“A well-made and affordable headphone that is light, comfortable and a reliable choice for studio recording”: Tascam TH-11 review

What is it?

When it comes to studio headphone use, we often discuss the various merits of different types of designs, and for good reason. For mixing and mastering you’ll want something that is sonically neutral, but also enjoyable to listen to and comfortable. In contrast for recording we tend to recommend closed-back designs, as although these sound less neutral, they prevent headphone spill and assist with isolation.

Tascam’s TH headphone range has included a variety of designs over the years and although not as highly regarded as market leaders such as Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic or Sony, they are typically very well made and affordable.

Up for review we have the Tascam TH-11 Studio Headphones. These are a closed-back design and as the name suggests are primarily aimed at studio users. They use 50mm drivers and feature mid-sized ear cups. Meanwhile the full width padded headband incorporates the sliding ear cup adjustment mechanism. The cups have reasonable rotation, although not the full 180 degrees, so are not particularly DJ friendly. They also include hinged joints, so that they can be folded away for transport.

Connection is via a reassuringly long 3m captive lead, which attaches to the bottom of the left-hand cup. This terminates in a 3.5mm mini jack and a push fit 6.3mm adapter is also included. The onward cabling to the right-hand cup is completely hidden inside the hinge joint, which keeps it tidy and safe from damage.

Performance

With a list price of £45/€50 the TH-11 is clearly aimed at the more budget conscious, and to help keep that price as low as possible there’s no included carry bag, which is a shame. Construction is also primarily plastic, so you’ll want to avoid careless handling. That said, overall they feel well made and have a quality finish. What’s more, with the Tascam logo across the top of the headband and on both ear cups, alongside some stylish red detailing, they look pretty classy.

Comfort is a key aspect of any headphone design. At 270g the TH-11 is super light and the fit is firm but not too tight. The headband is well padded, although the ear cup padding is quite light and if you’re used to memory foam designs, these do feel a bit lacking. Although, with a light design like this, it’s less of an issue and overall we found them reasonably comfortable over longer listening spells.

Closed-back studio headphones tend to be designed for recording duties and should be able to deliver a clear mid range and plenty of volume. On first listen the TH-11 has a reasonable mid range and a good amount of bass, but clearly has quite restrained high frequencies. This makes them sound quite dull, and if you were planning on using these for mixing, particularly at lower volumes, you’d be advised to look elsewhere. Nevertheless, crank the volume up and the high-frequency tail off can be beneficial, and this is the case here. There’s plenty of volume on offer and they deliver a punchy defined sound when pushed hard. This would make them a good choice when tracking drums, amped guitars or recording a whole band together.

Verdict

Overall, the TH-11 is clearly not a general purpose headphone, and there are better options if you want affordable headphones for mixing. However, for recording duties, particularly if you need a design that’s loud and punchy, it offers good value and really looks the part.

MusicRadar verdict: The Tascam TH-11 is a well-made and affordable headphone that is light, comfortable and reasonably compact when folded up for storage. The sonic signature won’t suit everyone, but for studio recording they are a reliable choice.

Specifications

• Operating design: closed back.
• Transducer: dynamic.
• Driver size: 50mm.
• Impedance: 32 Ohms.
• Sensitivity: 98dB +/-3dB.
• Frequency response: 18Hz to 22kHz.
• Maximum input power: 600mW.
• Cable length: 3m.
• Weight: 270g.
• CONTACT: Tascam