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noviceindisguise
23
Nov 27, 2016
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I currently have a set of Sony studio monitor headphones, which have decent sound quality. The issue is they are really uncomfortable. I need something that is comfortable, but also has good audio fidelity for enthusiast composing/sound mixing. Would these work well for that?
Nov 27, 2016
macky
3
Nov 27, 2016
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noviceindisguiseNo these are OPEN-back headphones, for your purpose of use you are limited to closed-back headphones. If you want top of the line studio/mix headphones there are Shure SRH1540, perfect neutral, very light and comfortable, top of the line audio quality, but has proprietary audio plug for $499, or Sennheiser HD 8 DJ which are also very comfortable, neutral but slightly more defined than Shure SRH1540, comes with all the accessories, non-proprietary audio plug so you can use any 3.5mm cable you have for $299, and if you are not so sure on the price there are cheaper alternatives in the line-up with very good sound quality. These two are what the professionals use and you can't go wrong either way, it all comes down to your preference and budget.
Nov 27, 2016
C.M.G
36
Nov 27, 2016
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noviceindisguiseIf you are looking for an upgrade, but don't want to spend as much for the Shure, the Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 is an excellent alternative. It has reviewed well and has the precision needed for tight sound tracking/mixing. Additionally, the often requested ATH-m50x and the Focal Spirit Professional are two slightly cheaper (but not worse) options if you aren't planning on going professional anytime soon.
Cheers, C
Nov 27, 2016
packermans
2
Nov 27, 2016
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noviceindisguiseOpen back are fine for mixing/referencing. If you are looking to use them for tracking when a microphone is involved (vocals, miking an acoustic instrument), then as macky said you will want closed back. I'm purchasing these for mixdown and listening to reference tracks, as I want the open back for the sound stage, and the comfort for longer listening sessions. I use the ATH m40fs and ATH m50x for tracking (both closed back).
Nov 27, 2016
Varholiaglimp
939
Nov 27, 2016
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mackyYou're right about studio headphones being mostly closed, but DJ headphones and studio reference headphones are totally different. DJ headphones often overemphasize bass on purpose to compensate for their use in a club where loud music is playing over speakers, whereas studio headphones are meant to be neutral, especially when used for mixing and tracking on the control room side. The HD 8 DJ's predecessor, the HD-25, is more neutral than DJ headphones tend to be, but in my decades of making my living in studios, I've never seen a pair used for tracking or mixing. The HD 280s would have a more studio-friendly sig, but I've never actually seen them in use. The ones I've seen most often are the MDR-7506, their earlier incarnation, the V6, various AKGs starting with the K501s and Sennheiser HD-600s (despite their being open; Deutsche Grammophon used to use them exclusively for mixing). You'd think I might have seen the Shures and the ATH-M50s, but I haven't. Surprisingly, I have seen Grados in a few tiny studios, but only in places used for indy and rock, and only on the studio room side where people playing in a room together enjoy the treble energy.
I've always been a studio musician and never a DJ, but I hate reading forum posts about what bad taste DJs have in sound. Theirs is a completely different use-case scenario from audiophile listening and studio recording because it almost never involves listening to headphones in a silent room; DJs are cueing the next track while listening to the one in the room. If they used reference headphones with full representations of highs and no compensation in the lows, DJs would naturally find themselves turning up the volume to hear the lows and probably damage their hearing as a result.
Nov 27, 2016
noviceindisguise
23
Nov 28, 2016
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packermansOk, thanks for the clarification. I won't be doing anything with live recording anytime soon, so I think open back is fine for my use case. How is the sound leak to the surrounding area on reasonable volumes?
Nov 28, 2016
lshriver
152
Nov 28, 2016
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noviceindisguiseSound leakage is definitely noticeable anything about 30% volume if it's quiet. Not bad for mixing but terrible for being in the recording studio with microphones on. The microphones will easily pick it up. But for mixing get these and don't worry about it. They are pretty neutral and have great sound
Nov 28, 2016
Varholiaglimp
939
Nov 28, 2016
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lshriverLeakage is one of several reasons I did a double take when I saw Grados in two smaller indy studios! Even assuming it wouldn't matter as much (except to players' hearing) when a loud guitar band was laying down basics and the mic heads were pointed at drums and amps, what about the vocals?
Nov 28, 2016
lshriver
152
Nov 28, 2016
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noviceindisguiseI'm a little confused as to your wording, so if I get this wrong correct me and I'll do my best to fix it.
So you're talking about doing a live recording situation? Not as in audience, as in everyone plays at the same time? Or the drummer using the headphones when the mics are under/behind the drums?
As for vocals I would never allow an open back in the studio. I've had vocalists use closed back and the mic have picked up the leaks of those from the gap in the seal caused by thick glasses. Inside of a studio I would never use open backs. I love them. But they have their place. For recording the performer usually wears sony 7506's, or some other mid to low quality monitor headphone. We use cheap monitors because all that matters to the performer to hear, is if they are in tune and have decent tone quality and enunciation. A drummer would probably prefer the closed back over open just because the drums are so loud that you can hear everything outside of them and they overpower what's inside the headphone. Closed back keeps those sounds out too. Using open back for electric keyboard recording is fine because the keyboard sound is sent to a computer instead of being picked up acoustically. Using a real grand piano the mics pick up a lot more things as they are usually put farther from the piano so the strings that are closer to it don't sound louder, and the volume is then turned up On it afterwards so all the little sounds (even if your clothes make noise) will be picked up.
open back is for the mixing room, mastering artists use a mix of everything to make sure it sounds good on all devices, and closed backs are basically studio's best friend.
Nov 28, 2016
noviceindisguise
23
Nov 28, 2016
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lshriverBasically, I mostly use MIDI and synthesizers for the type of music I create, or pre-recorded stingers. So I think these will work well for me.
Nov 28, 2016
lshriver
152
Nov 28, 2016
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noviceindisguiseOkay I gotcha now. MIDI recording only these will work great.
Nov 28, 2016
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