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Re: headphones for outdoor use: closed vs. open?

Subject: Re: headphones for outdoor use: closed vs. open?
From: madl74
Date: Thu May 23, 2013 5:13 am ((PDT))
> AKG K240 MK II - semi-closed.
> AKG K271 MK II - closed.
>
> The K271's cost slightly more, but other than the earpiece design they ha=
ve
> very similar specifications.
>
> Looking for opinions one way or the other.

Glen,

Here's one or two more. :-)

Headphones, however good, give an unrealistic sound. If we are recording fo=
r
loudspeaker listening, we need to interpret what we hear in cans for what w=
e
will ultimately hear from speakers. For a start, with cans, the image moves=

with your head. Closed earpieces have resonances and bass responses which
you can allow for. You can hear the lumpiness by listening to a slow sweep=

tone. My favourites have always been open K240's.

For lightweight recording I use "toy" Sennheiser foam pad types. For judgin=
g
a stereo image destined for loudspeakers, I've taught my ears to interpret=

the image from various cans. When I used to do location music recording,
mixing and balancing usually had to be done on cans.

The exception to this is with binaural sound which is destined to be heard=

on cans. You have no idea what cans the final listener is going to use, but=

here I would tend to fall back on the open AKG's for their smoother
response.

David Brinicombe







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