Which studio headphone is the best in the world?

[nlc201]

Grado........highly recommended.

Granted I've heard only a few of the phones mentioned on the list but I can tell you that my Grado experience was stellar and very productive. Decisions made while monitoring on the Grados always seemed to come out correct and they are so pleasing yet revealing.

[entropy]

hey kkwong

i'll take it easy on ya as you're a noobie, and normally i wouldn't say anything but i'm feeling mildly militant today so can i gently point out a couple of things.

1) everything here is personal opinion. there is no "best" of anything.

2)"best of" threads aren't the best way to generate responses...... and chances are the discussion has already been had. try doing a search first

3)don't do "best of" threads! there is a wealth of fantastic information within these pages, have a look around, the answers will be within these pages

4)don't do "best of" threads. we hate 'em (or at least, I do)

peace

[Jules]

Thats true, try doing some searches first!

[faeflora]

Grados are pretty damn slick.

[Kaneepa]

I like my Ultrasone HFI-2000 and the ear-breaking Sony 7506.

Ciao.

Michele

[Tousana]

Ahh headphones! Which ones best,I don't think anyone can answer that question. It's to personal. What one person will like the other won't. All you can do is search the forum and read the posts. Then make your own judgement,and cross your fingers.

[excellrec]

I like to buy what i can afford and then proclaim it to be the best. "But those headphones are missing an earpiece!. No no no no....they are the best."

[littledog]

Best at what?

Tracking?
Monitoring?
Checking Mixes?

Different answers for different apps.

[Ari]

Hey KKwong !!

I'm a noobie here but I come from a very nice headphone community. Please check Head-Fi for ANY thing about headphone listening. Do some search there about quality, applications, amplification etc.

littledog asked you the key question. Please let us know.

I've seen some articles on Stereophile recordings and they used Senn HD 600 for tracking.

I own one and it is very good. I use a Berning micro-ZOLT tube amp to drive it. HD600, HD650 and mainly AKG K1k are difficult to drive headphones. Think about a good amp for then.

As far as I know, in terms of quality and not in terms of recording, this is my opinion:

1) MDR R10 - nothing bad for a US 4000,00 headphone.
2) OMEGA II
3) AKG k1K AND HD 650
4) Grado RS1 and HD 600

Best

Ari

EDIT: The only headphones I have used here are the HD600 and AKG K1K. My opinion on the others is based in many "head-fiers" opinions. Check there...for your sanity...

[pramrod]

i know some heavy classical audiohile recordists who love the staxx (sp?) headphones. i have used them as a player in sessions in beautiful halls/churchs and they sound ridiculous! very open design (feel very different from ultrasones, etc on your head), sound so sweet. definately worth a looksy. my new pair of ultrasones sure made me happy after years of crappy s(t)ony phones in my shtudio. yet some clients just insist on using s(t)ony's, so that's what they get. not sure if i would want to mix on any of 'em though...

pramrod

[Jason Poulin]

A buddy of mine just purchased some Grado headphones.

He claims to be able to hear the gates open and close on drums (specially toms) on certain albums.

Hmmm

Pretty expensive way to find out your fav albums sound like shit under the microscope.

I'll stick to my cheap seinheizers and enjoy not listening to noise gates

haha

The Grado's are cool though

Jason

[faeflora]

For durable, cheap, and loud, try these out:


http://www.itrstudio.com/moreme.html

I have 5 and Harvey rocks.