Gruuve Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Hey guys: I'm one of those folks who tend to listen to music with the mids kinda scooped out (I tend to boost the lows and highs). When I do a mix on my home studio gear using only headphones, I find that I grossly over-compensate for the low frequencies that I don't hear in the headphones by boosting the lows. When I then play the resulting CD in home or car stereo, it has WAY too much low-frequency content. To do this without a way to hear the lows that I'm accustomed to hearing is too much of a guessing game. However, I need to do it quietly since most of this is done after my 2 yr old daughter is in bed. So, does anyone have any recommendations for the headphones with the absolute best low frequency response? I want headphones that sound like there's a subwoofer in the background, regardless of price (although I'd rather not spend a small fortune if there's reasonably priced 'phones available that'll fit my needs). There seem to be two types as well...sealed and open. I'd assume the opens are better since they're more expensive... ...let me know if that's a totally wrong assumption... Old bass players never die, they just buy lighter rigs. - Tom Capasso, 11/9/2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Most decent headphones have enough low frequency response. The key to mixing is developing your ear, not skewing the monitor system. That said, there are a couple of models out there that come with and without a slight low bass bump. I prefer closed systems for audio isolation, but it's easier to make open ones that are comfortable for extended periods. I thought there was just a headphone thread here a month or so ago. Maybe it was one of the other forums... . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Sony MDR-380 These are one of the best best headphones I have ever gotten. They sound great (good lows), and one the most comfortable things to have on your head. And (thanks to me) the price on them is now $40. I also use a pair of Koss Pro4AA headphones when I need some dB reduction. These headphones here are the pro 4aaT which are new ones. I have the remakes of the ones that were used in the 60s and 70s. Bad thing about the Koss cans are that they are heavy, and they kind of hurt your ears after about an hour of wearing them as compared to sonys which I can literally go to sleep with. http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 You also noticed that your mixes are bass heavy. That's the first step in doing mixes: comparitive playback teaches one quite a bit if they are willing to listen, and use what the mix is telling you to better it. It's good to have a couple of different reference points, and none of them need be expensive. Some of the decent cheap monitors have switches on them for a more "home stereo" sound, and a flatter monitor curve. Similarly, one can use EQ with headphones to approximate a couple different curves. But one always has to understand the different reference points' respomse curves so that the music translates over well on a broad range of equipment. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wraub Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 I have used the Sony 7504 since my broadcasting days, as I know what they sound like under all kinds of conditions. Not overly bass heavy, though. You might try the Sony 7506 , as it offers better bass response. I have used these instead in some situations, notably when I would be producing spots for air, as they duplicated more closely the needed air sound. Not as inexpensive as Phil's offering, about 100.00, but worth it IMO. Peace, wraub I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57pbass Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Check out www.grado.com www.danielprine.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Originally posted by 57pbass: Check out www.grado.com I think you mean http://www.gradolabs.com "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butcherNburn Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 In reply to my question posted 1-5-2004 thanks to 57pbass and it was seconded I believe. Check out Grado Labs or rajakali recommended Sennheiser phones (HD 212Pro) I actually bought these and am quite happy with them. Excellent sound, easy on the wallet, and very to find. If you think my playing is bad, you should hear me sing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred TBP Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 My current favorites are the AKG K271S (successor to the AKG 270S) which are closed-cup, and the Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred TBP Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 AKG K240S which are open-air cup. (sorry, I hit "Add Reply" instead of "Preview Post"...) I used the K270S (the older model) when I had to be in the same room as the drummer recording his parts so we'd be in sync. The 270S isolated enough of the drums so I could hear myself play. This was mid-summer and the air conditioning had to be off during recording, so I found my ears getting stuffy between takes. (don't ask why, I don't know) When it was time to redo my bass tracks, I did that in the engineer's booth with the K240S so I didn't have to pull off the headphones every time someone asked me a question. IIRC, the current street prices are approx. $180 for the K271S and $80 for the K240S. They are my next headphone purchases. Prior to that I relied on my old Koss Pro-4AA, which were discontinued years ago, but I discovered at the same session that one of the sepeakers was DOA, and it wasn't the jack. They're heavy on the head, but they did isolate you very well. I also liked some of the Sennheiser models, but I can't name any one in particular. The K240S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 I've done well with the AKG predessesors that Fred mentions, though the 240 seemed to blow out too easily for drummers in the studio, and the Audio Technicas with and without the bass boost whose model number I forget. Also the Fostex T20 have been reliable cans, like many, once you get to know them. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenLoy Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 I second wraub's recommendation for the Sony MDR-7506 headphones. I use them in the studio all the time and love 'em. To be fair, though...critical listening when mixing should be done from real studio monitors. A trip out to the car stereo or a boom box can give you different perspectives as well...especially because that's what most people will be listening on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Phil Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Originally posted by BenLoy: A trip out to the car stereo or a boom box can give you different perspectives as well...especially because that's what most people will be listening on!Very true. When my ex-band an I were looking to record a demo, we visited a studio and the guy first played us a track he did on the studio monitors. Then he played the same track from the same CD on a small SOny Boombox. It sounded just as good (as a boom box can). http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 I can't help you, Dave (though as usual lots of others can). First, I haven't done studio work. Originally posted by Dave Sisk: it has WAY too much low-frequency content. Second, I fail to grasp the problem.... Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g. Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 What he means, Zarkov, is that he needs a better live rig so it'll sound big and bassy as well. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruuve Posted October 7, 2004 Author Share Posted October 7, 2004 Originally posted by BenLoy: A trip out to the car stereo or a boom box can give you different perspectives as well...especially because that's what most people will be listening on!That's exactly why I do this...I'm used to listening to music on my home stereo or car stereo (which are tweaked very similarly). If I'm going after a particular type of mix, then I can't do it from no frame of reference...that's random trial and error. In other words, I know how it should sound going through these systems, so I can guage whether I've got it right or not by playing what I've mixed on these systems. And I also take the intended final mix and play it on a jambox, just to make sure it sounds ok, doesn't rattle the speakers, etc. Thx for the recommendations...I'll check 'em out! Dave Old bass players never die, they just buy lighter rigs. - Tom Capasso, 11/9/2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MvW Posted October 8, 2004 Share Posted October 8, 2004 I would third for the Sony MDR 7506's. These things sounds great in the studio and out. A nice, full sound. I've read a few very good reviews about this new company, Ultrasone and have been looking for a place to hear them. Anybody? www.ultrasoneusa.com Aside from the great advice already here, I would add one thing about your (or any) listening environment - to listen to your favorite music and other generally great sounding recordings/albums in the same place to "train" your ears. If your monitors aren't telling you 100% of the truth, you can at least learn how they are lying to you (hyped bass, in your case). In my studio DAW, I have a mix of about 50-60 songs that I use as "primer" for my ears when I'm about to track or mix just about anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groovyjazzyfunky Posted October 8, 2004 Share Posted October 8, 2004 Originally posted by empiremark: I would third for the Sony MDR 7506's. These things sounds great in the studio and out. A nice, full sound.And I would fourth that recommendation. Nothing too fancy, but they are the headphone monitor "standard," used in countless pro studios around the world, and they won't break the bank. One tip: Sony model #MDR-V6 are the exact same headphones, just without "Professional" printed on the side, which means you can usually find them for cheaper. I scored a factory refurbished (better than new) pair of V6's on eBay for less than $50. Best deal around. All your bass are belong to us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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