, therefore, makes them about as comfortable as possible for earbuds when you side sleep.

These will work as normal headphones, so you can stream music to them, or listen to mindfulness audio and the sound quality is good. Admittedly, it isn’t as good as some of the other Soundcore earbuds but it is a compromise you need to make for something so small.

Alternatively, you can upload white noise directly to the earbud itself. The point of this is that you won’t get disturbed by any awful notifications when you are trying to sleep.

Sadly, these don’t have ANC which I would have loved as it would help reduce irritating noises when trying to sleep or any distractions from the ASMR.

Again, due to the size, the battery life isn’t amazing. If you need them to play all night, you might struggle, but I found they worked well for meditation, ASMR and general white noise while trying to fall asleep.

A good alternative to the Soundcore Sleep A10 is the Kokoon Nightbuds. I would have recommended them but they are quite expensive and required a subscription for some of the app features.

Pros:

• 70% smaller than normal earbuds and therefore comfortable for side sleepers
• Upload noise masking sounds directly to the earbuds to avoid phone notifications

Cons:

• No ANC
• Poor batter

5) Sony WH-1000XM5

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Best Headphones For ASMR

And so, we arrive at our last recommendation for the best headphones for ASMR – Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the king of active noise-cancelling headphones.

This is a title given to the Sony’s by just about anyone who’s taken a look at them, as they pair what is quite possibly the best ANC technology with phenomenal sound quality and great comfort.

To begin with, the sound is truly great. Sony is known to emphasize bass a bit, but these sound rather balanced and nice.

They’re great, overall, and plenty of focus has been put on the mids and highs, which does come in handy for ASMR sounds.

Yes, they sound phenomenal, both for enjoying ASMR and relaxing and for listening to music.

Next up, the noise cancelling. While Bose used to be the go-to option, Sony has taken the crown and currently has better ANC technology.

There’s little to no distortion in the actual sound quality, and you’re completely isolated from your surroundings, allowing you to immerse in the relaxing sounds of ASMR.

However, if you want to hear what’s going on near you, all you need to do is cover up the right ear cup, and the music turns down and ANC turns off, so you can have a conversation when necessary.

Sony has also added a fair bit of convenience to the WH-1000XM5, with touch controls on the outside, USB-C charging, the ability to be used wired, and a nifty carrying case in the box. Overall, these are a great choice for both ASMR and daily usage.

Pros:

• Stunning sound quality with clear and crisp reproduction
• Best-in-class active noise-cancelling technology
• Very comfortable fit with plush earcups and comfy headband

Cons:

• Expensive

Do You Need headphones For ASMR?

Even though some might argue that ASMR is perfectly fine with speakers, the goal of it is for it to be a distraction-free experience.

That’s not easily achievable with speakers, so we would definitely recommend a pair of headphones.

You’ll be able to isolate yourself from the environment and enjoy yourself as your body relaxes.

And if you want to make the most of it, don’t just get any headphones. Get a closed-back pair which helps with isolation, or even better, get a pair with active noise cancelling, so nothing on the outside can disturb you.

Either of those options will give you a great experience.

You can also take a look at both larger over-ear headphones, as well as in-ear monitors.

In-ear monitors have great isolation, and they’re also pretty compact, so you can’t damage them if you were to, for example, fall asleep with them.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, ASMR requires you to enjoy good sound quality without your environment disturbing you. And out of all the options on the list, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 does those things without skipping a beat.

The sound is great, they’re extremely comfortable when you’re wearing them for longer periods, and you’re getting a virtually soundproof experience.

If you can work with the price, which is higher than most of the competition, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 is more than worth it and will take your ASMR experience to the next level.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.