Not for producing or mixing but I will give a recommendation for headphones for just listening to music. Recently i lost my earbuds and had to use my old MDR XB950N1. Man I am so happy! It’s more comfortable and beautiful sound. I don’t think i will go back!
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Got myself DT 880 as 2nd pair to use them for mobile listening and for Digitone tweak on the couch.
I found the SoundID reference is in the app store of Android.
Compared to DT 1990 they are not as good, but atill sound top. Tried 770 at a Music store, and was really unsure if i would like the lesser models, but are really pleased with them in combination with SoundID.
(Bought the 880 blind, because i like how these beyerdynamics fit, can be worn for long sessions.)
Hey all
currently dt1990 pro with analytical pads are my mixing reference
I want to get some iems for use with my old DN1 at my parents house and testing gear in shops/shows. Was thinking the Etymotic ER4SR or XR … anyone here have experience with these? As I mix with SoundID reference with my DT1990 pros (they get a sub-bass bump) I was leaning to the XRs with the slight bass boost vs the super flat SRs , cheers
I had the Etymotic ER4SR
very flat and beautiful sounding - careful with volume as they go very deep in the ear canal - a wrong volume setting will kill your eardrum
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uff good point. yeah that could be super dangerous as you’re making any significant filter changes or something. Or at a show testing a new synth.
i have airpods pro and they have perhaps some safety limit for dB. At least via the phone
Getting a bluetooth receiver to plug into gear work OK?
I got the Sennheiser HD490 PRO Plus and have to say even if I am not a fanboy of Sennheiser these play way above their league and are the most comfy headphones i ever had. Bass response is on par with some really expensive magnetostaic headphones and they translate perfectly on almost all systems. You just hear if something doesn’t sound right. The sound signature is really nice for long sessions and the amount of detail is just phenomenal
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I also rock the ER2SE.
Anyone went from sennheiser hd650 to some different ones? Looking for something that can be a upgrade for those. Had them 10 years i think…
Unless you’re willing to spend substantially more money, just keep them. They are brilliant and sound very natural. They do lack some sub bass and aren’t the most open sounding cans but otherwise they are hard to beat. I listen to HD600/650 for about 20 years now and haven’t found anything that’s really better and easy to use at the same time.
PS: Also tried some Stax, HD800, Focal Clear and some other expensive stuff. Although I might consider something from Dan Clark Audio in the future…
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I have had the HD650 for more than 10 years and I struggled to replace them -
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I do recommend the ER2XR! They have some more sub bass and don’t roll of so early. But IEMs in general have received extreme advancements in the last couple years, so something like the Truthear x Crinacle Zero (for about 50 eurodollars) does sound better and has an extremely flat frequency response, rivalling much, much more expensive full size headphones.
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For mixing purposes you want a flat sounding earphone/headphone
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Ok im on a new closed back headphone search. I thought it would be easy “upgrading” from Status Audio CB-1 because these were $60 (BUT loved by a studio engineer friend of mine). I do really like them and think they do the best job yet of getting a mix close….
But im dreaming that i will get a headphone that has great clarity, functional freq response for mixing, and reviews well on ASR website in terms of technical details (no serious flaws re: distortion etc) and sounds inspiring for recording……jack of all trades.
I just bought and will be returning(?) Focal Lensys. Really nice on electronic sources but the vocal/guitar midrange is strange. Vocals are buried a bit and acoustic guitar is difficult to place
In the mix. Their fidelity/clarity is excellent though. Bass is killer. Detailed. Kicks vs bass guitar vs bass synths are highly resolved.
I now have on order DT1770 mkii and Neumann NDH20……hopefully one of these works:).
Have you tried any AKG headphones man? It’s not $60 but I thought the price of my AKG K371 was super reasonable, they’re well reviewed and sound very good. They’ve been said to have a very even frequency response and I think they test well on the harmon curve, whatever that exactly means.
Only drawback is there is some evidence that the hinge, or basically the part of the band where it connects to the earcups is weak if you abuse them, so if it’s something to knock around in a backpack maybe not, but if it’s just in your home studio and whatnot, I would definitely check out a couple of reviews.
They’re much better than my closed back sony headphones which I think cost more at the time, and I think they’re equally comfortable.
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Interesting. ASR review is glowing, which rarely happens! That being said, ASR is all about the harman curve and i dont know why the planet decided that IS the target?
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These are fantastic, curious to hear your take on them once you receive them.
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@hausland will do!
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Ok @hausland and anyone else interested:
TLDR = going with NDH20
I compared Neumann NDH20, Focal Lensys, Beyerdynamic DT1770 pro mkii, Status Audio CB-1
I ruled out DT1770 quite quickly only because too much bass that was too smoothed out/unarticulate. From previous experience i know how bass heavy headphones dont translate well to speaker sources and just add problems to mixes.
My thoughts on Focals were confirmed once the dt1770 and ndh20 arrived-the focals do weird things to the midrange. I think if i was only doing electronic stuff without guitars or much vocals, i’d love these because below 300 hz ish there is so much detail. I could have a mix differentiate a couple different kicks, a mono synth, and a bass guitar really well. But with regular ol well known sources, above 300 hz ish is inauthentic to me.
NDH20 have tight enough bass frequencies, not overbearing and not muddy. Everything else just sounds more accurate across freq spectrum. Theyre a more enjoyable/exciting listen as well. Maybe a touch non-linear hyped in places in higher frequencies. Dont know how that might affect my mixes but i dont think it will be a problem.
And all of them compared to the status audio cb-1? These headphones do a good job of capturing the overall vibe of a mix (its just that the bass is no fun) and thus translate quickly to monitors for me….so if i was just looking for a way to make sure headphones dont lie about the mix, they really are a solid performer id say. But ASR shows serious THD issues with them so its probably better to go with @shigginpit akg k371 suggestion. I think i should buy some of those to try since they’re analytically “good” and so reasonably priced (edit, incoming for the life mission, the tone quest)!
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I just got NDH30 and they are very revealing and non fatiguing. I’m sure the NDH20 are a great choice.
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If my Beyerdynamic DT 1990s (which I really like!) ever break I’ll probably go with a pair of NDH30’s next time - I love my Neumann monitors
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