Welcome to the first Project Beats video of the year—happy new year. In this one I’m doing a headphone recommendation tier list for mixing and mastering at every budget: under $300, around $500-ish, under $700-ish, and then premium. Quick context: this is literally my perspective based on the headphones I’ve personally tried (and my own biases), so it’s not the “end all be all” list—just what I’d actually tell a friend to buy for real work. For budget, I keep it simple: if you want something that’s basically mix-ready out of the box, I’d go Audio-Technica R50X. If you’re super tight and you don’t mind EQ, the R30X can get you started. If you’re a bit more adventurous in that price range, the FiiO FT1 Pro (open-back) punches above its weight. In the mid tier, the classic Sennheiser HD 6-series (HD6XX/HD600/HD650) is still the OG reference—great mids—but I personally still like to EQ for reliability and translation. My number one pick here is the OLLO X1 because they really know what neutral is, plus you get an individually calibrated profile and their room simulation app. I also talk about the Audio-Technica R70XA (with a low-end clipping caveat) and add the Audeze LCD-S20 as a closed-back option with that “slam” low-end tech. For premium, I break down why the Head D1 is my most recommended “work-ready” pick, plus where LCD-X and other heavy hitters fit depending on your workflow and preferences.