Headphones for Learning DAW/Mixing

[J Posega]

I know it's best to mix in a treated room with properly placed and spaced monitors.

I don't have the money for that. I'm taking a class in DAW production where one of our primary homework assignments we will be to take rough-mixed songs and goals for mixing them. I know that having a variety of listening sources is important, and I've got a nice set of speakers to listen through, plus the crap in my car for comparisons.

Anyway, my budget is in the $100-150 range, though if there's something up in the realm of $175 I will consider it since they should last me a good long while.

What are some great headphones in my price range?

 

[JackANSI]

Headphones seem to be very personal to people, you'll find some pretty varied and strong opinions... People spend small fortunes on these things, so they like to think they always got the best.

The internet is probably not the best place to ask. I'd ask the person teaching you just so you hear what he/she hears and his/her feedback will make more sense.

Anyway, I still like the Sony MDR-V6 and/or MDR-7506 for just about everything. Just my opinion.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

I've never used them, but Audio-Technica ATH-M50's are fairly highly regarded from what I've read:

Amazon.com: Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones: Musical Instruments

I don't have any super nice headphones, but my favorite pair that I own are these Tascams:

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I don't know if I would recommend them for 100$, but they occasionally go on sale (I got 2 pairs for 40$ each, and LOVE them at that price).

Whatever you choose - make sure you know them. Be familiar with what they sound like - if you want professional results, make sure you know what a professional mix sounds like on your headphones.

 

[J Posega]

Headphones seem to be very personal to people, you'll find some pretty varied and strong opinions... People spend small fortunes on these things, so they like to think they always got the best.

The internet is probably not the best place to ask. I'd ask the person teaching you just so you hear what he/she hears and his/her feedback will make more sense.

Anyway, I still like the Sony MDR-V6 and/or MDR-7506 for just about everything. Just my opinion.

That's good advice. I'll see what the professor says. He does engineer professionally all over the US, a lot of classical/ orchestral work.

I figured asking TB was better than just reading online reviews... too many audiophile weirdo's and brand-fanboys out there inflating reviews with bogus BS.

I've never used them, but Audio-Technica ATH-M50's are fairly highly regarded from what I've read:

Amazon.com: Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones: Musical Instruments

I don't have any super nice headphones, but my favorite pair that I own are these Tascams:

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I don't know if I would recommend them for 100$, but they occasionally go on sale (I got 2 pairs for 40$ each, and LOVE them at that price).

Whatever you choose - make sure you know them. Be familiar with what they sound like - if you want professional results, make sure you know what a professional mix sounds like on your headphones.

The M50's have great reviews all over. They're sort of my number one choice right now since they also have good reviews for longevity, as well as the interchangeable cables available for the newer model.

I will definitely do a lot of listening to my high-quality audio to really get what they sound like before I try to mix anything.

 

[Marial]

Save your money. I've spend hundreds on a pair of headphones, never again. I can't believe how good these are for the price.

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[DirkP]

If they are for mixing not tracking, stay away from closed headphones. I personally think the ATHs have too much low end and prefer AKGs like the 701. From time to time you'll find them a bit cheaper at Massdrop. But apart from specific models people prefer (as long as they are Sennheisers, AKGs, Beyerdynamics, Focals etc.) the most important part is: you have to LEARN them.

You will never ever own a pair of headphones and as soon as a mix seems to sound right through them it will magically translate to every possible real world situation (Hifis, car-hifis, ipads, smartphone earbuds, small speakers, large speakers etc.) and sounds good.

This will not happen and it is not the fault of the headphones you use that it doesn't happen.

You have to try and error, you have to learn what not to do with a mix by listening to the result on different speakers in different rooms. And if you have done this for a long long time and get experienced, you can mix with the headphones you "learnt" / know by heart.

 

[J Posega]

If they are for mixing not tracking, stay away from closed headphones. I personally think the ATHs have too much low end and prefer AKGs like the 701. From time to time you'll find them a bit cheaper at Massdrop. But apart from specific models people prefer (as long as they are Sennheisers, AKGs, Beyerdynamics, Focals etc.) the most important part is: you have to LEARN them.

You will never ever own a pair of headphones and as soon as a mix seems to sound right through them it will magically translate to every possible real world situation (Hifis, car-hifis, ipads, smartphone earbuds, small speakers, large speakers etc.) and sounds good.

This will not happen and it is not the fault of the headphones you use that it doesn't happen.

You have to try and error, you have to learn what not to do with a mix by listening to the result on different speakers in different rooms. And if you have done this for a long long time and get experienced, you can mix with the headphones you "learnt" / know by heart.

Thanks for the info. I know I'm standing at the edge of a very large chasm with many ways to cross it. Last semester, I took a recording class; we were tasked with (along with all of the in-classroom learning about psychoacoustics, studio design, and how digital audio works) recording one song in the school professional grade studio. Our group had to do everything from selecting mics, to running ProTools, and then doing a mix of the track. The end result was far from perfect, but it was an awesome experience.

All the work was done with some very nice high-end monitors, but it was stressed that we bounce it at a couple different stages from raw tracks to various stages of mixdown so we could listen and compare what we heard in the studio versus iPhone earbuds, headphones, iPad speakers, children's toys, car stereos... you get the picture. I completely understand that no single listening apparatus represents what will be heard through all of them, I just need something that is getting a feel for DAW production; the class is less about perfectly polished final masters and more about workflow, how DAW works and why, technique and the mix/ master is simply something that comes out of that.

 

[T-Funk]

The AKG K240 MK II (or AKG K271 MK II, if you prefer a close-back design for tracking) is a good option to consider within your budget. Although not on par with the Q701 and K712, which are the favorites in my AKG headphone collection, the K240 is very serviceable and, under normal usage, should last for years.

 

[J Posega]

The AKG K240 MK II (or AKG K271 MK II, if you prefer a close-back design for tracking) is a good option to consider within your budget. Although not on par with the Q701 and K712, which are the favorites in my AKG headphone collection, the K240 is very serviceable and, under normal usage, should last for years.

The k240 mkII are definitely on my radar. In fact, I've nearly settled on them. They're well reviewed, their deficiencies are well documented, and they're cheaper than the rest while still having a replaceable cable and ear pads.

 

[longfinger]

I have the AKG k301 bought at the turn of the century for about $140CAD. Quite pleased with them.

the new models are listed here.

Professional Headphones | AKG Acoustics

 

[DirkP]

The K240 were my first pair of serious headphones and they did last for twenty years of abuse. Bought a new pair of 240s after they were broke, but - in all honesty - headphones have come a long way since the 240s were introduced.
If you could push your budget a bit over 175,- I would highly recommend the K70xxx from massdrop for 199,-.

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If they are too expensive, I would still consider other headphones than the 240s
The Audio-Technica recommeded above are better than the 240s and about 120,-.
But as said above: learning them and their weak points is more important than the exact model you use as long as they have a certain quality.
(Written with a tear in my eye, watching my old beloved 240s still in reach out of nostalgy).

 

[Joebarnes]

Just remember to use reference tracks so you know how your headphones sound with a professional mix.

 

[J Posega]

Thanks guys, any other recommendations?

I'm leaning towards the AKGK240 mkII and if I don't like them I'll just return them for something else.

 

[relayer66]

I've used the ATH-M50s for years and they're fine. The M-40s are also a great value for the money.

 

[seamonkey]

Get a couple, from the monoprice to the sony's
What you're trying to do is train your brain into correlating what you hear through phones to how it will sound in a room mix.

The heaphones always have the same position, in real life move your head to hear things different. If you're a dog you move your ears.
For humans there are virtual tools also for how to experience this, Waves Nx is just announced at $49. If uses the camera to track where you head and eyes are but they also are coming out with a bluetooth wart to hook onto head phones so you can walk around $100 more for the bluetooth follower. There are other makers besides Waves.
VR glasses I sure will follow shortly.

In everycase it's another tool that helps train the brain to correlate what is hear in one setting with headphone or earbuds to what it actually sounds like in a room mix.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Long sessions with headphones can be hard on your hearing. As ear fatigue sets in, you turn up the volume levels. Comfort is important. I find that closed earphones that cover the ear work well.

There are headphones that color the sound like speakers. There are also studio headphones that are painfully neutral. But this allows you to really hear what is there.

Whatever you do, don't just mix with headphones. Use speakers at the end. Some people like to do a mix and listen in a car. It has to sound good there.

 

[beans-on-toast]

This new headphone mixing product looks interesting.

http://www.waves.com/plugins/nx?utm...tual-mix-room#introducing-nx-virtual-mix-room

 

[J Posega]

I just ordered a set of AKG 240mkII. If I don't like them, I'll swap them out for something else. If all else fails, they'll be good listening phones.