Closed back headphones? I'm getting bleed....

[Scooterj]

Well starting my first recording with a LDC mic and low and behold with my AKG K240 Headphones I usually use for listening (open back), I am getting bleed of my click track which I need to be pretty loud. (newbie discovers the realities of physics )

Soooooo is there a moderately priced pair of closed backs headphones that are somewhat of a standard for recording? I will be doing acoustic guitar and vocals. I know there probably are tons of favorites out there, but I am looking for some advice on a few to look at that are adequate and not crazy priced. I am not an audiophile and my ears are not highly sophisticated. I really am a newbie. What few should I look at or maybe even one model that is just an all around winner for my level. Thanks for bringing up "junior".

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, though my last pair went bad after not much use.

 

[Eric V]

I use Sony MDR 7506 headphones, you can get them on Amazon for $113, though I paid less last year.

 

[ecc83]

Closed back cans are supposed always inferior to really good open back types (though price differentials must come into it?)
But think on, the reason you need closed backs is for sound isolation, both ingress AND egress. Pretty much phisiks that the better the isolation the more "detached" the sound but the less the bleed. When tracking there is really little need for top sound quality, so long as you can follow a click or other instrument, all you need?

Once again (sorreee!) I am going to say "check the scores of reviews in soundonsound.com

Dave.

 

[Scooterj]

Thanks so far for these suggestions. The only thing I notice is that both of these have a nondetachable coiled cord which will pull everything off my desk darn it. I need just a regular long cord. I wonder why these two lock you into a coiled cord. Seems weird to me.

I did find a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M40x that come with a detachable straight and a coiled cable. Reviews seem reasonably good and price is about $109. But it does seem there are a lot of reports of swivel breakage as a design flaw.

Anybody have any experience with these? Recommended? Problems? Thank you in advance.

EDIT: since posting this followup, I have found comments through the search feature and looks like the ATs are just fine a good enough choice for me in that there is a detachable straight cord. There are many reports of the swivel failing, but these will get light use and I am usually extremely gentle with my gear. Thanks all.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

I used an extension with my Sennheisers.

 

[TalismanRich]

I was using headphones when playing with my friends but was unhappy with what I was hearing. I tried my AKG 240s, Sony 7506s (a bit too bright), Senn HD280s ( too bassy). I was looking at the Beyer DR770s. A fellow here on HR suggested these in-ears.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DNHYQTL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Cheap at $22. I got a 10 ft extension to use at my jam sessions. I wouldn't use them for mixing, but for tracking they work great. They have also been more comfortable than wearing headphones. I bought a second pair just in case something happens to my first pair.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, though my last pair went bad after not much use.

I bought 3 pairs and am very happy with them. On my head as I type (not all 3 at once).
My only niggle is the coiled cable. I'd prefer a long straight one.

 

[Manslick]

Stay with AKG

 

[DrewPeterson7]

Another vote for some form of earbud - I use closed-back headphones anyway (beyerdynamic DT770s, the 250ohm ones), but if I'm REALLY worried about bleed while recording something quiet, I've got an el cheapo pair of Skullcandy earbuds that I'll pop in, often under the (not hooked up to anything) 770s just for that much more of a barrier.

A cheap, comfy pair of in-ear earbuds will bleed less than anything else I've tried.

 

[LionKing]

I’ve recently started using in-ear monitors for vocal tracking to avoid headphone bleed.
I’m just using a very inexpensive pair (KZ Vader Pro), but the vocal clarity actually surprised me — I think it works pretty well for the job.

Before this, I was using Sennheiser HD25 and Sony MDR-M1, but I was still getting some bleed during vocal takes.

That said, the IEMs introduced a new issue for me: the occlusion effect. The closed-in, “suffocating” feeling can affect my phrasing and even my breathing, and I’m still trying to get used to it.

Since we’re on the topic — has anyone here found good ways to deal with or reduce the occlusion effect when using IEMs for vocals?

 

[ecc83]

"has anyone here found good ways to deal with or reduce the occlusion effect when using IEMs for vocals?"
One possible solution is to give yourself some "sidetone". This is a bit of your own voice but as it is in the room together with a small amount of the live instrument sound. Must not overdo it of course since this is one reason to wear cans or buds.

Being so "cut off" is often said to make it more difficult for singers to hit pitch. Some guitarists say they cannot tune up through cans?

Dave.

 

[LionKing]

"has anyone here found good ways to deal with or reduce the occlusion effect when using IEMs for vocals?"
One possible solution is to give yourself some "sidetone". This is a bit of your own voice but as it is in the room together with a small amount of the live instrument sound. Must not overdo it of course since this is one reason to wear cans or buds.

Being so "cut off" is often said to make it more difficult for singers to hit pitch. Some guitarists say they cannot tune up through cans?

Dave.

Thanks for the sidetone suggestion!
Is that kind of like the “transparency mode” you find on AirPods and similar earbuds?
I’ve been looking for wired in-ear monitors that can do active noise reduction and a transparency mode, but haven’t found a good option yet.

 

[ecc83]

On the reliability front? The cables tend to fail at the headphone entry point I find. I have used cable ties to tie back the cable on my AKG K92 cans to the metal headband thus taking strain away from that point.
This trick works for almost anything with a cable. My laptop PSUs have the DC cable tied back to the body of the supply. Another way to save ***t is...if you have a particularly expensive bit of kit, or a valuable 'vintage' mixer say, make up short XLR-XLR sacrificial 'slugs' to take away strain from those on the kit.

Dave.