Recommended Headphones For Producing

DJ Mike Beeds · Post by **DJ Mike Beeds** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:03 pm

Although not a substitute for monitor speakers, what would you all recommend for headphones when producing?

One producer was recommending Sennheisers, but didn't say which model...

Anyway, just curious to see what you all use for headphones when producing/doing the mixing of a track.

Thanks,
Mike

thoffir · Post by **thoffir** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:06 pm

http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr80.htm

thoffir · Post by **thoffir** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:08 pm

http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr80.htm

Superchibisan · Post by **Superchibisan** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:48 pm

anything from ULTRASONE

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:51 pm

Sony Professional MDR-7509 - better than all the grado stuff in my book. And so damned comfortable!

Nick the Zombie · Post by **Nick the Zombie** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:28 pm

I really like my Beyer Dynamic DT 770s

quandry · Post by **quandry** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:33 pm

I demo'ed all of the ultrasone stuff at AES earlier this month, and I really really wanted to like it, as I had read some good reviews, but I gotta say I wasn't digging the sound, except on the most pricey $1200 ones, but that's absurd. I think the industry standard sony's mentioned by Machinate are industry-standard for a reason....that's what my quest for new phones has turned up at least..

A co-worker has Grado's, which sound nice and "open", but I'm not sure if they're the "truest" in terms of actually producing on headphones. Your best bet would be to take a killer cd that you know and love into a store that has a number of brands and see what sounds best to your ears--it's very subjective opinion, highly influenced by the listener and the type of music...

siliconarc · Post by **siliconarc** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:54 pm

i really dont get those Grados - they are by far the most uncomfortable cans i've ever tried. had to take them off after a minute of use.
my sennheiser hd580 on the other had are sweet. try them out if you can (or the hd600 or 650 ones if your budget will stretch) - theyre super cosy and sound amazing. open back, though, so not ideal for everyone.

8O · Post by 8O » Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:56 pm

Sennheiser HD-600 & HD-25 SP II - both excellent and reasonably different to each other to get a balanced view. I find both very comfortable to wear for long periods too. Recommended.

Superchibisan · Post by **Superchibisan** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:14 pm

i would never trust the sonys, sennheiser, or grado.

i own the ultrasone dj1 pros. and have used hfi-450s. and they have hte truest to life sound i've heard from a headphone. i'd much rather produce/record/mix/master with these phones than any others.

i post this all over the internet. 7506s, and 7509s are terrible... the bass especially. invertedly too. the bass is too loud and muddy in the 7506s, and its too light and thin on the 7509s.

swett · Post by **swett** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:01 am

AKG all the way

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:43 am

quandry wrote:I demo'ed all of the ultrasone stuff at AES earlier this month, and I really really wanted to like it, as I had read some good reviews, but I gotta say I wasn't digging the sound, except on the most pricey $1200 ones, but that's absurd.

Had same experience on Frankfurt Messe , couldn't hear evidence of what I heard/read about, those people have bigger mouths then their products, their arrogance was rather annoying.
You will be fine with any actual industry standards Sennhs 650/600, AKG 701 or Sony 7509. Sony are most flexible since you can use them for tracking too, Sennheiser most comfortable and 701 probably have best definition and clarity. In the end any of the 3 will work, once you get use to and know their sound, each is the best in its own way.

quandry · Post by **quandry** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 2:29 am

rikhyray wrote:
quandry wrote:I demo'ed all of the ultrasone stuff at AES earlier this month, and I really really wanted to like it, as I had read some good reviews, but I gotta say I wasn't digging the sound, except on the most pricey $1200 ones, but that's absurd.
Had same experience on Frankfurt Messe , couldn't hear evidence of what I heard/read about, those people have bigger mouths then their products, their arrogance was rather annoying.
You will be fine with any actual industry standards Sennhs 650/600, AKG 701 or Sony 7509. Sony are most flexible since you can use them for tracking too, Sennheiser most comfortable and 701 probably have best definition and clarity. In the end any of the 3 will work, once you get use to and know their sound, each is the best in its own way.

exactly, well put. It was hilarious at the Ultrasone booth at AES in San Francisco--they had the sales guy, and two scandinavian women who could barely speak english, had no idea about the product (couldn't even work the cd player--seriously, and were scantily dressed...I'm not even going to speculate on that one....). To top it off, all of their reference discs were frikkin live dvds of concerts--not exactly pristine audiophile material for serious comparisons. I was shocked at how very different the different models sounded, sadly, to me ear at least, none as good as the sonys I brought to A/B with....again, a lot of whether or not you like a particular headphone is subjective as to how you hear (and want to hear) music, and what genre's you work in....

chinney4321 · Post by **chinney4321** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 10:41 am

Beyer Dynamic DT 770s, the 250 ohm version.. you wont go wrong

ollyb303 · Post by **ollyb303** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:32 pm

Not strictly on topic as these are not *by any means* professional headphones, but I bought a pair of sennheiser HD201s recently for travelling and I gotta say for £15, they sound fucking amazing! Sound quality like I would expect from a pair of cans that cost 10 times that!