Headphones for the Studio? :::

  • Thread starter Thread starter Badtz
  • Start date Start date
B

Badtz

New member
Senn 280 pro
Beyer 770 (250ohm)
beyer 250 (250ohm)
AKG 501
Beyer 150


along with a headphone amp...... custom-made or pre-built.....suggestions?

are there any other suggestions on studio headphones?

also, is it best to always use your own headphone amp with the headphones? if used with a mixer [dj], mixer [studio], portable audio player, etc.?
 
Last edited:
Headphones

If you are buying head phones to be used for drummers I have been very pleased with some I have bought from Radio Shack, the ones that are extra high isolation type for listening to the radio broadcasts during auto races.The fidelity is allright and the bleed through is nearly non-existant. They are only about $50.00
An added bonus to using them is because they reduce how loud the drummer hears his own playing, they play harder and more consistant.
tmix
 
With anything really... I've been using it directly from my A90 for just playing, directly from my JV1010 for just playing, directly from my VS1880 for monitoring, or using a Leem headphone amp (1 input, 4 outputs). And just a cdplayer too...

The headphone amplifier really isn't needed untill you need more than one output.
 
but can't a headphone amp bring out better sonic qualities in the headphones?
 
if you connect it to a line output, and the quality of the headphoneamplifier is better as the built-in headphoneamp probably yes....
 
I'm partial to my Audio Technica M40fs's

I don't think I could bring myself to buy anything else in the price range..
 
Yo BADzeeZ:

I'll go with my friend Roel with the Beyer cans, 770. I also have two pair of the 250's. Very good to use for all applications.

By the way, Roel, "UNTIL," is with one L. Heh, heh, love to correct that Belgium English.

Green Hornet:D :D :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p
 
Headphones

So far as I can tell, the most-commonly recommended models are the Sony 7506 and the AKG 240. The AKG isn't fully enclosed, so if isolation is an issue in your application, that's a problem. I prefer the Audio-Technica M40, myself. I have the Sony too, but it sounds sort of strident to me, for want of a better word. Street prices for all three are in the same ballpark (under $100), though they vary from seller to seller and time to time.

If the sound of speakers is subjective, headphones are even more so. In addition to the peculiarities of your own perceptions, the shape of your head and ears comes into the picture. So different people like different things.

Fortunately, headphones are among the easier things to try out. A lot of stores even have 'em all hooked up for you to try. And factors like the room, etc. are more-or-less removed from the equation.

In addition to what they sound like, other factors you might want to consider are comfort (can be a big consideration!), sturdiness, efficiency, portability and, as mentioned above, isolation. The AKGs are notably less efficient than most headphones (takes more power to create the same volume), but that's really only an issue if you can't get them loud enough in your own particular use.

As for headphone amps, I don't think you really need one for normal "home recording" use. They are used a lot where you've got groups of people (like a whole band) all trying to listen to the same headphone output. I suppose a good "outboard" heaphone amp is probably better than the headphone amp built into your mixer/recorder/what have you, but in my own experience there are other things more pressing then a marginally better-quality headphone feed.
 
VOXVENDOR said:


Reason: They sound good.

Suggestion: Go get a pair.
Click to expand...

You say they sound "good"...I've been reading in other threads that for monitoring you don't want ones that sound "good" you want ones that sound "true", so you can hear everything, blems and all. I'm assuming that "true" is what you're talking about here?

Also, I see a AKG 240M and an AKG 240S, anybody know the difference? Thanks
 
Headphones are generally used for two purposes: for listening to cue mixes while tracking (by the performers) and as a tool for checking mixes (by the engineer). Each of these tasks has different requirements, and you may want to consider different phones for each.

For instance, for tracking, a good choice is the Sony 7506. The reasons this is a common choice is that they are very efficient (i.e. you can get them to play very loud), they have good isolation (closed design), and they are not real expensive (about $100). They also hype the high-mids, which musicians actually often like when tracking, because they can hear more detail in that frequency range.

But the closed design and hyped frequencies do not make them a good choice for checking mixes. Something like the Sennheiser HD580 is excellent for this, but you wouldn't use it for tracking because of it's open design and resultant headphone bleed. The open design, however, gives a much cleaner more accurate sound.

Most of us need headphone amps for running multiple sets of cans. There's lots of cheap stuff out there that works just fine (Fostex, Rolls, etc) While admittedly the headphone amps that are built into budget mixers are pretty low end, to get a real quality boost you would probably have to spend a few hundred dollars. If you are buying $1000 headphones, it would be silly not to use a better headphone amp than the one in your mixer. But if you are using $50 headphones, it would probably be silly to even worry about it!
 
M240m vs M240s

The difference is impedance.
240m = 600om
240s = 200om (I think)

Don't know exactly the technical details but in simple term you don't need as much power to drive them to higher volume.

There is however something good about higher impedance, but I can't think of it :)
(longer cables??? )
 
No question, you really got to drive the 240m's hard to get them "loud".
 
I've tried a lot of headphones.....but I always prefer the AKG (Austrai made) series....They are definitely some of the most comfortable cans to wear for extended periods working in the studio.....and, they are about as "true" (flat) as you can get...

I currently use the 270S with the duel transducers in each ear, and the 240DF (diffused field) models....

For overall quality, comfort, reliability & value - I find AKG hard to beat - which is why they are probably the most popular in the pro recording industry....

Just my 2 cents worth...

KEV
 
PS....a note to the previous poster here,

YOU are refering to the 270S (there is no 240S model) which has TWO transducers in each earcup, instead of just one. This creates a far better response & accurate sound perception.

Also, there is an auto-cut-off built into the headband...so that when you take the cans off, the audio shuts off.

The 270S are 75 om / per channel, frequency 20-22,000 Hz and sensitivity of 92 db with a mx input power od 200 mW.

I use em all the time...and the mixes sound exactly how I want .

KEV
 
Just a note*

I have a pair of AGK K240-DF Studio monitor head phones ($170.00). These are pretty damn flat, very acurate, but I don't care how hard you drive them they are not very loud and will distort before achiving Massive volumes. On the other hand I have some AKG K301's ($70.00) They are very loud but are pretty colored.

Bottom line is if you are forced to mix on phones the K240DF's are pretty good. If you want to monitor as you record/while playing you will need more volume (at leastif you are a drummer). The k301's aren't bad for $70.00 but I am sure there are better.

PS: I do not know how the K240-DF's compare to the rest of the K240 series. I do know they are 600ohm's per side. Both sets wear very well. Got my K301's for $40.00, for that price they are awsome.

I would suggest if you plan on getting a headphone amp to power several sets while a band records that you buy all identical sets of phones, so keep that in mind:) If you want to step up to a headphone amp with seperate bass and treble controls for each channel this is not as important.

Later

F.S.
 
thanks for all the input! i'm still lost, but when i'm definite i'll be sure to come back & let ya'll know which way i went :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top