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What Headphones Do You Use When Playing (if any)

#28
Back to Bassics said:
Not a big fan of Bose, but the QC15s seem to work quite well.
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To quote a friend o' mine who worked for "The Wiz" about ten years ago…
"No highs…no lows…it's gotta be Bose!"

Maybe they've gotten better over the last decade, but back then, it was a sure-fire sign of what happens when a company spends more on "Marketing" than "Research and Development".

But to get back on topic…

In deference to my ADD/works-from-home/prone-to-migraines girlfriend, I always play through a headphone amp. I've become quite comfortable with a Pocket Rockit S1b and a pair of old neckband Philips headphones (an older version of the HS5200/28 "Rich Bass" phones). They also have a decent level of clarity and a dynamic range that exceeds the 20Hz - 20,000Hz of most "off the shelf" phones. Also, I like the single cord running from only one earphone. It's easier to drape over my shoulder, across my back and around to the amp. This keeps it from getting tangled up front or scraping against the backside of the bass' body.

Whenever I look at a prospective headphone purchase, the first thing I look for is the dynamic range. If there is none printed on the package, I won't even touch it. (Listen up, SkullCandy! :thumbsdown:) And it absolutely kills me when I see a $100+ set that has that the standard 20Hz-20,000Hz range. Surprise surprise…these are often the ones with some celebrity's name attached to them. You would think something so damn expensive would be able to reproduce a greater range of frequencies, right?!

If you don't know what "dynamic range" is, here's a quick guide. The lower the first value is, the lower the frequencies it can reproduce which equates to "deeper bass". The second value represents the higher frequencies and covers the treble end of things. The aforementioned Philips HS5200/28 phones I'm looking at purchasing later tonight (thanks, by the way, for re-igniting my headphones-based GAS, Bluemoon! :rage::D) have a range of 12Hz to 24,000Hz…plenty o' bass for my headphone amp and a great overall range should I use it with an mp3 player.
 
#32
Still avail, and 'the standard' by some people's measure- lots of knock-offs around, so it's maybe better to buy an older pair and replace the pads/cups as they're avail for around $8 or so.
Long coil cords, besides.
 
#39
willbassyeah said:
Anyone have used the Phil jones headphone? Look interesting http://www.philjonespuresound.com/products/?id=144
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Yes! I'm using them right now. I actually use them for all my sessions in several studios I work in. They are FANTASTIC for bass, but sound great for everything. Can be had for well under $100, too.

I've used plenty of AKGs (own several, but mainly use K240s), Shure, AT, and Sony (and Sennheiser and Beyer) in various studios and none handle the bass with as much smoothness and ease as the PJB H850s. When I first heard them, I finally felt like I was hearing the actual sound of my instruments, and I can hear them in a mix. With the other phones, the sound always felt a bit removed from *my* instruments once it got down to a mix.

As a plus, they are comfortable enough for me to wear for hours, and they do a great job of cutting down ambient noise.
 

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