Topic: Headphones help

[cbd]

have had these Sony MDR-7506's for years, in fact on my 2nd pair. The sound is really just so so. Not bad per se but not the detailed low end I like. Bad enough than when I have been converting my recordings I have been having to burn to disc and listen on the home system just to get a good evaluation ... which defeats the entire purpose of having headphones & mastering on my laptop. plus, the annoying issue is that the ear pads/covers suck and keep slipping off the headphones and are a huge hassle to get back on




Been considering either (1) Grado SR325is and (2) AKG k702

any thoughts on those 2 models or any other suggestions in that price range?

[page]

If your lacking low end in your headphones, skip the Grados. They require a tube amp to get close to normal in the bass region, I sold my pair after a week. Here is some sample data on the three:

[jlykos]

I also was disappointed with the sound of the 7506 and went for the Audio Technica ATH-M50 instead (around $125).  Night and day difference.  Much better low end, detail, and spatial imaging.  Very easy to drive as well; they work well with my laptop and even my iPod.  I couldn't be happier with them.

You also may want to check out the Beyer DT880 (around $300).  I have not heard them myself, but have heard very good things about them.  More difficult to drive, however; you may need a headphone amplifier for them.

[fleish]

I personally like the 7506's I recently picked up used in the YS. But I almost exclusively use them at shows, not for playback at home.

You might want to check out these threads:

[url]http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=146975.msg1885925#msg1885925]http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=148253.msg1897026#msg1897026[/ur;]
[url]http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=146975.msg1885925#msg1885925

[noahbickart]

FWIW, I love my akg k701 cans. I think they need an amp to sound their best, and they are open, but I love them.

[ScoobieKW]

I also was disappointed with the sound of the 7506 and went for the Audio Technica ATH-M50 instead (around $125).  Night and day difference.  Much better low end, detail, and spatial imaging.  Very easy to drive as well; they work well with my laptop and even my iPod.  I couldn't be happier with them.

You also may want to check out the Beyer DT880 (around $300).  I have not heard them myself, but have heard very good things about them.  More difficult to drive, however; you may need a headphone amplifier for them.

we have 7506 and ATH-M50 in our house. M50 wins hands down.

[Teen Age Riot]

Not sure if this has been posted before around here. Dat Rat (FOH for Red Hot Chili Peppers and Soundgarden) examines several (closed) cans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJh8B1QfEn0

I tried the Shure SRH 840's based on those videos and have been using them for a few months. I like them better than the Sennheiser 280's they replaced, although the isolation is not quite as good. I use them mostly for live sound, but they work pretty well for mastering recordings, too. I find that most of the EQ decisions I make while monitoring on the 840's translate well when I listen to the recording on the big system. Like all headphones they will lie to you as far as imaging and soundstage go, but EQ-wise I find them very helpful.

[Todd R]

ATH-M50 wins hands down.

[rastasean]

What about a pair that's more portable than the AT's? Recently my pair of koss portapros have wanted to become mono only; while these portapros lasted awhile, I don't want to replace with the same pair.

[tbger]

To those who seek for a portable headphone which also have good low end, and don't wish to go for IEMs (many of which have very good low end), I'd warmly recommend the Beyerdynamic DT-1350.  You won't find many headphones with a low end like this one has, especially at this compact size - it's very small and folds (Grado style) into a carrying bag for travel.  I use them everyday, wish they were more popular in the consumer headphone market.   Try to audition them if you can.

These are 80 ohms but are driven nicely from a laptop.  They do improve with amplification, it adds some more 'texture' to the overall spectrum and provides a more balanced sound.

Speaking of the sound signature, they have a gentle emphasis at the low mids, say 400Hz, but it doesn't much except some warmth and 'weight'.  For mastering through headphones you'll always have to know the weaknesses of your headphone and compensate for them.  There's no perfect headphone for this matter.

Here's a link:  http://europe.beyerdynamic.com/shop/hah/headphones-and-headsets/studio-and-stage/studio-headphones/dt-1350.html#

By the way, these are ON-EAR headphones, not over the ear like the 7506's are.

[page]

To those who seek for a portable headphone which also have good low end, and don't wish to go for IEMs (many of which have very good low end), I'd warmly recommend the Beyerdynamic DT-1350. 

offtopic, but damn:
Lake People Violectric V800 > SPL Phonitor

I always wanted a phonitor, but I don't have high impedance cans...

[rjp]

I usually use Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 ohm cans for my listening. They're a bit power-hungry if you're trying to feed them from a laptop, though. On my desktop system, my E-MU 0404 USB interface has just enough oomph to make the Beyers shine.

I think, in the US at least, you're most likely to find the 80 ohm version at Guitar Center. B&H has the 250 ohm version.

[ScoobieKW]

I usually use Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 ohm cans for my listening. They're a bit power-hungry if you're trying to feed them from a laptop, though. On my desktop system, my E-MU 0404 USB interface has just enough oomph to make the Beyers shine.

I think, in the US at least, you're most likely to find the 80 ohm version at Guitar Center. B&H has the 250 ohm version.

I almost bought a pair of the DT770 and for a headphone to be used with an amplifier, they shine. Better than my ATH-M50, but with just an ipod or laptop, the ATH-M50 sounds better to me, more gain for dynamic uncompressed shows.

[tapjunkie]

Why compromise...


http://www.avguide.com/review/stax-sr-009-electrostatic-earspeaker-playback-54?utm_campaign=Weekly+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=email-340&utm_content=Stax/Woo+Audio+Headphone+System%3b+HiFiMAN+%27phones%3b+Audioengine+%26+Peachtree+Electronics

[cbd]

If your lacking low end in your headphones, skip the Grados. They require a tube amp to get close to normal in the bass region, I sold my pair after a week.

page thabnks for the graph although I would say that every review I have read of the grados say it takes on average of 2 weeks to break them in ... so is it possible you got rid of your before they were broken in?