mixing headphones

[lebouche]

Hi,
I havent been using headphones to check mixes with..
Is there a good flat response pair I can buy? I only have dt100's n 150's.
Thanks

[Comte de St Germain]

FWIW I don't really check mixes with headphones but...

The usual effects check and stereo vibe comes across pretty well from my Sennheiser 580s.

I like 'em better than the 600s and don't own any of the other brands in that league.

Favorite color?

Yep.

[Tim Halligan]

Hi,
I havent been using headphones to check mixes with..
Is there a good flat response pair I can buy? I only have dt100's n 150's.
Thanks

Why don't you get used to how your Beyers translate and save yourself some moolah.

It ain't about buying the latest & greatest...it's about learning to use what you have in the best way possible.

Cheers,
Tim

[malice]

I check the mixes with the phones for one main reason wich is controling how the reverbs and effects on general are translating.

Sometimes to check the bass if I'm not 100% sure of the monitoring system.

I kinda like the Beyer DT770 for that (a real classic in studios)

But I tried Slipperman Grados, an expensive solution, but incredibly accurate and pleasing.

Beware of mixing with headphone, only for checking, only for checking...

malice

[lebouche]

Thanks all...I'll check em out.
Tim, I could save some mulah I just hate wearing the DT's they feel like they are sucking my brains out and I hate the sound.
Maybe I should just deal with them...actually you reminded me of another problem I have. I think all my pairs are the wrong ohmage because I have to put the behringer hp amp on its highest levels to get a good signal and then it is all distorted.
Maybe Berhringer head phone amps are just shoddy..not sure, anyone?
Thanks

[malice]

I'm not to found of behringer phone amps, you might want something smoother than this.

You know, if you find a good second hand hi-fi amp like a NAD for instance, it won't kill you money wise.

malice

[lebouche]

I'm not to found of behringer phone amps, you might want something smoother than this.

You know, if you find a good second hand hi-fi amp like a NAD for instance, it won't kill you money wise.

malice

Good point Malice...
I got quite a few amps lying around in my office/storeroom as I occasionally sell them. I guess I could route the outs in to some sort of patch bay hhhmmmmnnnn. I need to be able to hook up at least 4 or 5 sets. Sounds worth investigating.
Cheers!

[lebouche]

Can someone please tell me the Mock Chicken Joke!!! Maybe I'll check the joke thread.

[otek]

I use the Sennheiser HD-600s. Great sound and comfortable to wear (they're open cans, whereas the DT-150s are closed).

The DT's are good for combatting leakage from the cue phones though.

And yeah, the B**ringer headphone amp is kinda meh.

[lebouche]

Thanks guys...I'll check out the 580's and the 600's...not sure about trying another pair is Beyers but I suppose it they are closed, and they sound good I might be happy.
Cheers,

[dnafe]

I finally snagged a nicely broken in pair of Grado RS 1's on Ebay.

I checked out the top of the line Beyer, Sennheiser, AKG and Koss and although they are all great headphones the Grado's just worked for me.

Don

[lebouche]

I finally snagged a nicely broken in pair of Grado RS 1's on Ebay.

I checked out the top of the line Beyer, Sennheiser, AKG and Koss and although they are all great headphones the Grado's just worked for me.

Don

Sup Don...you kindly gave me some tips in the Marsh me thinks on the cover I recorded of that Ben Folds song...its still not finished. I'll post it here when I get close.
Cheers for the tip..maybe I should go to a shop n try a few out.

[Brendo]

Another vote for Grado, but I'm saying listen to the most expensive set, listen to the SR80, and then work upwards in price until you find the best tradeoff between them. I wouldn't bother with SR60 if you like bottom end at all.

[bunnerabb]

I have some beat to shit Sonys that I don't use much, anymore and a pair of the Ultrasones. The Ultras are actually pretty accurate and they don't wear you out.

Cheap, too.

[malice]

Again, I really liked the grados

make sure you take their amp with it, makes a huge difference.

The amp works with 9 volts batterie though, but it last long enough, so that is not a problem

malice

[lebouche]

Thanks...I never heard of these before, I'll have a listen.

[Skwaidu]

I still like my K240S's... Though I'm pretty interested in the Grados, listened to them only twice but they seem very impressive.

[dnafe]

Headphones, like speakers are definitely a try before you buy affair and I had pretty well resigned myself to never being able to afford a pair of RS-1s (in terms af disposable cash) so I was looking at the SR-325's as an alternative when the RS-1s came up on EBay, right when I had some cash and absolutely no one bid on them....guess it was ment to be

My second choice were the Sennheiser HD-600s and I would have gladly laid down the $$$ for them without hesitation.

So check them all out and pick yer poison....just don't mix on them.

Don

[chrisj]

I like my Sennheiser 600s, but for actual mixing I find these more useful :D

http://womb.mixerman.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=450&stc=1&d=1164741285

Obviously the Sennheisers will give me more information about what's happening in the low bass and the super highs (actually my mains are doing super highs as well as the Senns now) but the alien-speakers translate better in the mids :)

[lebouche]

I got a pair of horrortones coming soon...did a swap.
When are you offcially releasing the alien speakers?

[malice]

I got a pair of horrortones coming soon...did a swap.


Old ones or re edition ?

malice

[lebouche]

Oldies...
The lil brown ones

[malice]

Aaaaah,

good for you :)

malice

[dwoz]

Another vote for Grado, but I'm saying listen to the most expensive set, listen to the SR80, and then work upwards in price until you find the best tradeoff between them. I wouldn't bother with SR60 if you like bottom end at all.

While I'm not often finding myself suggesting that you go with the CHEAPER alternative, I'm going to have to rebut Brendo's careless comment here.

While my own listening tests reveal subtle but definite differences between the SR60 and SR80/125 bass response (improvement as you move up the line), I have to categorically define the SR60 bass response as being "splendid".

dwoz

[Brendo]

While my own listening tests reveal subtle but definite differences between the SR60 and SR80/125 bass response (improvement as you move up the line), I have to categorically define the SR60 bass response as being "splendid".

dwoz

Maybe its the way they sit on my head but the SR60 sound small and thin to me compared to the 80's. I got the 80's in the end.

EDIT: In fact, I seem to have issues with many headphones not sitting right... I can't stand anything from AKG, for example.

[chrisj]

When I have figured out how to bisect a tube slant-ways without actually buying a band-saw. I think it's pretty likely that I'm not ever going to come up with banjo center material here- but useful-center, now that is within reach :)

[Brendo]

slant-ways

:lol:

[otek]

Aaaaah,

good for you :)

malice


Malice just adores the fake walnut veneer.

[Calvin]

In fact, I seem to have issues with many headphones not sitting right... I can't stand anything from AKG, for example.

You must have a weird head, 'cause I've always found AKGs to fit quite nicely. Or, maybe I'm the one with the weird head. :D

I'm fond of my AKG K 271s, and of course the venerable K 240.

Calvin

[Brendo]

naw, i got a wide-ish head. sennheisers tend to play nice. k240's sound like ratshit on me.

[Jason Phair]

I prefer Texas Headphones, myself.

[amopae]

Call me newbie (because I am), but why should I (or anyone) not mix with headphones?
I've never really understood that quite well =S

[otek]

why should I (or anyone) not mix with headphones?

It's very hard, almost impossible, to hear how a mix translates to speakers on headphones. You can do quick checks for something like low end (if all you have are small nearfields) or perspective/stereo placement, but extended tweaking on headphones make you lose your sense of how the music sounds in the room.

Also, I typically find levels extremely hard to gauge on headphones.

Actually, it's quite simple: Do a mix entirely on headphones, and then play it on a couple of different speaker systems. If you find it came out exactly like you wanted it, then feel free to ignore my sorry ass. :D

[Tim Armstrong]

What the man with the cups said!

However, I think that a quick listen on the phones AFTER you get your mix happening in speakers isn't a bad idea, since these days so many listeners are using iPods with earbuds. Might as well have some fun with the stereo image, since once again folks can actually hear stuff in stereo!

Cheers, Tim

[amopae]

It's very hard, almost impossible, to hear how a mix translates to speakers on headphones. You can do quick checks for something like low end (if all you have are small nearfields) or perspective/stereo placement, but extended tweaking on headphones make you lose your sense of how the music sounds in the room.

Also, I typically find levels extremely hard to gauge on headphones.

Actually, it's quite simple: Do a mix entirely on headphones, and then play it on a couple of different speaker systems. If you find it came out exactly like you wanted it, then feel free to ignore my sorry ass. :D
Oh, stupid me...should have thought about that before...
No wonder every thing I try to mix simply sucks, have to get a quiet place and then get a couple of good monitors to start trying to learn how to mix

[otek]

I... have to get a quiet place and then get a couple of good monitors to start trying to learn how to mix

It's funny how that works.

Monitors, even crappy ones, will eventually let you get to know them well enough to make the mixes you're hearing in your head.

Headphones will keep fucking you over until rapture.

Also, if you are planning to get yourself a "mix suite" of sorts - make sure you do the proper things to the room. A bad room can be every bit as destructive as bad monitors.

[lebouche]

So I bought two pairs of cheap headphones cos I was in Croatia for three weeks and getting no work done.
None of the shops had any of the decent headphones recommended so I bought two pairs for about $150 Phillips and Aiwa...basically I bought the ones with the largest range. I have returned home to find that I am broke which was a nice newyear suprise so the others will have to wait...
However I was listening to Diamonds on the soles of her shoes on the way back from the airport and found that the Phillips were ok... I heard guitar I never noticed before and the panning is much clearer on cans.
Think maybe my panning has been a little unimaginative....lesson learned =headphones are good for understanding space and listener perspective.