Reference headphones?

[Citizen66]

Anyone got any suggestions? Under 300 I think. Looking at the Sennheiser HD 650s but suggestions welcome.

Perhaps beesonthewhatnow will know what's shit or not (although he might think headphones instead of monitors is shit full stop )

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Do you want closed back, semi open or open?

 

[Blagsta]

what are reference headphones?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Also, is this for studio monitoring or hifi listening?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

what are reference headphones?

Good ones

Usually means a set that is designed to have as flat a frequency response as possible, so that you can really hear what's going on in a mix in the studio. They're not always good for extended listening in a "hifi" context though, as what makes them good for studio use can be a bit harsh and fatiguing after a while.

 

[Firky]

Do you want closed back, semi open or open?

Someone had to snigger.

 

[editor]

Grados are some of the best headphones you can buy.
http://www.whathifi.com/review/grado-sr80i
http://www.whathifi.com/review/grado-sr60i

 

[Meltingpot]

If by "reference" you mean the best headphones on the market, these cost a lot more than £300;

http://kenrockwell.com/audio/stax/sr-007-mk2.htm

If you can get a pair of Lambdas secondhand, made by the same company, they're probably worth £300 or so.

 

[Citizen66]

Do you want closed back, semi open or open?

Dunno. Aren't closed back supposed to be the best so sound doesn't 'leak' in? Although there's not much chance that would happen so no worries there. Also I don't need to hear what's going on around me so closed back is fine too.

Also, is this for studio monitoring or hifi listening?

Studio monitoring.

 

[Citizen66]

If by "reference" you mean the best headphones on the market, these cost a lot more than £300;

http://kenrockwell.com/audio/stax/sr-007-mk2.htm

If you can get a pair of Lambdas secondhand, they're probably worth £300 or so.

By reference I mean for audio production as opposed to listening to your ipod.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Dunno. Aren't closed back supposed to be the best so sound doesn't 'leak' in? Although there's not much chance that would happen so no worries there. Also I don't need to hear what's going on around me so closed back is fine too.

Open back ones can give a slightly better sound, but obviously they wil leak more noise into the room and isolate you less, so it depends on what your priority is.

I'm personally a fan of Beyerdynamic cans, the DT-770 PRO's are fantastic (and, for my head at least, very comfortable). Closed back, around £120. They also do the 880 and 990, both of which are open back. Not used either of them myself but they're meant to be phenomenal.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

A important part of a good set of headphones though is how they fit. How they sound becomes irrelevant if you have to take them off after 20 mins due to discomfort. Always worth going to a shop and trying a few pairs on if you intend to be using them for any length of time.

 

[Citizen66]

Cheers, will look into them. You say open back gives a better sound then?

 

[Meltingpot]

By reference I mean for audio production as opposed to listening to your ipod.

Fair dos (though a pair of Staxes would be wasted on an IPod).

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Cheers, will look into them. You say open back gives a better sound then?

Yes. No. Depends.

I tend to stick with closed back for critical studio stuff because of the isolation, but find I can work for longer with open back ones. They just seem to be less fatiguing. I'm sure there's a load of reasons for this but I'll be fucked if I know what they are.

 

[Citizen66]

My other question is can they be massively let down by whatever amp you're using? I'm just using some bog standard Cambridge Audio jobbie from Richer Sounds.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

My other question is can they be massively let down by whatever amp you're using? I'm just using some bog standard Cambridge Audio jobbie from Richer Sounds.

They can do, depending on the impedance of the cans and the power/quality of the headphone output on the amp.

I take it a proper set of monitors is out of the question?

 

[Citizen66]

They can do, depending on the impedance of the cans and the power/quality of the headphone output on the amp.

I take it a proper set of monitors is out of the question?

The headphones are a short term solution because they're cheaper to obtain. But obviously I'd prefer some reference monitors again!

 

[Citizen66]

I'm personally a fan of Beyerdynamic cans, the DT-770 PRO's are fantastic

apparently theyre 'fun' and the akg k550s give a more neutral sound?

I hate researching stuff like this. So much conflicting information.

 

[klang]

I'm using the Beyerdynamics dt770 too, for studio purposes. I like them a lot.

Another plus is that they're very comfy.

 

[Citizen66]

I'm using the Beyerdynamics dt770 too, for studio purposes. I like them a lot.

Another plus is that they're very comfy.

Tried a set on tonight. They are very comfy and sounded great. We have a winner.

 

[Citizen66]

Although having said that, know a guy in the (selling) industry and he's (hopefully) going to do me a deal on some ATH-M50s (which he reckons are better ).