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Semi-open headphones?

S

Sir Toby

May 3, 2020
191
102
#1
I need headphones for home practice. Closed don't work for me so semi-open is the way it has to be.
I won't be using these for mixing, recording or other studio work.
I will be playing through my Ampeg BA-115, sometimes just the bass but often playing along to Spotify or online lessons on my smartphone through the aux in.
Budget preferably under 100 USD or EUR.
I have done a lot of reading but need help choosing. If I choose phones with low impedance it will give me good bass, right? But will the music from the aux in sound bad and unbalaced then?
I have looked at the AKG k240 studio and mkii as well as the Superlux 681 versions (regular, b and evo).
Are the fit for the job or are there other ones more suited?
 
#3
Sir Toby said:
If I choose phones with low impedance it will give me good bass, right?
Click to expand...
There is no direct correlation between impedance and frequency response of the headphones.

Nor is there 100% correlation between impedance and the volume you will get from a given source. For example, the AKG K240 Studio is spec'd at 55 Ohms with a sensitivity of 91 dB SPL/V. But the Beyerdynamic DT 880 250 Ohm headphones are spec'd at 101.53 dB SPL/V.
 
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#4
AKG 240 mkII. Been a studio standard forever... I have those and a set of Sony 7506 which are closed back. You don't need them Sony's for practice but if you get into recording acoustically using mic's, open back 'phones can bleed ... I find the AKG's comfortable and they sound good. They are about the least expensive headphones I have found that are good enough to own.
 
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#5
T-34 said:
What do you mean by "music from aux in"? You plug your phones into "phones out" :)
Click to expand...
Sorry if that is confusing. I will plug my smartphone to the speaker in the "aux in" and plug my headphones to the "phones" connection. That way I will hear my bass as well as the smartphone music in my headphones. English is not my first language so I apologize if it's hard to understand what I mean. Looking at my amp the outlets say aux in and phones.
To make it even more confusing I will be using my smart-phone and head-phone!
 
#6
JKos said:
There is no direct correlation between impedance and frequency response of the headphones.

Nor is there 100% correlation between impedance and the volume you will get from a given source. For example, the AKG K240 Studio is spec'd at 55 Ohms with a sensitivity of 91 dB SPL/V. But the Beyerdynamic DT 880 250 Ohm headphones are spec'd at 101.53 dB SPL/V.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the info! Still confused but on a higher level
 
#7
4Mal said:
AKG 240 mkII. Been a studio standard forever... I have those and a set of Sony 7506 which are closed back. You don't need them Sony's for practice but if you get into recording acoustically using mic's, open back 'phones can bleed ... I find the AKG's comfortable and they sound good. They are about the least expensive headphones I have found that are good enough to own.
Click to expand...
Great to hear!
 
#10
Love these.
Sir Toby said:
I have looked at the AKG k240
Click to expand...

They have great response and they are suitable for actual bass guitar practice from an actual bass amp headphone output, they don't distort and crumble like many others. And the cable is replaceable if you do what I do, roll over it constantly with your chair. And even if you play louder than you should (me 100%) you can still hear the doorbell or phone or other people. And the cost is right.
 
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#11
Killing Floor said:
Love these.


They have great response and they are suitable for actual bass guitar practice from an actual bass amp headphone output, they don't distort and crumble like many others. And the cable is replaceable if you do what I do, roll over it constantly with your chair. And even if you play louder than you should (me 100%) you can still hear the doorbell or phone or other people. And the cost is right.
Click to expand...
Great to hear!! Do you have the Studio or mkii version? From what I understand the main difference is two ear pad choices in the mkii and a coiled cord. Both have replaceable cords now right?
 
#13
Sir Toby said:
If I choose phones with low impedance it will give me good bass, right?
Click to expand...

Low impedance has nothing to do with the frequency response of a pair of headphones. The acoustics of the driver and the topology of the system determine how well they work.

Closed back headphones are preferred topology for bass because, assuming a decent seal, they have no real limit to how far down they can go frequency response wise - they pressurize the "tiny room" around your ears. In theory, they can work down to DC, in practice they can work to sub audible frequencies pretty well.

Open or semi open back headphones don't do this; you have to have a very low resonant frequency driver for extended bass response - that means the little driver in there is working like mad when you play a low note on your bass, and it still probably isn't quite cutting it. It may, however, be good enough for you - only you can determine that.
 
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#14
Sir Toby said:
Great to hear!! Do you have the Studio or mkii version? From what I understand the main difference is two ear pad choices in the mkii and a coiled cord. Both have replaceable cords now right?
Click to expand...
I've had mine a while. They have a straight cord which I prefer for headphones. I know you can get different pads. There's no best, it's preference. I liked the PJB ones I had but they felt tight and eventually the frame broke.
 
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#15
micguy said:
Low impedance has nothing to do with the frequency response of a pair of headphones. The acoustics of the driver and the topology of the system determine how well they work.

Closed back headphones are preferred topology for bass because, assuming a decent seal, they have no real limit to how far down they can go frequency response wise - they pressurize the "tiny room" around your ears. In theory, they can work down to DC, in practice they can work to sub audible frequencies pretty well.

Open or semi open back headphones don't do this; you have to have a very low resonant frequency driver for extended bass response - that means the little driver in there is working like mad when you play a low note on your bass, and it still probably isn't quite cutting it. It may, however, be good enough for you - only you can determine that.
Click to expand...
That's a super helpful explanation! Really appreciate it. I wanted semi-open because I tried closed but very quickly got fatigued plus need to hear if the kids call me from another room or if there is a knock on the door.
I am by no means anywhere near audiophile as you can understand from my posts...
 
#16
I have a set of K240's and I use them all the time... they're fairly light and comfortable - should work fine for what you want to do. I have a BA 115 v2, I've never really used the "Aux" in to jam with music but I'm sure it would work fine. I'm pretty sure that my K240 Studio's came with an 1/8" adapter.
 
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