Good Mixing Headphones to replace Monitors

[james090]

Just asking to see what people's thoughts are on any good headphones for mixing?

I have the Beyerdynamic DT990's Pro, which are great, and understand that monitors are always preferable, but I could be moving to a new room with acoustic issues.

Therefore any higher priced headphone recommendations for mixing and mastering gratefully recieved

[RichardT]

There are many, many good choices these days - what’s your budget?

[james090]

There are many, many good choices these days - what’s your budget?

Probably around £1000 if they are very good alternatives to Studio Monitors

[RichardT]

I have focal Elears, and like them. But they are bettered now by the Focal Clear MGs, which are quite a lot more expensive and slightly over your budget. They would be worth a listen!

[Drew Stephenson]

I've got some DT990s and I find them noticeably improved with correction software.
This is a subject that splits the forum somewhat but it's worth looking at.

That being said, with your budget, you might not need it!

[james090]

I've got some DT990s and I find them noticeably improved with correction software.
This is a subject that splits the forum somewhat but it's worth looking at.

That being said, with your budget, you might not need it!

Yes the DT990's are great, but I had nothing to compare them too, so maybe I need to look at SonarWorks or similar to correct them?

[Drew Stephenson]

I've got some DT990s and I find them noticeably improved with correction software.
This is a subject that splits the forum somewhat but it's worth looking at.

That being said, with your budget, you might not need it!

Yes the DT990's are great, but I had nothing to compare them too, so maybe I need to look at SonarWorks or similar to correct them?

I think they do a trial period so it'd be worth looking at. For me the biggest difference was that they brought my monitors and headphones much closer in terms of response, which meant I wasn't going back and forth tweaking things one way or another when I changed listening devices.
Obviously if you're not going to be doing that then it may be much less valuable to you and you could be better off just really learning your headphones with some good reference material.

[sonics]

If you need accuracy (and surely replacing studio monitors with headphones is all about that) then I believe that one should use correction software. Sonarworks or Toneboosters Morphit. Then you can get very fine results from even GBP200 headphones from the likes of Beyer, Shure or Audio-Technica.

How good your hearing is and your experience may dictate how much mileage you get from spending more. I'd consider Sennheiser 6xx, AKG K7xx, Shure SRH or BD DT1xxx if you want to spend more. I have no experience with Focal or the newer brands. Even my razor-sharp Grados were turned into an analytical delight with correction EQ!

Headphones should be chosen carefully for fit, comfort and design (closed/open etc.). A good seal is needed for correct bass. I have even mixed in noisy environments using IEMs and correction software. Results were excellent.

After dealing with many speakers in different rooms I am so glad I now also have consistency with headphones and software. It also gives me an accurate reference point for comparison. If anyone's interested, I also use room emulation to avoid the "inside the head" effects of headphone mixing. I also use correction on my studio monitors, of course!

[James Perrett]

I'm happy with Sennheiser HD600s with no additional correction. They give me a similar presentation to my monitors but allow me to work at times when my monitors would disturb other people.

[The Elf]

AKG K7xx without a moment's hesitation. I also have HD600s, but the AKG K702s are the ones I choose, and all my mixes are done with them.

[Mike Stranks]

I'd consider... BD DT1xxx if you want to spend more.

I'm making an assumption that BD is shorthand for BeyerDynamic.

If so, while I'd accept the DT150 as OK-ish - although there are plenty of other contenders at that price point that are just as good/better - I don't rate the DT100 at all. I found them very 'middy' and totally unsuitable for mixing. I'm not alone in that assessment. I didn't keep mine for very long at all.

We've been seduced by numerous photos of people in studios wearing 'em and the dreaded 'industry standard' moniker. Fine for studio foldback duties, but not for critical mixing.

[james090]

AKG K7xx without a moment's hesitation. I also have HD600s, but the AKG K702s are the ones I choose, and all my mixes are done with them.

I might have to check these out alongside my DT990s

[Drew Stephenson]

I'd consider... BD DT1xxx if you want to spend more.

I'm making an assumption that BD is shorthand for BeyerDynamic.

If so, while I'd accept the DT150 as OK-ish - although there are plenty of other contenders at that price point that are just as good/better - I don't rate the DT100 at all. I found them very 'middy' and totally unsuitable for mixing. I'm not alone in that assessment. I didn't keep mine for very long at all.

I was assuming sonics' third 'x' was key there and they were referring to things like the DT1770 etc.

[jaminem]

at £1k, for mixing headphones it HAS to be Audeze LCD X
No question. You really must try them, they are that good..

[sonics]

I was assuming sonics' third 'x' was key there and they were referring to things like the DT1770 etc.

Apologies for my abbreviation, but blinddrew is correct. I meant the DT 1770 or 1990. I've not used DT100 since the early 1990's IIRC. I do have 880/990, but whereas they have good low frequency dynamics, they lack some resolution. I've yet to try the 700/900 models.

[twotoedsloth]

Sort of a non sequitur,

Would it be good to have a second pair of "grot box" headphones to compare your mixes with, much like I use a pair of ampex speakers to compare with my PMC monitors?

Thanks and sorry for going off topic,

Peter

[MOF]

Would it be good to have a second pair of "grot box" headphones to compare your mixes with, much like I use a pair of ampex speakers to compare with my PMC monitors?

Grot boxes were used to get a rough idea of what televisions and portable radios/cassette players would sound like as they had such small speakers with little in the way of bass response.
Given that most people seem to listen on earbuds and headphones, which are capable of delivering bass frequencies, I can’t think that there’s any need for such headphones.

[MarkOne]

I’m not sure this is even a valid approach, but on several mixes recently, I started out getting my static balance sorted using a grotty pair of Apple earbuds (the free ones you get with every iPhone) And once I felt I had something approaching a reasonable mix did I transition to monitors to dive deeper into the mix.

Like I said this might be a really bad habit, but I’ve felt it allows me to approach the sound in such a way many people might consume it in the end.

[sonics]

Would it be good to have a second pair of "grot box" headphones to compare your mixes with, much like I use a pair of ampex speakers to compare with my PMC monitors?

I think that some earphones (or IEMs) are really useful to provide another mix perspective, especially if any portion of your target audience uses them.

[The Elf]

Would it be good to have a second pair of "grot box" headphones to compare your mixes with, much like I use a pair of ampex speakers to compare with my PMC monitors?

Not really.

Neither am I personally convinced with this 'listen on something your audience will listen on' approach. You simply cannot anticipate the end playback system, or how it will be used.

A good *commercially average' mix will sound of its best on *anything*. That doesn't mean it sounds 'great' on them all, just that it will sit comfortably alongside other commercial material played on the same system. That's what you're aiming for.