so, everyone asks about which monitors to buy - well, already got those. but need advise and personal recommendations for headphones.
I'm getting nice new laptop and need phones for mobile use -
excellent quality / long term use /low ear fatigue / high comfort is what I am looking for.
price = $100USD or less please.
I bought AKG K-240 Studio headphones about a month ago. They are the best sounding headphones I've tried so far and definitely fit the bill for comfort. You can easily wear them for hours without any discomfort.
As for price, even if their MSRP is higher than $100us, I managed to get them for $180CAN, tax included. I guess that if you shop around, you should be able to get them for close to $100us.
I've also been working on an akg240. A standard for a good reason!
I've had lots of problems with headphones. I've been through LOTS of them. Almost the whole Fostex line, and the whole Sony MDR line. Some of them sounded good.. But I must have strangely shaped ears or something.. my right ear always gets pressed and starts to hurt real easily. You should try to keep away from semi-enclosure type (where cup doesn't totally cover the ears, not sure of correct terminology)
As of the akg240, it totally covers the ears, and still leaves space. The thing is very light, and the cables are steel-strong. I always step on the cable while seated, and then accidentally stand up, and the chord yanks the headphones off my head. I've killed 2 or 3 Sony MDRs doing this, but the akg still lives. Also, I constantly roll over the chords with my computer chair and that's not enough to break the chords. Pretty sturdy lil' fella eh?
The akg240 is known for its natural sounding recreation. The sound is not piercing, and it's a good general recording headphone. Stereo placement is very clear too. But I wouldn't say it's a good way to mix.. I mean, you really can't mix on ANY headphone. It's good to have it around to check for microscopic panning error/clipping that the monitors might miss.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2002-07-04 12:44 ]</font>
As Ken said, you may have problems with some cable-fixed headphones cos you are going to, sooner or later… SOONER OR LATER and for sure, step onto the cable! I’ve tried very hard not to, but It’s impossible cos you’re a recording musician, not a listener! You are playing, moving, tweaking around, etc., and so, you need some freedom. This is a very important point to consider when buying headphones for a studio.
Exactly like you Ken, I’ve broken my Sony MDR CD250 - a very good sounding headphone btw – cos of their fixed cable. That happened several times with other good ones and they are expensive, so enough!
Tired of braking headphones cables, I’ve bought a dedicated studio headphone called Sennheiser HD200. There are very many variations and mine is not one of the best, nevertheless, it sounds great and very clean. I’ve paid around 80 dollars if I remember well. Every part of the Sennheiser HD200 is changeable, everything can so be replaced without the need of buying a new one. Instead of a fixed cable, the HD200 has a mini-plug, so even if you step onto the cable, which I’ve already done at least 10 times in 3 years, the only thing you do is to unplug your headphones, but you don’t break them! Without the HD200, I would have needed to buy another 10 headphones in three years…
Sound advantages of the Sennheiser HD200: As speakers, there are headphones designed for ***listeners*** in mind, so they actually transform the natural sound doing it better, equalizing or enhancing the natural acoustics of your music. The Sennheiser line of headphones are like the Makie speakers, they have being designed for the ***mixer-man*** needs in mind. This is a great difference. There are great, very expensive and truly attractive models from Sony, but they are not suitable for recording studios, cos they do not show you the gamut of sounds “as they are”, but changing your experience for you to enjoy. It’s important here to differentiate headphones for listening music, and headphones for making music, the first is to enjoy music, the latter is to producing music.
After trying a few different ones i ended up with the sennheiser hd 25 SP I really like them for my laptop because they block out a lot of noise (like the boss paging me and stuff )
They sound better than the sony v 60 i have as well (in my opinion) and more comfortable.
the hd 25 SP uses the same earpieces as the expensive 25 but has a cheaper headband.
as for stepping on the cable i have the cable coming down from a rack so it wont touch the floor.
Think of how auto shops have their compressor hose coming from a high place so the hose will not get damaged.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Neutron on 2002-07-05 15:01 ]</font>
Well, I don't know if the previous line of AKG 240 had this but, the newer <a href="http://www.akg-acoustics.com/english/he ... TUDIO">AKG 240 Studio</a> (which came out this year, I think) has a more powerfull capsule than the previous line and a detachable cable.
If you want my opinion though, I think it's a conspiracy between hearphone and chair manufacturers. These chair weels are especially made to crush hearphone cables so we have to buy more of them!
RedSun .:.
_________________
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music."
Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RedSun on 2002-07-05 22:15 ]</font>
Yeah, funny thing, I've been hrough lots of headphones as well and finally settled with the Sennheiser HD200 too !
Yes, you will step on the lead
Yes, with other headphones my ears have come out crumpled and sore
Yes, the Sennheiser's are extremely light - so light that I have literally forgotten that I'm wearing them (which leads neatly back to point one: Yes, you will step on the lead)
I'm using my second Sennheiser HD465 now. I've had one before and I found them very comfortable to wear (especially for us, wearing phones for long sessions) and sound excellent. I think they're about 100$.
I have to back atomic up on the senheiser choice. I've been using the HD575 for quite a while now, they sound good and they're very comfortable to wear even for session >10 hours.
I have some Beyerdynamic DT770s which are great closed back phones with nice bass extension and block out all sound. They are great monitoring phones.
I also have some Sennheiser HD600s which are absolutely amazing. The cleanest tightest headphones Ive ever heard. Greating for mixing or just listening to music. Extremely comfortable but probably out of your budget. I got them in a sale for £120 but they are worth every penny.
I've been looking at some cans as well. I've been recommended the Beyer DT 770 pro. I had a quick listen and they sounded great. But I'd be using them when recording vocals and acoustic guitar with condenser mics. Therefore I'd need fully closed cans.
Hi - I just wanted to say "Thank You" to everybody that contributed to this thread -
Now I am in a state of confusion: the place between ignorance and knowledge. I'll sort out all your suggestions and make a decision soon. I'll let you know what I decide.
Thanks again everybody, after studying your feedback and recommendations, I went with the Sennheiser HD280Pro -
Why I chose these
o circumaural (er whatever that is called - "full-enclosure-type")
o reviews are mostly favourable about sound quality
o user replaceable components
o -32db noise reduction
o 1/4" and 1/8" plugs included
o less than $100US
o they are portable (they fold up)
I'll let you all know what I think when they show up!
_________________ .:algorhythm:. shouldn't you be making music or something?
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: algorhythm on 2002-07-16 22:54 ]</font>
4 X Sennheiser HD280 Pro
2 X Sennheiser HD500
1 X Sennheiser HD590
1 X Sennheiser HD270
And we also tried the AKG 270/S and K141
The verdict?
HD280Pro by far the best for studio cue-mixes. Great isolation. No leakage. Sturdy with a re-coiling cable that keeps away from the feet. Fantastic bass, but also slight presence boost in the hi-mids, much like the AKG's, which aids in hearing the vocal lines.
HD500 - fantastic for loud guitarists/keyboardists who must listen to their live amp sound, flat, nice bass, detachable cable, open.
HD590 - oh so comfortable, my model of choice for long mixing sessions when it's time to give the Mackie's a break. Did I mention they were comfortable? HUUGE bass.
HD270 - light, light, light, closed and confortable. So light that I keep walking out of the booth still wearing them. Luckily they have a detachable cable too. Big bass. Flat sound. Some artists prefer these to the HD280Pro... not as loud mind you.
AKG's - When compared with the Sennheisers, they offered absoultely no bass and an extreme hi-mid range, and damn uncomforatable to wear. We returned them.
Just my 2.25c
(that's about what 5 cents US is worth in New Zealand)
but need advise and personal recommendations for headphones. 
