Sennheiser CANS, best for mixing 590, 600 or 650?

[fuzzface777]

Has anyone experience with these? I can't afford Grados, 600-1700 USD.

Which Sen CAN do you recommend for me?

Thanks

[fuzzface777]

anything would be helpful guys

[Sid Menon]

I don't have any personal experience with these phones, but i've been told by numerous people who have used them that the 600s and 650s are great for mixing (as far as headphones can be great for mixing). Haven't heard much about the 590 however, everyone seems to recommend grado rs1s, Sen HD600s, and Sen HD650s. Hope that helps you out, and let us know what you find out! Good luck!

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Sid Menon

I don't have any personal experience with these phones, but i've been told by numerous people who have used them that the 600s and 650s are great for mixing (as far as headphones can be great for mixing). Haven't heard much about the 590 however, everyone seems to recommend grado rs1s, Sen HD600s, and Sen HD650s. May not be a ton of help, but i've heard this from people who all own the phones, and, in some cases, have had the grados as well. Good luck!

the 600's are better than the 590's

i havent tried the 650's

[Adria_BCN]

If you search for info about senn's 590, 600 and 650 on the board, you'll find that this topic has been discussed so many times. Maybe you can answer yourself this way.

Although this... my pick is the HD 600. Being said that i prefer them over the 590, 650 and many other's i've listened to... but something tells me these are not the definitive headphones.... i mean they're great but... you might also want to have at other brands... like high end AKGs or beyers.


Hope to help.

[joeq]

the grado RS-2 is less than the Senn 650.

I have a set of grado SR 225s ($200)that I would rather mix on than the Sennheisers, which I feel are too 'plump'.

mixing on headphones is problematic anyway, I wouldn't go nuts trying to find the "perfect" headphone for mixing.

[fuzzface777]

thanks guys,
joeq yeah, maybe I should chill in the FREAK for headphones...

Realistically, what can a GREAT CAN be expected to do well besides just for listening pleasure? Can they do anything well or is monitors only?

[GYang]

With closed eyes I picked 600 over 650 eight times out of ten.
Both excellent indeed and difference is just matter of taste, even at same price I would pick 600.
Still AKGs are slightly better to my ears, both closed and open 271 and 701.

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by joeq

the grado RS-2 is less than the Senn 650.

I have a set of grado SR 225s ($200)that I would rather mix on than the Sennheisers, which I feel are too 'plump'.

mixing on headphones is problematic anyway, I wouldn't go nuts trying to find the "perfect" headphone for mixing.

I just went to The Needle Doctor and tried a pair of the SR60's. They didn't have others to try as they were sold out from Christmas. I liked them a lot, and I have tried a lot of phones, including the Senn 650's which I did not like. Do you know how different the Grado's are as you go up? SR80's, 125's, 225's, etc.?

[cosmos]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

the 600's are better than the 590's

i havent tried the 650's

same here ... i use the 600's with 650's cord, thats a little upgrade for only $11 from Sennheiser.com , im very happy with them.

[fuzzface777]

no I don't know Grado's differ -please explain

[chrisp2u]

Originally Posted by cosmos

same here ... i use the 600's with 650's cord, thats a little upgrade for only $11 from Sennheiser.com , im very happy with them.

What's the difference between the 600 and 650 cord? I've been wondering if changing the cord really makes that big a difference. $11 would be much more palettable than $200 on something like a cardas cord.
---
c

Hi,

For semi-open circumaural headphones consider the latest top of the range Sennheiser HD650 is quite fine. You will be dependant though on low background noise during listening sessions.

Also check the closed circumaural headphones Sennheiser HD280Pro featuring high isolation, helping to capture some fine details while working in a possibly noisy environment.

Mixing should be always completed with loudspeaker monitors )low frequency aligned) not only on headphones, to not fall into 3 classical faults:

- Improper overall balance and low frequency
- Poor stereo image (if panning was done with headphones)
- Excessive amount of reverb/effects

We need also ITD (interaural time difference) in conjuction with IID (interaural intensity difference) to make 'realistic' mixes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interaural_time_difference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoacoustics

Have a listen at all of them to make your own choice!

Maybe consider upgrading also your reference monitors...

Good luck!

Regards,
Laurent

[joeq]

Originally Posted by Sounds Great

I just went to The Needle Doctor and tried a pair of the SR60's.

what does acupuncture have to do with headphones?

They didn't have others to try as they were sold out from Christmas. I liked them a lot, and I have tried a lot of phones, including the Senn 650's which I did not like. Do you know how different the Grado's are as you go up? SR80's, 125's, 225's, etc.?

sorry, I have little experience with the rest of their line. I was in a hi-fi shop and A/B'd the 225s (all they had) against the high end Sennheisers. I preferred the Grados and the price differential was just a bonus.

headphone.com sells both and they actually review the cans they sell. They are not afraid to say something negative

[Sounds Great]

Ok, I found a store that had all the Grados. I tried the SR80's and the SR125's. Where's the bass? stike

And then I tried the SR60's. I far preferred them to their more expensive brothers. Not even close. Go figure.

So I took the SR60's home. For 70 bucks, how can you go wrong?

[Sounds Great]

Well, I wasn't quite sure at the store but I thought it was worth a shot. Got the Grado's home and they aren't the holy grail.

The search goes on. I still love these old lower price Sony's I bought 20 plus years ago. For open type I've never heard any others sound so natural and easy on my ears. I just wish I could find some new pads for them.

[Sounds Great]

Another shot of the Sony's. Anybody have them? I would love a back-up set.

[fuzzface777]

Would the grado sr225 or sr325 be a better bet for mixing on than the senn hd 600???????

[edham]

I have owned all the Grado's except the $1000 ones. None were balanced enough for mixing. All were lacking in low mids and were a bit too bright for my taste. They are amazing at revealing distortion though.

Senn 600's are my current choice but I am selling of a few pairs of headphones and going for the $1K grado's.
Many guys prefer the AKG 701's as they are indeed a bit more open (less stuffy) than the senn 600's. But to my ears they lack a bit of low end. And I need the extra low mids as I tend to let me mixes get heavy in that area but you should check them out as they are awesome headphones.
You will also get many who choose Beyer 880's and 990's for there upper mid clarity.

For me its still the Senn 600's but the new grados will be here shortly.
(fyi - my 701's and 880's are listed on the selling forum).

[edham]

Originally Posted by fuzzface777

Would the grado sr225 or sr325 be a better bet for mixing on than the senn hd 600???????

Definately not IMHO. As I said in my post above - while they have great low end they are lacking in low mids and are very bright. My mixes on them came out dull and boxy as a result.

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by edham

I have owned all the Grado's except the $1000 ones. None were balanced enough for mixing. All were lacking in low mids and were a bit too bright for my taste. They are amazing at revealing distortion though.

The sound seemed "pinched" to me, for lack of a better description. So much so that it was quite distracting.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by fuzzface777

Would the grado sr225 or sr325 be a better bet for mixing on than the senn hd 600???????

well I will have to break from the crowd here, this is pretty much the choice I made when I was shopping for my studio pair.

I did not take the Senns home, but in the store I listened to some mixes I had made ( I made them on speakers,) and I felt the grado 225s were truer to those mixes.

I have to once again say that I don't really "mix" on headphones, but I do sometimes start mixes on headphones.

For easy chair living room listening, I think I would have gone with the Sennheisers.

This thread prompted me to order the "large" foamies for my grados. Should be here any day now.

[FFTT]

You should not be using headphones at all for any extended period of time unless you are using them at very conservative low volumes.

Headphones are fine used for limited periods of time for tracking, but if you're spending hours on end using them for tracking, sequencing, overdubbing AND mixing,
I can tell you from personal experience that doing so can permanently damage your hearing.

My doctor at John's Hopkins confirmed that extended use of headphones destroyed my hearing.

Are you feeling lucky?

[fuzzface777]

FET thanks for the advice, for me.... I think the the Marshall 200 WATT messed my hearing up a bit, too! With the Cans I generally tried to keep the volume down, but I could probably have it even lower for exended periods (using the HD280 pros)


MY LAST question about the SENN's.... COuld anyone possibly comment on a quick comparison between the 280 pro's and the 600's?

thanks

[fuzzface777]

??? bump