headphone selection
Home > Home Recording Forum > Gear Gab > headphone selection
Posted on Apr 16, 2010 09:03 am
Fragile
Member Since: Sep 30, 2009
I have a little more money left over from paying taxes than i'd expected (my boss doesn't withhold money, crappy construction job that i can't stand! lol. i'm just not cut out for that line of work). So, anyway figure i'd make one little jump at knocking a few more pieces of gear off my wish list. Gotta get a midi controller with some sliders, and some decent headphones.
So, any recommendations? $50-$100 i'd imagine. I remember some talk about a set of sennheisers. Anything cheaper than $100 but close in functionality would be nice. Mostly just for tracking, so low bleed but a little bit doesn't bother me much. Rugged. And it'd be nice if they were decent enough to mix in a little. I do most of my work while people sleep. So as long as i can get the mix decent, and then work out a final draft threw the monitors, i'd be happy.
[ Back to Top ]
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Apr 16, 2010 11:58 am I know many on here use the HD280 with great result, so I'd shoot for those first, if'n I were a-lookin.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 16, 2010 12:11 pm The popular Sennheisers at the $100 price point would be the HD-280 Pro. I have a pair and I think that OldDog does as well, and maybe a couple of other regulars around here.
I think that they sound incredible, they sound almost 3-dimensional, extremely detailed and dynamic, clear as a bell, but they have a "hole" in the bass response down around 100Hz or so. I haven't pinned down exactly where that hole is but you'll notice it when compared to listening on a hi-fi system, or probably even against a monitor set. I think that it's beyond flat-response, but that it's actually attenuated down there a bit. The sub-bass is intact, and so are the low-mids and "upper bass", if there is such a thing. But there's a hole down there somewhere that always makes me misjudge bass guitar and kick drum. Since I don't have a proper monitoring setup, these are my main mixing allies. And I always end up with a hyped-up bass and kick if I mix in these.
The leakage isn't severe, but it's there. It's tough to find extreme isolation in headphones. A condensor is going to pick up such detail that even the slightest leakage from your headphones is subject to being picked up. The other day, I actually picked up the metronome leaked from my headphones, all the way across the room, picked up by my SM57 in front of my amp! The SM57 isn't exactly known as a room mic, but it was very noticable. So you still have to watch your levels while tracking to avoid excessive leaking.
But other than that, exceptional sounding phones as far as I'm concerned. I don't have anything high-class to compare them to, but for $100 I think they're terrific if you get to know their response curve.
Apr 16, 2010 12:13 pm Those were my fav out of what ive seen online. They just look tough. I have a bad habit of breaking things lol. And it said the cable is replaceable. works for me, found a deal online for under 80 bucks. Add that to guitar centers 10% of the difference, and ive got a good deal :]
JovhatoMusic is everythingMember
Since: Apr 01, 2010
Apr 16, 2010 12:46 pm If you get them, let us know what you think of them. I'm looking for a pair as well.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Apr 16, 2010 12:49 pm Yeah the 280 Pro's I think in their price range are one of the best and they are comfortable. I also have a pair of AT ATH 50's (~$150), they are very good as well but very uncomfortable for long period usage.
Dan
Apr 21, 2010 06:57 pm I use an ultrasone HFI-450... I am happy with it. I was kinda sold for the ad they had about it being more healthy compared to other headphones; less pressure on the eardrums by not hitting the inner ear directly and less magnetic radiation. I don't know how true it is but I thought it was important since I would be spending too much time with it in my project studio.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Apr 23, 2010 12:10 pm 280 pro, I have two pairs and for the price couldn't be happier. I did buy a headphone amp which seemed to bring a little more out of them than my ux8 headphone jacks.
May 21, 2010 09:33 pm Deleted By Noize2u