good headphones for mixing/mastering

reiko57 · 10-27-2009, 12:28 AM

what are some decent ones for 150-200 bucks? or if you know of a steal please let me know, i badly need some, its driving me crazy not having any so i'm gonna sell my ps3 and the games, i figure thats good for 200 bucks. so help me out, i know theres some pros around here

Hype8 · 10-27-2009, 01:36 AM

Sony V6's. professional quality, and $65 on amazon. they're outstanding phones.

Amazon.com: Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil: Electronics

reiko57 · 10-27-2009, 01:57 AM

thank u sir, i might just sell the psp then lol

music_phantom13 · 10-27-2009, 07:58 PM

I have a pair of Sennheiser eH350 headphones that I got for my birthday that I know for a fact were found for about $65 versus the $130 they usually cost. If you can find them on sale, I think they are really powerful, quality headphones. I won't lie, I'm not an expert on the topic so I honestly don't know much about headphones. What I do know is, mine are some of the best ones I've personally ever had the pleasure of hearing.

The Musicophile · 10-28-2009, 01:18 PM

Mixing on headphones isn't generally advised, and Mastering on headphones just isn't done (not professionally anyway). Speakers are better for various different reasons. But if you absolutely have to use headphones, look on the Sound on Sound magazine website (I can't post a link but googling it should work) and search 'mixing on headphones'. There are a couple of good articles on there which advise a certain model I can't remember the name of, and you can be sure you're getting pro advice.

reiko57 · 10-29-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Musicophile

Mixing on headphones isn't generally advised, and Mastering on headphones just isn't done (not professionally anyway). Speakers are better for various different reasons. But if you absolutely have to use headphones, look on the Sound on Sound magazine website (I can't post a link but googling it should work) and search 'mixing on headphones'. There are a couple of good articles on there which advise a certain model I can't remember the name of, and you can be sure you're getting pro advice.

i usually just run it through a mastering filter and make minor adjustments, im not pro man but the mixing is what takes most of my time, i gotta do something, mixing on these computer speakers just isn't an option

music_phantom13 · 10-30-2009, 08:01 AM

Oh I wouldn't mix or master on headphones, because it will sound a lot different through speakers. But if you're just trying to make some music, you can definitely start out on headphones particularly if you're in a situation where you can't blast your speakers. It's a lot easier to hear than trying to listen quietly through speakers. And if you can't turn up the speakers, you might not have a choice for mixing and mastering.

Freebase Dali · 11-02-2009, 11:07 PM

I generally like to use headphones during production and basic leveling stuff, as it keeps the noise down and I get a better ear on what my reverbs and details are doing, but as mentioned before, using headphones for the entire mixing process is not advisable. If you absolutely can't invest in some decent studio monitors, at least A/B reference between your cans and whatever speakers you have - and the almighty car test - to get a general idea of where your averages are. The more you're able to reference with, the more informed you'll be when making your mixing decisions. Just keep in mind the strengths and weaknesses of each listening medium and factor that in. You can do comparisons with professionally recorded material you like the sound of through your referencing medium to get a general picture of the referencing medium's strengths/weaknesses.

That said, I somehow get good results with a simple pair of JVC HA-M1000's. They just work well with the way I mix, and I don't find myself having to correct much when I start mixing through my monitors.

I made a mistake of buying those Sony MDR - 7509HD's which were given accolades and were supposed to be the next 7506's, which are supposedly industry standards for media application, and they sound like absolute garbage. Huge bump in the high-mids, harsh highs, and no low end response at all... Sounds like you're tracking in a tin can that's situated inside a toilet in a metal bathroom. Horribly narrow freq-response. Don't buy them.

If you're searching around for a cost-effective, decent pair of phones, just try to find something that doesn't boost any freqs if possible. Trying them out is a good idea. Bring a CD you're very familiar with to a local shop and run it through different headphones and take note of which phones portray the music the most honestly and that's within your price-range. That may help you pick some headphones that won't work against you as much as some of them definitely will.

sheraton · 02-14-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by music_phantom13

I have a pair of Sennheiser eH350 headphones that I got for my birthday that I know for a fact were found for about $65 versus the $130 they usually cost. If you can find them on sale, I think they are really powerful, quality headphones. I won't lie, I'm not an expert on the topic so I honestly don't know much about headphones. What I do know is, mine are some of the best ones I've personally ever had the pleasure of hearing.

yep anything from sennheiser will be great good balanced neutral sound
had a few pairs from their cheapest to about mid range and i found
recordings to sound balanced on different playback systems

GuitarBizarre · 02-14-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheraton

yep anything from sennheiser will be great good balanced neutral sound
had a few pairs from their cheapest to about mid range and i found
recordings to sound balanced on different playback systems

Try a pair of Sennheiser CX300s and you'll be badly disappointed. On the same token, try a pair of Grado Sr60's and observe audio perfection.

10-27-2009, 12:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
reiko57 Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: kansas city Posts: 52	good headphones for mixing/mastering what are some decent ones for 150-200 bucks? or if you know of a steal please let me know, i badly need some, its driving me crazy not having any so i'm gonna sell my ps3 and the games, i figure thats good for 200 bucks. so help me out, i know theres some pros around here __________________ last.fm

10-27-2009, 01:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hype8 Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: california Posts: 191	Sony V6's. professional quality, and $65 on amazon. they're outstanding phones. Amazon.com: Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil: Electronics __________________

10-27-2009, 01:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
reiko57 Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: kansas city Posts: 52	thank u sir, i might just sell the psp then lol __________________ last.fm

11-02-2009, 11:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I generally like to use headphones during production and basic leveling stuff, as it keeps the noise down and I get a better ear on what my reverbs and details are doing, but as mentioned before, using headphones for the entire mixing process is not advisable. If you absolutely can't invest in some decent studio monitors, at least A/B reference between your cans and whatever speakers you have - and the almighty car test - to get a general idea of where your averages are. The more you're able to reference with, the more informed you'll be when making your mixing decisions. Just keep in mind the strengths and weaknesses of each listening medium and factor that in. You can do comparisons with professionally recorded material you like the sound of through your referencing medium to get a general picture of the referencing medium's strengths/weaknesses. That said, I somehow get good results with a simple pair of JVC HA-M1000's. They just work well with the way I mix, and I don't find myself having to correct much when I start mixing through my monitors. I made a mistake of buying those Sony MDR - 7509HD's which were given accolades and were supposed to be the next 7506's, which are supposedly industry standards for media application, and they sound like absolute garbage. Huge bump in the high-mids, harsh highs, and no low end response at all... Sounds like you're tracking in a tin can that's situated inside a toilet in a metal bathroom. Horribly narrow freq-response. Don't buy them. If you're searching around for a cost-effective, decent pair of phones, just try to find something that doesn't boost any freqs if possible. Trying them out is a good idea. Bring a CD you're very familiar with to a local shop and run it through different headphones and take note of which phones portray the music the most honestly and that's within your price-range. That may help you pick some headphones that won't work against you as much as some of them definitely will. __________________

10-27-2009, 07:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
music_phantom13 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 942	I have a pair of Sennheiser eH350 headphones that I got for my birthday that I know for a fact were found for about $65 versus the $130 they usually cost. If you can find them on sale, I think they are really powerful, quality headphones. I won't lie, I'm not an expert on the topic so I honestly don't know much about headphones. What I do know is, mine are some of the best ones I've personally ever had the pleasure of hearing.

10-28-2009, 01:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
The Musicophile Groupie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 19	Mixing on headphones isn't generally advised, and Mastering on headphones just isn't done (not professionally anyway). Speakers are better for various different reasons. But if you absolutely have to use headphones, look on the Sound on Sound magazine website (I can't post a link but googling it should work) and search 'mixing on headphones'. There are a couple of good articles on there which advise a certain model I can't remember the name of, and you can be sure you're getting pro advice.

10-30-2009, 08:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
music_phantom13 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 942	Oh I wouldn't mix or master on headphones, because it will sound a lot different through speakers. But if you're just trying to make some music, you can definitely start out on headphones particularly if you're in a situation where you can't blast your speakers. It's a lot easier to hear than trying to listen quietly through speakers. And if you can't turn up the speakers, you might not have a choice for mixing and mastering.