Headphones

[under the fridge]

I need a good pair of cans, preferably in the $60-130 price range. Some sealing ones would be great, in terms of not disturbing others and vice-versa. I need some cans so I can listen critically to stuff yet not disturb others as monitors would. These aren't really for mixing- I have some Fostex monitors whose boominess I am well familiar with- but I need something with detail. I have some consumer Koss headphones that are fine but have been sat on too many times (did I mention that it'd be nice if the cans were durable?), and I've found that everything sounds the same through them. It's kinda like when they shoot movies with a pantyhose over the lens . . . no detail.

I had bought some pro Koss headphones that were really nice, but they were closed back and had this horrible resonance in the mids. Are all closed-back phones going to have bad resonances like that? Am I better off sacrificing the concerns of others and going with open phones? Am I too ambitious seeking some decent cans in this price range, or should I consider some more expensive ones?

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by under the fridge

I need a good pair of cans, preferably in the $60-130 price range. Some sealing ones would be great, in terms of not disturbing others and vice-versa. I need some cans so I can listen critically to stuff yet not disturb others as monitors would. These aren't really for mixing- I have some Fostex monitors whose boominess I am well familiar with- but I need something with detail. I have some consumer Koss headphones that are fine but have been sat on too many times (did I mention that it'd be nice if the cans were durable?), and I've found that everything sounds the same through them. It's kinda like when they shoot movies with a pantyhose over the lens . . . no detail.

I had bought some pro Koss headphones that were really nice, but they were closed back and had this horrible resonance in the mids. Are all closed-back phones going to have bad resonances like that? Am I better off sacrificing the concerns of others and going with open phones? Am I too ambitious seeking some decent cans in this price range, or should I consider some more expensive ones?

I just went through about a week straight of reading reviews on various headphones and I'll tell you one thing right off the bat . . .

Sealed headphones + critical listening = you best be prepared to spend a lot.

If sealed is a must then, from everything I've read, your best bet is finding a place you can try multiple types of headphones and find the ones that suit you the best - because you won't find an ideal pair (for everyone)until you're willing to spend 300-600 dollars. The Sennheiser HD280's are well regarded and I have a pair of them (about 100 bucks even). I really like them as sealed headphones for recording but when I'm mixing I take the suckers off and move to my Grados. In my opinion they still have the mid-tone "honkiness" that pretty much all sealed headphones have, even if they are better than many.

These aren't sealed so it may be completely useless to you, but I would recommend the Grado SR 80's to anyone. You can find them for about 90 bucks and they are terrific, terrific headphones.

A link.

Our 10 Best Headphones - HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears

And another:

Sealed/Noise Canceling - HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears

[under the fridge]

Very interesting, the pessimist in me had suspected that the reason they can charge 400-900 bucks for headphones is because they're closed back AND don't sound honky.

Yeah and on my budget, 200 bucks would be pushing it. It sounds like I might be best suited with open headphones, such as the Grados model you recommend?

I'm not in need of any headphones that bend the sound around your earlobes so that it sounds just like speakers, I'm not gonna be mixing on these, I just get tired of BARELY being able to distinguish between an RCA44 and an SM58. These cans are going to be relegated to my ham radio station after this for <3khz bandwidth SSB.

[Terminus Est]

Originally Posted by under the fridge

Very interesting, the pessimist in me had suspected that the reason they can charge 400-900 bucks for headphones is because they're closed back AND don't sound honky.

Yeah and on my budget, 200 bucks would be pushing it. It sounds like I might be best suited with open headphones, such as the Grados model you recommend?

I'm not in need of any headphones that bend the sound around your earlobes so that it sounds just like speakers, I'm not gonna be mixing on these, I just get tired of BARELY being able to distinguish between an RCA44 and an SM58. These cans are going to be relegated to my ham radio station after this for <3khz bandwidth SSB.

If you're not mixing on them then I can tell you, from personal experience, that the HD280 pros are solid headphones for your price range - 100$ even(the price on the left of the list has their max price, the price on the right is the lowest price they have listed, you can find better deals just by surfing the web but their reviews are excellent). The website I linked too also suggests these:

DENON AH-D1001K @ HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears

I can't tell you about those headphones from experience but I can tell you that that site is generally pretty good and when they say something has bang for the buck, it has bang for the buck.

Personally I do a lot of mixing in headphones (I bounce between my headphones and my near-fields, the near-fields cause I know their range and the head-phones because EVERYONE listens to music on the headphones now days and I need a sense of more dynamic stereo imaging) so I like the open ears for the mixing and was kind of assuming you were talking about mixing as well, which is why I was saying you're going to have a lot of trouble finding sealed head-phones in that price range.

In the end, my advice would be to scan through that site and find the best reviewed sealed headphones within your price range and then find a store near you that carries some of those brands. That store should also have the HD 280 pros because they are a pretty common headphone. Then just do a good ol' fashion A/B test and see which ones suit YOU best.

[vyedmic]

I would check Beyers DT-250. I like that they're not too bassy and although they lack a bit of clarity in the upper mids I learned to rely on them. And they're in your price range.

beyerdynamic DT 250-80 @ HeadRoom - Right Between Your Ears

[Shadow_7]

Sony MDR V600 - I picked up a set about a decade ago at circuit city. I think they were $100 at that time. They haven't really aged well. The vinyl / simulated leather started peeling off within the first six months. And still is for the most part. Almost all of the headband part is just cloth now. But sonically they've held up to the abuse. I was even using them as a dynamic microphone on the laptop at one point.

To be honest, I got them because of the packaging specs at the time. And they're not the best out there. But as far as $100 or less sets, they aint bad. They're comfy, I've even fallen asleep when wearing them. And on a bus ride the guy next to me asked if they were noise cancelling, since he couldn't hear much out of them. Until I took them off my head to have him repeat the question. At which point he answered his own question, I guess not.

I wouldn't mind having a set of Stax electrostatic headphones. But they're a bit outside my budget, and probably yours too. The local botiques seem to favor the Grados. Although based purely on specs the ones at or less than three hundred don't measure up, even to my Sony's. And I dont think they're sealed either.

I have a set of 4' magnepans. They are very detailed, and very directional. When I'm not wanting to disturb others, I just set one on each side of my computer chair. And keep the volume down low. Sounds fairly loud and awesome like that. But get away from the target zone and you can't even tell they're on. Although $1,000 speakers and stereo amp is probably not in your budget either.

[johnlink]

I like Sony MDR-7506 headphones. They're comfortable and I think the frequency response is pretty flat. Definitely a good buy at $100.

John Link

[Mark Kaufman]

Funny, I just started a thread about this elsewhere too. Here is that link with several other recommendations:

TAXI - www.taxi.com - Favorite Headphones?

There appear to be more opinions on this subject than sand on a beach.

One interesting response I got at yet another forum was from a producer who loves to use the old Yamaha NS-10s for monitors because of their dull, flat sound. He says if he can get a mix to sound good through them, they will absolutely sparkle through other systems or speakers. Not a bad point. Anyway, he swears by AKG 141 headphones for the same reason. He says they're like wearing those NS-10s on your head.

[spazticstar]

check out ultrsone usa's website for some B-stocks.
We picked up another pair of Proline 750s that were lightly used and a couple extra pair of muffs for $150 last week.
Note that we went to their office in Franklin

[fireonthealtar]

I got some cheap ones recently about $50 Yamaha RH5MA I think...they sound ok but not that comfortable. I like AKG for the way they fit, they just feel better on.

[putney41]

One thing i can recommend not buying is the beyerdynamic dt 770's. they color the sound alot. i use the sennheiser hd280's for tracking and they are great for the price. good luck.

[nickolo]

Of course not sealed,but the Grado sr80s are indeed brilliant.They cost 90 pounds in the uk and are still a bargain!!I would buy a closed pair for recording and the Grados for reference etc..Being open they do allow external noise in but what a pair of cans!!

[dijon]

I own most of the headphones above (sen 280, beyer 250, sony mdr 7506, grado s60) and I just bought a pair of ATH-M50's by Audio Technica and consider them the best sealed headphones I've ever heard for the price. I can seriously mix on these phones.

I like the sennn 280's for the isolation and lack of bleed but I think they sound really bad - decent for vocalists IMO but not much more. I far prefer my sony mdr 7506's and still think they're the best bang for the buck in sealed cans.

[Fabi]

Don´t know how much you pay in the states, but I am realy happy with my Sennheiser HD25.
They isolate pretty well, have nice detail and are very durable.

Bass response is a little hyped but I got used to that very quickely

[Mr. Nice]

go here Headroom- a yearning for learning and here Head-Fi.org: Headphones, iPod earphones, portable audio, MP3 players, high-end audio two very good places to learn a bit about what's out there. remember that your budget can go much further buying 2nd hand.

ultrasone and sennheiser make some nice closed cans....

good luck

[jaz49]

Sony mdr v6...$87.00 new on ebay. I'm very happy with mine...supposed to have identical drivers to the 7506's, according to the folks at head-fi. Pass on the Audio Technica m30's or 40's. I have the m30's which were recommended to me, but they can't compare to the sonys.

[Zachary]

+1 for HD280's

[kafka]

Originally Posted by johnlink

I like Sony MDR-7506 headphones. They're comfortable and I think the frequency response is pretty flat. Definitely a good buy at $100.

John Link

I like the 7506's, although I find them to be bright.

[under the fridge]

How bad are the resonances in closed-back headphones? Am I expecting too much for $100 to get an enclosed set that doesn't have a distracting midrange resonance?

So far I think that the Sennheiser HD280's and the Sony MDR-7506's are my two front runners. I don't know much about the Grados other than what I've seen on reviews. What are some good vendors that sell Grado cans? Does anyone have any thoughts on comparing and contrasting the HD280's and the 7506's? My impression is that the HD28's are better isolating but have more of the midrange honk, whereas the 7506's would be flatter yet not as isolating, and perhaps flimsier. Does this sound accurate?

[zeppe]

Audio Technica ATH-M40fs are great. Got rid of 2 pairs of DT100s and bought 3 sets on fleabay for $170. Great cans

Cormac
MySpace.com - The Jute Factory Studios - Waterford, IE - Rock / Metal / Other - www.myspace.com/thejutefactory

[johnlink]

If you want the sound of the 7506s with more isolation, try the UltraPhones: http://www.gk-music.com/ultraphones.htm

John Link

[Toad]

ATH-M50's are great for checking bottom & low mids.
I usually use those in combination with Senn 580's.

[Lunatique]

I think once you add $20 to that budget you'll have a few excellent choices:

Audio-Technica ATH-50M
Sennheiser HD555 (not sealed)
M-Audio Q40

I have the first two and have tested the Q40 extensively. All three are similar sounding (relatively speaking, compared to other headphones)--to me they sound accurate and non-fatiguing.

For $99, the Equation RP21 is also quite good. I have one as well.

[DarkSky]

Originally Posted by under the fridge

How bad are the resonances in closed-back headphones? Am I expecting too much for $100 to get an enclosed set that doesn't have a distracting midrange resonance?

So far I think that the Sennheiser HD280's and the Sony MDR-7506's are my two front runners. I don't know much about the Grados other than what I've seen on reviews. What are some good vendors that sell Grado cans? Does anyone have any thoughts on comparing and contrasting the HD280's and the 7506's? My impression is that the HD28's are better isolating but have more of the midrange honk, whereas the 7506's would be flatter yet not as isolating, and perhaps flimsier. Does this sound accurate?

Both the models you mention are passable for tracking. However I wouldn't use either for critical listening or reference.

To my ears the 7506s do have less midrange honk, as you say, but are in fact rather hyped and harsh. I find them fairly fatiguing. YMMV. Either way, I wouldn't want to have to try to make mix decisions on them.

[dannygold]

Originally Posted by Lunatique

I think once you add $20 to that budget you'll have a few excellent choices:

Audio-Technica ATH-50M

I got ATH-50Ms for 110 bucks. eVilBay I think? Like them over 7506s which I've used alot.

[desotoslo]

Originally Posted by under the fridge

I need a good pair of cans, preferably in the $60-130 price range.

Check northernsound dot net for ultrasone phones. u could grab a pair of proline 650 closed back for less than $180 I believe (you call them for best price)

ultrasones are, imo, great phones. once burned in properly they are neutral, revealing, full but not hyped bass. i mix on them all the time and get good translations to speaker systems.

[chasman]

Originally Posted by dannygold

I got ATH-50Ms for 110 bucks. eVilBay I think? Like them over 7506s which I've used alot.

I also picked up a pair of ATH-M50's from ebay..................have been tracking vox and ac guitar and piano for 2 weeks with them now........................really like them alot.........

[under the fridge]

I am just gonna follow up on this and say that a few weeks ago I bought the ATM50's, in fact they are on my head right now. Good cans. They feel pretty solid, but the headband could be a bit more comfortable. It only contacts the crown of my head in one place. However the sound quality is enough to make it tolerable. I'd heard subwoofers that got as low as these do but man these get quite far down in the bass. I can really feel the kick drum, and this isn't rap or hiphop or anything- stuff like Rubber Soul, "You Won't See Me," that kick drum really is there! The mids are quite transparent, and the treble goes up quite high- in fact I now am finding any mp3's below 256 kbps to be inadequate now. They're pretty well built, and the connector is pretty solid. Luckily the 1/4" adapter screws on. They have a pretty good seal too. Those are my thoughts on them now after a few weeks.

[Disjointed]

fwiw:

ive had good luck with my The ATH-PRO5 MS .. as a second source, they help generate some very translatable mixes ... decent sound blocking and only $70

[Chance]

Although not a quality headphone, I got tired of replacing good quality HP in the studio because musicians keep stepping on them etc. I got the "More-Me" headphones from Harvey Gerst. They're super cheap and the sound is acceptable for studio use (OD's) and if they get stepped on, you're only out $12.00