Good headphones for home recording?

[Rob Lorenzo]

Taxi friends,

Which headphones are you using for home recording?

(and how do you rate them?)

Looking at a pair of Sennheiser HD-25 following consistent good reviews and recommendation. I have heard Ultrasone are worth consideration too.

[eeoo]

Audio-Technica ATH-M50. Love 'em. eo.

[orest]

Audio-Technica ATH-M50. Love 'em. eo.

+1

[billg1]

Audio-Technica ATH-M50. Love 'em. eo.

+1

+1 again. I just had a pretty detailed post but it vanished! The ATH-M50 headphones might be the best I've heard for judging low-end.

Sometimes I'll listen to a mix on my Sony MDR 7506's for a top end reality check (they are very bright compared to the ATH-M50).

Overall I think the M50's are truer.

[mazz]

It's really what you like to hear and what you're going to use them for. Everyone has their own personal taste when it comes to headphones, so once you get to a certain level, it's really what you prefer.

For instance:

Since I don't use headphones for mixing, but I do use it for composing when my wife is upstairs watching TV or she requests me to use them, comfort for long periods of time is a big plus for me. I use Ultrasones but I've used Sonys with good results as well. They both sound good and are comfortable.


You may want headphones that block sound, or you might like the open back sound better but may not be an option if you are concerned about headphone bleed into live microphones. If you're a drummer, you might want screaming loud super isolating headphones for drum tracking, but something a bit less heavy duty for tracking guitars or other instruments.

You'll get many recommendations here, and everyone's opinion is valid, for them. I strongly suggest you try before you buy, because what I love you may hate because they squeeze your head too hard or have too much bass for your taste or whatever.

Have fun shopping!

Mazz

[feaker66]

Wish my 7506's blocked external noise.

I can be listening to my songs and hear my wife's tv program and treadmill way too loud across the room.

Might look into the M50.

I am overdue to by something anyway.

Paul

[Len911]

I had the sony 7506 before I bought the akg k271, so that's all I can really compare them to, the akg's are definitely more comfortable, and I use them hours on end. I have yamaha ns-10's but I never use them to monitor, I always use the headphones. I've seen reviews where people say they lack in the low end, I don't notice any of that, but I have noticed the bass has more definition, and not just a low rumble or thumping. So bottom line is, I don't know how they compare audibly with other phones out there, but I do know that they are comfortable enough to wear for hours on end, because I do, and many times forget to take them off when I'm not actually listening to something, I've often wondered if there are any ill-effects from the lack of fresh air around the ear,lol!

[mazz]

I've often wondered if there are any ill-effects from the lack of fresh air around the ear,lol!

Nothing that a nice shot of single malt scotch won't cure!

[guitaroboe]

AKG K 7O2
1) comfortable and 2) unbeatable frequency response 10-39,800 Hz
You can hear a mouse farting with these!!
Adonis

[Cruciform]

I also use an AKG K271 set. They're closed and very comfy, but I don't mix with them because they sound quite different level and detail wise to what I hear in my speakers. But they're great for when my wife is watching tv and I'm laying tracks.