Originally Posted by CKenterpro

I know this has been discussed many times but I need a pair of headphones to do mixing on late at night since I don't have too much time during the day and can't turn the monitors on past 8pm.

I know mixing on headphones is taboo but I have too.

Also not to mention i'm having trouble hearing where my bass needs to sit. So cans with great bass detail and clarity is key. I'm mixing mostly rock/metal/modern rock/alternative.

My budget is 500-600$

I've been researching some cans out there these two i'm interested in:

Beyer DT880 32ohms
Ultrasone pro 2900 (anyone use these yet)

Already have the ATm50

If there are better phones out there please chime in.

Originally Posted by fearoftigers

I have the HD-800 which are great but they're very cold and brutal.

Originally Posted by John Willett

I use mine with a Grace m902b.

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

John has provided a clear and unequivocal qualitative result. One you can easily obtain for yourself. You appear to be rejecting the qualitative result - with sarcasm - on the basis that only a quantitative result could be either "scientific" or "conclusive". However, you are mistaken.

Long before anyone measured the color temperature of the light reaching us from the Moon, people noticed that it was yellow. Had you been there, presumably, you would have a) refused to accept that the Moon was yellow because its color had not been "measured" in a way you regarded as "conclusive", b) declined to look at the Moon to see for yourself, and c) responded with indignant sarcasm to anyone who suggested either that the Moon was yellow or that you take a look at it rather than quibbling over nonsense.

Originally Posted by John Willett

Interesting - I have the HD 800 and don't find them cold and brutal at all.

I find them clean and revealing and, actually, very pleasant to listen to.

In fact, so pleasant, that I found myself listening for five or six hours and thinking it was only about two hours or so - I was quite shocked when I discovered how long it was.

I do find them very revealing of the source, though, and poor recordings will sound poor - and they will also reveal deficiencies in your equipment.

I use mine with a Grace m902b.

Originally Posted by Samc

I haven't given anything to anybody I was asking a question...one of many I might add.

But who should I give this credit to if not the guys who design and build the phones pray tell?

Originally Posted by Piedpiper

my point is that I doubt the manufacturer bothers to consider any of these issues. They are too busy running a business.

Originally Posted by Samc

You really think that if burning in the phones had such a profound effect on the performance of the units the manufacturers wouldn't tell users about it?

Originally Posted by Samc

The performance of their products is their business, why would they not consider this issue important?

You really think that if burning in the phones had such a profound effect on the performance of the units the manufacturers wouldn't tell users about it?

Think about it for a second, don't you see how not dealing with such an important issue could work against them...

Originally Posted by Piedpiper

In pro audio, as opposed to the world of high end stereo, it is more common for engineer types to discount this level of minutiae as beyond their job description, at least in the context of bringing a product to market.

Originally Posted by Piedpiper

But don't take my word for it. Why don't you talk to a bunch of these manufacturers and let us know what you find.

Originally Posted by Lunatique

Think about it like this--when you use a CD to seal the earcup, the surface of the CD is supposed to be the side of your face. Then you put the testing mic at the hole of the CD, and you shouldn't push it in, because that wouldn't make sense--it's like your eardrums are coming out of your ears.

But of course, this isn't totally scientific/precise, because the ears actually have ear canals to shape the sound, while a CD/testing mic cannot emulate the existence of ear canals. Also, the side of the face around the ears are skin and hair, while the CD's surface is much more reflective. You can maybe line the surface of the CD with something like cotton or whatever that's closer to skin/hair.

I have used the above measuring method to measure my headphones, but I have not used ARC to measure/tweak the headphones, because I'm not sure if the result will be accurate, as ARC was never designed for headphones. I might give it a shot one of these days though, just for fun. But since I already tweaked the custom EQ curves for my headphones to perfection, I'm not in a hurry to try it out.

You might want to take a look at this though:
SonoReplicator - MP3 demo

That's almost like IK Multimedia's ARC System, but can be used on headphones too.

I almost laughed when I saw them using the measuring mic through the hole of a CD--since that's exactly how I measure my headphones too.




You should get caught up on the new developments in Planar Magnetic headphones. It's now been revolutionized and making a huge leap in quality/capability through products like the Audez'e LCD-3, LCD-2, and Hifiman HE-500, HE-6, HE-5...etc.

Also, the progress is typically evolutionary, even if the technology is fundamentally the same, many advances through computer simulation, better testing/measuring techniques, superior material...etc have made advanced that weren't possible in the past (or weren't cost effective).



For those of you who are thinking of the M50 or already own one, I can share my custom EQ curve for it, which turns it into a more neutral/accurate headphone.



You do not read headphone frequency response graphs the same way you read ones for speakers. You should read the educational material provided at HeadRoom--it explains how to properly read headphone frequency response graphs.

Originally Posted by Mr.HOLMES

SoundStage! "All In Your Head" Back-Issue Article (7/2006)




I am happy I got mine from Amazon 2 months ago for 180 Euros...
Thomann offers the best price now- AKG K701 Stereo Kopfhrer

Originally Posted by John Willett

Interesting - I have the HD 800 and don't find them cold and brutal at all.

I find them clean and revealing and, actually, very pleasant to listen to.

In fact, so pleasant, that I found myself listening for five or six hours and thinking it was only about two hours or so - I was quite shocked when I discovered how long it was.

I do find them very revealing of the source, though, and poor recordings will sound poor - and they will also reveal deficiencies in your equipment.

I use mine with a Grace m902b.

Originally Posted by eug3nius

You people need to stop smoking the weed and all get Sennheiser HD250 Linear II's. That is YOUR headphone and you don't even know about it. Sad ...

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Gearslutz.com

Originally Posted by John Willett

Unfortunately the excellent HD 250 was discontinued several years ago.

I have about 5 pairs heh

Originally Posted by Anghello

Just found some in CZ stock.. pricing is around 200 EUR. PM if you need them. But I think HD800 are way better and precise.

Originally Posted by John Willett

So Panter still have a few left then?

When they were discontinued I grabbed every pair that Sennheiser UK had left (just 3 or 4).

But I agree that the HD 800 is way way better. But the HD 800 is x5 the price and open (the HD 250 are closed).

Originally Posted by John Willett

So Panter still have a few left then?

When they were discontinued I grabbed every pair that Sennheiser UK had left (just 3 or 4).

But I agree that the HD 800 is way way better. But the HD 800 is x5 the price and open (the HD 250 are closed).

Originally Posted by CKenterpro

I know this has been discussed many times but I need a pair of headphones to do mixing on late at night since I don't have too much time during the day and can't turn the monitors on past 8pm.

I know mixing on headphones is taboo but I have too.

Also not to mention i'm having trouble hearing where my bass needs to sit. So cans with great bass detail and clarity is key. I'm mixing mostly rock/metal/modern rock/alternative.

My budget is 500-600$

I've been researching some cans out there these two i'm interested in:

Beyer DT880 32ohms
Ultrasone pro 2900 (anyone use these yet)

Already have the ATm50

If there are better phones out there please chime in.

Originally Posted by Audiovisjon

Id stay away from the ultrasones. Very coloured with a higly tailored frequencyrespons ....not for mixing imo.

Originally Posted by Audiovisjon

If you want the best and have the opportunity to save up....buy the HD800...

Originally Posted by John Willett

And if you really can't afford the HD800 try the new HD700 - launched at CES a few days ago and about 40% cheaper.

UK first showing should be the Bristol Hi-Fi show next month I understand.

Originally Posted by syphabiscuit

Hi,

I wanted to get some cheap but good quality for price headphones for mixing and editing and general Pro Tools use (mainly - whilst also for just listening to ipod too). I read this forum and settled on the Senn Hd 280 Pro.......Upon returning to this site I feel I made the wrong choice and for the price, should have gone for the AT M50s. A lot of slating has happened (Lunatique mainly made me question my choice) Is this right? I see that no one has mentionned that they have had better experience after burning them in whereas the M50s have had better praise after burning. Should I straight swap them for some AT's or keep them. Please tell me what to do. I am no sort of expert just wanted some decent enough headphones. And I'm not complaining the sound of the 280 Pro blew me away - but they are easily the best headphones I have put on my head in years as I'm NO sort of audiophile!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Piedpiper

sounds interesting... replaces the 650?