• 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 free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Your Headphone Choices

B

BigTreble

Jan 3, 2006
287
87
Canada
#1
I play at home a fair bit and have a few pair of headphones that do alright, but am looking for something a little more utilitarian and up for a bit of knocking around. The Sony MDR7506 always get lots of love, and the Audio Technica ATH M40x as well was suggested to me.

I've got open back headphones that sound good, closed ones that sound good, and with things currently, it's not like I can go try a bunch out in stores.

Curious what headphones y'all use to play/record, and what recommendations the folk here have for someone in my boat?

Thanks
 
#2
BigTreble said:
The Sony MDR7506 always get lots of love
Click to expand...

Indeed. I've used a healthy selection of professional, consumer, audiophile, and just plain utilitarian cans over the years, and the only ones I keep coming back to -- i.e., replacing after I've destroyed them...which I seem to do with every set of headphones I've ever owned! -- are the Sony MDR-7506. They seem to offer the best combination of comfort, sound quality, durability, availability, and consistency at a price that makes the decision a no-brainer compared to other contenders.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ronzo
#4
The HD600 look very nice and open backs are a treat. I have Grado SR60i I usually use but they're starting to get beat up and want to keep them for just listening.

I miss house living where my Berg NV610 was all the headphones I needed heh.
 
#5
I have a bunch of cheaper closed-backs. Last year I stepped up and bought a pair of AKG Pro Audio K702 open backed for mixing. I love the way they sound, but I broke a cheap plastic clip on the headband.

I have been emailing and trying to contact there customer support for two months to get this replacement part that probably cost a few bucks. They have not replied.

When you buy something that retails for $200 and get no help, I would look to another company. Avoid AKG is my advice.
 
#6
These are very good:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
$10 off with FRANKP10

Screen-Shot-2017-01-25-at-23.31.50.png
 
#7
I've been through several over the years. Beyerdynamic DT-770s are the only ones I've been totally satisfied with. I replaced the velour covers a few years back, but that's the only thing I've had to do to them. Anything else I try just sounds bad to me.
I have a pair of AKG's that the plastic side panels fell off of. Don't remember which model, but one that's often used in studios, but every shot of them being used shows the sides wrapped in duct tape. It just makes me mad to spend money on something and have it fall apart, even used gently.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basslice
#8
Bob_Ross said:
Indeed. I've used a healthy selection of professional, consumer, audiophile, and just plain utilitarian cans over the years, and the only ones I keep coming back to -- i.e., replacing after I've destroyed them...which I seem to do with every set of headphones I've ever owned! -- are the Sony MDR-7506. They seem to offer the best combination of comfort, sound quality, durability, availability, and consistency at a price that makes the decision a no-brainer compared to other contenders.
Click to expand...
Agree on all points. Buy extra pads. After a few years, they’ll make them feel like new.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Basslice and Bob_Ross
#9
I do like the Sony MDR 7506 but slightly prefer the Sennheiser HD280 Pro at the same price point.

There seems to be a rather large selection of decent phones to choose from at $99.

IMO, there aren't any cans of good enough audio quality for a minimum standard of hi-fi usage at a cost less than that. Every company seems to be competing at the same "magic number" of $99.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TeeWhy
#10
The Beyerdynamic DT-770 phones are miles ahead of the $99 phones I have tried, and own. Well worth saving a bit longer and spending the extra $60 IMHO. My only regret is not making the correct choice to begin with, but we all have those boxes of gear that we should not have purchased and used our resources more wisely.

I highly recommend trying them out against others being considered before making a decision. In either case it's not much money, but it's all about what's going into your head.

Kitchen sink faucet or soothing waterfall along a bucolic babbling brook, take your pick! ;)
 
Last edited:
#11
Another Sony user here. I just replaced one of the drivers in my 7506's. Sony no longer sells parts themselves so I had to use their third-party. The driver was $70~ with $15~ shipping. Considering I bought them for $50~ used, probably won't repair them again but I would replace them with another set.
 
#13
AKG K240. Full sound. Can play/practice bass guitar even 5s and fretless with very solid low end. The frame is metal and the cable is replaceable. After breaking a few pair of other brands I’m really happy that these have survived my abuse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA
#14
Killing Floor said:
AKG K240.
Click to expand...

Does AKG still make the K240DF? Now that was an awesome sounding headphone...if, by "awesome" we agree that it means ruler-flat and clincally accurate. WYHIWYG. You could mix an album on those cans and it'd translate to any monitors or playback system.
Infuriatingly hard to drive from most headphone jacks, and kinda fragile, so you don't want to give them to the drummer, but for control room use they were the schiznit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA and Killing Floor
#16
Bob_Ross said:
Does AKG still make the K240DF? Now that was an awesome sounding headphone...if, by "awesome" we agree that it means ruler-flat and clincally accurate. WYHIWYG. You could mix an album on those cans and it'd translate to any monitors or playback system.
Infuriatingly hard to drive from most headphone jacks, and kinda fragile, so you don't want to give them to the drummer, but for control room use they were the schiznit.
Click to expand...
We surely agree, never give anything delicate to a drummer!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ronzo and Bob_Ross
#17
I’ll throw these in here as they are almost never discussed, Sennheiser HD80. I like them because they are on-ear, not over-ear, so not so warm when worn for extended periods. Even though they are on-ear, they do a pretty good job of isolating sound (they are closed-back). They are designed with a pivot on one ear cup to allow for it to be worn with one ear on, one ear off if you want to do that. These are monitor-type earphones, so very flat, with no color to the sound reproduction. They definitely are designed to, and can, take a beating. I use another version in my job where I’ve worn them for 14 hrs straight and think they are great.
 
#18
rudy4444 said:
The Beyerdynamic DT-770 phones are miles ahead of the $99 phones I have tried, and own. Well worth saving a bit longer and spending the extra $60 IMHO. My only regret is not making the correct choice to begin with, but we all have those boxes of gear that we should not have purchased and used our resources more wisely.

I highly recommend trying them out against others being considered before making a decision. In either case it's not much money, but it's all about what's going into your head.

Kitchen sink faucet or soothing waterfall along a bucolic babbling brook, take your pick! ;)
Click to expand...

I took it to mean that if you are looking for serious headphones, don't waste time trying to find some for less than $99. And as a brand new bass player, who came to this thread specifically to find a recommendation for decent headphones for a bass amp I just bought, it's really helpful.

Also, you pointing out what I could get for $50 (currently on Amazon) was also really helpful.

When I come to a thread like this, just getting to search and look at several recommended products is helps because it's important to understand what to expect from a price point. A lot of negative user reviews come from a simple misunderstanding of what they should have expected.

And honestly, I just thought of searching this forum about 10 minutes ago, and I suddenly have a bunch of good choices that will lead to reviews that will lead to a few more choices, and hopefully, a pair that does exactly what I'm hoping for as little as I can spend.

When I began a similar search for my first bass, many searches for information led me to this forum, and the discussions were matching what I was finding, along with a lot of other good discussions. So I signed up. Each thing I've had questions about (even when I wasn't asking, but just searching), I've found good discussions like this.

It's made this a lot less daunting of a hobby.
 
#20
TeeWhy said:
I took it to mean that if you are looking for serious headphones, don't waste time trying to find some for less than $99. And as a brand new bass player, who came to this thread specifically to find a recommendation for decent headphones for a bass amp I just bought, it's really helpful.

Also, you pointing out what I could get for $50 (currently on Amazon) was also really helpful.

When I come to a thread like this, just getting to search and look at several recommended products is helps because it's important to understand what to expect from a price point. A lot of negative user reviews come from a simple misunderstanding of what they should have expected.

And honestly, I just thought of searching this forum about 10 minutes ago, and I suddenly have a bunch of good choices that will lead to reviews that will lead to a few more choices, and hopefully, a pair that does exactly what I'm hoping for as little as I can spend.

When I began a similar search for my first bass, many searches for information led me to this forum, and the discussions were matching what I was finding, along with a lot of other good discussions. So I signed up. Each thing I've had questions about (even when I wasn't asking, but just searching), I've found good discussions like this.

It's made this a lot less daunting of a hobby.
Click to expand...

I wish I got into using headphones when I was younger. I'd probably be a better player because of it (for various reasons).

One pair of headphones under $99 that I would recommend to ANYONE looking for a pair of cans is the Grado SR60i. They used to be like $60 but not sure about now. Those are some seriously do it all headphones that sound good if you're not too much of a bass fiend. Kind of a jack of all trades, master of none.

They're still my daily drivers, tho I enjoy Koss Porta Pro on ears around the house and they sound alright on my laptop, I may try with my interface while playing.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back