What Reference Headphones do you recommend?

[DuX]

You're going to buy Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP? That's a really nice interface. Plus since you don't like too much bass, 250 ohm Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro should be perfect. They really have enough bass as it is IMHO, but it comes down to a personal preference, and different ears. It probably wouldn't hurt if you could test them both and see which ones you prefer. I have never heard the low impedance ones, so I can't tell you how much difference in bass there is. If you search the net for "headphones impedance difference" you'll find that bigger impedance usually means flatter response, and the best sounding combination should be high impedance headphones, and a quality preamp to drive them.

This, for instance: http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/hea ... ained.html

and http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan03/a ... rkshop.asp

and http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/ind ... opic=93513

and http://www.head-fi.org/t/571384/low-imp ... difference

and a nice DT770 600 ohm review: http://kenrockwell.com/audio/beyer/dt-770.htm

To make it somewhat simpler... my TC interfaces have 80 ohm impedance outputs. Now 80*8 gives 640, so a 6oo ohm headphones should work the best with them. That's why I would actually like to buy Beyerdynamic DT770 600 ohm version. Various bad quality interfaces and music players can have 10 ohm outputs, so of course they work best with lower impedance headphones. I hope the NwAVGuy is right. I actually remember reading about it when I was buying these AKGs, so I picked the 600 ohm version instead of 80 .

btw. I have checked the FR Saffire Pro 24 manual, but they don't state the output impedance of the outputs, sorry. I suppose it's between 75-100 ohm and that should be enough to drive any headphones, even 600 ohm.

Cheers!

[A1AWI]

You're going to buy Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP? That's a really nice interface. Plus since you don't like too much bass, 250 ohm Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro should be perfect. They really have enough bass as it is IMHO, but it comes down to a personal preference, and different ears. It probably wouldn't hurt if you could test them both and see which ones you prefer. I have never heard the low impedance ones, so I can't tell you how much difference in bass there is. If you search the net for "headphones impedance difference" you'll find that bigger impedance usually means flatter response, and the best sounding combination should be high impedance headphones, and a quality preamp to drive them.

I saw a Beyerdynamic DT770 in one of the stores here, I'll give it a shot, I'm not sure of it's impedance though.

btw. I have checked the FR Saffire Pro 24 manual, but they don't state the output impedance of the outputs, sorry. I suppose it's between 75-100 ohm and that should be enough to drive any headphones, even 600 ohm.

How come I can't find it anywhere? With the DSP Chip I don't think it would be less than 75 either. Anyway, Thanks for the links.

[pljones]

I just got my DT770Ms (thanks to my wife getting them for me for my birthday ) and have done one (count: 1) test so far.

I listened to a FLAC of Marillion's "Man Of A Thousand Faces" from Disc 1 of the "This Strange Convention" DVD set on the DT770Ms. My immediate impression was "this sounds far more boxy than I'm used to". Listening through the track, overall, I could hear the detail and felt it was okay. So I tried my old ("hi-fi listening") Technics RP-F350s. Mmm... I guess they're designed to lift the top and bottom ends like that..!!

Gut feel is the DT770Ms will (a) be great for drumming - I could still hear my "silent" PC when nothing else was happening but they cut the noise of my fan heater cutting in whilst I was listening to the track such that I was barely aware of it - and (b) less fatiguing while mixing. So I'm very happy!

(If the RP-F350s weren't in need of a new - non-replaceable - headband, I'd be happy enough to keep them for hi-fi listening, still.)

-edit- I have to just add, "boxy" above, you must read as coming from the RP-F350s, nothing against the DT770Ms (too early yet!) -- I'm sure I'll learn them -/edit-

[Dean Aka Nekro]

I should imagine if our ears are anything remotely similar Peter that the boxy will turn straight into midrange full kit definition/quality transient attack coming through very well and pick out a ride bell in even the busiest and dense of mixes if they are similar to my pair (The regular/Non-M variety).

Glad to hear that apart from the newness of them they will find in you a loving owner. That was a nice birthday present, I just get a few cards if I'm lucky So I have to treat myself when possible

All the best your way and to all

Dean

[audiowiesel]

concerning the impedance of the DT770 Pro series:
I use the 770 80 Ohm headphone. in my opinion they are more pleasant when working for long hours than the 250 Ohms, which also have a good clear sound but with more highs.
Depends on your taste obviously.

cheers Daniel

[pljones]

A quick update on my new DT770Ms. I drummed for two hours on Sunday with them and it was much, much more pleasant than using my old headphones - less fatiguing as the overall highs were less intense. The only downside was I probably had the level too high overall (oops! ... but I can still hear ). I did also find that I had to bring my drum kit level up a lot from what I'm used to in respect to the rest of the live mix - I hadn't expected this part so much. I'm going to investigate it more when I come to do the mix down work.

[pljones]

OK, here's the mix down:
http://www.drealm.info/ninjam/20130414- ... zhands.mp3

The source for this is a NINJAM jam under CCBYNCSA2.5.

According to my DT770Ms , I dropped the drumkit (me) least, with DaMNeD most (who was sending multi-layered bass, backing keys and various leads pre-mixed to conserve bandwidth). To try to give USK (mostly lead sounds) and spazhands (backing/lead) some space, they got panned to L & R about 25% but still trimmed quite a bit. Those relative changes were made after normalising the tracks as a first step. No other effects applied during mixing. Mastering consisted of a -7dB 1.5:1 compress and amplify to -0.1dB, plus trim to silence, in Audacity. MP3 created with LAME standalone.

Listening on my old 'phones, I'm reasonably pleased - maybe the drums are a bit higher ... but I like it. I've been told my mixes are a bit weak in the lows, which I guess the old 'phones could well have been causing. Listening on my LCD's built-in speakers (yeah), it also sounds reasonable (no bass, of course).

One other observation. I think I'm getting used to the "quieter" sound -- I kept trimming back the output level and still being happy I could hear the detail. Which is a very good thing.

[MikeCL]

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 or M45 (if you can find it)

I was thinking of getting the M50's nice to see that got listed here.

[axedaddy]

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I just recieved my new K702's today. Opened em up and first thing I see is 'Made in China' on them... looked around, no made in Austria at all could found. So contacted both the shop I brought them from and AKG themselves....

This is the response from AKG (copied and pasted)

Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for contacting AKG. For one or two months ago it is produced in China, before it was made in Austria. This is not a fake. Best regards, MELANIE ZACHService DepartmentAKG Acoustics GmbH Lemböckgasse 21-251230 Vienna/AustriaEmail: melanie.zach@harman.comWeb (mailto:melanie.zach@harman.comWeb): www.harman.com (http://www.harman.com) www.akg.comRegistered (http://www.akg.comRegistered) Company Seat and Commercial Court: Vienna. FN 107732f


So AKG K702 are now MADE IN CHINA!!!!!


Im gutted. Returnin em and looking at Sennheiser's. What a shame, I really loved my K240s when I was in my 20s.

[Mogular]

I guess we will hear over the coming months if the change to China has altered the sound at all. You really can't compare the 701/702s to the 240s though. Completely different headphones. FWIW I am extremely happy with my 6 year old K701s and would buy them again without thinking assuming the new ones sound as good.

[Eclipse.Sound]

I use Sennheiser HD 280 pro (but they have a very thin cushions and they will break - u will have to replace them in 2 years - intentional policy if you ask me - some additional cash for company, because other aspects of the structure will not break so soon) - they have a crisp and crystal sound - that shows the real nature of your work. (got them in UK in 2007 and still working)


I went to a music store with someone who wanted some good headphones - because i told him, the best thing You can do is to hear your favorite song on headphones (or Monitors) - and that's what you should do - just go to Music store and ask for audition.

BTW: I don't recommend Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro - These headphones sound Pathetic and costs like 4 times they should really cost for that low level of sound quality. (but they look cool though)

[Oggdude]

Both combined pretty much covers every music genre and can give you a really good impression of a mix for when you can't use speakers. Also for closed back i recommend the KRK KNS series headphones

[wachimol]

I will also support the Sennheiser HD 280s. I use them and they don't try to sugarcoat any freqs. The only downside with them is that they're DJ phones, so they amplify quite a bit. You'll find yourself making mixes that are overall too quiet. At least that's what I was doing.

However, once you know your 'phones and how they make things sound, it shouldn't affect mixing.

[jancivil]

I'm using 'Shure SRH840's. I've heard detail in my own music I had to assume before having these.

I used the Sennheiser 280s for years. they are pretty flat so there's that. I think it forced me to 'pronounce' things in a mix more than something which emphasized frequencies in order to give a more satisfying consumer experience. I prefer what I'm using now. I think it's good to have different phones with different characteristics, particularly something which does help the bass, since that's generally true of people on the consumer end of the process, speakers which help the bass. mid-lows is where I'm paranoid, something that's perfect on flat monitors is tubby elsewhere in a big way.

[Aubrey Lamont]

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 or M45 (if you can find it)

I was thinking of getting the M50's nice to see that got listed here.

I have the M50s. For the price I bought them (around $110), they're great. But I've seen some stores sell them for $150+. At that price, I'd probably go for something different (probably the Shure 840s).