JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques General Technical Forum Favorite Headphones?

I'm sure this thread has been done before...but that was then, this is now.

And I need me some new headphones.

Which do you like, and why?

Thanks,

-Mark

Budget? Cans can cost a few bucks or a few hundred. I just bought a new pair of phones but they hurt my ears. I prefer my old Senhheisers will have to get around to rewiring the plug. AKG are good too, the studio I use have them they are comfy to wear but lack bottom end.

You probably should decide what you want them for: tracking or mixing. Open-backed headphones are more natural sounding and generally more comfortable than closed-backed, but can leak into a microphone - not good - but they allow you to carry on a conversation easily while wearing them. Closed-backed are better for keeping outside noise from interfering with the sound. If you have trucks or airplanes close by while you're mixing, you probably want closed-backed for most things.

I still use the Sony MDR-7506's. They've been a studio standard for years. They're closed-backed so you can use them for tracking without leakage. They're also a bit hyped in the upper mids, but that makes it easier to hear things like cymbols, sibilance, and reverb trails.

I also use AKG 240s for mixing. Open-backed and comfortable for hours. Very natural-sounding.

Both go for about $99 most places.

When I was at NAMM, I tried some of the more expensive Ultrasone 750s ($400!). They sure were good sounding - whether they were worth $400, I don't know. They were what I'd call "effortless reproduction" - smooth and as loud as you'd want. Ultrasone makes both closed and open-back headphones.

At the other end of the scale, I also recently bought some iPod-style earbuds for $20. They are hyped in the midrange and in that respect are great for hearing midrange detail to see if you have too much sibilance or cymbol splash.

I switch headphones when mixing quite often.

Larry I think I have a circa 1985 version of those Sony MDR-7506's...and they STILL work well, but I sense the end is near, and the leather is coming off now. But that was a good run.

Big Jim: Budget. Definitely.

I have heard great things about the Yamaha RH-5M's too. And Mike Caro loves his AKG 141's.

As far as use, I would definitely like to find something perfect for mixing. Good monitors are pointless for me, since I usually need to mix while the girls sleep. However, I also wear phones when recording, and my Sonys are leaking now. Guess I need two pairs?

I hook them on so that one ear is left open. It has the required effect but takes a bit of getting used to. Leakage is a problem with the cheaper phones. That is why top range costs sooooo much.
There is little diff in sound quality mid - top range. I have noise cancelling they are great but hellish expensive and they hurt my ears.

OK I know what is coming next a picture of a caveman with phones on. Go on then give us a laugh.

I have beyerdynamic DT770s which I really like. But they have more than doubled in price since I bought them, to around $250.

The Sonys Larry mentioned above are an industry standard and what I would probably choose if I had to buy today. I would stick with closed back phones. But I am concerned with mic bleed.

I really like my AKG K66 open back phones. Actually called semi-open backs.
I also have a pair of AIWA HP-X223's that are ok. They have a mute switch that has been a nice feature when I've used it. The problem with them is the fax-leather ear piece covering. Very little use, usually in a closed bin, and flaking.
Both are comfortable to wear, sound good, and the AKG's exhibit little ear fatigue. The AIWA's do get tiresome but are good for several hours.

I didn't know Mike had the AKG 141's. I had a pair of them that I liked as well. They were only about $70-80 each, but they sounded pretty good. They were open-backed so better for mixing than tracking: sometimes they would squeal with feedback if the vocalist wanted them loud. I did use them for acoustic guitar tracking though.

The rubber earpiece finally started to crumble away after about 7-8 years and I had to toss them. They're certainly a good buy.

I like the Sennheisers. My personal fav's are the HD250-II, but I don't think they make that line anymore. They probably have something more current. Very nice, closed headphones, excellent bass and response. They're also really comfy.

My Sennheiser PC-155 computer headset sounds surprisingly good for phones with a mic and a USB adapter. Good for listening directly from a desktop 'puter, and the USB I/O is cleaner than most computers' built-in sound cards.

Also have a soft spot in my head for my old Sony MDR-V6 which sadly walked away from my desk at work one night. The MDR-7506 is very similar to that.

I got giddy and triggerfingered an eBay auction for a pair of AKG 141s.

Looks like I'm gonna be Like Mike!

Meanwhile, I will save up for these:

http://www.ultrasoneusa.com/proline650.html

Hi Mark

My ears were ringing so I came over here

I'm a bit old school and kinda set in my ways, like you can show me $2,000 speakers and sub woofers that sit under the mixer table. The Old Yamaha NS10's are the only monitors you need.

Those AKG 141's that you found are like having those NS10's on your head.

My monitors and my headphones sound BORING, DEAD and DULL.
When I used to go to studio's the music sounded GREAT in there studio with the
huge JBL'S and Hi frequency eq adjustable head phones.

Then I would go out into the car and it all sounded like crap..... I work the opposite
on purpose here, it sounds dull in my studio and when people leave and play the stuff in there car it sounds AWESOME.

Be aware you will look to add hi end on everything with the 141's.
Ever use the Sony studio phones they are searing in hi end.... I had to get a pair of anything when i had NO phones , they recommened them Ouch!
BUT some dear person on this forum just bought me a brand new pair of 141's


The 141's are great for overdubbing especially..... I tried the 240's, not bad but didn't like nearly as much.

Let me know how they work out for you.... those may have been mine you bought on ebay lol... It's sad that I have to look around here every other day for something to sell to live...

This is great to hear. I am getting my first taste of just how difficult mixing really is. So many different possible reference points. So much conflicting advice: Use better monitors, use worse monitors, never use headphones, use headphones, use a boombox, give up because you're a nobody, etc etc etc...

Here are a few tips that have been haunting me lately:

Mix - or at least refer once in awhile - at very low volume...things stand out better

Listen to a mix from another room...does it still sound okay?

Listen to your stereo mix in mono...does it still sound good?

Hi Mark

Dont get too frustrated, you're off to an excellent start already.

1- I ALWAYS leave the room at some point and listen from far away. That is almost the same as listening VERY low which I also do. But not quite.

When you put the volume really really low that's how you can tell if something is too loud or low.
Like say you set the vocal level and it sounds okay then you turn the volume really really low and the vocal is still very present, that means it may be too loud or just perfect. If I'm not sure I walk out to another room to check.

If someones says is that guitar loud enough? Lower the volume very low and see
"Can I still hear it fine?

Walking out of the room usually has me going back and lowering something...

All those check points you listed are good ones... I use the first two all the time.
Listening in mono is something I don't do unless I'm purposely mixing in mono.

We also keep a boom box around and a cheap cheap CD/Radio player 10 bucks....

But the best is in the car cause I believe that's were 90% of the people listen to music....

Convert it to MP3 and listen on an ipod through mini earphones or plugs is a good tip. Most music nowadays is played on Mp3 players with earplugs so it stands to reason that it should have to sound good on your ipod/media player at least.

Fostex T20's. Had em for years, even though they're starting to fall apart.

Whatever you buy, just make sure they're comfortable, I reckon that apart from the sound, that's the main point.

cheers, niteshift

That's exactly why I invested in $20 earbuds and keep them plugged into my headphone amp.

...just another "environment" where the song has to sound good.

I'm not nearly as high-fallutin as you guys..I have two pair of Sony MDR V150 phones..they're very light and comfortable and for the money have great sound.I've got one set plugged into a Yamaha board and the other into a Soundblaster sound card external to the computer..since I'm recording digital from keyboard to computer..there's no noise/distortion. I think largely the sound quality depends on the competency of the musicians. My phones cost 20 bucks each.

Of the few headphones I have had over the years I have found that the most basic headphones gave excellent sound. Headphones, (like everything else) can be hyped about the ability to reproduce he best sound. The most important thing is the material they are made of. You can get rustic sounds from dragging them across your ears as you put them on if the material is a bit harsh. As long as the speaker is of a sound design most any headphone will do. If you can try some out do it. If not buy a pair in the mid price range.

I would really like a good set of phones but, alas, teenagers! I've got 5 sets within reach of this computer and they all suck.

I love my AKG K271s with auto-mute! I also have a Sennheizer EH2270, which come close but have a little less detail in the sound and are less comfortable.

Well, these AKG 141's sound flat and ugly, and they give me sore ears after an hour. However, Sub was right...when I get a mix to sound pretty good in these, it sounds great on everything else.

Yes! just like the old NS 10 monitors lol....

No candy! flat and ugly and your dying to add treble to everything....

But don't forget Mark if you are mixing with phones which sometimes we all have to do being at home.. you can have another pair that gives more color, just be aware of it and get used to them. Having treble in phones will make it so that you won't feel the need to add it. Those popular Sony phones are very high end and LOUD!

There is no real right or wrong just what works best for you...and establishing some consistency in the studio is a nice thing it helps you move along. I

For example have to think about a thousand other things, but not headphones lol..

I have this pair of EAH-510 headphones I recieved second hand.
They seem to pick up details/acoustics and are spacious sounding.

I used the Sony 7506 for years, a bit hyped in the upper mids, but nice.
When I lost those, I got a pair of Audio Technica ATH50s. I love these cans! Comfortable, closed, and very natural sounding. OK, there's a bit of boost in the low mids, kind of like a reflex cabinet, but still very nice.
Except for the price, I would've gotten some DT770.
The AKG 240s are natural sounding, but they'll bite you once the musicians have them on, only can I know which will feed back into the vocal mic. TURN IT DOWN!!!

Just like Lwilliam, I use the Sony MDR-7506 and have been using them for at least 10 years now. I use them for tracking and for mixing. I mostly use my monitors at a low volume for the mix and then I check it with the headphones.


www.10-acre-recording-studio.com

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Uh, yeah... you don't want to have a pair of open cans on the musician's head when they are recording!

It is important when recording to have a pair of phones that do not leak as this pollution destroys the recording. AKG seems to be the industry standard but I prefer my good ol Sennheisers

I'll put in a vote for Beyerdynamic DT880s. I have been using these beauties for nearly two years now. They are quite open, so if you're intending to use them as a performer in the studio, definitely skip 'em. However, for monitoring purposes they are outstanding. The sound is very honest... which you'd expect from a pair of 'phones that costs $200-250 (I got an older model which was a bit cheaper.) Whereas my old Sennheisers tended to sweeten the bass, the DT880s showed me that my bass was a little overemphasized and phasey. I've since done better mixing and EQ work. The only problem with them is that they do tend to emphasize the high end ever so slightly, but if you get used to the sound by listening to lots of reference tracks, it's not an issue.

Oh yeah, and they're extremely comfortable. Feels like you're wearing velvet - I forget I even have them on sometime. They don't clamp around your head or make your ears sweaty in the slightest.