• 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.

What Headphones Do You Use When Playing (if any)

KRK KNS8400. By far the best sounding and most comfortable headphones I've ever used. Extremely flat, accurate, and detailed, more-so than the M50s or anything else in it's price range. They're what I use for all my personal music listening at home and they're the only cans I've found that by bass sounds natural through, thanks to the excellent low extension.
KRK-KNS-8400-Headphones-Image-from-PC-Mag.jpg
 
I must warn you guys to be very careful about extended use of headphones, especially when used solo and you're wearing all the hats.

One of the top ENT's at John's Hopkins felt the cause of my severe and irreversible hearing loss was directly related to over exposure to sound via headphones. The same thing that actually damaged Pete Townshend's hearing more than any of the amplifiers playing live.

There were days when I was 16 hours sequencing and editing drum tracks.

With no air cushion to buffer the sound, it can be very easy to over do it and ignore serious hearing fatigue.

I know what its like to be in mad scientist mode, trying to finish when logic should tell you to take a break and go back with fresh ears after a good rest period.

I went from perfect hearing and perfect pitch after years of live performance to profoundly
deaf in my right ear and about 50% remaining on the left side.

I doubt true bionic replacements will be a reality in my lifetime.

Today I use headphones sparingly as possible only for necessary tracking and overdubs and quick mix/balance checks.

For all other needs, I'm on my near fields.

I used to think I was indestructible too.
 
Last edited:
I must warn you guys to be very careful about extended use of headphones, especially when used solo and you're wearing all the hats.

Thanks for sharing that. Even though I do some recording, my headphone use is limited and your experience is a caution. These days I mostly practice through an amp, and mostly just record when I'm really ready to go. I track and mix on tape, so the track count can be no more than 8 and there is very little tweaking and mainly just do your best and move on. And mixing is always done on monitors, because headphones are unnaturally intimate in the image they present and don't lend themselves to mixes that work elsewhere.

Otto
 
  • Like
Reactions: FFTT
Working with cans did more damage to my hearing than all the previous years of performing live at full concert volumes.
Add to that, yard equipment, power tools, air tools, fire arms, and you're asking for it.
 
I noticed some headphones like the DT-770 can be bought in different ohmages (like 35, 80 or 250 Ohm).
For which use are the different ohmages intended?
Which one to get for home practice (plugging in practice amp), for tracking, or listening on computer, ipod or other devises?

Thanks,

Marijn