What headphones for around 120 euro for production?

[mromgwtf]

Hey, I will be buying a new set of headphones. What could you recommend for me for ~120 euro?
I was thinking about buying AKG K240 MKII. Any other recommendations?

[Mr 50]

I have a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50's and I am very happy with them.

The best thing is not the clarity (which is very good) but more because more than any other headphone I've tested, the sound they produced is the closest to monitors.

Often when moving from cans to monitors, you notice things that are all wrong in the mic and your perception was off from the cans. I don't find myself changing much with these, apart from drums, my overall percussion bus is always too loud when I come to mix it down on a good set of monitors.

This is an important thing for me, seen as there's nothing more annoying than having to work on cans, making what you think is a great track, only to use monitors later (neighbours with a baby etc) and have to re mix the whole fucking thing!

[Eskimo]

I have a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50's and I am very happy with them.

The best thing is not the clarity (which is very good) but more because more than any other headphone I've tested, the sound they produced is the closest to monitors.

Often when moving from cans to monitors, you notice things that are all wrong in the mic and your perception was off from the cans. I don't find myself changing much with these, apart from drums, my overall percussion bus is always too loud when I come to mix it down on a good set of monitors.

This is an important thing for me, seen as there's nothing more annoying than having to work on cans, making what you think is a great track, only to use monitors later (neighbours with a baby etc) and have to re mix the whole fucking thing!

I got them too, greatest headphones I've ever had so far!

[Tom_Autobot]

If you can stretch just a little bit further, the Focal Spirit One's are amazing, pisses all over the akg's from a great height.

The Spirit Pro's (same driver as the ones, but with a few tweaks) are my favourite headphones under £800, but they are about £220.

Check the bass response compared to the AKG K240 and ATH-M50
http://www.headphone.com/learning-cente ... date+Graph

Then look at how they all fare reproducing a 50hz square wave... at least the focals look like a square!
http://www.headphone.com/learning-cente ... date+Graph

[ehbes]

Sennheiser HD 25's

[SunkLo]

If you can stretch just a little bit further, the Focal Spirit One's are amazing, pisses all over the akg's from a great height.

The Spirit Pro's (same driver as the ones, but with a few tweaks) are my favourite headphones under £800, but they are about £220.

Check the bass response compared to the AKG K240 and ATH-M50
http://www.headphone.com/learning-cente ... date+Graph

Then look at how they all fare reproducing a 50hz square wave... at least the focals look like a square!
http://www.headphone.com/learning-cente ... date+Graph

These look interesting. Dat gently sloping line. They look like they sound like my Senns. Got a nice step response as well. I think a lot of people aren't aware that frequency graphs are missing part of the picture. Waterfall graphs and step/impulse response graphs will tell you much more.

Have you heard the Sony 7520? I've heard a lot of spectacular reviews of them. Some say they're HD600 killers in a closed back design, etc. I haven't got a chance to demo them because of price but I might consider saving up if they're that good.

I'd like a modded set of Fostex T50RPs as well.

I can attest to the Audio Technica M50s sounding quite close to monitors. I've been trying to figure out how I feel about these cans ever since I got them. I'm not actually that fond of their frequency response, but there's something about them that ends up being invaluable when referencing a mix. I think this similarity to monitors thing is what keeps me reaching for them.

[Echoi]

I have the 240 mkll's, and I swear by them. My mixdowns have improved dramatically since I purchased them. They can tend to make you sweat a bit though where they are pressed to your head. And also get a bit uncomfortable when worn for prolonged periods. But still, I've had mine for 3 years. Highly recommended.

[mromgwtf]

I have the 240 mkll's, and I swear by them. My mixdowns have improved dramatically since I purchased them. They can tend to make you sweat a bit though where they are pressed to your head. And also get a bit uncomfortable when worn for prolonged periods. But still, I've had mine for 3 years. Highly recommended.

Yeah I think I will go with them. I don't see any other interesting propositions for the price.

[Tom_Autobot]

These look interesting. Dat gently sloping line. They look like they sound like my Senns. Got a nice step response as well. I think a lot of people aren't aware that frequency graphs are missing part of the picture. Waterfall graphs and step/impulse response graphs will tell you much more.

Have you heard the Sony 7520? I've heard a lot of spectacular reviews of them. Some say they're HD600 killers in a closed back design, etc. I haven't got a chance to demo them because of price but I might consider saving up if they're that good.

I'd like a modded set of Fostex T50RPs as well.

I can attest to the Audio Technica M50s sounding quite close to monitors. I've been trying to figure out how I feel about these cans ever since I got them. I'm not actually that fond of their frequency response, but there's something about them that ends up being invaluable when referencing a mix. I think this similarity to monitors thing is what keeps me reaching for them.

Waterfalls and impulse / responses are much more commonly used in room analysis than for headphones, where frequency response is a very valid measure of headphone performance, especially on the same binaural head microphone that has
measured all of the sets on headphone.com

Would like to try the modded Fostex, but if they can beat the focal pro's for similar money, id be astounded.

I try production headphones all the time for work and all get referenced against my Audeze LCD-3's, which are widely regarded as one of the finest sets in the world.

The Focal pro's actually hold thier own really well against the audezes and i love the slightly prounounced bass response on them. seriously try a set out, you'll immediately hear imperfections with a set of m50's, AKG 702's or Sennheiser 600 / 650's.

The lack of any obvious peaks is the first thing i noticed, something i notice more than most people, as its the same characteristic of the LCD-3's. The fact they have done this with a closed back, £220 pair is unbelievable, coupled with the fact that they are really easy to drive, with good output from the built in headphone amp on my interface. There wasnt even that much difference when i drove them from a £1200 SPL Phonitor amp.

[Echoi]

I have the 240 mkll's, and I swear by them. My mixdowns have improved dramatically since I purchased them. They can tend to make you sweat a bit though where they are pressed to your head. And also get a bit uncomfortable when worn for prolonged periods. But still, I've had mine for 3 years. Highly recommended.

Yeah I think I will go with them. I don't see any other interesting propositions for the price.

I chose them because I didn't have monitors, the general consensus was that these are a great choice to aid the mixdown process.

[Aufnahmewindwuschel]

i ike my beyerdynamics 770 they are de fnot the best or anything but atleast they look cool enoguh to be ok

[SunkLo]

Yes the Headphone.com frequency plots are useful in a relative sense. A single graph won't give you perfectly objective information but will be valuable in comparison to graphs of headphones you already know. I still like to see how much cup reflection there is. Won't be nearly as much as a room but it's something I look at, at least with closed cans. They're just analogues of the same information anyway, you can infer frequency response from impulse response, etc. But a step or impulse response will tell me how much time domain smearing is going on without trying to parse that information from the frequency domain. Waterfalls are great because you get frequency and time domain in one graph.

You're right regarding the price of the Fostex. A modded pair would push the price up a fair amount. It could probably be done DIY though. You might miss out on the sexiness factor but I'm sure you could get close in terms of sound.

Damn you for getting me horned up on the Focals though. They might take the place of the Sonys in the "$350 closed flat cans I need to try" department. You've got an Audeze set, I bet those Focals are just gathering dust. You should stick em in a (rather large) bottle and lob it into the Atlantic. Conveniently, my fee for studio de-cluttering happens to also be £220, so it works out. You'll feel much better without such a confusing array of headphone options

[Icetickle]

Is there a pair of phones that can replace monitors? I'd rather buy really good pair of headphones than but monitors + interface + room treatment...

[LUNCHPADDLE]

KRK KNS8400's OR AKG K171mkII's

and youll still need an interface for proper audio rendering. grab the focusrite 2i2 as well or the VRM box for specific headphone rendering..