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Headphones and headphone amp recommendations please

I

Inconnu

Nov 1, 2005
2,407
1,148
Montreal, Canada
#1
Hi there!

My old Sennheiser HD 270 headphones are getting tired, so I’ll need a new pair. I wish the new ones to be an upgrade and I’m thinking of a budget between $100 and $150. The purpose: silent practice and recording, premixing (I own monitors).

My other question is about some sort of headphone amp. I’m using an audio interface that only has one issue: the volume of the input you’re feeding it is weak. Whatever I do, the input sound compared to the playback is weak and if I balance out both input and playback, the overall volume is weak. So I think I need an headphone amp to hook up after the headphone Jack of the interface. What should I look for? I all ready have a cheap Behringer small box thingy that doesn’t even have an on/off switch, but I’m thinking about something better and perhaps neutral sounding.

Thanks all!
 
#10
I can't recommend Beyerdynamic DT770s enough for those of us that reside in the low end. They come in a few different impedences to match whatever amp you get. They're closed back, but not isolating (but not far off), and are a studio standard. Additionally, they are super comfortable for long periods of time, and you can replace the pads if your drummer sweats all over them. ~$150.

If you're just looking for a headphone amp that you can use with other sources (computer, stereo, etc.), Schiit Audio makes some interesting stuff. The Magni/Modi combo isn't priced too high but will be miles ahead of any built-in headphone amp types of things. If you want something with modeling and things of that nature I'm sure other folks here will chime in.
 
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#11
I always advise as much serious headphones as you can afford, and steer clear of those little battery-powered toy headphone devices that can often lack the power/headroom to reproduce bass, and to match your headphone impedance to the device that's powering them. Same thing with drug store earbuds or $20 WalMart headphones if you want to hear yourself properly.

In headphones, essentially their rated impedance is a guide as to how loud they may be wih a given device, generally the lower the impdedance, the louder THIS pair will be vs. a competing headphone with a higher impedance on the same driving device. And I'm REALLY no fan of the mini-plug, 1/8" stereo plugs, way too easy to snap off.

After many hits and misses, I use Audio Technica AT40fs out of a Mackie 1202VLZ. The Mackie is obviously AC powered with a 1-watt headphone output, and the inputs on the first 4 channels are combination XLR/1/4" to the Mackie VLZ preamps. With this, I can get REALLY loud in the headphones with no headroom issues at all.

And of course, with 1/4" inputs on the Mackie, it's nothing to use your pedals, a tube channel to warm things up, etc., or you can route throught the effects sends in the mixer, or input any source you want to play along with. Lots of used and barely used Mackie 12's of different vintages are out there as lots of players or groups start with one, then go bigger, and sell off these little gems.
 
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#12
J Wilson said:
I always advise as much serious headphones as you can afford, and steer clear of those little battery-powered toy headphone devices that can often lack the power/headroom to reproduce bass, and to match your headphone impedance to the device that's powering them. Same thing with drug store earbuds or $20 WalMart headphones if you want to hear yourself properly.

In headphones, essentially their rated impedance is a guide as to how loud they may be wih a given device, generally the lower the impdedance, the louder THIS pair will be vs. a competing headphone with a higher impedance on the same driving device. And I'm REALLY no fan of the mini-plug, 1/8" stereo plugs, way too easy to snap off.

After many hits and misses, I use Audio Technica AT40fs out of a Mackie 1202VLZ. The Mackie is obviously AC powered with a 1-watt headphone output, and the inputs on the first 4 channels are combination XLR/1/4" to the Mackie VLZ preamps. With this, I can get REALLY loud in the headphones with no headroom issues at all.

And of course, with 1/4" inputs on the Mackie, it's nothing to use your pedals, a tube channel to warm things up, etc., or you can route throught the effects sends in the mixer, or input any source you want to play along with. Lots of used and barely used Mackie 12's of different vintages are out there as lots of players or groups start with one, then go bigger, and sell off these little gems.
Click to expand...
+1 for the Mackie 1202 VLZ. A very capable mixer that was way ahead of its time when first introduced. I have and still use one for several different applications.
 
#13
I took @micguy's advice and bought Shure SRH440A. I'm no expert but I can say that they're a lot clearer than Sennheiser HD569. They're clearer throughout, probably, but especially where I need them to be to hear bass guitar better.
 
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#16
Jefus said:
I can't recommend Beyerdynamic DT770s enough for those of us that reside in the low end. They come in a few different impedences to match whatever amp you get. They're closed back, but not isolating (but not far off), and are a studio standard. Additionally, they are super comfortable for long periods of time, and you can replace the pads if your drummer sweats all over them.
Click to expand...
+1 on the DT770s - I’ve used them for years. Not only are they studio-standard, they are completely rebuildable, so they’ll last a lifetime, and the pads can actually be washed - I’ve never needed to replace mine.

For a headphone amp, you can’t go wrong with a Phil Jones Bighead. It’s a pricey option, but worth every penny.
 
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#18
Cave Puppy said:
+1 for the Mackie 1202 VLZ. A very capable mixer that was way ahead of its time when first introduced. I have and still use one for several different applications.
Click to expand...

You know CP, it's one of those things you don't think you need, but once you have one laying around, it really becomes a aural Swiss Army Knife. And they're BUILT. The later iterations with the VLZ preamps are the best for bass, they'll only distort if you go way past stoopid on the trim and gain.
 
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#19
J Wilson said:
I always advise as much serious headphones as you can afford, and steer clear of those little battery-powered toy headphone devices that can often lack the power/headroom to reproduce bass, and to match your headphone impedance to the device that's powering them. Same thing with drug store earbuds or $20 WalMart headphones if you want to hear yourself properly.

In headphones, essentially their rated impedance is a guide as to how loud they may be wih a given device, generally the lower the impdedance, the louder THIS pair will be vs. a competing headphone with a higher impedance on the same driving device. And I'm REALLY no fan of the mini-plug, 1/8" stereo plugs, way too easy to snap off.

After many hits and misses, I use Audio Technica AT40fs out of a Mackie 1202VLZ. The Mackie is obviously AC powered with a 1-watt headphone output, and the inputs on the first 4 channels are combination XLR/1/4" to the Mackie VLZ preamps. With this, I can get REALLY loud in the headphones with no headroom issues at all.

And of course, with 1/4" inputs on the Mackie, it's nothing to use your pedals, a tube channel to warm things up, etc., or you can route throught the effects sends in the mixer, or input any source you want to play along with. Lots of used and barely used Mackie 12's of different vintages are out there as lots of players or groups start with one, then go bigger, and sell off these little gems.
Click to expand...
This is kind of what I use, occasionally switching to the Sennheiser HD 270's ( they are more comfortable ). I use a Mackie 402VLZ4. The Mackie is very impressive for this kind of use, with two instrument level switches. A perfect " desktop " device.
 

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