Best Headphones for Monitoring?

[Gravity]

Originally Posted by bcgood

I like my Sennheiser HD 280 Pros

Maybe part of the reason for this is that I've had them for awhile now.

I think the main thing is to know thy self and know thy headphones and monitors.

After years of listening you start to hear it with you mind and know how they'll translate...

2nd this. Good isolation, and not a bad sound for me. They have a tendancy to be a bit 'hi-fi' sounding, but I know that, so i compensate. They're a good balance for my A7's

[Westmalle]

I used Sony MD7506(?) for 7 years.
Now I use Beyer DT990pro.
I like them, but if somebody has something better, let me know.

[just.sounds]

once heard stax and soundwise it is the best imho but a little awkward for on the road

[Karloff70]

This would be the only place in the studio for a Fostex product, namely TR20P's.
Nice and unhyped, and seemingly often overlooked .....maybe cause it says 'Fostex' on them

And a pair of open AKG's. Mine are old K-400's, don't know what they're called now.

[jacko]

Originally Posted by bcgood

I like my Sennheiser HD 280 Pros

Maybe part of the reason for this is that I've had them for awhile now.

I think the main thing is to know thy self and know thy headphones and monitors.

After years of listening you start to hear it with you mind and know how they'll translate...

I used to have them and liked them, but yesterday I mixed something on DT250... For the first time in my life a headphone mix translated well on speakers!

[John Willett]

I have several pairs of headphones and it depends on the situation.

For mixing I use the Sennheiser HD 650 or the HD 600 (actually the Limited Edition HD 580 Jubilee which is identical to the 600).

For listening to detail I like the HD 25-1 which enables me to concentrate. I swap to these when I need to and then go back to the 650s.

I do have several pairs of the HD 250 (both Mk.I and Mk.II versions) which translate very well for closed headphones - better than any others I have heard.

I do have a pair of the HD 280 Pro, but tend not to use them so much.

[XLR2XLR]

Beyer DT770 Pro here, great cans, good isolation, wide FR

Probably veering off neutral but I love them, very comfortable too.

[d_fu]

I seem to have found something I like - Beyer DT 880 Pro...
Not as bright as older Beyers (880, 990 even more so), but in no way muffled or mid-range dominated. Also seems to correspond nicely with my speakers. Will try to break it in for a few days, and then compare again. Definitely better than Grados, for my ears at least.

[SparkyCanada]

Not sure - but was there ever a clear winner here for listening & pre-mixing headphones?

Maybe new contenders now?

SparkyCanada

[peeder]

The ATH-M50's are growing on me, mostly because they have a smooth top end.

Still waiting on the Denons which may be the flattest of all...

[wildpark]

just buy a used stax sr303 with a 323 pre beware of the older or batterie powered models !

[David Spearritt]

Originally Posted by peeder

The ATH-M50's are growing on me, mostly because they have a smooth top end.

Still waiting on the Denons which may be the flattest of all...

Which Denons are you listening to. I have just had a few days with the AT-M50's and the AT-AD1000's and boy are they heaps better than the Beyer 990, 770, DT250, DT150 all of which I have!

I purchased the AD1000's (open cup) as they are just superb. Uncoloured, airy, really smooth top end, and an excellent natural frequency balance. Also extremely easy to drive, just 40 Ohm impedance.

Will probably buy the M50's (closed cup) as well. These leave the DT250's for dead. I also own two pairs of HD25 Mk1 and Mk2. These are also great but different to the M50's.

[peeder]

I've ordered the AD-2000 Denons...no idear when they will appear though.

[clocknuts]

Can somebody with a multitude of can experience tell me is there is an audiable difference when monitoring/mixing (when needed) on HD 600 and HD 650s?

This appears on a few threads with some opposing views. Could someone offer some experience on the matter?

I was thinking of getting the HD650s (open back) for mixing (when not using monitors) and maybe some Sony MDR V6 for overdubs etc (£38 in UK)

HD650s = $340 in the UK (£185)

Also due to the extent cost of other equip I'm getting I could do with cost cutting so I was thinking "2 birds with one stone" and going for:

[AKG K271s £80 (closed)] or [HD280 Pro £70 (closed)]

These are both high quality and closed back. ( I NEED closed back for overdubs but NEED fidelity for the mix on late night home sessions).

So please could you suggest a choice between the HD 280 and K 271 as I have a big headache reading 1000 pages on the net about headphones.

I love the look of the AKG K701 and the HD 650s but they are both open and I cant afford an open pair a closed pair AND a headphone amp for the 701/650. I think the HD 280 can be run by most mixer phone outputs.

Please help guys, especially if you've tried a combination of these suggestions.. Many thread readers are interested in these items I expect.

Thanks

[clocknuts]

Oh yes, you 600 and HD 650s users.. ever tried overdubbing in a quite acousic environment with them on? Please let us know.. I'd love to get a set that sounded clear as HD 650s without bleed. (especially recording classical guitar etc). Any Ideas? AKG K271s, HD280 Pro? Have the been superceded? Any more opinions on the HIFI sound of the HD280 pros.. I dont want to mix on treble hyped phones :)

Thanks for the head up on the ATH-M50's How do they compare with either the hd650s, the hd280pro or k271 (or k701 even)? It seems like a good idea getting m50s as they can mix and overdub! A cheap alternative to the "open pair + closed pair + amp" combo. (Do I need an amp for them?)

TY :)

[bove]

Originally Posted by Don S

It's time for a new pair! I need an everyday, closed, flat, accurate pair for location classical. I have the Beyer DT770pro - 80 ohm version. Has anyone listened and compared this to the 250 ohm? The 80 ohm sounds a little covered in the highs compared to my HD600. Any opinions on the HD280?

I use use the Sennheiser HD600 all the time, and also own the 280 Pro.

The 600 is a Lot nicer to listen to. If you're used to the 600, I don't think the 280 will satisfy you. Compared to the 600, the 280 has a scratchy quality on sources such as strings, the image has far less "depth" (sounds 2D) and far less detail in the sound, reverberation, etc. The 600 are also far more comfortable on your head... you won't like wearing the 280 all day.

The 280 does appear to be built very sturdily and fold up nice, so you don't have to worry about tossing them into your bag.

As an alternative to the 280, when I need isolation I'll use Shure e4c headphones. They sound nicer, and provide a large amount of isolation (using the yellow foam inserts, it's similar to wearing earplugs.) I also use these with my ipod when I'm on the go, so I've become familiar with their sound.

I've had good experience with these shures, and I'd definitely be interested in trying some of the more high-end in-ear monitors sometime.

[nativeaudio]

Originally Posted by clocknuts

Oh yes, you 600 and HD 650s users.. ever tried overdubbing in a quite acousic environment with them on? Please let us know.. I'd love to get a set that sounded clear as HD 650s without bleed.

You can't use the 650s when recording... they're 'designed to bleed'. I use HD650 and DT880 for everything but recording, but only AKG K270s for recording. They have a dull high end, are not bleeding, but good enough for recording. If there are other headphones out there leaking as little as the 270s, but with a more open, less dull high-end, I'd still like to check them out...

[John Willett]

I use the HD 250 for that - but Sennheiser have discontinued them.

[superjetboy21]

ok, haven't seen any ultrasone references....so here i go.

i love and swear by my Ultrasone Pro 750 headphones for mixing. The offset drivers provide for superior stereo representation which is not normally found in a headphone. I have tried Grado, Sennheiser, you name it. The Ultrasone Pro 750 is my favorite headphone for mixing no questions.

Another bonus, because the Ultrasone Pro 750 headphones are closed back as opposed to the competition (Sennheiser and Grado), the provide for a great isolation from noisy environments that you may have to mix in.

p.s. if you haven't tried the Ultrasone Pro 750, you probably should.....soon....

[Westmalle]

Originally Posted by Westmalle

I used Sony MD7506(?) for 7 years.
Now I use Beyer DT990pro.
I like them, but if somebody has something better, let me know.

Thanks to the forum's specialists recommendations I switched to STAX SRS-2050 II STAX SRS-2050 SR-202 BASIC HEADPHONES PHONES HEADSET SRM-252 MK II SOLID STATE AMPLIFIER "Basic System" and it sounds WAY BETTER than the Beyer DT 990pro or the MD7506.
It reveals details on my favourite classical music and pop-mixes that I never heard before!
The bass is different, in fact it goes deeper than the other headphones i have, but not as loud and 70% less punchy.

I actually like these headphones !!!!!