Headphones for recording vocals
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- KVRer
- 5 posts since 14 Jan, 2026
ATH-M40X has the flattest frequency response in that family. I have used those for tracking vocals quite successfully...
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
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- KVRian
- 1365 posts since 2 Mar, 2018
Actually the 30s are somewhat flatter. They all tend to be a little bass heavy though, the 50s esp. Some people like that, but it's not for me.sonic_ally wrote: Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:58 pm ATH-M40X has the flattest frequency response in that family. I have used those for tracking vocals quite successfully...
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- KVRAF
- 3345 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
Yes, if you really want to go a step up, then take a look at the Sennheiser HD600 or HD650.DCrown wrote: Mon Dec 29, 2025 12:25 pm The best headphones I ever had were Sennheiser HD 265 linear, but for whatever reason they don't produce them any more for years
Luckily I could get some suitable foam for my old ones, I can do everything with them tracking or mixing, good isolation, good sound.
I am used to them.
I think I will never switch from Sennheiser to another brand...
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
- KVRAF
- 12185 posts since 7 Sep, 2006 from Roseville, CA
Those are probably the last headphones I would recommend for recording vocals. Those huge grills bleed a LOT of sound that spill into the mic.enroe wrote: Wed Feb 18, 2026 3:53 amYes, if you really want to go a step up, then take a look at the Sennheiser HD600 or HD650.DCrown wrote: Mon Dec 29, 2025 12:25 pm The best headphones I ever had were Sennheiser HD 265 linear, but for whatever reason they don't produce them any more for years
Luckily I could get some suitable foam for my old ones, I can do everything with them tracking or mixing, good isolation, good sound.
I am used to them.
I think I will never switch from Sennheiser to another brand...![]()
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2452 posts since 1 Jul, 2021
They work perfectly for me, for recording and mixing. They were widely used 20+ years ago and a professionell recording and mixing engineer recommended them, I remember how he said, although you might find Beyerdynamic veey often in studios, HD265 linear are the better choice, trust me, it's an insider tipp. I never regreted the purchase
If you play the music too loud, yes there will be bleed, but bleed is nothing I care about too much, if bleed is not too much, you won't notice it anyway within the mix. I dislike overpolished mixes. I have to laugh about the fact that a lot of people are scared of hum noice, amp noise, gear noice, bleed, overlaping frequencies nowadays today, focus on making good songs and be creative, imo music needs some dirt.
HD 265 linear are the best headphones ever, so sad, Sennheiser don't produce them any more and I tried many headphones, Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, AKG etc.
HD 280 pro are my second choice, maybe Sony would be for me, too, I will try them one day, but would probably have issues mixing with them, cuz I am not used to them, whereas I know how my mix needs to sound on my Sennheisers.
I want headphones for recording and mixing at the same time, so the best ones are the ones you know best.
If you play the music too loud, yes there will be bleed, but bleed is nothing I care about too much, if bleed is not too much, you won't notice it anyway within the mix. I dislike overpolished mixes. I have to laugh about the fact that a lot of people are scared of hum noice, amp noise, gear noice, bleed, overlaping frequencies nowadays today, focus on making good songs and be creative, imo music needs some dirt.
HD 265 linear are the best headphones ever, so sad, Sennheiser don't produce them any more and I tried many headphones, Beyerdynamic, Audio Technica, AKG etc.
HD 280 pro are my second choice, maybe Sony would be for me, too, I will try them one day, but would probably have issues mixing with them, cuz I am not used to them, whereas I know how my mix needs to sound on my Sennheisers.
I want headphones for recording and mixing at the same time, so the best ones are the ones you know best.
- KVRer
- 2 posts since 18 Feb, 2026
loveeee my beyerdynamic dt770 pros. super cozy, and I got them for a good price used!
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- KVRian
- 1365 posts since 2 Mar, 2018
Even if they weren't hideously expensive (and they are), both open-back headphones...i.e. the last kind of headphones you'd want to record with. Good for mixing though.enroe wrote: Wed Feb 18, 2026 3:53 amYes, if you really want to go a step up, then take a look at the Sennheiser HD600 or HD650.DCrown wrote: Mon Dec 29, 2025 12:25 pm The best headphones I ever had were Sennheiser HD 265 linear, but for whatever reason they don't produce them any more for years
Luckily I could get some suitable foam for my old ones, I can do everything with them tracking or mixing, good isolation, good sound.
I am used to them.
I think I will never switch from Sennheiser to another brand...![]()
Edit: cryophonik beat me to it re. open back
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- KVRist
- 153 posts since 3 Mar, 2009 from UK
Beyerdynamic DT150 are, far and away, the best monitoring phones I've ever used.
If I need monitoring during any recording in close proximity to a microphone, wherever I am, I ensure I have multiple pairs available.
If I need monitoring during any recording in close proximity to a microphone, wherever I am, I ensure I have multiple pairs available.
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- KVRer
- 6 posts since 24 Feb, 2026
I recommend the SHURE SRH940 for their comfort and sound precision, offering optimal quality for recording in general

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- KVRer
- 6 posts since 25 Apr, 2025
I’m using the M50x too and I absolutely love them. There’s a reason you see them in every studio, the price-to-performance ratio is just unbeatable. Definitely a solid choice!