OT: Which headphones?

NickHope wrote on 11/23/2004, 2:58 AM
My old Sony MDR-D77 headphones have finally given up the ghost. Can anyone recommend some good highly portable headphones with 3.5" jack?

The main use will be monitoring sound on my VX2K or later a PD170 or whatever. But they'll also get used for listening to my walkman or laptop :)

I guess I'm thinking US$ 100-200.

Comments

farss wrote on 11/23/2004, 5:37 AM
Surprisingly enough the Behringer once aren't bad for the money, you can get a pair that fold up which is handy, changing / adapting the plug on any of them is easy.
The only problem with the Behringers I bought is they're open back however Globalmediapro are selling what looks awefully like the Behringers with their name on them but foldups with closed backs.

These are nowhere near as good as my Sennheiser H2270 however they'd be 10dB more sensitive and the headphone outs on any camera I've tried is pretty lacking in level so the Behringers get a lot of use for monitoring with a camera and if they get lost or stolen at under $50 I'm not going to worry.

Actually speaking about the leads even if you don't need an adaptor use one! It only needs to be 4 inches of lead with a line socket. It's all too easy to forget you're wearing cans and walk away from the camera and pull the thing over / snap a lead / wreck the socket. With a short lead the plug and socket cannot jam together so a good tug will pull them apart.
Bob.
Spot|DSE wrote on 11/23/2004, 7:01 AM
I carry 2 kinds of headphones with me most places.
My trusty, standard Sony 7506
My Etymotics ER 6's.

7506 is a great benchmarking headphone that most engineers in the world are familiar with. Not the best, not the worst, but by far and wide the most common. They are a semi-closed phone with great sound.

The Etymotic are a electret transducer that goes in-ear. Fabulous sound, nearly the best sound I've ever heard. Deep, rich bass that comes from being in contact with your body, these are labeled the "most accurate headphone in the world." I don't know about that, but I love them. I've premastered audio on them and found them to be darn near perfect.

Both models sell in the 120.00 range.
busterkeaton wrote on 11/23/2004, 12:31 PM
Wouldn't the "most accurate headphone in the world" be Etymotics ER-4's. The more expensive cousin of the ER-6?
Spot|DSE wrote on 11/23/2004, 12:37 PM
I guess I meant the branding of the Etymotic. I wish I had a pair of ER4's to travel with. I used to, but lost them on a flight somewhere.
Anyway, Etymotic claims their headphones are the most accurate in the world. I'd tend to believe that, having mixed a lot of media with those in my ears.
farss wrote on 11/23/2004, 1:39 PM
Now here's a thing, the audio guys claim using cans for mixing is a real no no and I must say I found that the mix always sounds different. I use the cans for listening for defects, things like noise is way more apparent with cans on as you're blocking out the room noise and the HF stuff is being shot straight into the ear.
Bob/
Spot|DSE wrote on 11/23/2004, 2:02 PM
Well....the original post was about monitoring a cam, not mixing. doing a final mix through headphones is just to the left of crazy. Monitoring, doing a prep mix, doing noise reduction, or just plain not bugging your neighbor are all common/good uses. But doing a finished mix without it being heard on quality studio monitors, is nuts, IMO.
busterkeaton wrote on 11/23/2004, 2:38 PM
I remember hearing that the ER-6's give you 75% of the sound of the ER-4's at half the price.

It was probably at the tradeshow where I got to listen to them.
PDB wrote on 11/23/2004, 2:52 PM
Just been given some "snazy" Bose phones ....I must say they sound incredible to my very untrained ears and brain...but that's probably just my untrained status bieng enthusiastic....
JackW wrote on 11/23/2004, 4:49 PM
Interesting that you mention Bose. I was in their store yesterday and tried out their headphones with a thought to purchasing. Fantastic elimination of surrounding noise, which in our editing suites would be a plus. They're pricy, but they sure are quiet!

But -- is there a loss of sound from the source? Anyone tried these for editing (not mixing.)
I have some hearing loss in the upper frequencies.

Jack
Spot|DSE wrote on 11/23/2004, 4:53 PM
The Bose headphones sound great, but they are pre-curved as well. In otherwords, they aren't interested in accuracy, they're interested in providing you with great sound based on recordings, not live audio. I have a set that was given as a holiday gift last year, and they're great for mowing the lawn, sitting outside enjoying music, watching TV late at night. But they're not accurate enough for the work we do. Then again, if it's just monitoring, they'll be fine. I'd never use them for noise reduction or deep editing, that's when you want flat.
John_Cline wrote on 11/23/2004, 6:22 PM
NO Bose product has ever been "accurate." Bose is all about "smoke and mirrors."

Anyway, the Sony 7506's are an excellent choice for a good general-purpose headphones. There is something to be said for getting used to the sound of the 7506 headphones, chances are that if you find yourself working on someone else's rig, they will have 7506's, too.

I also like the AKG K-240 Studio or the K-271 Studio. Then there is the somewhat obscure and underappreciated Fostex RP series.

John
craftech wrote on 11/23/2004, 8:05 PM
I use the JVC HA-DX3. It is a closed headphone with excellent accuracy. Bought it here.
John
JackW wrote on 11/23/2004, 9:57 PM
Thanks for the heads up regarding Bose. I'll stick with my Sony 7506's.

Jack