Good headphones for monitoring

[Pierre]

Hey guys

I'm looking for good, realistic headphones for monitoring (mixing, pre-mastering) on my laptop.

So far I have come up with the Beyerdynamics Dt770 or Dt990's and AKG K141S, Akg K171 or K240 headphones.

So far I think the beyerdynamics will fot me best as I'm doing kick and bassline heavy electronic dance music.

Any ideas on this one?

Cheers

Pierre

[electro-sexual]

Hey man,

Seems like your into the same music as I am but I just wanted to send you a link to headphones you are leaning towards. Hope it helps my friend.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar99/articles/sessentials.htm

Eddie

[GZsound]

You do realize that it is difficult to do anything other than tracking and checking mixes on headphones?

Nobody suggests using headphones for final mastering or mixing. What you will find is that the final product will not sound like what you heard on your headphones when played back on systems with speakers.

I could never understand the need to spend hundreds of dollars on headphones, I prefer to spend it on quality monitors and use headphones for rough checking and tracking.

[oretez]

2nd the SoS article . . . I record music that ranges from 'delicate' (though with very wide dynamic range) traditionaly configured string quartets, solo nylon guitar to electronic/art of noise 'no natural need apply' (though club and dance genres are not a large %)

@ homebase project studio I've lived inside the Beyer DT770's for about a decade

if I'm traveling light (risking lost luggage) I use a $100 Sennheiser

while I'm complete agreement that any mix that will be listened to via anything but headphones needs to be done in ambient space (i.e. non square room @ least 12X20 via respectable monitors) still spending enough for a set of headphones that work for you is still something in addition to finding something in which you can live comfortably for 8-9 hrs at a stretch

The DT770s are closed but I find them to be a reasonable compromise between excluding extraneous sounds and not entirely isolating me from environment . . . that they also comfortably fit ears and head was/is probably what distinguishes them from similar quality AKG's (which I continue to own and will use)

whether opinion is accurate or not I at least think I continue to hear more detail with higher fatigue threshold on the DT770's then on the cheaper Senns (which work fine for me while recording live in club environments)

[oretez]

Oh, and the one thing no head phones will provide is accurate image of 'bass' in 3d space . . . which in turn has a major impact on how you hear mid's (including harmonic relationships)

[fidlersound]

I've always been a fan of "Sony MDR-7506" headphones. Very durable. Good accurate response for headphones. I've used them for long periods of time without too much ear fatigue. You can get them for about $90 at most stores.

[87PRS]

I have a 16X20 mix room, use reference monitors to mix, but also use headphones for instrument placements in stereo field, I have the $100 Senns and a pair of $100 AT's and use both, both sound different, and neither are true in bass perspective. Just get what you like, feel comfortable and can afford, if you are just looking to mix during the dance and mix/edit a master later through speakers they work fine.

[electro-sexual]

I like the Sony MDR-7506's myself and I've just starting using M-Audio's IE-10z and they are super nice but not really good for true bass. ;)

[Pierre]

Hey guys,

Thanks all for your replies!!! I've check and tested the Beyerdynamics Dt990 for some time and decided to buy them because of their nice freq response in the lows and mids.

Thanks for your sugestions about 3dspace of the kick on the headphone etc. I understand and will of course constantly check back what I do on the road with our monitors in the studio.

It's just so I have something to work with in a mobile studio environment.

Cheers,

Pierre

[nobranddesign]

I have 770's and was forced to mix in them while traveling on tour. They arent the most durable 180$ pair of headphones out there but I love the way they sound. I did blow one driver and sweetwater was quick to send me another pair. If you dont drive them hard you get a really accurate read. As soon as you turn them up pretty loud, your asking for a weird read on your track. As far as clarity and range though I would say go with the 770's if you have to get to a final mix in the cans. if you can get them on speakers as well maybe get a pair of the more durable and cheaper sonys.

[pj1s]

Never use headphones ;) But the ones I use, ehm, and enjoy, are the Philips SBC HP840. And considering that one shouldn't use headphones in general, I can still not recommend them enough.

[lionstar]

Try the Sennheiser HD600 headphones, 12 - 39000Hz openback very uncolored sound.

http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/04465#

:)

[crystie]

You need Sony MDR-7506. Yes, they're $100.00, but once you've heard a pair you won't buy anything else. And, they come with an 1/8 inch adapter in case your laptop has an 1/8 input. Note: you need to check the manufacturer specs of the laptop to see if the laptop headphone jack is a standard 600ohm headphone connection.

[SilentBob]

I just picked up a pair of these:

Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones

http://www.frontendaudio.com/Direct_Sound_Extreme_Isolation_Headphones_Black_p/1750.htm

They are isolation phones so you can mix live sound only hearing the mix, and not the room sound.

They cut outside noise by 29db.

When I saw this posted under 'front of house' I assumed you would be in the same room with the band.

[Bops2000]

I just picked up a pair of these:

Direct Sound Extreme Isolation Headphones

http://www.frontendaudio.com/Direct_Sound_Extreme_Isolation_Headphones_Black_p/1750.htm

They are isolation phones so you can mix live sound only hearing the mix, and not the room sound.

They cut outside noise by 29db.

When I saw this posted under 'front of house' I assumed you would be in the same room with the band.

have you tried them yet?

we are looking at phones like those to send out with the laptops. I really like the samson ch700's for my mixing, and drum tracking, but those mentioned above, may be a look for us.

PS, i used to use Beyers on the road as on stage mixer reference as i was drumming also, they definately could handle the SPL's