Headphone/monitor amp 'coloring' sound?

[JLiRD808]

Its been awhile since I posted here so here goes...

I've known for awhile now that my mixes don't translate well. Usually they sound a bit muffled (lacking upper-mids and highs) when being played on other quality sound systems.

I'm using M-Audio Bx-8a's and the acoustics in my room are pretty lousy (lots of slapback echo). While I am working on upgrading my monitors and acoustics I was wondering about another piece of equipment in my signal path.

Coming out of my EMU 0404 interface is a stereo out that goes to a Presonus HP4 headphone amp. The HP4 allows me to plug in and control multiple headphones (though its usually just me) AND my monitors. While convenient, I was wondering if this relatively cheap piece of equipment is affecting the quality of my signal path and if so, how significantly.

http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=20

Thanks for anyone's help!

 

[RAMI]

the acoustics in my room are pretty lousy (lots of slapback echo).

This is the reason your mixes don't translate well. Nothing in your signal path is "coloring" the sound more than your listening environment is. This is where you should spend your next hundreds of dollars.

 

[gecko zzed]

This is the reason your mixes don't translate well. Nothing in your signal path is "coloring" the sound more than your listening environment is. This is where you should spend your next hundreds of dollars.

What Rami said ^^

And also . . . look at your headphones.

The acoustic environment (room, speakers, headphones) are the biggest contributors to unsatisfying mixes. Other components in the signal path may have an influence, but it is overwhelmed by these other things.

 

[JLiRD808]

What Rami said ^^

And also . . . look at your headphones.

The acoustic environment (room, speakers, headphones) are the biggest contributors to unsatisfying mixes. Other components in the signal path may have an influence, but it is overwhelmed by these other things.

Awesome! Thanks for the help...thats what I was hoping to hear. My headphones are Senny HD280s and Equation RP-22x's.

I do plan on spending hundreds of dollars on acoustic treatment in the near future. What r ur opinions on M-Audio BX8a's though? I'll go check the equipment threads in a minute.

 

[Waltz Mastering]

I do plan on spending hundreds of dollars on acoustic treatment in the near future.

You don't need to spend ton's on room treatment
You can make bass traps and treat corners fairly cheap,

I've known for awhile now that my mixes don't translate well.

What people are trying to tell you is that, if you have known for a while that your room does not translate...

What r ur opinions on M-Audio BX8a's though?

...it doesn't matter what speakers your using.