Good headphones for home recording?

[mojobone]

Problem is, its hard to try out a set of headphones. At least there is no place near me that is going to have a bunch of these cans out for someone to try out and have a recording system setup so that a person can hear the difference between a set of reference headphones and a set of reference monitors and make an informed decision about which headphones to purchase. The informed decision probably is going to com from a forum like this and a look at your pocketbook for how much you can spend. I'll bet most people buy theirs online anyway.

Keith

IRC Audio in Indy used to have such a room; the nearest place (to us) now is Sweetwater, in Ft. Wayne. Yeah GC in Castleton's closer, but you won't be able to hear anything there. ATH M-50s are on my wishlist; my Sony MDR-7506s have seen over fifteen years hard use and are showing their age, heh.

[t4mh]

Well yeah thats my point. Years ago there were lots of places where a person could go where killer stereos were sold and check out headphones of very decent quality. Now days all that takes place at stores like Best Buy where I don't personally think the quality is really very good. I don't really think kids want killer stereos anymore. Now they have mp3 players with a so so set of cans or buds. So actually hearing a set of true reference headphones before buying has to be a difficult thing. Not saying it can't be done but your gonna have to look around and maybe do some traveling. I even researched specs before I bought mine online instead of trying to hear them before buying.

Keith

[ernstinen]

Well yeah thats my point. Years ago there were lots of places where a person could go where killer stereos were sold and check out headphones of very decent quality. Now days all that takes place at stores like Best Buy where I don't personally think the quality is really very good. I don't really think kids want killer stereos anymore. Now they have mp3 players with a so so set of cans or buds. So actually hearing a set of true reference headphones before buying has to be a difficult thing. Not saying it can't be done but your gonna have to look around and maybe do some traveling. I even researched specs before I bought mine online instead of trying to hear them before buying.

Keith

Yup, Keith, that's a problem. The last I listened to phones was at the Sam Ash chain store. Sure, they had about 20 decent cans, but half of them didn't work, or they played in mono. It's like the store didn't care, 'cause they don't sell many good phones anymore. I DID compare the top-of-the line Sennehiser "Studio Monitors," some Sony's, and the best Shure headphones beat 'em all that were priced over $100, to my ears.

Maybe some "kids" have good stereos, but now it's what best "buds" you can buy for your iPods. That's like listening to the best Beethoven recordings on Deutsche Grammophon with a pair of tin cans connected by a string!

Ern

[Len911]

I'm probably going to get creamed for saying this, but the bottom line is you can get used to anything. If you're not going to be mixing in headphones, which I don't recommend unless you've been doing it for years and know how the mixes translate, then you can almost use anything decent for composing and for keeping the peace late at night.

There's lots of good cans in the price range of your budget, I honestly don't think you'd go wrong with any of the recommendations here. Some will say what they use are the flattest, best bass, whatever. Honestly there's no such thing as a flat frequency response on headphones or speakers (which is probably a good thing anyway) and it really just boils down to what you use and that you're used to it. And you will get used to whatever you get.

Happy Shopping!

Mazz

I couldn't agree more. If you are going to be wearing them a lot, comfort is important, you don't want to be rubbing sores on your ears or something,lol, and if you need closed back for tracking while singing, but if you are just listening I believe the open or semi-open probably "sound" a little better.

[jeffgreenleaf]

Ultrasones!! Love em...

[Rob Lorenzo]

Jeff - may I ask what Ultrasone model headphones are you using?

(ps: really enjoyed your recent interview with Michael, both interesting and inspirational)

Everyone - I'm really learning a lot from this discussion - thanks

Mazz - more good advice, all makes sense to me.

Current short-list is having looked at tech specs:

AKG-K271, Audio Technica ATH-M50, Sennheiser HD-25MK-II.

Like the fact that the AKG and Sennheiser have detachable/replacable cables and the AKG an automatic mute switch.

[mojobone]

The ear pads, drivers and cable are replaceable on the A-Ts as well, iirc.

[Rob Lorenzo]

The ear pads, drivers and cable are replaceable on the A-Ts as well, iirc.

Good news - I realise Audio Technica do a straight cabled version of the ATH-M50 which, if I can find a retailer in the UK for, may make them the ones for yours truly. The coiled version seems more widely available. I am not sure if the cable is switchable/replacable (yet) - I'm hoping to be informed otherwise.

I'm also in awe of the amount of consistent good reviews the M50s have received. Plus the recommendations on this forum are strongly swinging the needle AT's way too with the AKGs in the balance/very close second as I do like the idea of the mute switch and replaceable cable.

I'm now down to the AKGs and the ATs putting all the facts, reviews and recommendations together.

[eliotpister1]

I'm partial to AKG headphones. I've had the big AKG 270's, the cheap-o K66's, and most recently the K171 Studio headphones. They all (well, except the K66's) have really balanced sound, which is the bain of most headphones.... you think you've got the bass right, then you take off the phones, crank up the monitors and realize you're WAY out!

Mazz is right, though. It's more important you learn your headphones - whichever ones you pick. It's much the same as studio monitors... who cares which ones are technically the "best", once you have learned how they translate to other speakers.

I've come so close over the past few years to replacing my Tannoy PBM 8's, simply because they're old (almost 20 years now). But the truth is, I know what they sound like, and I know how to massage my mix to work on other speakers. Getting new monitors (or headphones) just introduces another element of mystery and a long learning curve.

Having said all that, for home studio recording where you're tracking and mixing in the same room, I'd recommend a closed-back headphone. can't go wrong with AKG once you get into the $100+ range.

Cheers, Eliot.

[jeffgreenleaf]

Ultrasone PRO 650...ears never get tired.