Can anyone recommend any headphones for songwriting? I'm lost!

[sach160]

Hey all, I'd like to use headphones late at night for songwriting (I write by recording bits - guitar and vocals together, and playing them back to judge and compare them). I've looked all around the internet, forums, reviews etc but its hard to tell what headphones would be best for this my purpose.

Its really important to me that I can get the most accurate sound possible, so I can be confident in using them to write. I can spend £200, more if absolutely necessary.

Another thing, I record using a VS-840 ex 8-tracker, which I'm guessing has a poor headphone amp. So would it be better to split the budget 50-50 on a headphone amp and headphones, or go all out on better headphones?

I hope someone can help me out, I'm really lost!

Thanks,

sach

[RobertN]

Contact sweetwater they're very knowledgable. I think 50-50 on the headphones and the amp. How are you going to hear without it?

[boingoman]

Couple ideas:

1) Audio Technica M40
2) Sony 7506
3) Use the search function and look up "headphones"

[sach160]

Thanks 4 the replies guys.

I have searched the forum for "headphones", but any info seems mostly about monitoring for recording and mixing, ie. accurate sound for levels and balance of sound. I dont know how releveant this is for my purpose, which is just listening back to acoustic guitar/vocal tracks and judging how good the voice/melody sounds. I just want to be able to hear back what others would hear if I was playing live, as close as possible.... Are there any headphones in particular that would suit this use?

Hey robert, the roland 840 has a headphone amp in it, so I can hear without an external one, its just that I expect its not a very good one... Would a better headphone amp make much difference, for my use?

[Kevin Deschwazi]

I don't know of any headphones that will make you sound the way you do when you play live. Headphones aren't generally used for their 'accuracy'.

I'm not sure why you need such accuracy for songwriting. Surely any half decent pair should give you a good idea of whether a guitar part goes nicely with a vocal melody?

[boingoman]

I'm not sure I know what you are getting at. Headphones will let you hear back what you have recorded.

Most people use them for monitoring, like you said. Making critical mix decisions on them generally isn't done.

But for late-night songwriting, they will be fine. Definitely good enough for basic tone and artistic/musical evaluation. Listening later on a pair of monitors will help you with critical tone analysis.

[sach160]

Hey kevin, well its the old saying.... if you hear something through crappy speakers, its not gonna ever sound great, but through great speakers it will. I just guessed that this applies to headphones too.

One other thing, should I get open or closed headphones? I know for monitoring whilst recording, closed phones are needed for avoiding bleed, but since I'm just listening back, will open headphones give me a more accurate sound?

thanks 4 the help, really appreciated

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Originally Posted by sach160

Hey kevin, well its the old saying.... if you hear something through crappy speakers, its not gonna ever sound great, but through great speakers it will. I just guessed that this applies to headphones too.

One other thing, should I get open or closed headphones? I know for monitoring whilst recording, closed phones are needed for avoiding bleed, but since I'm just listening back, will open headphones give me a more accurate sound?

thanks 4 the help, really appreciated

In some studios they have grot boxes (speakers that are designed to sound pretty crappy) which are used as a reference. The idea being that if a mix sounds good on them it'll sound good through anything. Different ways of looking at things I suppose.

I don't know much about headphones but open backed designs suffer less from proximity effect and so would enhance the bass less. This is why closed back designs tend to sound a bit boxy compared to open back.

In terms of accuracy it would depend on the specific model and I couldn't really suggest anything because accuracy is pretty far behind isolation and comfort on my list of priorities for headphones.

Good luck in your quest

[Dracon]

Originally Posted by sach160

Hey all, I'd like to use headphones late at night for songwriting (I write by recording bits - guitar and vocals together, and playing them back to judge and compare them). I've looked all around the internet, forums, reviews etc but its hard to tell what headphones would be best for this my purpose.

Its really important to me that I can get the most accurate sound possible, so I can be confident in using them to write. I can spend £200, more if absolutely necessary.

Another thing, I record using a VS-840 ex 8-tracker, which I'm guessing has a poor headphone amp. So would it be better to split the budget 50-50 on a headphone amp and headphones, or go all out on better headphones?

I hope someone can help me out, I'm really lost!

Thanks,

sach

I've gotten the BeyerDynamic 770 and love them.
I've also used the AKG 240 and they are good.
Some people swear by the Sony, I don't like them (They are OK but don't stand up to abuse or time too well).
A great deal of people use the Sennheiser HD 280. I tried them and found they are not as comfortable as I had hoped.

If you are going to wear the Head Phones for a long time, I seriously suggest spending some dough on the BeyerDynamic 770s. Check out e-bay for a better price.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by sach160

Its really important to me that I can get the most accurate sound possible, so I can be confident in using them to write. I can spend £200, more if absolutely necessary.sach

First of all, this the best place to search for everything you need reflecting headphones...they are also very knowledgeable with both economic or high-end models : http://www.headphone.com/layout.php

I must postpone any insist with some elitist preferences, because of your budget, (actually more then enough) However, as good investment both for critical listening or recording (similar nature) I wouldn't go for anything less then Sennheiser HD580, later model is HD600 but it is exactly the same where diaphragm has barely received new outfit and nothing substantial.

And since HD580 precision is out of production, you can find them really at great prices these days. I use electrostatic HE60/HEV70 version and they really supplied a lot of technology from here and it is not for nothing, many people consider HD580 as one of the best dynamic headphones :

* http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?...tID=0020080580 *
* http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?...tID=0020080600 *

You wont regret buying these headphones !

If you are really lucky, you could find used and probably at great price on K1000, but then you'll need dedicated amp also, but they are worth it :

* http://www.akg.com/products/powersla...id,249,_lan%5D *
* http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superio...3/akgk1000.htm *
* http://www.sfb.net/products/akg/k1000.htm *

Remember just one golden rule about purchasing headphones...this is the last thing to save your money, deficiencies on poor ones as with any lousy system, force owners to compensate for louder and louder listening and this where your ears will pay.

Remember you wont get any guarantee for your ears

Cheap ones, harm your ears...remember that when you choose headphones for a long use.

regards and good luck.

[sach160]

thanks 4 all the advice guys, i've gone with andy's line of thinking. I will be using headphones a lot (especially since I'm in a small room, and my monitors dont sound too good in them), so for my hearing's sake its best not to skimp on.

Have bought some hd 650s i saw for sale new on ebay for £190, which seemed like a good deal.

again thanks 4 the help, i'll let ya know what i think of the 650s when i get them.