Headphones for sounddesign?

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
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moonpie
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 11:22 am

Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by moonpie » Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:40 pm

Im currently working with a pair of sennheiser hd280 pros whenever I try write electronic stuff. All my softsynths and such would be tweaked through them. Unfortunately, although these headphones are meant for mixing, they cause me alot of ear fatigue at low volumes, and are quite uncomfortable to wear. They really arent inspiring headphones to work with for long periods or allow you enjoy the timbre of certain synths.

The reason I bought the sennheisers were to give a more honest appreciation of my mix. Does anybody use headphones they find a happy medium between honesty/bassyness.

Or the ultimate question - should all my sound design be done through monitors?

Serra
Posts: 139
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:24 pm

Re: Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by Serra » Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:50 pm

I prefer monitors to avoid the fatigue, work with some people who swear by headphones... so no rules really, whichever works for you

I like audio technica headphones, but never really went crazy comparing and trying too many

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Nightwriter
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Re: Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by Nightwriter » Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:32 pm

Denon D2000's or Beyerdynamic DT770 are ones i'd recommend. Very comfy!
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crumhorn
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Re: Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by crumhorn » Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:36 pm

I'm pretty happy with my DT100s. sometimes ware them for an hour or more with no problems.
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southsounder
Posts: 98
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Location: Olympia

Re: Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by southsounder » Wed Aug 31, 2011 3:49 am

In general I really don't like working with headphones, as I've battled with tinnitus and am pretty sensitive to ear fatigue. But I've had a pair of the original AKG K240's for years and have found that I vastly prefer their semi-open design to closed back models - even when tracking drums. They're accurate enough to mix with, and are pretty easy on the ears unless you get stupid with the volume. I haven't tried the newer 55ohm version though.

trevox
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Re: Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by trevox » Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:25 am

I have a set of DT 150's and I really like them. Very comfortable, give a fairly true representation of your mix, great even at lower volumes and little or no ear fatigue. I find they sound pretty consistent with my monitors (Genelec 8030's) when it gets late and I have to move to headphones.

swishniak
Posts: 1134
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:25 am
Location: Berlin

Re: Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by swishniak » Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:37 pm

im confused by all this talk of sound design. arent you just working on music?

footsy
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Location: Narnia

Re: Headphones for sounddesign?

Post by footsy » Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:43 pm

Honestly, My Bose headphones were AMAZING. Super comfortable, AAAAMAZING Sound, Super bass, Concelled sound inside the headphone.. they were godly, expensive but worth the money.

The only problem with them is they snapped super easily and they made your ears sweat lol but all headphones that cover your ear will do that.

Currently I use my DJ headphones either my Pioneers HDJ-2000, or my Sony MDR-v700 Both are amazing, spendy, and can get uncomfortable in long periods of time.
"A Positive mind is the Key to success" - Tydi

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