Monitor Headphone recommendations?

[Monsterkit_inc]

I have a max budget of $100 for a new set of headphones. They will be used with SD3 and keyboard in Reaper for mixing. So they need to be of decent quality for studio mixing. Looking for recommendations. I did a google search and one set that came up was Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphone, which is currently listed for $80 on Amazon. Keep in mind, I am playing on a very large acoustic converted to e kit with low volume cymbals and real feel pads from drumtec. Using a Volt 4 audio interface.

[atomlux]

The Shure stuff is good.

[Monsterkit_inc]

so no other suggestions? Figured I would get a bunch. LOL

[WarrenG]

AKG
Beyer Dynamic

[DVDdoug]

I don't have a recommendation for you but here are some excerpts I've collected:

This is from Recording Magazine "Readers Submissions" where readers send-in their recordings for evaluation:

As those of you who have followed this column for any length of time can attest, headphone mixing is one of the big no-no's around these parts. In our humble opinion, headphone mixes do not translate well in the real world, period, end of story. Other than checking for balance issues and the occasional hunting down of little details, they are tools best left for the tracking process.

And this is from a mixing engineer, also Recording Magazine:

Can I mix on headphones?

No. But in all seriousness, headphones can be a secret weapon and it really doesn’t matter what they sound like…

Over time, after constantly listening back to my work from different studios on those headphones I really started to learn them. They became sort of a compass. Wherever I went… It became a pattern for me to reference these headphones to see if what I was hearing was “right”…

I learned them, I knew them, I trusted them. It didn’t matter whether or not I loved them…

So, can you mix on headphones? Probably. I just think you really need to put some time into learning them first…

This is from Floyd Tool's book, Sound Reproduction

Headphones entertain masses of people. Professionals occasionally mix on them when conditions demand it. Both rely on some connection to sound reproduction, that is, loudspeakers in rooms, because that's how stereo is intended to be heard. Stereo recordings are mixed on loudspeakers.

[Monsterkit_inc]

Originally Posted by DVDdoug

I don't have a recommendation for you but here are some excerpts I've collected:

This is from Recording Magazine "Readers Submissions" where readers send-in their recordings for evaluation:


And this is from a mixing engineer, also Recording Magazine:


This is from Floyd Tool's book, Sound Reproduction

I'm not planning on mixing professionally. this is just a hobby for me. I don't have a studio or loudspeakers. Just looking for decent sounding headset for listening enjoyment, but thanks.

[calsax]

I've been using a set of AKG K240 Monitor cans since circa 1990. I love them, and know them well. Are they the most pristine cans available? Of course not! But, they are definitely the most comfortable I have ever used, and are evidently built like tanks.

[martifingers]

Your budget got me an as-new pair of Audio-technica ATH-M50x . Not sure I made the best choice as other people seem to think more modern designs offer more but I like them fine.

[Doughboy]

I have the HD 280s. They are excellent. Especially for the price. I also have some AKGs which I normally mix with. But have also mixed with the HD 280s.

I also use them for vocal tracks because there is very little bleed through.

Get em. You ll be happy.

[strachupl]

Originally Posted by martifingers

Your budget got me an as-new pair of Audio-technica ATH-M50x . Not sure I made the best choice as other people seem to think more modern designs offer more but I like them fine.

I have ATH-M40X and like them as well.

[SalvadorDaliParton]

ATH M50 would be my suggestion.

[mschnell]

I just got a AKG K701 for €99 "Summer sale" from Thomann

[SalvadorDaliParton]

Originally Posted by mschnell

I just got a AKG K701 for €99 "Summer sale" from Thoman

I love those, use them all the time(for regular listening, not mixing), the open back takes some getting used to though

[awats]

There is no reason you can’t mix on headphone. But don’t be surprised how it sounds on speakers. It won’t sound the same. If your target is headphones, do it. If your target is speakers, do that. But a mix on speaker is usually fine in headphones while a headphone mix on speakers is often quite different sounding.

[Florena]

I have a habit of checking my mixes on different devices to make sure they sound good everywhere. This usually helps to avoid unpleasant surprises.

____________________________________
betbazar full review

[mschnell]

This !

Welcome to the Reaper Forums !

[Frank_B]

ATH M50X are a good choice. The M50 is the previous model and sounds slightly better, I think. Personlly, I don't like Beyerdynamic or AKG.

[transmothra]

I got the ATH M20X for $50 and then saved up for better monitors than what i had. Can't mix on one without the other, IMHO. Honestly i agree that any cans will do so long as you learn them inside and out, just make sure they're made for studio work (a flatter frequency response) rather than consumer audio (which will have over-hyped lows and highs).

[fatscoleymo]

I've been using a a pair of Superlux HD681B for a couple of years now, super cheap but remarkable for the money. Check out Rtings for a comparison with any headphone you may be considering - you will be surprised how it stacks up to many of the brands mentioned here. Other thing I use and recommend is software by dSoniq - REALPHONES 2.0. With these 2 items I feel pretty happy.(Mind at 71 years old my upper hearing registers will not be world class...)
Cheers, Fats

[RedStone]

Check out these IEMs: Salnotes 7hz Zero, Zero:2 or Crinacle Zero:Red ... Each of these have stunningly good sound for very little money.

I do in-ear mixes for bands using my Zeros, and they keep proving to be a great reference point for making solid mix decisions that translate well to whatever the musicians are using for in-ears.

[RedStone]

The conventional wisdom of not mixing on headphones is also outdated.

Manufacturers are finally catching on to the fact that compliance with Harman curves are important to consider when they are tuning their headphones. Truly Flat tuned headphones will sound harsh, lack midrange clarity and will be anemic in bass, due to the way our ear canals perceive sound at such close proximity. Even Sonarworks uses their own proprietary harman-type curve in their headphone tuning, which is a lot of the reason why Sonarworks tuned headphones sound accurate and detailed.

Aside from Sonarworks, Chinese headphone manufacturers seem to be tuning their headphones to harman curves consistently, and in the last year there have been a slew of cans coming out of China that are worlds better in tone than most Western brands for a fraction of the cost.

I used a pair of Sure 215s a couple of weeks ago for a gig I was playing and was disappointed. They are so bright and boomy, almost as if someone cranked the bass and treble knobs on every preamp. I had to create a custom EQ curve on the output to my channel so that I could tolerate the mix without changing EQ on every channel.

All of that changed this past weekend when I switched back to My $20 Zeros. Everything was where it should be in both space and tonality with the default in-ear mix the monitor engineer created with his J&H customs.

[bolgwrad]

Open or closed back is an issue to consider, maybe. I've seen open-back suggested as better for cans mixing, as L/R aren't completely separated.

Re closed-back: I got a cheapo MaxMate (phono or bluetooth) pair because I was sick of replacing earbuds for the phone, but these things let no sound out whatsoever - not a hint of click track when used for vocal recording, which I can't say for my open or closed back Sennnheisers.