Headphones for mixing that can take a beating as well

The Lounge Other Gear
21

Interestingly, my AKG-702s seem to have developed the same lose connection issue between left/right speaker after just about 2 years . I do not tend to throw anything around though. Might be that the mini-xlr plug got pulled a bit harder on once or twice because I’m using a fairly short replacement cable.

Soundwise I’m quite happy with them, wouldn’t trust any review/opinion claiming they’re weak on bass. I’d say they’re rather bass heavy sometimes. Or my mixes suck. You never know… :wink:

Edit: Big No-No to HD-25s from my side. They sit very tight and you just can’t wear them for longer sessions and while being nice and loud for DJing I can’t imaging using them for proper mixing.

22

Well, I do think they’re somewhat weak in the lower ends. First, I figured, well, they’re headphones. This is why monitors should be used. Bass is a bit muddled, but that’s okay, that’s when I bring out the monitors.

Then, I’ve been told, nope, you can do better. I’ve learned to work on headphones now and apparently, there’s a next level step to be taken as far as clarity goes. I’m hearing Sennheiser and Shure mentioned in reviews more often than others, but when I ask around, like I do now, everybody seems to have a preference.

At a certain price point, I guess you just can’t go wrong. So there’s also that question, well, if my current price point is AKG712 - where is that next level and what do I have to shell out to get there?

1 Like
23

so i’ve used AKG K702s for years and imo they absolutely are very light in the bass and i have to account for this when mixing otherwise it’s really easy to overdo the bass. but apart from that they are extremely revealing and excellent for picking up mistakes (such as things being slightly out of tune) that more flattering headphones will mask. toughness wise they’ve lasted me over a decade and all i’ve had to replace were the earpads, this year. they are good as new except for where i accidentally melted part of the headband with a candle.

i’ve recently switched to the Austrian Audio Hi-X55, they seem very tough so far and they’ve travelled quite a lot. they’re closed-back but very airy as the drivers are quite far away from your ears and the cups are spacious. they get quite close to the AKG K702s for detail and but they have more bass. however they do not “slam” at all and are not in any way a “vibey” or fun listen (i also use them for listening to music when i’m travelling, and will probably replace them for that. i really, really like them for both their superb build quality and their revealing sound but they just are not fun)

24

I was put off Sennheiser after reading this page about how a cheaper model is identical to a more expensive model except for a piece of foam downgrading it.

http://mikebeauchamp.com/misc/sennheiser-hd-555-to-hd-595-mod/

I’ve had a couple of pairs of the Sony MDR-7506s, one for decades. I remember reading that they were found in many professional studios, though whether that is for durability or replacement price I do not know (probably both). I also bought DT880s because I wanted open-backs to spare my ears and because they have a more neutral sound than the 770 or 990. One apparently shouldn’t mix with open-backs, though.

1 Like
25

I’ve had the DT250’s for about 200 years and they just keep on going.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/beyerdynamic-dt250

I can imagine any of the other Beyerdynamic mentioned here being pretty much perfect

1 Like
26

I don’t find sony to be very neutral soundwise but if this is for your journalism bit they seem to hold up alright and are not as expensive as a high-end choice. ear cups feel ok but not very comfortable across the top of the head.

1 Like
27

For the Sony MDR 7506, I’ve bought the following ear pads:

They appear to influence the frequency response a bit but the durability is vastly improved and they are more comfortable to wear, compare to the original replacement ear pads.

1 Like
28

No, this is for mixing, so I need these to hold the line to get a mix just right. I’m prepare to shell out if there’s something over the rainbow that’s better than what I have now. Better meaning even more clear and revealing. I’m not looking for a pleasant listening experience, I’m looking for accuracy and durability. And since my AKG’s broken down again, perhaps this is an opportunity to explore both avenues at the same time.

I won’t end up in a context where I ever have a proper room, so if it makes a difference to spend some cash here, I’m prepared to do it.

1 Like
29

do you have a target impedance which you’re going for? If you’re to use them with your audio interface, you may want to see about the headphone output performance and work around that. getting a better set of cans is going to have as much benefit as you’re able to make use of them using your existing setup. you might check julian krause on youtube, he does a lot of audio interface performance measurement videos and reviews. headphone output is one thing he tests and reports on, your cans are 62 ohms, is that your comfort zone?

I don’t know which interface you have but you could give a quick look and see if he reviewed it, his testing is fairly scientific but any measurements which are taken as a single set of readings are never going to be as accurate as a case study with many tests over a period of time given that you have to factor in the potential inconsistencies of individual hardware can throw off results. still better than nothing.
Julian Krause - YouTube

1 Like
30

Confirmed sighting of a typical @circuitghost mixing session

image

Will be interested in hearing what you choose, and after action report.

3 Likes
31

i haven’t heard this, what’s it all about? i always assumed open backs were considered more accurate

1 Like
32

Got no interface :slight_smile: blackbox and OP-1 Field, or TX-6, are my interfaces :slight_smile:

It’s worked so far, though. But maybe if I go further, I’m going to need an interface or a headphone amp.

In which case, I’m out and will revert back to my 712’s and just get them repaired. I’m not getting another box for this.

1 Like
33

I don’t actually mix; this is an impression I got, so I could well be completely wrong. There’s going to be more ambient noise, of course.

34

ah you mean DJ mixing? that would make sense

35

I’m just quoting the internet on this but tx6 has settings for headphones rated between 32 ohm and 600 ohm so no need for an interface if you’re comfortable with your process. That’s a good piece of kit for what you’re using it for, as long as you aren’t lacking in connectivity (sounds like you aren’t). If I had to go back I might have paid extra for an apollo but as it stands, it doesn’t sound like you need that as your workflow is well contained.

36

My goto resource for this sort of thing (where I stand a chance of understanding it) is S-o-S Mixing On Headphones

Pros and cons for open vs closed. This article is over a decade old, however and I suspect some of the issues may have been worked on. No advice that I could see on choices that could also take a beating though.

2 Likes
37

Also the DT 770 Pro, they have never let me down in the last 10 years and they have endured all kinds of things, I love closed headphones, their sound and even more their comfort, I can wear them for hours.

38

Headphones are a bit of a complicated subject, since measurements may not be consistent across different sources (differences in technique and rig), different places use different target curves, and not everyone has the same preferences.

Personally, I am not a fan of Sony audio products.
Their speakers and headphones never sound “right” to me, even if they’re EQ’d to measure flat with tools like Sonarworks.

Sennheiser’s HD600-series is the opposite of that, where everything sounds natural.
There are no significant differences across the range - though the HD600 is considered to be the most neutral if you are going to be using them without EQ.
They don’t extend out to the very low sub-bass frequencies, but few open-back headphones can pull that off.

I find the HD600s quite comfortable now, but they did clamp tightly to my head out of the box.
You can stretch out the metal parts of the band a bit, or leave them stretched out over a box/stack of books/yoga block to lessen it, but that aspect of them has never been quite right - and even though they’re on the lighter side of monitoring headphones, there are days when I just can’t wear them if I have a mild headache.

Beyerdynamic headphones are quite varied across the range, and a lot of their models have piercing treble - so I’d definitely look for reviews of specific models, or try them out before buying one.
The new “Pro X” range seems well-regarded, at a reasonable price - though I do find that round headphones like those are less comfortable than oval ones (especially if your chair has a headrest).

I’ve never had good success with any modern AKG headphones.
Even if they sound good, I’ve found them to have fragile/unreliable build quality, using plastic in parts that take stress.
The K371 measure well for a closed-back headphone at a low price, but you lose the low-end if they aren’t fitted right or shift about on your head. I’ve heard many tales about them snapping too.
Same story with Austrian Audio’s products.

These are smoothed measurements though, which makes everything look better - and it doesn’t include things like distortion measurements.
So don’t take it as the last word on these headphones.

Planar headphones seem to perform better than dynamic headphones, especially at lower frequencies; but they tend to be more fragile.
Most are also very large and heavy, too.

1 Like
39

I went from K712 Pros to HD600s and FWIW I definitely wouldn’t go back. The latter might be a bit more ‘boring’ in a sense but I think it’s more a case of the lows/mids being exaggerated on the K712 and the high end being kind of muddled. The soundstage of the K712 was fun, but it’s so unusually wide that I’m not sure it gives you a picture which would translate in many other contexts.

The HD600s have a pretty plasticky feel but it’s deceptive IMO, I’ve dropped/knocked mine a good few times and there’s not a mark on them. They seem quite user repairable too, as far as I can tell. I’m not sure where you’re based but it’s worth keeping an eye on their refurbished deals if they’re available to you - I got mine for £180 that way and they looked brand new, which seems to be the norm with them.

40

No love for these? I keep reading excellent stuff about these but I’ll be damned if I can find a single musician out there actually using them, or hardly know about them -