Studio Headphone Recommendations

Jethro Rocker said:
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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Yup, the most powerful thing is to know your reference tools well enough that you can begin with the perfect reference point.
 
bea said:
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.
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Great questions, Bea.

For the application I am using, it would be more of a "studio" environment. The headphones would be driven by my audio mixer. The purpose is critical listening when developing patches in my guitar processor.

My desire is that the sound of the patches I build will be impacted as little as possible by the headphones. For example, if the headphones emphasize bass frequencies too much, I could end up creating a patch that actually lacks bass and would not sound the way I want it to sound in the mix when playing.
 
My next set with be AKG's. I use V-Moda for general use and I have a set of Shure Aonic 50's that I absolutely love. However, with the Aonic 50's, the headband is falling apart already and it's only been about 2 years of light use. The leather that covers the soft pad that hits the head is pealing away from the plastic structure. Nothing I can't fix with some super glue, but it's annoying.
 
Ghostman said:
My next set with be AKG's.
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Then i would again suggest the Superlux HD681F or 662F as a backup. These sets are cheap and astonishlingly good.

Last night i decided to make myself a present for chrismas resp for retirement:

I ordered a Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X in the hope it will compete with my Sennheiser HD650 and just for curiosity also a Superlux HD662F for some 30 bucks. The latter as a closed monitor for recordings in our rehearsal room.
I am simply fascinated on the sound quality of those cheap headphones (i own one HD 681, two HD681B and one HD681F and like them all, although they do not quite reach the Sennheiser)
 
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bea said:
I ordered a Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X in the hope it will compete with my Sennheiser HD650 and just for curiosity also a Superlux HD662F for some 30 bucks
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Surprisingly did already arrive today.

A first impression on the Superlux HD662F, the closed counterpart of the 681F. They sound pretty similar. Not surprising. The 662 has a slightly narrower sound image, and the really deep basses are stronger. Just what You would expect from a closed headphones compared to an otherwise identical haf open set. What i found surprising: the treble of the 662 is smoother, more "open" and not as compressed as it is on the 681 (which might show up the tolerances in the systems). Again: really goot headphones not only for the money.

Regarding the Beyerdynamic - it is neutral like the two "F"-Superluxes. So on the 1st impression they all sound very similar: it will take some thorough hearing on good sources in order to fully get an impression on the differences. A youtube video is not sufficient, even a good one. With something smooth an jazzy like Sting's "It's probably me" there are differences, but quality is nearly on the same level
 
Before i write more detailed: the more i get used to the headphones the more pronounced the differens are becoming. And the more i am switching according to the sources - high quality sources preferredly through the Beyerdynamic, otherwise toggling between the latter, HD681F and HD681B. Practising is a clear job for the 681F (and the 662F but that one will be brought to the rehearsal room as soon as it has come to rest)
 
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