| Author | Message | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 237 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hey All, Anyone have any suggestions for a set of headphones to be used for practice/recording? I would prefer the type that enclosed the entire ear, has good sound canceling/blocking properties, and a replaceable, plug-in type of cord (Ive broken many headphone cords over the years_. Price range for me is probably around $100.00 USD to $200.00 USD. | ||
| bkbass
Intermediate Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 143 Registered: 11-2003 |
The Sony MDR's have a range of 5 cycles up to ? AKG 240 are a recording standard headphone well within your budget. I use both depending on the Bass, mood etc. I'm not that impressed with the Bose it sounds sort of processed to my ears. I also use a apair of $30 Yamaha's that I got at Banjo Center for practicing. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1529 Registered: 2-2006 |
I have a set of the Sony's aand they are outstanding. | ||
| jet_powers
Advanced Member Username: jet_powers Post Number: 342 Registered: 2-2003 |
I am partial to the Sony's myself.... | ||
| alembic_doctor
Advanced Member Username: alembic_doctor Post Number: 325 Registered: 8-2002 |
The only problem with the AKG headphones is that you have to make sure you get a pair that are Low Impedance. Otherwise you need a Headphone Amplifier. I wal always partioal to the Sony MDR7506 & MDR7509. But then I became an Ultrasone Dealer. These things, in my opinion are the absolute bestr bang for the buck. Check them out here. Look at the ProLine 550 & 650. I sell alot of these to bass players and drummers. BTW. I'm not soliciting a sale, but you may feel free to contact me. There is probably an Ultrasone dealer near you. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 2188 Registered: 9-2003 |
Try: http://www.headphone.com/ Apparently, the ACTIVE noisecancelling external phones (a la Bose) are not as good as the passive ones (i.e., IEM's that fit in the ear canal and attenuate extraneous sound naturally). According to what I've read, the Shure SE line are amongst the best In-Ear-Monitor's that aren't custom fit (i.e., require an audiologist make a mold of your ears for custom ear pieces). The Shure SE-530 are the finest of that ilk, but @ $500 MSRP, they ain't cheap. I bought the "old" model E-500 (they are identical, save body color, to the SE-530), but even @ a discount they were over $300. Shure also make a pro line of sound isolating IEM's specifically designed for stage use: http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/PersonalMonitorSystems/us_pro_earphones_content Good luck in your search. Cheers, Kevin | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1639 Registered: 4-2004 |
depends on how much you want to spend radio shack makes in your ears for 20 that are made by koss and to my ears and others offers excellent low ends i have some high end headphones that i might consider selling. over ear models akg 601 and beyer 250s i usually use etymotic in ears and they are the best but those radio shacks if still avail are a steal let me know jeff | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2593 Registered: 7-2004 |
I got the $20 Radio Shack in-ears last year based on Flax's recommendation. They are outstanding for the price. I have some noise cancelling headphones (panasonic or sony or something) that I used to use on airplanes. Now I use the Radio Shacks - smaller and they work better. They even have a mute button on the wire so you can place your order with the flight attendant without having to remove them from your ears. Bill, tgo | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1219 Registered: 9-2002 |
I use the Audio-Technica ATH40fs cans. They're a staple of lots of seesion bass guys here in Nashville. Sound reminiscent of the AKG240's with a hump in the bass response. AT advises they're built as monitor headphones for drums, keys, bass, and I believe they got it right. I use them with a Mackie 1202VLZ board as a headphone rig, and the Mack's considerable heaphone output, cued up with lots of bass in my channel does NOT even approach making them break up, even with my low B's. Don't know about Ipod or smaller device use, though. J o e y | ||
| foth
Intermediate Member Username: foth Post Number: 148 Registered: 12-2004 |
When I mixed rehearsal CD's with AKG 240M's, I got compaints of the mixes being too bright. I switched to Ultrasones, which are brighter, and now everything is just right. So my ears are Ultrasone fans. Paul | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 238 Registered: 9-2002 |
thanks guys...Looks like Ive got some research to do...The ultrasones do look interesting. I had been using Shure E2C in ear buds, but they are kind of a PITA, plus I like the isolating feel that full ear 'phones give. I was just digging around the house and found a pair of Sony MDVR 150's that arent half bad sounding, and will work until I figure out what I want. thanks to all... | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1533 Registered: 2-2006 |
For live playing I use the Shure E4c. They are expensive but they sound great. To get a good bass response with them you need to make "shure" they are inserted fully. | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 239 Registered: 9-2002 |
"To get a good bass response with them you need to make "shure" they are inserted fully" Yeah, the E2C does sound good with my ipod...Ive heard things in the music Ive never heard before with them. Problem is, the rubber piece on the ends sometimes gets lodged in my ear, I also think they are a little bit too high maintenance than I like (in terms of cleaning, putting the ear wax filters on, etc)... | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1534 Registered: 2-2006 |
Yea I've had the rubber piece come off before too which can be a pain. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1535 Registered: 2-2006 |
Has anybody used the molded earbuds? There a company here in Dallas that will make the ear pieces for my E4's. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1644 Registered: 4-2004 |
no but i would like to try em if the price was reasonable do you know how much they charge | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1537 Registered: 2-2006 |
NO I don't but I think I look in to it. The company here makes the mold ofr your earphones. I've seen them set up at the Easy Rider show last October and they make it on the spot. | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 622 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have a custom molded 2 driver set from Westone. i bought them for monitoring when I get the biggazz tours. Ultra comfort, great sound, seal out everything else. i used to fly with Bose C2's now I use my Westones for everything that I used to use headphones for. I've had Sony, Audio-Techinica, Panasonic, AKG etc. Now i bring them into my classroom for my students to use while they do their independent work. Molded are pricy and the more drivers, the much higher the price. But if you enjoy comfort and great sound I feel they are worth it. Mine were over $700 at the time but they may have come down. www.westone.com/content/113.html same drivers without the mold www.roaddogonline.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=388 | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1743 Registered: 3-2004 |
In-ear versions work great, but they aren't for everyone. I like them and use them for some applications, though I don't have a custom-fitted set. I fear the possibility of blowing my head clean off if I make a mistake with these in. I prefer my Sennheiser open-ear version for recording, though. The Sony is an industry standard for home studio recording and I have a pair, but I prefer the open ear to a closed ear as I think it is less likely to fatigue and cause damage with heavier use. For lack of a better term, I believe the open ear versions are more forgiving. Active noise canceling versions are great for air travel, but I would never record with them. Effectively, they are distorting the signal, in a positive way to cancel the noise, for comfortable listening in a loud environment. We have a set of Bose and I find that they are a bit scary as they create positive pressure within the ear cups that bothers some people, the Mrs. foremost among them. Use for listening is different from use for recording/mastering, though. For recording purposes, you have to understand the properties of your headphones or monitors with regard to coloration of the sound. Paul's lesson above, about listening and switching headphones, is critical if you want to come out with mixes that sound good on a variety of systems. I always listen to my stuff both on a set of studio monitors and through the headphones before pressing the button to mix down. -bob | ||
| wayne
Intermediate Member Username: wayne Post Number: 152 Registered: 5-2002 |
Olie- I have custom molds for a set of Shure E1s and they are excellent. I used an audiologist that works with Sensaphonics. The molds are all made of silicone, are very comfortable, and provide a 25dB reduction of ambient sound. I am totally sold on the Sensaphonics product. I also have ER filtered musician's ear plugs from them. The molds for the E1s ran $100. The ear plugs ran $180 (I think - $100 for the mold and $80 for the filter). Check the Sensaphonics website for the most recent list of the audiologists in Dallas. C-Ya.....wayne | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1540 Registered: 2-2006 |
Very cool thanks Wayne. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 2189 Registered: 9-2003 |
Just to throw more fuel on the fire, and make your head spin, ck this site out: http://www.head-fi.org/ These guys are anal about headphone hi-fi...understatement of the year! Far as I can tell, the new Ultimate Ears UE-11 Pro is supposed to be the cat's *ss in IEM's...audiologist mold is required, though.... $1,150 MSRP plus the audiologist fee for the mold fitting. http://www.ultimateears.com/_ultimateears/products/custom/ue11pro_description.php Other than the ear wax/sanitary issues, I highly recommend IEM's over OTE cans when isolation/noise reduction is an issue. Those Bose were SHEISSE (I got 'em for Xmas and returned 'em...overpriced and underwhelming). Cheers, Kevin FWIW, I can't imagine spending that much on cans, unless I made a living using them. Just carrying around the "cheapo" Headroom "mobile hi-fi" package for casual listening represents over $1k worth of stuff (iPod 60GB video, Shure e500PTH IEM's, Headroom Total BitHead headphone amp and Headroom Micro cordura bag) and I cringe the thought of accidentally leaving it at the local Barnes & Noble/Starbuck's or getting it jacked from my car! |
