Headphone upgrade from total crap

Greatape · August 2022

Been monitoring through Audient interface using crappy £30 hifi headphones. Totally unsuitable, obvs. Looking to get something more appropriate and have budget of up to £100 ish.

A friend recommended Beyerdynamic, but I've heard those have a bit of a v curve?

Largely inexperienced in this arena so all advice gratefully received.

GoFish · August 2022

I've heards that Beyers or Senheisers are probably the best in that bracket. I have an old set of Beyer DT770s which are perfectly cromulent.

steamabacus · August 2022

If you could go a little over budget (around £120-ish) the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X are very nice.

They are closed back, so not quite as good for mixing as a decent pair of open backs (which would be over your budget anyway) but sound good with guitars.

Closed back is essential for any tracking with a microphone (vocals, etc) or monitoring in a noisy environment (or,conversely, the bleed out annoying others in a quite environment).

Clecko · August 2022

They're ugly, but I really rate these. Cheap as chips, but I'd strongly advise getting some better earpads for them. I find these better than my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones for recording.

Bod · August 2022

A little over budget but the new Rode NTH-100 headphones look interesting. I'd like to try a pair myself with a view to replacing my KRKs. The KRKs are quite uncomfortable (especially as a glasses wearer) and make my head sweat really badly so I'm interested to see if they're as cool and comfortable as their blurb makes out.

Greatape · August 2022

Bod said:

A little over budget but the new Rode NTH-100 headphones look interesting. I'd like to try a pair myself with a view to replacing my KRKs. The KRKs are quite uncomfortable (especially as a glasses wearer) and make my head sweat really badly so I'm interested to see if they're as cool and comfortable as their blurb makes out.

Looks good

32 ohms

Wonder if suitable...?

Bod · August 2022

Greatape said:

Bod said:

A little over budget but the new Rode NTH-100 headphones look interesting. I'd like to try a pair myself with a view to replacing my KRKs. The KRKs are quite uncomfortable (especially as a glasses wearer) and make my head sweat really badly so I'm interested to see if they're as cool and comfortable as their blurb makes out.

Looks good

32 ohms

Wonder if suitable...?

Yeah, standard for studio headphones in this price range.

spark240 · August 2022

Used Sony MDR 7506 for ever…

Greatape · August 2022

Bod said:

Greatape said:

Bod said:

A little over budget but the new Rode NTH-100 headphones look interesting. I'd like to try a pair myself with a view to replacing my KRKs. The KRKs are quite uncomfortable (especially as a glasses wearer) and make my head sweat really badly so I'm interested to see if they're as cool and comfortable as their blurb makes out.

Looks good

32 ohms

Wonder if suitable...?

Yeah, standard for studio headphones in this price range.

Guess that's easier to drive than 80 or 250? I can never remember which way round it is

swiller · August 2022

I use grados as a hobby home studio , purchased for home listening, but work surprisingly well.
They are challenging in a good way as there is huge detail and space, so it entices you to really dial the source recording. The sound quality is just fantastic.
Only downside is comfort. They do sound hifi, but so do my Neuman KH120s and are pretty similar in result.
Have owned the under £100 sr80i and £250 325e and they both do a similar job in studio.

flying_pie · August 2022

I use headphones for mixing/mastering due to family life and have found AKG k240 make to be good value for money. They are open back so not ideal for recording vocals (I get around out by just using an SM 58 instead as not too fussy) but grand for everything else

I make sure to limit using them to short periods only as it's easy to go ear blind quickly. I also use multiple sources when referencing - regular ear phones, car stereo and phone speaker as that's what most people would listen on.

andy_k · August 2022

The question is, what are you monitoring?
If you are just using something for practice, or general listening, you want something comfortable, and will have to adjust eq to compensate for the bumps/ cuts.
If you want something for reliable mixing, you will need to spend a little more than your budget, to get a flat response that you can trust.
I have a couple of pairs of Senn, cheap HD 280 pro for recording, and I am using HD650 for detailed mixing, but I think the 600 are slightly cheaper now, and they have done some very good editions in between.
The main problem is reliability and comfort, but both of these things are just what you get used to.
I have a set of V-moda, which were fairly expensive, very nice, comfortable things, and I have recently been trying to set up an eq that I can apply to get them useable for mixing, not easy, but it can be done.
Surprising how easy your ears get used to a sound, and it takes a bit of experimenting with reference material to hear what is happening, there are eq curves available for many headphones out there, and it's not that hard to work out what you need to do to get a flatter response, but at the end of the day- we all hear things differently.

Greatape · August 2022

Excellent info.. thanks to you all

Lodious · August 2022

I have dt880’s and hd650’s and much prefer the 650’s as the 880’s have a hifi sound. Massdrop (now drop.com) used to offer a branded version which was cheaper but same headphones (I think).

dindude · August 2022

I’m a headphone whore - I currently have Sennheiser Momentum closed backs (great for general sofa duties), Audio Technica ATH-M40X - love these, very pleasant and fun to listen to and good enough for home studio duties, I prefer them to the more expensive M50X as has a more realistic bass. Easily my choice for under £100, and also recently picked up some Beyerdynamic DT700 Pro X - amazingly detailed for studio duties and sound superb with the right material but hard going for lesser material / general use.

Snap · September 2022

For that money I think you could do a lot worse than the AKG 272 MkII. I've had a pair since they were released and have no complaints, very flat, v comfortable

rze99 · September 2022

I've been using the Rode NTH-100s. They came out just as I was starting to look and they seemed to fit exactly my needs. Excellent sound for monitoring / mixing and closed enough to have close to zero spill for using them while recording vocals and gentle acoustic sections. Recommended.

marxski · October 2022

spark240 said:

Used Sony MDR 7506 for ever…

This.

stufisher · October 2022

If you're still looking then I'd recommend these for your budget ... currently £89 via OnBuy.com

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sennheiser-hd-450bt

shufflebeat · October 2022

rze99 said:

I've been using the Rode NTH-100s. They came out just as I was starting to look and they seemed to fit exactly my needs. Excellent sound for monitoring / mixing and closed enough to have close to zero spill for using them while recording vocals and gentle acoustic sections. Recommended.

I've got Senn hd650 and recently replaced my Shure srh840 for 840a. If I'd seen the Rode nth100 before making the switch I'd've bought them instead.

Def next on the list.

Bod · October 2022

rze99 said:

I've been using the Rode NTH-100s. They came out just as I was starting to look and they seemed to fit exactly my needs. Excellent sound for monitoring / mixing and closed enough to have close to zero spill for using them while recording vocals and gentle acoustic sections. Recommended.

@rze99 are they as comfortable and cool as they say? I hate having a sweaty head...

rze99 · October 2022

Bod said:

rze99 said:

I've been using the Rode NTH-100s. They came out just as I was starting to look and they seemed to fit exactly my needs. Excellent sound for monitoring / mixing and closed enough to have close to zero spill for using them while recording vocals and gentle acoustic sections. Recommended.

@rze99 are they as comfortable and cool as they say? I hate having a sweaty head...

They are comfortable yes. They make my head sweat less than others I’d say but the cool thing is a tad overstated. Better than most I’d say. I have a smallish head. They fit and stay put very well.

When mixing I’ve tended to add a touch more top using these headphones at first. It’s nothing dramatic and I’ve adjusted to it now but worth mentioning. Still recommended

stickyfiddle · October 2022

Another fan of Beyer DT770 here. I use them for drums and monitoring.

The Beyers are extremely comfy too - don't overlook that. (I've seen the velour pads described as "like slippers for your ears" and I don't disagree!). I have Sennheiser Momentum2 over-ears for general listening and playstation but their headband is a bit hard.

Bose NC700 are my dailies for general listening. They're great but very "Bose sounding" so I wouldn't use them as monitors.

roberty · October 2022

stickyfiddle said:

Another fan of Beyer DT770 here. I use them for drums and monitoring.

The Beyers are extremely comfy too - don't overlook that. (I've seen the velour pads described as "like slippers for your ears" and I don't disagree!). I have Sennheiser Momentum2 over-ears for general listening and playstation but their headband is a bit hard.

Bose NC700 are my dailies for general listening. They're great but very "Bose sounding" so I wouldn't use them as monitors.

I have the Beyer DT770s as well and they are great for monitoring and tracking. Not the flattest for mixing with but spacious and uncluttered sounding. Check the impedance before you buy, there are at least three options

The wireless noise cancelling headphones I tried were hyped and consumer sounding in comparison. Senheiser Momentum 2.0 and Sony WH1000XM4. Recessed/softened midrange. I found myself compensating while tracking vocals, it was a pretty rotten experience

andy_k · October 2022

Main thing is learn to love the one you are with

Greatape · November 2022

So I tried Audio Technica athm50's and Beyerdynamic dt770's.

Former : less comfortable but EQ seemed more even

Latter: more comfortable but seemingly a dip in mids and more emphasis on bass/treble?

Comparing to monitors in friends's studio.

goldpony · November 2022

I find headphones best used in conjunction with speakers, they can be very deceiving for mixing due to the lack of crossfeed (left ear doesn't get some of what the right ear is hearing), but very good for checking bass. A specialist crossfeed plugin can be super helpful I find.

I've had Sony MDR 7506, Audio Technica ATH50, Sennheiser HD25 (and Sennheisser HD650 which are in a higher price bracket). You won't go wrong with any of them, my Sonys and ATH50 are workhorses which lasted for years before disintegrating.

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Headphone upgrade from total crap

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