flat-ish mix ref headphones...grado etc

[recall]

Hi,

I am looking for some headphones (sub £100) that will be useful for mix reference. The ones I have are either too bass-enhanced or too treble boosted.

I use Adam A7'S and Avantone mixcubes to mix on, but would like to check mixes on a fairly linear/flat pair of headphones. I also do a fair bit of late night mixing and could use a set for that.

They need to be comfortable and not too flattering. Being able to mix a bit on them would be really helpful.

I'm drawn to the Grado SR-60, as they seem to be very widely praised. But they seem a little flimsy to me.

The other contenders are Audio Technica M50 and beyer 990's

I believe these are both closed designs and could be uncomfortable for long wearing.

I am open to other ideas though.

Just to clarify though, before I get posts saying "you shouldn't mix on headphones etc" I agree to a certain extent. I don't want to mix on these I want to check mixes in progress, they will also be handy to check bass when working in less than ideal acoustic mixing spaces.

Cheers

Iwan

[FreshSkweez]

I still have Sony MDR-v600 (I'm not even sure tey make'em any more) I carry around to every mixing gig I do. They are all taped up and I get weird looks from assistants every now and then.

But once you put them on you can tell right away if you have any low-midrange conflicts going on. They are not 'flat' per se (the bass is boosted a bit), but they are extremely accurate.

Hope this helps.

A.

[DJGoody]

The only cans I can use, with any certainty, are Sennheiser 580s, 600s, or 650s. They're open back, extremely comfie, and a VERY good reference.


Also, Stax and AKG 1000, but both are very expensive, and need specific hardware to power properly.

[John Willett]

A little bit more, but I would see what you can get the HD 600 for

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by DJGoody

The only cans I can use, with any certainty, are Sennheiser 580s, 600s, or 650s. They're open back, extremely comfie, and a VERY good reference.

I love the Sennheisers. And they fit the bill of the OP, because they are comfortable and not fatiguing. Grados wear me out in no time flat. You can hear everything on them, but wow, they're tough on the ears. YMMV of course.

The 650s get a bad rap sometimes; some folks say they are too audofile-ish. I find that I get a better, more predictable translation out of them than any others I've tried.

-synthoid

[nickolo]

The Grado SR 60/80/125 s are a bit flimsy but i find them comfy and my SR80s have held together and thats often with me falling asleep with them on and turning over etc..taking them about with me etc...
But they do sound brilliant IMHO..open,clear,solid lows etc..
Even though the SR60s and 80s are 40% cheaper in the US,they still are still a top choice..!!
Give them a go!!

[recall]

So a vote for the grado's. I must say Synthoids claim that they are fatiguing is the first time I have come across this view in my research. I like the look of the sennheisers but to get decent performance i'd have to pay an extra £30-40, which I don't really want to do.

[joeq]

another vote for the Grados

There are a lot of models, I have the SR-225s and I really feel I can trust them when I am away from the monitors, or as an alternative. I don't think they are fatiguing at all, and they strike me as being quite flat. I don't listen very loud, though, and I could see that maybe at a higher volumes the clarity would get tiring.


By comparison, I found the Sennheissers generally 'flattering' and a little cushy in the bass. I would love to own a pair of 650's for when I am listening for pleasure, but I prefer the Grados for "work". Not only for mix balance, but also to hear fine details that I may have missed.


Just like monitors, so much of it is what you are used to. Knowing what they sound like, and what to expect, etc. To a certain extent, there is also how they match up or differ from the monitors you usually use.



As far as physical comfort, the Grados are very light and the band can easily be bent to sit properly on your head, but the surrounds are just foam and do not really support the element completely off your ear. Some people find it annoying to have something touching their pinnae, however lightly.

[recall]

Just ordered a set of Grado SR60's so we'll see how they turn out.