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At The Back => The Dressing Room => Topic started by: Nadz1lla on October 28, 2011, 11:15:08 AM

Title: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Nadz1lla on October 28, 2011, 11:15:08 AM
Hi all!

First of all, I am looking at getting some Skullcandy over-head headphones for my lady for christmas. She is currently stealing my recording headphones to go to work with every day and this needs to end, heh. I was looking at spending up to £30, so the Lowriders looked nice (pink and black) but if anyone has any other recommendations for decent sound-quality headphones for normal everyday MP3 player use (maybe that come in funky colours, she is quite partial to pink and purple) that would be great!

Now for me...

I am currently in the market for some new studio monitoring headphones for myself. The ones my Mrs keeps nicking are actually poor quality, muddy as hell and the cups don't close tight enough to my head, so I'm worried about click-track bleed coming through when I wear them to record vocals. These will be going on my Christmas list, so can't be stratospherically expensive, so I am looking at possibly an £80 top price. Could push to £90-odd for the right pair of 'phones, though.
I have heard the Sennheiser HD 215's are quite good, as I've been trawling the Home Recording forum for rec's, but there's a lot of split opinions on there. Anyone got any recommendations for studio headphones or anyone used the aforementioned Sennheisers?

Cheers all!  :)
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Roobubba on October 28, 2011, 11:24:27 AM
Unfortunately, given my limited experience and your price bracket, I can't necessarily match up my one and only suggestion with your criteria...

I use the Audiotechnica M50s set. It's a little over your limit, but I find them absolutely fantastic, and would wholeheartedly recommend them especially for mixing, but for any audiophile who's not looking at the £300+ market.

Roo
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: psy on October 28, 2011, 01:26:55 PM
I've not used the HD215's, but I got a pair of HD380's this summer & I really like them for tracking.  Quite a flat frequency response to them.  I think I paid about £90 for them.
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: MDV on October 28, 2011, 03:26:11 PM
HD215s are rubbish. Not all the HD line are created equal, by a long shot. In fact HD25s are the only HDs I've heard that I like, and I dont like them as much as ATH M50s.
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Andrew W on October 28, 2011, 06:01:09 PM
Following MDV's advice in a previous thread I got some M50s, as much for general listening as for monitoring purposes and I'm really chuffed with them. Sound a lot better than the £100 they cost.
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: MDV on October 28, 2011, 08:02:19 PM
Good man!

Roo too.

Glad you both like em
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: FredD on November 03, 2011, 04:38:31 PM
I would HIGHLY recommend KRK KNS8400. They are great for recording and monitoring, and ideal for mixing.
They go for about £130, so may be a little above your budget. However, I think it is definately a case of 'you get what you pay for' here !

If you are not doing a lot of  final mixing, then the KNS6400 model at about £85, would be more than suitable.

I have had HD215s but changed to KRK about a year ago, and now wouldn't entertain Sennheiser again !!
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Nadz1lla on November 03, 2011, 05:43:47 PM
Cheers for the input, guys!

These would only be for recording vocals, really, as I mix etc on speakers. Not great speakers, mind, but good enough until I can afford some decent monitors, heh.
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: MDV on November 03, 2011, 06:06:06 PM
Cheers for the input, guys!

These would only be for recording vocals, really, as I mix etc on speakers. Not great speakers, mind, but good enough until I can afford some decent monitors, heh.

If thats all its for then you can get pitch timing and isolation out of some HD202s. 30 quid. But if you hear the ATHM50s, youre gonna want to mix on them
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Nadz1lla on November 05, 2011, 12:23:26 AM
The M50's are a bit out of my current range, I could save for them, I suppose. Any idea on the M40f's? They seem to be half the price (well, £99 reduced to £54 on Amazon right now...).

Is the drop in quality between the models that big?
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: MDV on November 05, 2011, 12:25:24 AM
Never heard em, no idea. I've never known an audio technica product to be bad though, especially for the money.
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Nadz1lla on November 05, 2011, 01:01:19 AM
Yeah I've heard a lot of good things about their range in general, and everyone mentions how high quality they are for their respective price-points. The M40f's are almost in "Christmas Gift" price-range, too, if my family want to all chip in together, they wouldn't be able to afford it individually, of course, heh.
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Dr. Stein on November 07, 2011, 03:36:14 AM
For the mrs, consider a set of iGrados. They're about £40 and they're open backed, so might not suit. Cracking sounds though.
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Nadz1lla on November 07, 2011, 07:05:41 PM
Cheers! Will look into those.   :D
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: MDV on November 07, 2011, 11:05:30 PM
beware that because they have an extremely bright family sound, with little low end, grados are very much a marmite headphone. A lot of people love them, but you have been warned :)
Title: Re: Need some advice on two types of headphones
Post by: Nadz1lla on November 08, 2011, 10:43:03 PM
Thanks for the heads-up!  :)