Headphones for Tascam Bass Trainer

Tymophil · #1 12-16-2007, 03:27 AM

Hi folks,

I just bought the Tascam Bass Trainer and found that my crapy Headphones set (Plantronics headset/microphone combo for PC use) cannot handle the sound of the bass.

I now need a new set of headphones to get the most of the Tascam Bass Trainer. I have no notion of what to get and I don't want to have to shop around with the bass, the Tascam Bass Trainer and a jack to test the headphones.

I have search for good sets over the Internet and found no advice from bass players, in relation with the Tascam Bass Trainer.

I tried to track down headphones with good bass... Maybe it's no so good an idea. I also search for headphones aimed at DJs for this very reason.

I have seen some advices for some headphones, and came up with the following list.

AKG K240 Studio

Audio Technica ATH D40 FS
Audio Technica ATH 910 Pro

Sony MDR-V500 DJ

Sennheiser HD 215
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Sennheiser HD 25 SP-II

Is there any obvious underdog in this list ? What would you be your recommandation ?

Thanks in advance.

DB5 · #2 12-16-2007, 08:06 AM

I use the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro with my Bass Trainer.

jdbutz · #3 12-16-2007, 09:47 AM

I've been thinking about the exact same thing, Tymophil! I saw some recommendations for the Grado SR60 and a bunch for the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. I haven't bought any, yet, so I'm looking for advice, as well.

Rumblejohn · #4 12-16-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DB5

I use the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro with my Bass Trainer.

+1, My local SamAsh has a display with most of the headphones they sell hooked up to a CD player, the 280pros where the best (to my ears) of any they had, including the $300 Sony. If there is a way for you to hear them in person, do it. Just like anything else, it has to suit you not us.

John

Tymophil · #5 12-16-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumblejohn

+1, My local SamAsh has a display with most of the headphones they sell hooked up to a CD player, the 280pros where the best (to my ears) of any they had, including the $300 Sony. If there is a way for you to hear them in person, do it. Just like anything else, it has to suit you not us.

John

My problem is that the Bass Trainer plays the MP3 files through my crappy headset just fine, while the bass sound is horribly distorted.

So my concern is how would my bass be heard through the Bass trainer in a certain set of headphones ?

I can't bring my bass, along with the Tascam Bass Trainer to the shop...

Maybe, the Bass Trainer is to blame and it cannot handle my active bass (active MEC P/J pickups on a Rockbass Streamer). So I prefer to ask here.

For the moment being the Sennheiser HD280 Pro seems the winner...

ihateusernames · #6 12-16-2007, 11:37 AM

Doesn't the MP3 version have an input level? I had the MKII CD trainer and could adjust the level of the bass to suit.

Tymophil · #7 12-16-2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihateusernames

Doesn't the MP3 version have an input level? I had the MKII CD trainer and could adjust the level of the bass to suit.

It does have this feature, but the sound of my bass is crap at any level...

Albatross · #8 12-16-2007, 02:15 PM

i have the cd version and my bass sounds distorted through it also....actually mine sounds distorted and some of the effects are bleeding through is yours doing that?

vinny · #9 12-16-2007, 11:14 PM

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro are the best cans for the money IMO.

no1likesme · #10 12-17-2007, 10:12 AM

Beyerdynamic dt770

seventhson · #11 12-17-2007, 11:03 AM

i have sennheisers, but i bought some cheap wireless headphones at radio shack because all of the wires (i use the power supply because it eats through batteries) coming out of the tascam unit were becoming unmanageable.

ack · #12 12-17-2007, 11:34 AM

I use the AKG 240 Studios with mine - they sound fine.
I've never tried the Steinhauser's, but I hear nothing but great things about them...

also, I have the CD version of the Trainer, and my bass doesn't sound too distorted through it. I agree that the on-board effects are fairly terrible, but I run out of my Zoom B2 pedal into the Tascam (using the pedal's effects), and it's great.

jdbutz · #13 12-17-2007, 12:06 PM

Ack, how do you run your Zoom B2 through your Trainer? I've got both and have never thought of that? Duh!

Tymophil · #14 12-17-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albatross

i have the cd version and my bass sounds distorted through it also....actually mine sounds distorted and some of the effects are bleeding through is yours doing that?

The sound is quite good if I play the Bass through the Tascam Bass player hooked to the AUX IN of my Fender Frontman 15B.

But when I use my crapy Plantronics headset the bass is distorted. The lower the note, the more distorted is the sound.

The effects are quite useless and produce rather awful sounds...

What headphones do you use ? Is your bass passive or active ?

Tymophil · #15 12-17-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventhson

i have sennheisers, but i bought some cheap wireless headphones at radio shack because all of the wires (i use the power supply because it eats through batteries) coming out of the tascam unit were becoming unmanageable.

Does the sound get distorted when you use the cheap headphones ?

I have the MP BT1 and the battery works fine, and doesn't require constant recharging.

ack · #16 12-17-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdbutz

Ack, how do you run your Zoom B2 through your Trainer? I've got both and have never thought of that? Duh!

Basically, I just unplug the output from the B2 (going to the amp) and plug it into the Bass-In on the Tascam - works well, and you have more input volume control using pedal gain knob.

Enjoy.

Ack

seventhson · #17 12-17-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tymophil

Does the sound get distorted when you use the cheap headphones ?

I have the MP BT1 and the battery works fine, and doesn't require constant recharging.

sounds fine through the wireless radio shack headphones. I have the CD tascam unit, so I'm starting with a "lossless" signal so that might be a factor.

radio shack has a decent return policy so check it out.

Tymophil · #18 12-18-2007, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventhson

sounds fine through the wireless radio shack headphones. I have the CD tascam unit, so I'm starting with a "lossless" signal so that might be a factor.

radio shack has a decent return policy so check it out.

Only the bass comes out with a bad sound, the MP3 play just fine.

Do you have passive pick-ups or active ones ?

By the way, I tried my Tascam Bass Trainer with a set cheap of Sony MDR-V150, the sound was just as bad as with the Plantronics.