Quality headphones search

Hey Graham!

You mentioned “range” – are you looking for wireless headphones?

For music production, I’d only recommend wired (connect with a wire) headphones, as Bluetooth definitely degrades the quality of the audio when wireless!

For headphones, you have closed-back headphones and open-back headphones.

Closed back headphones are typically used for recording purposes, as they don’t allow the audio to escape from the headphone cans (they are also useful to prevent outside noise being heard inside the headphones, too!)

Open back headphones are typically used for mixing and mastering because they allow the audio to escape the headphone cans, which are designed to be more neutral sounding because there’s less build-up of frequencies inside the headphones.

So first know what you’re using the headphones for!

For the best headphones for music production, I haven’t tried too many models, but I’m currently using these two:

• beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro for mixing/mastering
• beyerdynamic DT 770 for recording

Let me know more details what you’ll be using the headphones for, and I can try to direct you a little bit!

Okay, thanks for more info.

As mentioned, for closed back headphones at the moment, I’m using:

• beyerdynamic DT770 PRO (80 Ohm)

Ohms is just how easily the headphones can be driven.. so if you use a cellphone to listen with headphones, you’d probably want the 32 Ohm version.  If plugging into an audio interface or computer, the higher ohm versions should work fine!  (My open backs are 250 Ohm and my audio interface drives them great).

For closed-backs headphones that I do not own, I’ve had my eye on these models for awhile.. cannot promise performance:

• Sony MDR7506  (These have been very popular for YEARS!)
• Audio Technica ATH-M50x  (The M40x is also a choice.. but I’d probably go for the little extra money here).
• Sennheiser HD 280  (I’ve also seen these around for YEARS.. there looks to be an old and new refreshed model out there)..

Also take note if a headphone is over-ear (goes over the whole ear), or on-ear (just goes on top of your ear).

I’ve enjoyed over-ear over the years for breathability.  The models listed can be both over-ear or on-ear so read carefully!

Let me know if you have ANY questions before proceeding with purchase!

What will you be mainly using the headphones for?

If I were to personally purchase new headphones today, I’d look to the models I shared above..

The main reason being they are more affordable and I’m sure you’d get decent results.

The biggest thing with headphones is learning how they sound (which takes awhile to get used to), and comfort (even expensive headphones can be uncomfy).

Once you reach a certain price level in audio equipment, you often only are getting very small percentage improvements..

For example, I bought an expensive pair of in-ear-monitors for my FL Studio Course trainings hoping they’d give a huge improvement.. but my $20 ear buds are very comparable.. (how expensive?  Try $499 😟).. The ear buds look nice.. they have a nice audio cable.. and yes I can hear the bass a little clearer in the low-end.. but for an extra $470.. I think the improvement is probably like 2%.. [exaggerating a little, but it’s not a huge improvement])

You can also purchase a couple online and return the ones you don’t like.. I’d probably suggest that so you can find one that is comfortable, and that reproduces audio similar to what your ears are used to with music you listen to.

The room correction software stuff I haven’t taken too much advantage of.. I tried it once with my studio speakers and had very bad results.. I just learned how my room sounds, and then listen on different audio systems.. this is the easiest and most affordable approach, and gives me pretty consistent results.

Okay, right on!  As mentioned, I haven’t tried these headphones, but they seem to be quite popular out there, and the specs look decent, too!

I’ll leave this open if you want to follow-up after you get the headphones, have any concerns, or just want to give feedback on your experience with them!

I hope they are what you’re looking for!!