Go with the Genelecs or cans?

[pajhonka]

Hi,
I do electronic music. I'm lusting over the Genelec 8030s, which I was planning to purchase, but I was considering mixing with headphones and spend the difference on instruments.

The only thing is: I mixed my last album with some $99 Sennheiser HD280 pros and I didn't think they translated so well to other speakers (car, iPod, etc.)...at all, really. I'm sure a lot of this had to do with my immaturity with mixing, but I think there's just something about mixing on speakers that gives me a better idea of how they'll sound. I'd also hope & imagine the price difference is relative to the quality of the output. Thoughts?

COMPARING FREQUENCY RESPONSE:
HEADPHONES
Sennheiser HD280 pro: 8Hz—25kHz
Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000: 5-40,000Hz
AKG-K-701: 10—39,800Hz

Genelec 8030A: 58 Hz - 20 kHz

[paperplanepilot]

you can't mix properly on headphones.

sure, some will translate better than others but the physical properties of speakers pushing real air in front of you is not something that headphones can (yet?) emulate. i have a pair of the HD280s you mentioned and have listened to some of the more expensive headphones out there, but headphones definitely sound different. the thing about headphones is that they'll sound great even with crappy mixes. they're too nice - and that's why you can't mix with them. mix on speakers and use the cans as a reference to check for specific issues.

the genelec 8030s are nice monitors, though a bit pricey. if budget is an issue, why not step back a bit and pick up another set? i have the yamaha msp3s as a secondary monitor and i've heard great things about the msp5s - a great monitor for $250 each. neither are particularly bassy but that's what a sub is for (or you could check bass on the cans). just make sure you treat your room and set up your sub properly, tho.

there's tons of great monitors out there that don't cost $1k+. regardless of what anyone tells you, you can mix a great album on "crappy" speakers - just look at the NS10 and mixcube craze. IMO, the biggest thing in monitoring is knowing your monitors' strengths and weaknesses and compensating. thinking your monitors are the problem (if anything, it's probably the room you're in) is making excuses.

good luck!

[Sacalait]

The recommendation from almost every true professional is that you NEVER mix with headphones. Use them only as a reference- and very seldom!