Best Monitor headphones for $100 or less?!

[mdjuszyn]

I got a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M40fs for $69 (Sweetwater) a couple weeks ago and they are very good. Flat frequency response which is what I wanted for mixing and monitoring.

[9mmMike]

Originally Posted by mdjuszyn

I got a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M40fs for $69 (Sweetwater) a couple weeks ago and they are very good. Flat frequency response which is what I wanted for mixing and monitoring.

Muscians Friend has these listed for $51.45.

[mizu]

Originally Posted by hgiles

i have the SONY 7506 and sometimes wear them all day without a problem. The sound quaality is the best Ive ever heard from headphones.

I agree too. Use them daily for two years, no problems, likely to last me another ten or so. Build quality is very good, there is even a blow-up schematic on the package! With parts numbers, too.
Pads are already disintegrating, though.

Not the choice for listening to music, they have pretty flat response and sound a bit harsh in the mids due to Fletcher–Munson curves. But for mixing or practicing? If there is a problem, you'll hear it.

[Tupac]

My cat chewed through my trusty pair of Sennheiser HD428. Any better alternatives in the $60 price range?

[theLimeyBrit]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Also, I'm super interested in the phones Monoprice have been coming out with. I'm a huge fan of their A/V products and have heard great things about the 8323. For $24, they can't be terrible....

I wishlisted the 8323 as a result of goldenglory18's quoted post, but I just noticed that it's actually a MHP-839- this is what comes up when you search Amazon for the Monoprice 8323. Anyone know if there's a difference?

[theLimeyBrit]

A search for MHP-839 at Monoprice's site doesn't have any results, so I'm assuming that's Amazon's designation for the 8323, but I'd appreciate it if anyone can tell me definitively.

[Stone Soup]

Originally Posted by uhdinator

The HD280 are more mid range heavy and not great to me.

Here is a response curve for the HD-280 Pro.


The ATH-M50 is boosted a bit more in the low frequencies.

[Gideon352]

I've got a set of the Audio Technica ATH-M50's. They're great. I use those for tracking and general listening. Really good low end without being too hyped.

I also use AKG 701's for general listening and mixing, but they're open backs (and a little more expensive).

[christopherogut]

Grado SR80i

[Big Brother]

I have an old and still very excellent pair of Etymotic 4s headphones which are pretty flat but they don't fit my ears well and hurt after awhile. The bass is a little weak though as flat as they are.

Anyone have any experience with the new Velodyne Vpulse headphones? I hear good things about clean articulate bass but I don't know any bass players who have tried them and who know what they are listening for.

[Silver Blues]

I use a pair of Sony MDR-V150s, not sure if they still make them. They have a really flat frequency response, I find, yet still pretty clear in the lows. (They can punch when called on.)

--Silvie

[eukatheude]

I have the M50's and love them. I wish i found them for 100$ too, i paid 150€...

[wrench45us]

did you look/listen to the Grado 80's?
not the prettiest or the most comfortable, but great detailed reference headphones

http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige.../dp/B000G3LCQC

[christopherogut]

Originally Posted by wrench45us

did you look/listen to the Grado 80's?
not the prettiest or the most comfortable, but great detailed reference headphones

... that's why I suggested 'em

I've got a pair of Grado SR325i's for quality listening at home and a pair of older Grado SR60's for listening at work. Excellent clarity and surprisingly good bass response for an open design without substantial ear cups.

[Silver Blues]

Originally Posted by wrench45us

did you look/listen to the Grado 80's?
not the prettiest or the most comfortable, but great detailed reference headphones

http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige.../dp/B000G3LCQC

+1. I find them pretty comfortable, though, obviously YMMV.

--Silvie

[scottfeldstein]

I see the legendary Sony MDR-7506 mentioned, but nobody has yet pointed out that they're the exact same headphones as the MDR-V6? I got mine for like $65 off Amazon. Afterward I did an A/B comparison with a set of 7506 and they were, as expected, indistinguishable.

There are other full range, flat response studio monitor headphones out there. But as far as I know there are none this good for cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Mo.../dp/B00001WRSJ

[KrisHayes]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

I paid $104.95 at B&H Photo in NYC ... http://www.bandhphoto.com

Yeah B&H always blow their stuff out, honestly sometimes have stuff below retailer's COST (not retail price). Never could figure out how they do it, legally at least..

[Big Brother]

Originally Posted by KrisHayes

Yeah B&H always blow their stuff out, honestly sometimes have stuff below retailer's COST (not retail price). Never could figure out how they do it, legally at least..

I wonder too, I suppose the volume of accessories?

B&H is legit but I've never figured out how NYC and specifically Brooklyn became a global leader in online camera retailers. They were undercutting everyone for awhile and many were pretty scammy but they still sold some real cheap stuff. One would think the overhead would mover them to Bangkok so there must be something else going on.

Seems like a lot of grey market cameras 'fall off the truck' there before making it to the docks.

[Leo Smith]

I also recommend Grado headphones.

[JHandley]

Sony MDR-V6 here as well.
Very happy with them.
Jeff