• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Headphones for practice?

I have the Sony MDR-XD300 Set which was purchsed with plugging into bass amp being one of the last thoughts on my mind, but they work really well.

Basically what you are wanting to get is a decent sized driver that can handle from about 30Hz upwards to do the trick. On the driver size front, look for a minimum of 40mm in size (they print all the details on the packaging)
 
You might want to try a pair of Fostex T-20s. Heavy, but bulletproof. I've had the same pair for about 15 years, and were bought specifically for bass practice. They were the only ones I tried in the shop that didn't fart out.
 
I personaly don't like Sony 7506s at all. I find them to have a peaky mid response and are not comfortable for long wear.

Anything from sennheiser will smoke them. For practice I prefer an open back can (so you can hear some ambient sound), and if you can stretch up to $150, the sennheiser 555s are simply fantastic.
 
Based on this and other threads I went out and got a pair of Sony 7506s.

To set the scene, I am a bit of an audiophile and have some reasonably good gear in terms of CD, amp and speakers and so I'm used to a very transparent system and I feel I have an OK ear for artificially boosted ranges.

In short, I love them - very natural sounding and awesome depth right down to the lowest sounds. I had been struggling to hear some of the bass lines on recordings and I can now clearly pick them out -it's amazing what an extra low freq extension will do.

I A/Bed them with my audio setup, going straight into the CD, straight into the amp, and through the speakers and found the sound to be very, very similar with even better bottom end than the speakers (which I expected).

Thanks to all who recommended! Great find.