Headphones.. Help!

[ToastedAndButter]

Hey Guys! Im looking to buy some headphones that i dont know get the soud as closest to what I want on on all speakers/headphones.. 

 

Currently I do all my mixing through urban ears and then I use like ipod headphones and it sounds different, and then I play it through my car speakers and it sounds different then i go over to my mates house and listen to it throgh his speakers and it sounds different. 

 

I dont really know what im looking for at all and I cant get any speakers coz my roomates wouldnt appreciate that very much.. Im just lookin for some relativly cheap headphones that will give me the closest sound that im looking for lol. Any ideas?

 

 

Cheers for any responses guys!

[john]

Top tip: reference recordings

In addition to the system you describe you can improve things by having a cd or collection of reference recordings that you play in all these systems. I suggest a mix of tracks that each demonstrates specific characteristics, like one with strong bass, another with high energy levels, one with a good club mix, another with an intimate acoustic performance and so on. Regularly familiarise yourself with how each track sounds on a selection of sound systems.

All this means when you are in recording you can use a mix of the memory of how that sounds with the idea of how you would like your new mix to sound. You can then A/B compare the two recordings using your headphones. If you have software that can also do a spectral analysis on both recordings that can help you too.

Making additional notes about your reference recordings can also help, regarding your observations of each track on each system.

[James Anderson]

sony  dynamic stereo headphones  mdr v150  i like them

[Rudi]

Hi,

 

Sennheiser EH 350 were pretty cheap when I bought them. I never bought them to use as monitors though.

 

I got some Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Studio Monitor phones for studio work.

 

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my old Sennheiser EH 350s sounded almost indistinguishable from the ATH-M50 !

I now use both in the studio, and use the Sennheisers most often.

 

They are neutral and fit for purpose. I can just barely hear a little lightness in the bass range on the Sennheisers. Now, my ears may be too aged to discern anything more, but the EH 350s are worth trying for yourself if on a budget.

 

Other than that, the new Sure range are worth checking out. I got a pair of SRH440s for listening to CDs & TV, but they are actually made for studio work. (I have discovered I dont actually like them for regular listening).

 

Good luck.

[ToastedAndButter]

Thankyou all so much for the responses! these recommendations should help me in my endeavours to finding suitable mixing cans..! I wil defnitally check these out see if i can find some cheapies on ebay.. and thankyou for the kind words hobosage! I LOVE THIS PLACE!

[john]

Oh, if you do a lot if cans based recording and mixing you may need two sets of cans:

1. Closed back dans for recording. They colour the sound more but you get less spill, vital for noise management when your control room is also your live room and playback can spill onto a mic. These can be cheap provided the spill is low! These are your recording cans. Be warned, ear fatigue is high.

2. Open back cans. They colour the sound less than closed back cans. Most importantly they cause less ear fatigue, which is vital for long sessions, all the more so when you don't use monitors. These are the expensive ones, the ones you really invest in. These are your mixing cans.

You can get semi closed as a halfway house but seriously, I would recommend a specialist pair for each of the two circumstances.