I, too, thank everyone for this discussion re headphones. It's interesting =
that two people have practical problems with the Sony's. And that recordist=
s use and don't use headphones in the field for different reasons (to hear =
if recording, to hear the sounds they are recording or missing...).
although I use two open phones daily (Koss porta pro and elderly Senn 590),=
I need closed phones to set up mics and also enjoy listening during the re=
cording process. To that end, I am researching and auditioning headphones a=
t home. with few exceptions listening in stores doesn't work, so I buy and =
return. One exception is a recent audition in a stereo shop (alone, relaxed=
with my own music). There I tried several open sennheisers including the H=
D800s. Those headphones explain the meaning of flat, "articulate" and "anal=
ytical". can't get them off my mind, therefore, a good way to train ears fo=
r auditioning headphones. one could hear "every" sound within a nice sounds=
tage from them (the HD 800 costs as much as a CA mortgage).
Closed phone audition: Senn HD 280, beyerdynamic 770 Pro 80 ohm, Senn Momen=
tum and AKG K550. I eliminated certain phones in the stores - either becaus=
e I wasn't used to closed phones (ATH-M50), they were too bulky (Shure SRH4=
40) or musicians said weren't that great. Guitar Center people steared me a=
way from the Sony MDR-7506.
All above will work with computers and iPods. Have to turn volume all way u=
p for the beyer 770 (reviewers say the quality/performance not there in th=
e 32 ohm version). While auditioning I adjusted the volume for each pair to=
have a similar listening experience for nature sounds and music, e.g. Itzh=
ak Perlman....
I returned all but the Beyerdynamic 770 Pro 80 ohm even though it's not por=
table enough for field work.
To my ears they are flat, articulate and have an amazing soundstage for clo=
sed phones. You can distinguish more sounds in them. they produce quality a=
nd natural tone - the high violin pitches are sweet vs sharp, the roughly p=
layed violin sections sounded musical rather than jarring. enjoyable experi=
ence!
=95 unlike others, the sound is not too laid back or in-your-head or
in-yo=
ur-face
The Senn HD 280s are physically uncomfortable and do not seem to capture en=
ough variety in sounds (sorry I don't speak audio language; please let me k=
now what I'm trying to say). They seem accurate, flat without much low end.=
lack a rich sound. They are not sonically uncomfortable like the AKGs (shr=
ill/harsh in the uppers. can't turn up the volume as much as I'd like - thi=
s problem is probably gender specific). The Momentums aren't reference phon=
es.
For field work I want comfortable portable closed phones can wear with a ha=
t, so will try: the beyerdynamic DT 1350 (80 ohm), the HD 25-I-ii (70) and =
the Amperior (18 ohm). the beyer 1350 is new, so cost $300. the Amperior is=
a new model of the HD 25-I-ii which is sonically different (tighter bass, =
etc), but too expensive to buy. all isolate well and have comfortable headb=
ands.
I hope the HD 25-1-ii will be more comfortable than the larger ATH-M50. It'=
s cable can be modified to get a cleaner sound.
I have links to reviews if anyone is interested.
Lily
On Feb 8, 2013, at 12:39 PM, shooze53 <> wrote:
>
>
> Scott,
> Thanks for this input.
>
> This is all a very helpful discussion. After trying many yesterday, varyi=
ng in price from $80.00 through $250.00 - Beyer Dynamic, Audio-Technica, Sh=
ure, AKG, Sennheiser, etc - I have narrowed down my decision to two phones:=
Sony MDR-7506, or the Sennheisser HD 25-1 II (there is a $115.00 priced di=
fference between the two as well)
>
> I have not A/B'd the two, but am taking advice from most on here.
>
> I do not like the idea of wind noise that supposedly occurs while using S=
ony cans in the field, AND I would like to hear more about that from anyone=
that has experienced that low end rumble. I do plan on doing some outdoor =
nature and music recording, as well as indoor monitoring/mixing.
>
> Thanks again folks!
>
> Scott Hughes
>
> --- In Scott Fraser wrote:
> >
> > < The graph for the Sony MDR-7506 seems to totally contradict reports o=
f boomy bass: >
> >
> > It would seem to, however, we don't listen to graphs, & everybody's hea=
d & ear architecture is slightly different. For my ears, the reportedly tip=
ped up bass of the Sony MDR V6/7506 is not imagined. I've used these cans f=
or 30 years, mixed thousands of concerts & recorded hundreds of albums util=
izing them & the bass is definitely exaggerated, relative to the much more =
neutral response of the studio monitors in use. This makes the Sony phones =
very useful for editing, restoration & noise reduction chores, since a lot =
of low frequency thumps, plosives, DC offsets, & wind rumbles are not audib=
le on many speakers.
> >
> > Scott Fraser
> >
> >
>
>
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