Which headphones while you play a midi keyboard?
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 66 posts since 19 Jul, 2012
I’m looking for a good set of headphones for this particular purpose: playing my Midi keyboard while trying to find inspiration and writing songs.
I have read some articles on choosing headphones for recording and mixing.
However, is it different if you need headphones while playing around with your Midi keyboard just for inspiration? I imagine you would need to hear the best sound that your sample libraries can offer.
In this case, should I go for headphones which are meant for recording, or mixing headphones?
Thank you
I have read some articles on choosing headphones for recording and mixing.
However, is it different if you need headphones while playing around with your Midi keyboard just for inspiration? I imagine you would need to hear the best sound that your sample libraries can offer.
In this case, should I go for headphones which are meant for recording, or mixing headphones?
Thank you
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- KVRist
- 441 posts since 7 Mar, 2011 from Pleasanton, CA
Recording headphones are closed, so their sound doesn't bleed into a mic that is on.
Generally, mixing headphones are open, and that allows them to be more accurate and, essentially, sound better. So I would recommend open.
A side effect of the open headphones is that they can be heard by those nearby when played at moderate leavers, so you might need to take that into consideration.
My favorite open headphones for mixing (and general listening as well) are the AKG K702, which have recently become much more affordable.
Generally, mixing headphones are open, and that allows them to be more accurate and, essentially, sound better. So I would recommend open.
A side effect of the open headphones is that they can be heard by those nearby when played at moderate leavers, so you might need to take that into consideration.
My favorite open headphones for mixing (and general listening as well) are the AKG K702, which have recently become much more affordable.
Seasoned IT vet, Mac user, and lover of music. Always learning.
- KVRAF
- 1986 posts since 29 Apr, 2010 from NYC
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- KVRist
- 441 posts since 7 Mar, 2011 from Pleasanton, CA
The K702 has a detachable cord as well.
On Amazon right now, the K702 are US$219. I paid $171. The Q701 are currently $192.
On Amazon right now, the K702 are US$219. I paid $171. The Q701 are currently $192.
Seasoned IT vet, Mac user, and lover of music. Always learning.
- KVRAF
- 14994 posts since 26 Jun, 2006 from San Francisco Bay Area
I've got a pair of 702s. Very good IMO. Only issue is that sound from the world does tend to bleed in. Not so bad when playing a keyboard, but I also have a Korg Wavedrum that's acoustically pretty loud.wesleyt wrote:The K702 has a detachable cord as well.
On Amazon right now, the K702 are US$219. I paid $171. The Q701 are currently $192.
Zerocrossing Media
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
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- KVRist
- 441 posts since 7 Mar, 2011 from Pleasanton, CA
Pretty awesome, but it doesn't look too beefy on the low end.
Seasoned IT vet, Mac user, and lover of music. Always learning.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 66 posts since 19 Jul, 2012
Thank you so much for your kind replies.
May I ask if it is the same to buy the Sennheiser HD650, or the Beyerdynamic DT880s?
Are they also perfect for the purpose of playing the keyboard?
May I ask if it is the same to buy the Sennheiser HD650, or the Beyerdynamic DT880s?
Are they also perfect for the purpose of playing the keyboard?
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- KVRian
- 537 posts since 18 Jul, 2006
If you're only about playing and finding inspiration i'd suggest a HiFi pair of heaphones designed to sound the most pleasant as opposed to "pro" studio headphones that are more analytical and reveal every flaw in the signal.
For your needs I'd favor a HD650 that will be more forgiving with say an annoying ringing frequency in the mid high range than the analytical DT880 that would bring it upfront and urge you to correct it before continuing.
High end headphones work better with a dedicated amp, you might want to check that out if you go that route.
For your needs I'd favor a HD650 that will be more forgiving with say an annoying ringing frequency in the mid high range than the analytical DT880 that would bring it upfront and urge you to correct it before continuing.
High end headphones work better with a dedicated amp, you might want to check that out if you go that route.
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- KVRer
- 7 posts since 29 Jul, 2014
just to clear up what someone said up there.
The 702 is NOT the same headphone as the Qk701
702s are much more flat, the quincy jones version are still good but they are a more colored consumer version.
The 702 is NOT the same headphone as the Qk701
702s are much more flat, the quincy jones version are still good but they are a more colored consumer version.
- KVRAF
- 1986 posts since 29 Apr, 2010 from NYC
just to really clear things up...yes they are the same. theres like 1000 threads about this all over the internet.Yumid wrote:just to clear up what someone said up there.
The 702 is NOT the same headphone as the Qk701
702s are much more flat, the quincy jones version are still good but they are a more colored consumer version.
and from akg themselves:
" To answer your questions on the what's unique about the new Quincy Signature Line, we'd like to let you know that Quincy Jones himself worked with us to design a headphone that made aesthetic changes to reflect more of his personal touch. The models come in black, white (with lime green accents) and a proprietary lime green color only available within the Signature Line. "
and again mentioned here: http://noblehifi.blogspot.com/2012/03/a ... eview.html
"By AKG's own words: The difference between the Q701 and the previous model are limited to exterior aesthetics chosen by Quincy Jones."
aesthetic changes only.
the k701 k702 and q701 are all the same cans, with the only differences being detachable cables, slight aesthetic changes, and available colors.
Last edited by chaosWyrM on Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- KVRAF
- 15135 posts since 7 Sep, 2008
My god that was cheesy.wesleyt wrote:Pretty awesome, but it doesn't look too beefy on the low end.
Lettuce please revisit the OP's original request.
"I was wondering if you'd like to try Magic Mushrooms"
"Oooh I dont know. Sounds a bit scary"
"It's not scary. You just lose a sense of who you are and all that sh!t"
"Oooh I dont know. Sounds a bit scary"
"It's not scary. You just lose a sense of who you are and all that sh!t"
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- KVRer
- 7 posts since 29 Jul, 2014
And besides these discussions have you ever ran any tests? I dont care enough to re do the graphs right now but I've done frequency response tests on both of them. And I'm not the only one. They may be 'built' the same. But sometimes all it takes IS changing the aesthetics to change the acoustics. I'm not going by discussions, I'm going by tests done to the headphones.chaosWyrM wrote:just to really clear things up...yes they are the same. theres like 1000 threads about this all over the internet.Yumid wrote:just to clear up what someone said up there.
The 702 is NOT the same headphone as the Qk701
702s are much more flat, the quincy jones version are still good but they are a more colored consumer version.
and from akg themselves:
" To answer your questions on the what's unique about the new Quincy Signature Line, we'd like to let you know that Quincy Jones himself worked with us to design a headphone that made aesthetic changes to reflect more of his personal touch. The models come in black, white (with lime green accents) and a proprietary lime green color only available within the Signature Line. "
and again mentioned here: http://noblehifi.blogspot.com/2012/03/a ... eview.html
"By AKG's own words: The difference between the Q701 and the previous model are limited to exterior aesthetics chosen by Quincy Jones."
aesthetic changes only.
the k701 k702 and q701 are all the same cans, with the only differences being detachable cables, slight aesthetic changes, and available colors.
- KVRAF
- 1986 posts since 29 Apr, 2010 from NYC
the company who makes them has stated they are the same. i would add that it benefits them not at all to make this admission, considering the price differences. you can take 2 of the same anything and find some differences in them. im looking at 2 "identical" samsung monitors right now with all the exact same settings and they look slightly different.Yumid wrote:And besides these discussions have you ever ran any tests? I dont care enough to re do the graphs right now but I've done frequency response tests on both of them. And I'm not the only one. They may be 'built' the same. But sometimes all it takes IS changing the aesthetics to change the acoustics. I'm not going by discussions, I'm going by tests done to the headphones.chaosWyrM wrote:just to really clear things up...yes they are the same. theres like 1000 threads about this all over the internet.Yumid wrote:just to clear up what someone said up there.
The 702 is NOT the same headphone as the Qk701
702s are much more flat, the quincy jones version are still good but they are a more colored consumer version.
and from akg themselves:
" To answer your questions on the what's unique about the new Quincy Signature Line, we'd like to let you know that Quincy Jones himself worked with us to design a headphone that made aesthetic changes to reflect more of his personal touch. The models come in black, white (with lime green accents) and a proprietary lime green color only available within the Signature Line. "
and again mentioned here: http://noblehifi.blogspot.com/2012/03/a ... eview.html
"By AKG's own words: The difference between the Q701 and the previous model are limited to exterior aesthetics chosen by Quincy Jones."
aesthetic changes only.
the k701 k702 and q701 are all the same cans, with the only differences being detachable cables, slight aesthetic changes, and available colors.
my q701s will be different from yours.
have you tested multiple pairs of each? did all the q701s have identical results? did all the k702s have identical results? did they all undergo the exact same burn in? did you run the tests on each pair multiple times to make sure the results were consistent? are you sure they were all made in the same factory? some are from austria and some are from china. etc. etc. etc.
they are the same. any difference can be attributed to them being two separate pairs of headphones.
if tyll hertsens says theyre the same...who am i to argue? he certainly knows more than i do on the subject.
but by all means... dont listen to the people who actually make them or the people whos job it is to test and compare them. it doesnt effect me in the least, and this back and forth isnt helping anyone.
im out.