Headphones and manuals for sound design

[Neu1986]

Hello, I am new of the forum.

I like to create my own sounds to play with the laptop and the MIDI keyboard, but until now all I have done is some DIY attempt, and I would like to approach the matter in a more meaningful way. I usually play live in a band and I would like to create the right sounds for the songs we write.
As far as I know i need some headphones to reproduce the sound correctly, so I would like to have some suggestions on the model you think are better for this purpose (open, closed etc.).
I would like to stay away from monitor speakers because I cannot treat the room.
Moreover I would be thankful if you can suggest me a good sound design manual or online course.
Thank you all

[Logarhythm]

Do a search of the forum and you'll find many, many threads discussing headphone choices
These articles are also worth a read:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/headphones-studio
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/studio-headphones

Amongst forum members you'll find a lot of love for Sennheiser HD600/HD650 and AKG k702/k712, and the latter seem to be available at very good prices lately. I'd post a link but I'm worried that looking for them will be too much temptation to resist...

Don't know how much knowledge you're starting out with, but you can't go far wrong with the series that Gordon Reid wrote on synthesis in the mag some years ago:
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/synth-secrets

[Martin Walker]

Hello Neu1986, and welcome to the SOS Forums!

You may also find my feature on Mixing On Headphones useful, as some aspects such as spatial anomalies and judging the bass end can be tricky compared with working with loudspeakers:

http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/ ... headphones

Hope it helps!

Martin

[Martin Walker]

Moreover I would be thankful if you can suggest me a good sound design manual or online course.

As for an online course, Zukan (one of our moderators here) comes highly recommended - here's my recent SOS review of his on-line tutorials:

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/samplecraze



Martin

[Neu1986]

Thank you all very much.
Reviewing the headphones you advised I noticed there is a model from Sony, the MDR-7509. Unfortunately it is a model from 2007 hence now discontinued.

I looked at MDR-7510 and they seem quite similar (but still available) do you think they are good for sound design?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-MDR-7510- ... SwblZZMKl6

[Zukan]

Hello Neu1986, and welcome to the SOS Forums!

You may also find my feature on Mixing On Headphones useful, as some aspects such as spatial anomalies and judging the bass end can be tricky compared with working with loudspeakers:

http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/ ... headphones

Hope it helps!

Martin

Best article on the subject on the net!

[The Elf]

Thank you all very much.
Reviewing the headphones you advised I noticed there is a model from Sony, the MDR-7509. Unfortunately it is a model from 2007 hence now discontinued.

I looked at MDR-7510 and they seem quite similar (but still available) do you think they are good for sound design?

I have some here, along with HD650/K712, etc. I honestly can't recommend the Sonys. They are definitely the worst of this bunch.

For me the AKG K7xx (any of them) are easily the best, with the HD650 in an honourable second. Beyond this you really have to find somewhere you can try for yourself - it's a very personal thing.

[Neu1986]

I know and appreciate Sennheiser very much. The thing is that it would cost more than the rest of my equipment (i have a laptop and an Alesis iO2 sound card) so my concern is that i substantially waste money for a quality difference I cannot appreciate due to the rest of the equipment I use.

can you please tell me if there is a good pair of headphones in the 150-200 $ range?

[Sam Spoons]

By reputation only (but I plan to listen to a pair with a view to buying them) The AKG K702 are available for £116 from Scan. And IIRC they were mentioned in a recent thread as being are only slightly inferior to the K712.

[wdsteele]

I had been using Beyer DT 770'S for many a year and still do , very comfy fit and more than respectable listening qualities. I recently purchased the AKG 712's thanks to a heads up on some promotional pricing ( prompt courtesy of Mike and Zukan I think ) and even I can hear a remarkable difference - in summary , individual sounds are much easier to identify across the entire spectrum , they jump out just enoiugh to give me the reassurance that my mix tweak is the right one , excellent stereo imaging and sturdy build quality with choice of straight or curly lead included in the box.

I can't afford nor do I have a proper room for high end monitors , but , I find it re-assuring to know my headphones are more than up to the task even if my ears may not be.

If you intend to keep working with music then a really worthwhile investment.

[Logarhythm]

Sennheiser also do the HD598 that you may be able to get in that price range - I've had a pair of them for years. Never tried the AKG options so can't compare with those, but can confirm they're not quite the equal of HD650s but still very good headphones that I've been happily using for a year or so since my 650s succumbed to a rather terminal accident.
Alternatively, if you're in the US you could try the Massdrop* edition HD6XXs, which theoretically are a slightly tweaked HD650 and at $199 with free shipping in the US (think it's about $15 extra for international). Link in case it's of interest: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-sennheiser-hd6xx

*Have never tried using Massdrop but I know others who've done so and had stuff shipped to Europe very successfully. Amongst some of the tat and silly audiophile stuff they have some interesting bits at quite tempting prices...

[Mike Stranks]

before I upgraded to the AKG K702s I was a happy user of the AKG K240 Mkii.

They're in your price range... see:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555359-REG/AKG_2058_Z_00190_K_240_MK_II.html

But I think it would be worth you contacting Scan here in the UK. They currently have the K702s (refurbished) as follows:

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/akg-k702-headphones-manufacturer-refurbished

That price includes 'our' tax... (20%) so you wouldn't be paying that. But of course you'd be paying your import duties plus international shipping... probably still a bargain compared to the new price in the States.

... and don't be put off by the refurbished aspect. Mine are refurbished from Scan and I have absolutely no complaints or problems with them.

[forumuser915213]

By reputation only (but I plan to listen to a pair with a view to buying them) The AKG K702 are available for £116 from Scan. And IIRC they were mentioned in a recent thread as being are only slightly inferior to the K712.

I saw your comment, looked at the Scan website and bought a pair. They are great.

Thanks for the advice!

Gavin

[Sam Spoons]

You are welcome, and, just for the record, I bought a pair myself about a year ago when B-Stock K702s were available for about £80. I too am very happy with them.