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Best Budget "Mixing" Headphones Not Requiring a Headphone Amp
I know all of the recommended things and advice, ie don't mix with headphones, buy the best you can afford, save to afford more, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum....
No need to advise me of these things. I already have heard/read/researched the advice over and over.... ;-)
I have a challenge to get everyone's minds thinking. :-)
The challenge: $50 (not counting tax or shipping) budget.
What are the highest quality, most reliable, best sounding, "Mixing" headphones that you know of that don't require a headphone amp. In other words, straight from the iPad to the headphones.
Assume new or refurbished, but not straight used.
Extra bonus points for headphones that have replaceable parts.
I have a personal short list that I've put together, but would like to see what everyone else can come up with. I'll share my list after everyone has had a chance to give their input. :-)
Ready? Set? Go!
Comments
I was just thinking about starting a thread with the same question. Im also wondering what headphones you guys in here use. Ofcourse mastering the final song on your desktop with studio monitors is the way to go. But all the rest of the fun on your iOs device requires some decent headphones. Or do you guys plug it on your desktop computer or stereo?
Great question Audiojunkie!
I usually use monitors for such work but looking around in my studio I found a couple pair of Sennheiser HD20 headphones for tracking. There is another set of phones that I found on the web for similar results at a lower cost that can't be found but alas there is not too many singers knocking on my door to track my less than mediocre songs.
Its all fun though.
I use IEM's for most of my headphone work these days, right now some Shure SE425's. Probably overkill for most people, but I like them
Even the cheaper ones sound good, though I don't know if they have any around $50.
I think realistically if you could increase to $100, you'd find a LOT more options out there with longer-lasting quality. Sony MDR7506s have long been studio standards for the price.
Just stay away from Beats!
What's wrong with Beats?
They're not very accurate mainly.
But this is a CHALLENGE. :-) I believe $100 opens things right up. If you were stuck on an island and had only your ipad speaker and a $50 pair of headphones of your choice, what would you choose? Be creative--explain your reasons for your choice. This is supposed to be a fun exercise. :-p
No one is likely to get what he or she would like to get for even $300. Ideally, we would each like to have the best available, and with limitless funds, we would choose something much different than what we currently have. :-)
I'd have to go with the Sennheiser CX300B MKII earbuds. Cost - $40-50.
Why? First, at that price range, I'd rather have an OK pair of earbuds over a poopy pair of on/over ear headphones. Second, the bass in earbuds tends to be nonexistent, these have enhanced bass so you gain some of that back.
I would certainly not recommend mixing in earbuds exclusively without having some reference (ie. monitors) to compare with. That said, I have used these and they are decent.
I recently bought these http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M20-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00012F7G4 after doing a lot of research on both comfort and sound reproduction and reliabilty. I can't say much about reliabilty, only having them for about 3 weeks. I can however say I am satisfied with the comfort and sound.
One thing I don't like is the curly chord, which seems a little heavy and cumbersome compared to my last pair. A small bother to me, but others may feel different.
Yeah, I always found coiled cords to be a pain too, they catch on a lot of stuff and heaven forbid you get the tangled up.
Well. My easy answer would be Apple EarPods or Apple Earphones. $29.99 and $19.99 respectively. Why? It is estimated that 70% of music is now being heard using in ear headphones.
But that doesn't mean that songs should be mastered on them. I got a pair of UE 4000s, modded the drivers, work fine for mastering. Half off at Best Buy for $50. Just remember, no Beats. Terrible frequency response and instrumental separation. Only a status symbol.
@wayni That's a good creative point!
Generally circumaural headphones are recommended for mixing.
Have the Koss. Agree they're the best at the price point.
I'm no expert but I snagged these on Amazon when they were on sale for $50
Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil
by Sony
http://amzn.com/B00001WRSJ
First post from me just because I'm beginning to learn about all this ios recording stuff. But I have been designing sound for theater for years using Sony MDR V6/7506 (which seem to be interchangeable). My wife is a disk jockey and they are a standard among DJs. They are low impedance which is good for volume if you need it. The curly cord can be a pain though. Replacement parts are readily available. That's a good thing because the ear pads will wear out after a couple of years of daily use. We pay about $60 shipped.
I've recently started using Sony Earbuds -MDR-XB30EX. They are pretty accurate without being artificially bass heavy. They run about $45 through Amazon. You can pay more as you move up the Sony scale but I've found the difference to be minimal for my purposes. They are fairly rugged with a non-tangle cord. I find myself using the MDR V6s less and less. You have to make sure you use your best size of the supplied ear cup things. That makes all the difference in bass response.
I just purchased a pair of Shure SH440's which I like very much, but I am new to them. Has anybody else here had much experience with these?
I'm using my Meelectronics in-ear phones with my iPad. They aren't the most analytical out there, but I got them for next to nothing and they're much better than stock-standard cheapies.
In terms of other in-ear monitors, I know Etymotic have a reputation for transparent, analytical, detailed sound reproduction, and you can grab their MC5 phones for $60. Just out of the budget challenge though
In my research, the pair that I think may come closest to meeting the mark while within the challenge budget are:
Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones
http://www.head-fi.org/products/superlux-hd-668-b
http://www.headphone.com/headphones/superlux-hd668b.php
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/search.php?searchid=67846466
http://www.head-fi.org/t/560540/is-superlux-hd668b-a-studio-level-headphone
As I understand it, SR850 - Professional Studio Reference Headphones are nearly the same headphones.
Let's discuss the results of this "Fun" exercise. Were there any benefits in doing this? I am not saying I am right in any way, I just thought it would be a fun challenge. :-)
Absolutely. This is very informative as I am in the market for good headphones to use for monitoring. While EarPods and other in ear, iPod type headphones are good for reference I would rather have something more faithful to sound reproduction.
Thanks for the tips. Are you planning to buy those phones then?
I heard the HD668Bs had a bit of a recessed mid.
I read that too, but un-modded, what would you choose that is available for $50 today that would be better?
@wayni I'm considering an upgrade, from the Sonys that I currently use, and thought it would be fun and informative to do this challenge to see what could be done on an incredibly tight budget. I might do another challenge later and try at the $75 price point to see what can creatively achieved at that amount. :-) In retrospect, I should have started high ($100) and then went low. :-)
The ue 4000s are supra aural, but the 668s are circumaural, correct?
You will most likely want open, comfortable and neutral sounding headphones. It's better to spend some cash on even simple DAC/amp, but If you have to drive them without an external amp and DAC make sure that the impedance is low so your computer output can drive them with no problems. Here is a link to good starting point - i selected all the necessary attributes for you, but you can change and adjust them no problem. Should return good selection of cans for any budget.
http://www.acqurate.com/557ddfff8a7448bd7e1b9067
I had these and they are exactly the same as the ones they sell at guitar center. Only fldifference is the plugs are silver and not gold. Both say Studio Monitors on top. Believe me, they sound so good and require so little juice from the iPad. Warming though, they are not as comfortable if you wear eyeglasses.
Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro is a very good one.Not a budget headphone but the best for mixing purposes.AKG also have some good ones.Just wait a little longer and spend some more money.If you dont wanna wait i should buy a Sennheiser which has very clear natural sounding.
Samson SR850/950's (- open vs closed, with the 950's apparently having a touch more bass). Seen them going for about £40, got mine unused 2nd hand for £20, been running them for a few months & very happy. Currently preferable to my Grado SR80's & Sennheiser HD414's, with Takstar Pro80's coming a close second place.
I have a couple of freeby cans that came with some piece of equipment I bought years ago, Yamaha's I believe. I just used them for tracking mostly but recently bought a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-m30x's for about $85 that are pretty good, I guess the m-50's are better but twice the money and my old rock ravaged ears can't tell anyway. They perform quite well driven by an iOS device too. I usually fall asleep at night with them attached to my head @ around quarter volume on my iPhone and then take them off later when the music runs out.