Topic: Need New Cans - any suggestions?

[Church-Audio]

I love the koss porta pro they are great headphones for walkman type stuff. I had a pair of old Sennheiser HD-40 headphones that I loved, the ones with the Yellow earpads they had a great sound. I wonder how the electrostatic stuff sounds I have never heard them.


Chris Church

I can hardly stand listening to the Sony 7506 cans. I hear too much plastic can.
I needed closed, power sensitive cans that sounded good on M1/D10's inefficient h.phone output.
These cans sounded alright on intital listen, but, my ears don't care for them for any sort of extended, critical listening.

[George]

I can hardly stand listening to the Sony 7506 cans. I hear too much plastic can.
I needed closed, power sensitive cans that sounded good on M1/D10's inefficient h.phone output.
These cans sounded alright on intital listen, but, my ears don't care for them for any sort of extended, critical listening.

That's the M1's crummy headphone out talking.  It's quite lifeless, no matter what headphone I tried it turned them into a flat, lifeless headphone experience.  I honestly think the headphone out just stinks.

[Nick Culbreth]

What?  The V600's are anything but flat.  Honky, screeching highs, thick muddy bass makes them one of the most incoherent headphones ever created.  I don't understand how anyone who does studio work could think they are a good headphone.  Sure you ain't confusing them for the V6's or 7506's?  Those are the studio standard.

I think the V6's/7506's are one of the best headphones you can buy for under $100 for a closed headphone.  Good sound & rock solid construction.  I've owned my 7506's for 5 years and they are in great shape.  I would also recommend Grado's, but they sure are bright and can be downright umcomfortable due to their design for some people.  The higher end Sennheisers require an amp to sound good.  The HD580, HD600 & HD600 are scalable in terms of sound quality (upgrade their cables, different amps make em sound different).  Tubes work great with the Sennheisers.  Tubes also relax the peaky treble with Grado's and blossom their midrange a bit.   I also own a pair of shure e2c's and they are a solid performer, but are very source dependant.

I agree with pretty much all of the above.

[George]

Chris, I'm not jumping down your throat, but the consensus is that the V600's are a terrible headphone unless you like rap & hip hop music.  They are the equivalent to those bad car stereo's people get installed that have bass that farts and screechy treble.  Try a pair of V6's, they can be purchased for $69 US and will run circles around the V600's.

I gotta admit, I'm a little surprised you like them.  I've personally never listened to them, but I've owned (unfortunately) many dj style headphones or headphones that were sold for professionals that just sucked (ie. Denon).  The V6's are not flat, imho, but are very analytical, which is good for audio engineers.  Not so sure about engineers not using them in studio's, I know they get used a lot in radio though.

If those world class studio's are using V600's, that might explain why engineers are screwing up so many recordings these days with over using compression and killing dynamics.

-George

ps.  I own a few Stax electrets and a pair of Sennheiser electrostatics cans.  The midrange on the electrets is sweet, but they lack bass quite a bit.  The senn's are good, but I need to replace the stock amp, it stinks.

I have been into a lot of “world class” recording studios that have these headphones. BTW no one mixes on headphones these days ( when I said I mix with them I ment I use them as a quick means to do a fast line check at a festival where you have no sound check time)  I find the Sony MDRV-600 to be very good, maybe you heard a bad pair it does happen. I suspect there are also some knock offs floating around that Sony does not want anyone to know about. The Pair I bought about 4 years ago I paid $160 when they first came out. I do not use headphones as the end all and be all for mixing, but I do use them for a quick reference.

NO headphone is FLAT, because of the very nature of headphones and how they are loaded down by the ear surface/ ear canal and ear to headphone seal (different on every human) they will sound different.

IMO I find the bass is very good and not muddy, I wanted to get the Pro series but Sony said there were no longer making them so I purchased these. I was going on a tour and did not have time to look around. And by the way the drivers in these headphones are the same ones as the pro series.


It’s Just my opinion that these headphones are a great value. You don’t have to jump down my throat and say WHAT! THESE ARE JUNK that’s your opinion.

I think a big problem here at T.S and I have been guilty of it too is we tend to jump down one another’s throats! We need to just listen to one another and not be so judgmental. So what I like Sony 600 headphones, why make a big deal out of it???

Can’t we all just get along? and be one happy audio obsessed family


Chris Church

What?  The V600's are anything but flat.  Honky, screeching highs, thick muddy bass makes them one of the most incoherent headphones ever created.  I don't understand how anyone who does studio work could think they are a good headphone.  Sure you ain't confusing them for the V6's or 7506's?  Those are the studio standard.

I think the V6's/7506's are one of the best headphones you can buy for under $100 for a closed headphone.  Good sound & rock solid construction.  I've owned my 7506's for 5 years and they are in great shape.  I would also recommend Grado's, but they sure are bright and can be downright umcomfortable due to their design for some people.  The higher end Sennheisers require an amp to sound good.  The HD580, HD600 & HD600 are scalable in terms of sound quality (upgrade their cables, different amps make em sound different).  Tubes work great with the Sennheisers.  Tubes also relax the peaky treble with Grado's and blossom their midrange a bit.   I also own a pair of shure e2c's and they are a solid performer, but are very source dependant. 

I love the MDR-V600 Sony headphones block out all outside sounds they are very flat and anything will drive them well. I think they are the best sounding headphones for under $200 bar none ebay auction link for  $69! I am telling you these will impress you I use them for mixing all the time and for practice for my guitar at night. here is the ebay auction link
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Sony-Studio-Monitor-Headphones-MDR-V600-Hi-Fi-New-NIB_W0QQitemZ9719527705QQcategoryZ61334QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am in the market for new headphones - does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations?  I would use these at home with the stereo and when editing movies and music on the mac and with my bass.  I want some that sound sweet, but I dont want to break the bank - any help would be great. If not, I do to the local music store and just start listening!

Mitchell

[Mitchell (Jake and Sawyer's Dad)]

Well - I ended up getting the V600's and quite frankly, I like them a lot. I am mainly using them just for my ipod and stereo at home (we have a newborn, so I cant crank the stereo and surround as much anymore!)  I dont listen to rap or hip hop, and I think they sound just fine.  I am also using them in my home studio and to practice my bass.  So far, everything seems a-ok to me and I havent heard any of the "Honky, screeching highs, thick muddy bass" complained of above.  Maybe my ears just suck, though.

[George]

I can hardly stand listening to the Sony 7506 cans. I hear too much plastic can.
I needed closed, power sensitive cans that sounded good on M1/D10's inefficient h.phone output.
These cans sounded alright on intital listen, but, my ears don't care for them for any sort of extended, critical listening.

That's the M1's crummy headphone out talking.  It's quite lifeless, no matter what headphone I tried it turned them into a flat, lifeless headphone experience.  I honestly think the headphone out just stinks.

Its that way with everything I try.
I mentioned the M1, as that was the reason I bought them. They were very efficient with a low output 'phone jack.

I mention hearing plastic.
I wore them unplugged at the last loud show that I was at (Los Lobos, forever ago). I forgot my ear plugs, so I wore the cans over my ears, unplugged.
The concerts spl's were loud enough to cause the outer shells flat surface to flex in and out. That flexing was imparting an entirely uncomfortable ear crushing pressure of its own. And now whenever I listen to them, I hear the cans.
:shrugs:

I was raised on Sennheisers open-aire headphones, and I'll likely get those again at some point in the future (for at home listening).
The sony pleather ear cusions started undoing recently, so, it'll be time to get new phones before too long.

Mr. fancy pants.   

By the way, you can swap out those cruddy pleather pads for some comfy beyerdynamic velour pads:  http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=162040&highlight=beyerdynamic+velour+sony

Try it out if you're interested.

Mr. Eko,

           It's ok, we all do hear differently.   

[Chuck]

Well - I ended up getting the V600's and quite frankly, I like them a lot. I am mainly using them just for my ipod and stereo at home (we have a newborn, so I cant crank the stereo and surround as much anymore!)  I dont listen to rap or hip hop, and I think they sound just fine.  I am also using them in my home studio and to practice my bass.  So far, everything seems a-ok to me and I havent heard any of the "Honky, screeching highs, thick muddy bass" complained of above.  Maybe my ears just suck, though.

I've compared the Sony V600's to Sennheiser HD600's and AKG K-240's directly and I was amazed at how colored they sound compared to those. Again, everybody has their own idea of what sounds good to them.... and I don't have golden ears by any stretch. Some guys can mix a great recording using Yamaha NS-10 monitors. Not me...

As far as mixing with headphones, I trust the HD600's for finding a solid center position for parts of a mix. My current home DAW set-up isn't ideal acoustically and I rely on the HD600's to give me a reference that I know and trust.

Actually I did find a good use for the V600's... I used them to break in a headphone amp, so I wouldn't put the extra time on my Sennheisers 

[Genghis Cougar Mellen Khan]

I was raised on Sennheisers open-aire headphones, and I'll likely get those again at some point in the future (for at home listening).
The sony pleather ear cusions started undoing recently, so, it'll be time to get new phones before too long.

Moke, if you're considering opens again, check out the akg k701's, I love em.  Detailed, GREAT low end (but not tubby), just smooth but not relaxed, the high end is damn purdy. (can find em for just under 3 bills)  I haven't tried Senns yet, but I picked up a pair of 650's so I can compare them side-by-side.

[George]

Moke, you should also look into a headphone amp.  C'mon...I know you want one....

[guysonic]

Headphone choices is like asking people what's the best available shoe to consider for puchase.  Everyone walks a bit differently and over everchanging terrain where best choice of one shoe is most specific to personal requirements

Some general consideration with few exceptions on headphone choice

1) Most natural sound/imaging are from open types, best isolation/bass is from closed 'can' and sealed in-ear type phones.

 EXCEPTIONS: In my experience the most natural sounding 'closed' phone is the long departed Sony MDR-D77.  A folding 40mm closed/ported design with very strong tight bass sound, and sense of exceptional wide bandwidth detail; with usual lousy imaging and a pain to put on.  Excellent quality-monitoring field phone.  Been out of production for 10 years, and I still get email from people wanting a set as there is NO close feature/performance equivalent as yet.  Best sounding bass I've yet to hear is from open type MDR-SA3000.

2) Best sound mostly from 40 - 50mm size diaphragms for closed and open dynamic type

3) 24-to-70 ohm/>100dB SPL output for 1 milliwatt input sensitivity is desirable for good performance/loudness with battery/computer powered headphone outputs.

4) Most all headphones WILL more or less sound differently with EACH headphone amplifier that's driving it.  Long cords are most usable feature, but present design challenges for lowest distortion phones performance.

5) Model numbers do NOT change, but materials/components to make these models DO CHANGE.

Example is my experience with origininal V6 purchased mid-to early 80's.  I loved the natural sounding excellent detail of those phones, expecially if driven with a good amplifier.  10 years later, wanted a second set but every V6 purchased, also tried V600, V7506 Grado SR60, sounded noticeably inferior, at least compared to the definition/clarity still heard on the original V6. 

Figured that different V6 components were being used, and it all added up to NOT being a V6 I could live with.  Settled for V900 as judged best available, but found this set limited and most useful for having long cord, good isolation sound check purpose, and being much easier to put on/take off than most favored D77 with a bit too short a cord for some purposes. 

Later tried and liked very accurate Jecklin electrostatic float phones with 4x4 inch diaphragms, Sony MDR-D77, MDR-F1, MDR-CD2000 in order of acquiring, and currently (in production) MDR-SA3000 as likely one THE best performing open dynamic phones AND the best dollar value ever found.   

The SA3000 are now my personal 'fully usable for recording mastering' favorites.   Would like to try the costly SA5000 model sometime as the SA1000 model sucked, especially in comparison to the SA3000, so naturally wonder what the SA5000 is like.

[RebelRebel]

The stax electrostatic phones are the most extrordinary cans (outside of my er-4) that ive ever heard..blew me away.
really pricey though.

[KenH]

I got and returned a pair of Etymotics ER-6 phones last week.  Not enough bass.
Thought about the ER-6i's, which have better bass response, but decided on
upgrading to the ER-4Ps which sound great.  $179 @ J&R incl shipping.

Primary use would be monitoring while recording live.

/Ken

[BobW]

I got and returned a pair of Etymotics ER-6 phones last week.  Not enough bass.
Thought about the ER-6i's, which have better bass response, but decided on
upgrading to the ER-4Ps which sound great.  $179 @ J&R incl shipping.

Primary use would be monitoring while recording live.

/Ken

FWIW, I don't know of anything better than the Etymotics for live monitoring in or near the"impact zone"
Sennheisers otherwise. It's also a very fun word to spell..   

[RebelRebel]

Indispensible! I got tired of dragging my B+W speakers to gigs to monitor with, and havent missed them a bit using the Etys!



as far as my "non-work" earphones go, Ive been REALLY loving the Stax SR-303....Man, them are some damn FINE cans!!! I wouldnt use them live, but for easy listening, hell!


http://www.stax.co.jp/ENG/products.html

I got and returned a pair of Etymotics ER-6 phones last week.  Not enough bass.
Thought about the ER-6i's, which have better bass response, but decided on
upgrading to the ER-4Ps which sound great.  $179 @ J&R incl shipping.

Primary use would be monitoring while recording live.

/Ken

FWIW, I don't know of anything better than the Etymotics for live monitoring in or near the"impact zone"
Sennheisers otherwise. It's also a very fun word to spell..