best headphones for mixing and editing

  • Thread starter Thread starter ShellShock
  • Start date Start date
I'm not gonna knock the $2000-$3000 headphone set up, cuz I never used them, and I will agree that good accurate mixing is very hard to accomplish on headphones. But it seems that if I were gonna spend that kind of $$$$, It would be more benneficial to get a super nice pair of high end nearfields and not even mess with the headphones. (just my opinion)
 
flamin-gitaur said:
I'm not gonna knock the $2000-$3000 headphone set up, cuz I never used them, and I will agree that good accurate mixing is very hard to accomplish on headphones. But it seems that if I were gonna spend that kind of $$$$, It would be more benneficial to get a super nice pair of high end nearfields and not even mess with the headphones. (just my opinion)


That was pretty much what I was saying. But I think this cat got the info he needed. I hope.
 
Massive Master said:
Here's the problem - I don't care how expensive your headphones are. You can not hear phase relationships inside a mix while wearing headphones, PERIOD. It's not possible.

End of discussion as far as I'm concerned. $3,000 electrostats or not.

"Checking" on phones - Examining and zeroing in on clicks and pops, checking fades, certainly. Go right ahead. Listening for the sake of sheer enjoyment? Absolutely. Making crucial mixing decisions across a stereo mix? Only if your head is completely hollow. Otherwise, you're not hearing what's happening in its "natural" state.
Phase relationships?
Yeah of course, whenever I check my mixes on other systems (including a nice pair of mid-fields) I look out for those more carefully. But checking on other systems is a must, even if you use nearfields. So your point is NOT valid. Of course, you can't mix using ONLY headphones, but you can't using only nearfields either. Furthermore, a properly done mix shouldn't have phase problems to begin with. :rolleyes:

I think it depends on WHERE you want your problem to be: accuracy or phase. I have NEVER had phase relation problems with my mixes, they have always translated well on my nearfield system, car, other systems, etc, that's because headphones are flatter and more accurate than nearfields. When you mix with nearfields, you get a lot less accuracy, which in turns gives a false frequency response when listening on other systems. So you have to give something with one or the other. There you go John...nulling your point! :cool:

For you, John, it seems phase is so important. That's probably because you have some bad stories about mastering poorly done mixes with lots of phase problems. I'm sorry but most properly done mixes (even on headphones), more often than not, don't suffer from phase problems.
 
TheDewd said:
Phase relationships?
Yeah of course, whenever I check my mixes on other systems (including a nice pair of mid-fields) I look out for those more carefully. But checking on other systems is a must, even if you use nearfields. So your point is NOT valid. Of course, you can't mix using ONLY headphones, but you can't using only nearfields either. Furthermore, a properly done mix shouldn't have phase problems to begin with. :rolleyes:

I think it depends on WHERE you want your problem to be: accuracy or phase. I have NEVER had phase relation problems with my mixes, they have always translated well on my nearfield system, car, other systems, etc, that's because headphones are flatter and more accurate than nearfields. When you mix with nearfields, you get a lot less accuracy, which in turns gives a false frequency response when listening on other systems. So you have to give something with one or the other. There you go John...nulling your point! :cool:

For you, John, it seems phase is so important. That's probably because you have some bad stories about mastering poorly done mixes with lots of phase problems. I'm sorry but most properly done mixes (even on headphones), more often than not, don't suffer from phase problems.


can you post a few mixes that you have done on headphones?
 
Thunder33 said:
can you post a few mixes that you have done on headphones?
What would that give you ?
What would that give me ?
On the web you can post anything. I could post a mix I have entirely done on my midfields, so you wouldn't know on what system I have mixed. I have nothing to prove to you. It seems you want to test me ? Why is that? Mixing is a very subjective process and it is an art.

Furthermore, with the kind of HATE there is towards me, I'm sure that even a good mix would be blasted by all of you anyways...so I won't care doing that.. :rolleyes:
 
TheDewd said:
What would that give you ?
What would that give me ?
On the web you can post anything. I could post a mix I have entirely done on my midfields, so you wouldn't know on what system I have mixed. I have nothing to prove to you. It seems you want to test me ? Why is that? Mixing is a very subjective process and it is an art.

Furthermore, with the kind of HATE there is towards me, I'm sure that even a good mix would be blasted by all of you anyways...so I won't care doing that.. :rolleyes:



Well, I figured that maybe you would have a shred of integrity and back your words honestly, as I would listen subjectively. But nevermind. You obviously just plain know more than us.
 
Thunder33 said:
Well, I figured that maybe you would have a shred of integrity and back your words honestly, as I would listen subjectively. But nevermind. You obviously just plain know more than us.

:D There it is! HA! I guess were suposed to bow before Dewd with headphones on or something now? :D

ShellShock said:
lets stop all the fuckin fightin shit ...After all that all I heard was "no you cant use headphones" and "yes you can"...thanks for tryin all of you but some how I feel Im still where I left off...wondering if they do or dont work...

I was just asking because I live in apartments and I didnt wanna piss my neighbors off...

I did try to help ShellShock! Some people just have issues *cough* Dewd *cough*.........

"Yes" You can use headphones for mixing are they Ideal "NO".
But since you live in an apartment you may have to live with the Headphones for a while and as has been said "check your mixes on other systems".

Or just monitor at low volumes (I know your pain I lived in apartments for 10 years off and on)........ :)

Later

-Blaze
 
blazingstrings said:
"Yes" You can use headphones for mixing are they Ideal "NO".
But since you live in an apartment you may have to live with the Headphones for a while and as has been said "check your mixes on other systems".
Of course, if you gave me a fully isolated, perfectly tuned room with excellent midfield monitors and a boutique amplifier, then I'd be glad to let my headphones go. Unfortunately, I'm not that lucky (I don't have $200k to spend on that), so I use a high quality headphone system which represents the best alternative to the $200k system. Of course, even with all that schmtt, I'd still check my mixes in my car...this is obvious.
 
stop trippin

stop trippin everybody ...I am in an apartment so I cant blast music..so I guess I will just get some good HEADPHONES and some good SPEAKERS and play the speakers at a low volume when I do use them...now, can anyone tell me (without starting a retarded fight) what some good HEADPHONES and SPEAKERS to use while mixing at a reasonable price?? I am going to be using a pc set up so keep that in mind..
 
ShellShock said:
stop trippin everybody ...I am in an apartment so I cant blast music..so I guess I will just get some good HEADPHONES and some good SPEAKERS and play the speakers at a low volume when I do use them...now, can anyone tell me (without starting a retarded fight) what some good HEADPHONES and SPEAKERS to use while mixing at a reasonable price?? I am going to be using a pc set up so keep that in mind..
On a very limited budget, you should go with monitors for mixing.
A good headphone rig that you could use for mixing will cost well over $500.

Having that said, my personal "mainstream" favourite headphone is the Sony 7506. It's a closed design, so you'll be able to use it for tracking too. If you want a step up from that, I would suggest some AKG K271S (avoid the K240S like the plague...). Another good closed headphone set would be the Beyer-Dynamic DT-250/80. If you buy the DT-250/250 you will need a good headphone amplifier, but the sound will be more accurate.

As far as monitors go, the lowest standard I tend to recommend is the Wharfedale 8.2 model. Up from this are the KRK RP6 and RP8 and some Events. Also, the Samson Rubicon model 6 sounds quite acceptable for the price.

If you are really looking for a cheap thing, the Yorkville YSMP1a is hard to beat. The sound quality is very good, but the reliability is questionnable (as with everything that's cheaply made in PRC)
 
TheDewd said:
If you are really looking for a cheap thing, the Yorkville YSMP1a is hard to beat. The sound quality is very good, but the reliability is questionnable (as with everything that's cheaply made in PRC)
Inquiring minds would also like to read your thoughts concerning the quality of PRC fireworks. :p
 
Thunder33 said:
I use monitors and mix at low volumes. You shouldn't be blasting your speakers when you mix anyway.

How low do you mean?
If you mix at low volumes, don't you overcompensate the bass?
 
eraos said:
How low do you mean?
If you mix at low volumes, don't you overcompensate the bass?
Yes you do. While I agree that mixing at high levels is dangerous on the hearing, I prefer to mix at around 90-95dB (often 100dB) and then take dips to 60dB and check out if the mix collapses. Ideally, the "shape" of the mix wouldn't change much with level variations as the only thing that would change is perception of the frequencies.

Anyways, if your room is untreated, you are left with a VERY incertain bass going on...so you're stuck both ways. But yeah, in a treated room, 85-90dB is the best. I like to mix a little higher than this because it rocks a lot more and I only produce rock-mainstream music!
 
ShellShock said:
stop trippin everybody ...I am in an apartment so I cant blast music..so I guess I will just get some good HEADPHONES and some good SPEAKERS and play the speakers at a low volume when I do use them...now, can anyone tell me (without starting a retarded fight) what some good HEADPHONES and SPEAKERS to use while mixing at a reasonable price?? I am going to be using a pc set up so keep that in mind..

Hey ShellShock,
Dont get to bent out of shape. :D If anything were just arguing diferent sides.
I like to get into these conversations with DEWD and others mostly because he/they stands his/their ground.

If anything I like to see someone stand up and go "Hey, I like it. Whats it to you!".......... Honestly I razz DEWD cause he shakes thing up, and offers his point of view. That and he keeps taking a beating and still comes back for more. That shows he has faith in what hes saying.

But no fights here, just friendly arguments. :o But I could be wrong DEWD may hate me with a passion. :D But honestly no harsh feelings here man.

But like I said and as DEWD has said repeatedly(because its true) Check your mixes on other systems(in the car, on your friends system etc).
But hey like I said I feal your pain, We bought a town home(not a real house).
I cant even turn up my monitors after 5pm and I get home at 4:30pm so not much time for me to mix in a day................. I use headphones when tracking, I like the Sony MDR models I'm trying to remember the # but they are 100 bucks they work great for being pretty flat when doing my tracks.

But as always just my opinion not a Retarded argument here.

-Blaze
 
hayangome said:
Get the
AKG K240

You won't be disappointed.
Which one do you suggest?

AKG K240M
AKG K240S
AKG K240DF

Only the latter is flat because it is diffuse field equalized.
I wouldn't recommend the 240S at all. Avoid them...very colored.
The reason I didn't suggest the 240DF is that you have to get a $1000 headphone amp to get those to really shine and sound at their best.
 
TheDewd said:
Which one do you suggest?

AKG K240M
AKG K240S
AKG K240DF

Only the latter is flat because it is diffuse field equalized.
I wouldn't recommend the 240S at all. Avoid them...very colored.
The reason I didn't suggest the 240DF is that you have to get a $1000 headphone amp to get those to really shine and sound at their best.
Not to argue with you, Dewd, but, I use the AKG K240DF phones for spot checking mixes with the phones plugged directly into a cheap Rolls HA43 headphone amp connected to the headphone output of my DAW with great results. I also bypass the Rolls and plug the phones directly into the DAW....same result. I want to hear what my DAW is outputting with colorization.

Serious question. Why would it be necessary to spend at least a $1000 on a headphone amp to improve on what is IMO a great headset on their own, and which amp would do that? Not that I'm going to spend a grand on a headphone amp, mind you.
 
60's guy said:
Not to argue with you, Dewd, but, I use the AKG K240DF phones for spot checking mixes with the phones plugged directly into a cheap Rolls HA43 headphone amp connected to the headphone output of my DAW with great results. I also bypass the Rolls and plug the phones directly into the DAW....same result. I want to hear what my DAW is outputting with colorization.

Serious question. Why would it be necessary to spend at least a $1000 on a headphone amp to improve on what is IMO a great headset on their own, and which amp would do that? Not that I'm going to spend a grand on a headphone amp, mind you.
Well the 240DF had low sensitivity (about 88 dB) and high impedance (600 ohms).
To get the most out of them, you need a powerful amp.
I don't doubt they sound good out of the Rolls to you, but the Rolls is NOT a very powerful headphone amp and it has a 50 ohm output impedance, which is far from zero.. Check out www.headphone.com for some nice amps.

BTW, I design all kinds of amps and I also have a Rolls which I modded with different opamp chips to get the most out of it.
 
Back
Top