Studio Headphones $100-$200 range

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dmadip

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Can anyone point me in the right direction for a Good quality set of headsphones for monitoring in a home studio. i would like to be cloaser to $100 but if there is some spectacular pair closer to $200 then i would break down and get them.
Thanks for your feedback!
 
For tracking purposes, the Sennheiser HD280, Audio Technica ATH-M40fs, & similar are decent and under $100. Closed back with good isolation. I would avoid headphones for mixing, although it's good to check your mixes on cans for subtle noises, etc. Many would recommend open-back headphones (AKG K-240) for those applications.
 
I own a pair of Hd 280 pros and they are fantastic. If you are one of those guys that like "the best" look into a pair of ultrasones (proline 550 or 650's)
 
thanks

thanks guys, great info, i tihnk the 280's look right up my alley!
 
Go to the store and try them out. Pick the ones you like best.

For whatever reason, headphones are a bit of a personal thing. Different people think different ones sound right. I don't know if that's because the headphones interact with different ears differently ... or maybe the headphones don't, but everything else does when you're not wearing headphones, so headphones with a different characteristic sound "wrong" to some people compared to what they're used to from ordinary listening.

The most common "usual suspects" are probably:
ATH-M40fs (already mentioned, and what sounds best to me)
Sony MDR7506 (or MDRV6) (I have these too: can sound strident)
AKG K240 (semi-open, which could be a problem in some applications)

They all should be below your price range, so you could either save money or get two.
 
Yeah man, add my vote for the mighty Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones. The sound is very transparent and mixes translate very well. Plus they provide excellent sound isolation, immersing you within the sound.
Go get 'em! :cool:
 
I picked up some HD 280 Pro's and I'm pretty impressed. Good isolation. I use them for tracking and checking pans. I also picked up some Extreme Isolation cans for drum tracking. They're not as hot (loud) as the 280's, tho. These are my "go-to" cans for drum tracking. Both are good cans, imho. :cool:
 
I use $20 Sonys from Wal-Mart or Target, I think they sound pretty good.

Also consider Harvey Gerst's MoreMe headphones.
 
Sony 7506's are a great. There's a reason you see them everywhere. They're pretty darn tough too.
 
You have to try them out... I've had both the 280's and the 7506's and to my ears the 7506's sound better. Both are rugged too.
 
Dogbreath said:
I also picked up some Extreme Isolation cans for drum tracking. They're not as hot (loud) as the 280's, tho. These are my "go-to" cans for drum tracking. Both are good cans, imho. :cool:
Click to expand...


You prefer the Extreme's over the HD280's for drum tracking? I am not a fan of my Extreme's. They are big and clunky, sound bad, require a strong amplifier, and I don't think they isolate any better than the HD280s. :confused:

7506's are cool sounding, but they have a bit of leakage and don't give what I would consider to be a honest (flat) representation of the sound.
 
Reggie said:
You prefer the Extreme's over the HD280's for drum tracking? I am not a fan of my Extreme's. They are big and clunky, sound bad, require a strong amplifier, and I don't think they isolate any better than the HD280s. :confused:
Click to expand...

ehh..............I yam what I yam and I likes what I likes... :D
 
All the cans mentioned here are good, but based on my own experiences with the AKG 240, I'd look at the others first... the AKG 240 is the most fragile of the lot, and won't hold up very long if they're dropped or receive somewhat rough treatment. They sound good, but IMHO, they break too easily. They tend to slide off the ol' melon too if you wiggle around much (unless you've got an XXXL melon)... ;)
 
kid klash said:
They tend to slide off the ol' melon too if you wiggle around much (unless you've got an XXXL melon)... ;)
Click to expand...

I've seen it happen with drummers right in the middle of a session. As a matter of fact just a few days ago I was tracking drums and the slippage occured with the AKG's ;)
 
HD280's for a closed can that sounds great.

AKG K141's for a semi-open pair with little fatigue, can be worn for very long periods, just not suitable when click tracks / bleed direct into mics is an issue.

War
 
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