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Best headphones for recording/mixing?

Eidolon0274

Eidolon0274

Inactive
Nov 12, 2014
1,397
2,396
Olympia WA
#1
I'm looking for a pair of higher end headphones to monitor with while recording and practice through as well, something that kicks hard enough so I don't miss the room filling low frequencies as much. I'd also be using these for mixing etc.

If it matters, I'm using an maudio interface into a DAW with a B7K as a pre
 
#3
Mixing and tracking have different requirements.

Open phones tend to be more accurate and are preferred for critical listening. I use Sennheiser HD 600s. A closed shell behind the driver creates resonances in the upper midrange.

Closed phones are needed for many tracking purposes to keep the playback sound from feeding into live mikes. I use DT 770 M, which is the drum/FOH version.

Otto
 
#4
This will always be a compromise. I have lots of headphones and simply use the AKG K267 more than any other one, esp. when playing bass. It has 3 different settings - that work mechanically - for studio, stage and club. No EQ involved. Feels very comfortable for a closed headphone and I like the possibility to connect the cable to both sides.
Others I own: K701, K240, K141.
 
#5
Most studios seems to prefer the AKG line of headphones (which is OK), but personally I like the way Beyerdynamics fit on the ears, which makes for more comfortable sessions. I'd say you'll be happy with either, just listen to a lot of music in your pair before you start any serious mixing.
 
#9
I use AKG 812 for mixing and Sennheisser HD-650's for day to day stuff. Listening to music (via a Chord Mojo DAC). Both are open backed so not really useful for tracking. Although AKG have just bought out a closed version of the 812's.

The AKG 812's are incredible in all respects. Pricey, but have proven a great investment for me.
The HD650's have a low end bump and are not accurate enough in the mids.
In the studio I am using the Rupert Neve Headphone Amp rather than direct from our Prism Headphone out. That tends to drive both models correctly.

K812 - SUPERIOR REFERENCE HEADPHONES | AKG Acoustics
 
#10
FacStudio said:
I use AKG 812 for mixing and Sennheisser HD-650's for day to day stuff. Listening to music (via a Chord Mojo DAC). Both are open backed so not really useful for tracking. Although AKG have just bought out a closed version of the 812's.

The AKG 812's are incredible in all respects. Pricey, but have proven a great investment for me.
The HD650's have a low end bump and are not accurate enough in the mids.
In the studio I am using the Rupert Neve Headphone Amp rather than direct from our Prism Headphone out. That tends to drive both models correctly.

K812 - SUPERIOR REFERENCE HEADPHONES | AKG Acoustics
Click to expand...

The measured responses of these two on headphone.com are interesting.

The K812 graph has a flat low end response from 30-300 Hz, but that whole region is about +7 dB relative to response at 1K. Then a considerable tilt down from 300 thru 1K down to a 5 dB dip around 2.5K. The HD 650 also has a substantial low end boost of about 5 dB over much of that range, but it rolls off more below 100, no doubt leaving a sense of a low end bump.

Otto
 
#11
ofajen said:
The measured responses of these two on headphone.com are interesting.

The K812 graph has a flat low end response from 30-300 Hz, but that whole region is about +7 dB relative to response at 1K. Then a considerable tilt down from 300 thru 1K down to a 5 dB dip around 2.5K. The HD 650 also has a substantial low end boost of about 5 dB over much of that range, but it rolls off more below 100, no doubt leaving a sense of a low end bump.

Otto
Click to expand...

Hi Otto, yes I have seen several graphs for most of these headphones and I think what the graphs fail to show is detail, resolution, and separation which are the essential things for mixing and mastering. The K812's dig really deep. Deeper than any others I have tried and I've tried them all in the search for a pair that work well. Plus we are all used to making some form of compensation with regards a truly flat response, whether studio monitors or in headphones. Studios being affected by acoustic treatment etc. I have had mine profiled by Sonarworks so I have an 'actual' profile that I can use to compensate for any response issues. I certainly don't have a +7dB at 1K or a 5dB at 2.5K, although 2.5K is in that 'irritating frequency zone' so for general listening it would be welcomed to reduce fatigue.

Bare in mind that in talking to Sonarworks, same models they profile can differ significantly between samples. So any review graph is just representative of that particular sample model. The proof is generally in the using and how mixes then relate in the real world.

In my view headphones should ideally be used as a check of a mix rather than for the whole mix. Some use headphones from start to finish, and that's fine, but headphones are not giving you the whole picture, particularly the width of the mix.

Like most things, the proof is in the use and not in the theory. Results count and with the AKGs I can get almost perfect mixes where my mastering guy at Sterling Sound rarely needs to excessively EQ.
 
#12
Yeah, I just found it interesting, not a problem.

When it comes to mixing and critical listening, I pretty much use headphones only as a reference on the low end since they have the advantage of avoiding room interactions. I could see the K812s excelling at this, since the low end looks to be well behaved. I wouldn't worry too much about a tilt down toward the mids, which is common in headphones, since I rely on speakers for that balance.

I don't look to headphones for resolution, separation and detail, since they generally have such an exaggerated stereo image and enhanced clarity of detail relative to speakers.

Otto
 
#13
I'm not surprised there is sample to sample variance, but I'd hope the more expensive brands and models would have better QC to minimize this.

I know this is the case for at least some high end microphone makers versus the cheap, large quantity capsules in cheap mikes. David Josephson's background was in QC before he started making mikes and he can document that his techs get pretty much 100% of all their mikes made to meet their very rigid spec when they are made and that they can guarantee their mikes will continue to meet that spec for several decades, given proper treatment.

This latter point is perhaps the more important thing to bear in mind regarding the cheaper mikes. You can "weed out the duds" and slap together cheap mikes using the fraction of capsules that start out pretty much on target, but if the QC isn't high in all phases, you can't rely on that performance remaining consistent over time.

Otto
 
#15
ofajen said:
Yeah, I just found it interesting, not a problem.

When it comes to mixing and critical listening, I pretty much use headphones only as a reference on the low end since they have the advantage of avoiding room interactions. I could see the K812s excelling at this, since the low end looks to be well behaved. I wouldn't worry too much about a tilt down toward the mids, which is common in headphones, since I rely on speakers for that balance.

I don't look to headphones for resolution, separation and detail, since they generally have such an exaggerated stereo image and enhanced clarity of detail relative to speakers.

Otto
Click to expand...

When I say resolution and separation I'm referring to the 'ability' to hear things clearly and in relation to other sounds (unmasked). We all know you can solo a track to EQ but it often sounds rubbish when you add it in the mix. I prefer to EQ in the mix and the 812's certainly help.

Also, the 812's are a much better tool for assessing reverb without any influence of the room.
 
#16
While it is important to use headphones that are relatively flat EQ-wise, and clear - I think it is equally important to use headphones that you know and are familiar with. That is, you should know what a "good mix" sounds like in your headphones. Whenever I am mixing, I always reference my cheap earbuds regularly - those are the headphones that I listen to on a daily basis, and I know what a good mix sounds like through them.

Not saying you shouldn't look into high-end headphones, but just bringing up something else to consider when mixing with headphones.
 
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#17
Luke19Boarder said:
While it is important to use headphones that are relatively flat EQ-wise, and clear - I think it is equally important to use headphones that you know and are familiar with. That is, you should know what a "good mix" sounds like in your headphones. Whenever I am mixing, I always reference my cheap earbuds regularly - those are the headphones that I listen to on a daily basis, and I know what a good mix sounds like through them.

Not saying you shouldn't look into high-end headphones, but just bringing up something else to consider when mixing with headphones.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with checking on ear buds.
 
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#19
I use Beyerdynamic model DT-990-Pro-250. Great headphones!

Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 Review

beyerdynamic-dt990pro-kopfhoerer-1_1_1.jpg
 

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