Studio Headphone Recommendations

smitty_p

smitty_p

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So, I need to get a set of studio headphones. I'm not really using a real set of studio headphones, at the moment. They sound okay, but I think they add their own color to the sound.

I'm thinking of the tried-and-true Sony MDR-7506.

I don't want to break the bank, but I do want to get a good set of headphones that will provide a good sense of sound quality, particularly for building patches in my processor.

Any recommendations?
 
I use the Audio Technica ATH - M50. I debated the 70s. They seem to be fairly low end heavy which is better than thin sounding. They repalced the old Senn 414s.
Never compared a bunch, sadly, so hard to say how they compare.
 
smitty_p said:
So, I need to get a set of studio headphones. I'm not really using a real set of studio headphones, at the moment. They sound okay, but I think they add their own color to the sound.

I'm thinking of the tried-and-true Sony MDR-7506.

I don't want to break the bank, but I do want to get a good set of headphones that will provide a good sense of sound quality, particularly for building patches in my processor.

Any recommendations?
Click to expand...
Do not buy headphones that press against the ear lobes...foam pads against the ears can result in extreme pain...
it cuts off blood circulation in the ear lobe.



2. The best headphones cover the entire ear, like a cup. The pad does not press against the ear.
Remember I warned you about the pad pressing on the ear lobe...nasty painful.

3. The best low price headphones are (over the ear) Sennheiser and it will be about $80-100...these sound good at the price.

I would not buy Sony, it sounds cheesy Sony has never made the greatest headphones.
Audio Technica - No.
Koss, no.
Dr. Dre beats...no the sound quality stinks.
In fact, most cheap headphones sound like crap.

4. The best medium price headphones are JBL, about $200-300.
I would recommend the JBL, because the sound quality is very good, good bass and highs... clean and crisp.
These sound noticeably better than most common headphones, and comfortable fitting.
These are wireless headphones usually...
But if I were you I would go for the JBL.

5. The best high end headphones are STAX. These go for about $1500.00 and up.
STAX is excellent and I like it. Yes it's worth it if you want the best ones.
The sound is jaw dropping.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
4. The best medium price headphones are JBL, about $200-300.
I would recommend the JBL,
Click to expand...

How are they for sounding neutral?

I don’t want anything that’s going to add too much of its own voicing, like a lot of bass or something.

I’m looking to use these for building patches in my guitar processor and I want as true a sound as reasonable.

So, in a sense, I’m not really looking for something with “good bass” or “good highs”. I want something that will accurately reproduce the signal supplied to them.
 
smitty_p said:
How are they for sounding neutral?

I don’t want anything that’s going to add too much of its own voicing, like a lot of bass or something.

I’m looking to use these for building patches in my guitar processor and I want as true a sound as reasonable.

So, in a sense, I’m not really looking for something with “good bass” or “good highs”. I want something that will accurately reproduce the signal supplied to them.
Click to expand...
I think what I was trying to say:
The JBL is one of the few that does have flat response.
The bass and highs are better because many of the cheaper headphones don't reproduce the lower bass or the higher highs....
the cheaper ones don't have the response capability.
Comparing them side by side (which I have done) the JBL had a pretty clear advantage.

Sony just don't sound good.

The Sennhieser ($100 model) does not have quite as good response, but is the better one in the cheap category.

I think I want wired headphones other than wireless...
because I don't want to screw around with batteries....but.....many headphones are going wireless and I can't change that.
 
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Amp Mad Scientist said:
I think what I was trying to say:
The JBL is one of the few that does have flat response.
The bass and highs are better because many of the cheaper headphones don't reproduce the lower bass or the higher highs....
the cheaper ones don't have the response capability.
Comparing them side by side (which I have done) the JBL had a pretty clear advantage.

Sony just don't sound good.

The Sennhieser ($100 model) does not have quite as good response, but is the better one in the cheap category.

I think I want wired headphones other than wireless...
because I don't want to screw around with batteries....but.....many headphones are going wireless and I can't change that.
Click to expand...

Ahh, I understand what you were getting at, now.

Thanks for the clarification.

I agree with the wired statement. I don't intend to get wireless.

Do you have a part number for the JBL headphones you mentioned?
 
I use Technica ATH MS-20X At this point of time only use them for quiet times, to me the sound quality is good.. I don't like on the ear muffs, these go over the ear very comfortable. Hard to beat the price for this quality, I paid $ 70 CDN
1668539465605.png
 

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Amp Mad Scientist said:
Do not buy headphones that press against the ear lobes...foam pads against the ears can result in extreme pain...
it cuts off blood circulation in the ear lobe.



2. The best headphones cover the entire ear, like a cup. The pad does not press against the ear.
Remember I warned you about the pad pressing on the ear lobe...nasty painful.

3. The best low price headphones are (over the ear) Sennheiser and it will be about $80-100...these sound good at the price.

I would not buy Sony, it sounds cheesy Sony has never made the greatest headphones.
Audio Technica - No.
Koss, no.
Dr. Dre beats...no the sound quality stinks.
In fact, most cheap headphones sound like crap.

4. The best medium price headphones are JBL, about $200-300.
I would recommend the JBL, because the sound quality is very good, good bass and highs... clean and crisp.
These sound noticeably better than most common headphones, and comfortable fitting.
These are wireless headphones usually...
But if I were you I would go for the JBL.

5. The best high end headphones are STAX. These go for about $1500.00 and up.
STAX is excellent and I like it. Yes it's worth it if you want the best ones.
The sound is jaw dropping.
Click to expand...
My AT phones were $350 Cdn. They are not cheap phones. They are not crap.
They kill the old Sennheisers which are too high an impedance and are very quiet. Sound not nearly as good as these. The Senns used to be studio standards in the 70s.
The AT are Very balanced, good low end, good phones. Also wired. Unless one ABs them I challenge you to find the Senns better.
Not high end, also not $1500.
 
Please let me add a cheap but surprisingly well sounding alternative which is also well suited for the limited output voltage of notebooks and phone:

Superlux HD681F

semi open. Clone of some of the better AKGs, and superior to many if not most mid priced headphones. The F variant ist the most neutral one (i have all three)

Superlux HD662F

closed cousin of the 681, again the F being the most neutral set. I have not yet heared them, but think i need a pair for future recordings.

They also make a clone of the Beyerdynamik DT770. Maybe also of interest?

BTW: my "good" headphones, a set of Sennheiser HD650, is defective :-( That means that a need an adequate replacement. And as good as the HD681 is - the HD650 has been better. Maybe that one is an alternative: https://www.thomann.de/de/beyerdynamic_dt_900_pro_x.htm ?

(i also have a DT880 from the 80s somewhere, unfortunately with a broken bracket. And difficult to drive because of its high impedane of 600Ohms)
 
Audeze is US made in CA and makes good reference cans. I've got the LCD-X but look to get these at some point ...

www.moon-audio.com

LCD-4Z Reference Headphones

Audeze LCD-4Z Reference Headphones, the easy-to-drive younger brother of the LCD-4 headphone.
www.moon-audio.com www.moon-audio.com

There are a few good YouTube vids on them I watched some time ago. Don't remember or have the links though. They are there though.


Added LCD-X Amazon if you want to see the reviews.
 
Last edited:
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Do not buy headphones that press against the ear lobes...foam pads against the ears can result in extreme pain...
it cuts off blood circulation in the ear lobe.



2. The best headphones cover the entire ear, like a cup. The pad does not press against the ear.
Remember I warned you about the pad pressing on the ear lobe...nasty painful.

3. The best low price headphones are (over the ear) Sennheiser and it will be about $80-100...these sound good at the price.

I would not buy Sony, it sounds cheesy Sony has never made the greatest headphones.
Audio Technica - No.
Koss, no.
Dr. Dre beats...no the sound quality stinks.
In fact, most cheap headphones sound like crap.

4. The best medium price headphones are JBL, about $200-300.
I would recommend the JBL, because the sound quality is very good, good bass and highs... clean and crisp.
These sound noticeably better than most common headphones, and comfortable fitting.
These are wireless headphones usually...
But if I were you I would go for the JBL.

5. The best high end headphones are STAX. These go for about $1500.00 and up.
STAX is excellent and I like it. Yes it's worth it if you want the best ones.
The sound is jaw dropping.
Click to expand...
Damn, you tried out a lot of cans.
 
Sapient said:
Damn, you tried out a lot of cans.
Click to expand...

I go to Best Buy...
and audition ALL the headphones.

A couple models will stand out as being above the rest....but I like my STAX the best.
It was worth the $1500.00.

But you guys should go to the stereo store, and try 'em ALL.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
..but I like my STAX the best.
It was worth the $1500.00.
Click to expand...
No doubt. But ist is something one must be able to support. And i would hesitate to torture such a device by practising with my bass. (which i actually did with the Sennheiser, but with some hesitation).
So it depends on the use: for "everyday use" with the internal notebook sound, für practising bass cheap and well sounding devices like the superluxes are my premier choice - but for thorough listening to music recordings of high technical quality headphones on the level of the Beyerdynamic DT880 or the Sennheiser HD650 or better are cllerly preferrable. If Your budget permits that.

And i think i should indulge me something like the new beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro or something similar
 
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Just a remark on important criteriums for the choce. Independent on budget or preferences.

  1. Impedance: does Your source require low impedance or can it drive a high impedance well? My (expensive) HiFi preamp can't. That's why i am hesitating to send in the Sennheiser HD650.

  2. Open or closed.
    In a HiFi context a matter of taste
    In commuting closed headphones are a must, and low impedance probably as well.
    In a studio / professional setting it depends on the application:
    monitors in recording sessions need to be closed, headphones for live mixing obviously as well, but at the console of a recording studio open headphones might be an option. And the headphone amps can usually drive high impedance phones easily.

  3. frequency balance, bass response.
    Equipment designed for "HiFi" is often emphasized in treble and in bass or otherwise designed for a "beautiful" sound and not utmost neutrality. Not suitable in studio applications.
 
I guess ultimately where is your mix being played? I listen on one of the good stereos and in both vehicles. So while my phones may not be totally neutral, I know how to mix with them for the sources I play back on. Can't satisfy everthing!

Drummer mentioned with a live mix I did in June it needs more kick. The kick was kicking it!! I asked wherehe was playing it.
Through"good" air buds. Good. I said Multi driver?
Well, no.
I said try it in the vehicle.
It killed in the vehicle. If the final product is played through cheap earbuds, it doesn't really matter how you mix it IMO.
 
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