Headphones For Practice - Help!

[Don't Panic]

Hey, Lately my weekly schedule got really busy, so the only time left for me to play is at night when everyone's asleep. Since I'm tired of trying to play on low volume and getting yelled at, I'm looking for headphones that are good enough to carry an electric bass (and make it sound good), plus a song or a click track.

I have zero knowledge on headphones and frequencies, so i would greatly thank you if you could give me some information on what I should look for and even some specific models to try.

Thanks!

[markjazzbassist]

I would recommend getting a Cafe Walter Headphone Amp.

http://www.cafewalter.com/ha1/index.htm

For headphones I'd recommend Sennheiser HD-280's. I use both at home and love it for late night jamming.

[Bellbass]

I use a small mixer so I can plug in a bass and a few other sources (computer, drum machine and/or MP3). They always have an headphone preamp. It's surely not as good as the one suggested by Markjazz but it's good enough for my needs. As far as headphones are concerned, I'm also looking for the right pair so I'll be listening to what fellow TBers have to say. A tech I know did recommand the HD-280.

[Thangfish]

I'm looking too.
I have tried various ear bud types.

Currently Koss cheapies. Usable with low B, but nothing special.
I think it's more a function of the crushable ear-plug type cushion that I like about these.
Well, maybe the $10 price tag too.

Would like to try Shure E2, but you can't sample the in ear types in stores.

Have tried Sony MDR7506 at GC, and they sound ok I guess but IMO they wouldn't be good for bass practice. They had a 1 note bottom end, despite their 10hz freq response rating. I have never trusted Sony's published specs anyway.

I think I'm going to try some Grado SR 60 or 80 if I can find a decent price on the 'bay.

[anesthetist]

i use some Sennheiser HD-202's, use them for everything.

[BullCityBass]

Grado's are nice because they are open-air headphones, they sound much more natural and less like your are playing through headphones.

If you go the sealed route, like the sony 7506's you may get a decent bass response but it really sounds just like you are playing through a pair of headphones.

I play with Grado SR-125's and they sound very nice. If you want cheaper open-air phones, the Sennheiser PX-100's are nice too, great bass response out of a small set of cans.

[spideyjg]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

I would recommend getting a Cafe Walter Headphone Amp.

http://www.cafewalter.com/ha1/index.htm

For headphones I'd recommend Sennheiser HD-280's. I use both at home and love it for late night jamming.

What he said.

The Cafe Walter you can plug in a .mp3 player or drum machine or whatever and with some good isolation cans like the HD-280's you are in your own little world.

You could do the same with a small mixer but the CW is self contained and runs on batteries for a real long time.

[ballpein]

I've been using the Senn HD 280's for a couple months now and am pretty darn happy with them. The bass sounds full and present, but still clean, not boomy or over-hyped.

[BassWombat]

Here's another vote for the Sennheiser PX-100s... in fact I've just wandered over to the computer after using them with a Phil Jones Bass Buddy (another great headphone practise device) while running an iPod into it. I like the fact that I don't feel like I've got something heavy on my head and the sound is just fine.

I've also got a pair of top-end Sony DJ headphones but, while the bass is great, they are just too heavy for extended playing (god knows how DJs use them for long sets!).

It's weird looking at your picture spideyjg... that's what the floor of my lounge room looks like right now, and while the components are different, in a bizarre coincidence I'm also using a Bayou blue cable (which I'm guessing is what you have there)!