Best of the seriously cheap headphones

[Uncle E]

From the bits I did manage to get done I don't recall them being any worse for bleed etc than my KRK ones.

The KRK 6400's have super low distortion. Someone on eBay is selling new 6400's for $75:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394942441825

[stoopicus]

Their speakers are great deals too.

[donkey tugger]

From the bits I did manage to get done I don't recall them being any worse for bleed etc than my KRK ones.

The KRK 6400's have super low distortion. Someone on eBay is selling new 6400's for $75:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394942441825

Got 2 pairs, had them about 10 years. Really good and still going strong.

[VELLTONE MUSIC]

Nothing beat Samason SR950 as quality and linearity,especially for 25-30 euro i bought it,when was available on thomann,but hard to find these days...SR990 maybe is successor or replica...
Don't rely on SR850 as monitors,despite huge advertisement www - i've got them both and SR850 is not near linear sound at all,not a monitor...
Order them both with idea to keep sr850,but turns out that sr 950 is absolutely flat and details,that sound ,man,it's unbelievable ...before that i had to return expensive 140-150 euro headphone from european company with solid reputation,cause the treble was so unnatural,hurting my ears and couldn't mix anything with such unbalanced and far from linear thing...compared to clean sound of sr950 ,expensive headphones was nightmare...
Can't find right headphones,unless test them in the store or home.

[tkdalien]

TBH I would recommend saving up a bit more before pulling the trigger because the market has companies that make "bang for the buck" products. Meaning they make quality products for reasonable prices, many times better than the most expensive competitors. I can list many examples of this because I'm a gear head and have tested all kind of gear.

But in regards to your question, if you want quality for a reasonable price that can last you a long time with no need to upgrade (because I've tested many products), then for tracking and mixing I would recommend the ATH-m50x. It's $150 retail, but I would recommend getting it a bit cheaper on eBay or even buying it used on eBay, but if you are going the eBay route just make the seller has a good rating like above 95%, check their description of the product and if it's used check the wear on the pictures. Many times you can get like-new products.

The reason I say m50x is because it actually has great mixing capabilities on top of tracking. Why? Because the bass and sibiliance is slightly boosted, whereas everything else is quite flat. Why is this beneficial? Well if you're someone like me who mixes EDM, Trap, and vocals, it works like magic to point out that the bass or sibilance needs adjustment. I still use the same pair for over 5 years. I even used them for mastering when I first got into audio engineering.

For mixing and mastering I would recommend the Sennheiser HD650. This is mainly because they are super comfortable for long hours, have a nice warm and rich sound, and quite flat. The only thing is which is not a big deal is that they don't point do the best job to point out improper bass or sibilance, and that's where my m50x and studio speakers come in. They are about $350 retail, but you can get these headphones for $200 on drop.com or eBay

[mixyguy2]

Thanks but neither of those are anywhere near the stated price range and frankly I can't stand AT 50s with its hyped up bass. I'm looking for fairly flat headphones...

[VELLTONE MUSIC]

Thanks but neither of those are anywhere near the stated price range and frankly I can't stand AT 50s with its hyped up bass. I'm looking for fairly flat headphones...

Listening or making music on sr950 via scarlett 4x4 is absolute pleasure.
Clapping force is problem after hour of listening,but use it as reminder to stop and rest
Thee are what you need:
https://www.amazon.com/Samson-SR950-Pro ... B00CBPJLFW
https://www.amazon.com/Samson-Technolog ... B084JN9ZLV

[eLawnMust]

Use only corded phones... Wireless beam microwaves right through your skull plus there are no worries of them blowing up in your ear...

[kritikon]

It's amazing what you can find on AliBaba. Cheap as chips, though the ergonomics aren't perfect...

[mixyguy2]

Thanks but I wouldn't trust buying any electronics from one of those places.

[ApexSoundMusic]

Phillips SHP9500, very underrated IMO. Very comfortable also.

I have the Philips SHP9600. And if the 9500's are a bit alike, I can vouch for them as well.

I've had lots of headphones (Open back, closed back, DJ, Studio, etc.) and these really are the best of the bunch for me when it comes to production.
Open-back and lots of high end detail without getting harsh. In contrast to other open-back haedphones they have a little bit more low-end thump. They are neatly built, have a detachable wire and are really comfortable. Especially liking the cloth like material in which the earpads are wrapped.

That said, I do believe you can use almost any headphone if you reference good enough. (Referencing against other tracks, but also other sound systems)

[bbing531]

krk kns 8400 $150 I settled on after quite a bit research, they're studio monitoring which means they should give you the true sound of whatever you're listening to. Replacement pads are online. They hold up well, I didn't want this kind that folds for flat storage but I got used to them. The fit isn't so great but not bad.

[mixyguy2]

You consider $150 headphones seriously cheap? Where do you work and do they have any openings?

PS: please actually read the OP before responding to it.....i.e. "For the sake of argument let's say $75 or less new..."

[Technotech]

Really liking the sound of the Koss KSC75, but your mileage may vary with how comfortable the ear clips are. I'm going to put them on a headband, but that's more of a personal decision. They're open back, wide soundstage, clear sound, but essentially no sub bass. Other than that, at $20 USD I think they're amazing!

[mixyguy2]

Thanks but they look like glorified ear buds. Not interested in something I'd plug into a phone...