@bitflipper... Yeah, I've heard that. The 280s will get delegated to tracking if I can ever afford the MT50s (or something better). For now I'll be doing the reference juggle between different systems... but it won't be NEARLY as bad as back in the old days. For lack of money I used a really crappy pair of Sony's and my home stereo for monitoring. That was a real pain but I had access to dozens of other systems in the area to test stuff on and even my engineering buddies were surprised at what I produced using my non-gear. Also because of the layout of my "studio" (aka my wacky bedroom) I was essentially in a hallway with an angled ceiling and my stereo speakers were on the floor under my desk. My set up is far from perfect now but man is it a lot better than that mayhem. lol

jamesyoyo


I use my Ultrasones 650 quite a bit for real detail work. They have incredible separation and never give me ear fatigue...probably since I don't have to tturn them up real loud.

But mixing on them? That has always proven to be tough once I turn my monitors back on.

+1 on the Ultrasone's.
 
I have the 750's.....
 
http://www.ultrasone.com/index.php/en/products/pro-750.html

I've had a pair of beyerdynamic DT-250's for years now and I'm still getting along okay with them. This topic has made me do a bit of research and it looks like specifications of my DT-250's are pretty much up there with the rest of them.

Oh, I mix with them pretty much in entirety. I bought some Tannoy Active Reveals a bit ago only to find out that I had bought a bit of a lemon so I hardly use them any more. And, like a few here, I mix at home and so headphones is the only real option until I win the lottery and buy a cottage in the middle of nowhere.

I do the usual and burn to CD so that I can check a mix on a number of systems, so I understand where my headphones are "letting me down" and that is mainly in the bass department.

I use the old AKG - K240's and to me, they represent the actual sound. These phones do not hype anything. I love checking my mixes with them. I hope they never break, as i think they are discontinued.

CJ

I also just recently paired my ATH-50's with a Focusrite VRM Box. It's revolutionizing the mixing process for me and I think your headphone mixes will improve 500% by using one. 

So I picked up the Focusrite VRM today for $79...and I must say it's a pretty impressive 
little box.....quite a wide variety of monitors and 3 different "atmospheres"
to listen in...(VRM stands for Virtual Reference Monitors, in case you didn't know)

The Yamaha NS10, which they call the Japanese White Classic,  a standard in most Studios...
KRK Rokit6 G2
Auratone 5C
An American Passive and British Studio, not sure what these are supposed to be...
Genelec 1031A
KRK VXT 8
Adams S2.5A
Rogers LS3-5A
Stirling LS3-5A 

Some British Hi Fi speakers, both 80's and 90's, computer desktop speakers, micro bookshelf system, and 26" Flat Screen speakers.

It will definitely help with my mixes, that much is for sure...sound quality is quite simply "stunning"

It's like owning an assortment of high and low end monitors, having them hooked to your DAW, and being able to turn a switch to listen to your mix on each set...and compare how your mix sounds on each - that's a pretty good "reference" source if you ask me...dynamic range is 108db - that's pretty darn good too....
It connects via ASIO USB or S/PDIF (which is what I'm using, as the ASIO is limited to 48K, and I record in 96K)
Of course, as sharke says, it's not the same as actually listening to the REAL speakers, but it is a darn good substitute for spending about 5 grand on monitors to "compare" your mix in....especially when your working for peanuts in the first place...

Just thought I throw my 2 cents in...

  oh bugger, I should have read further!

bitflipper


You're not alone, Beepster. I use HD280's, too. But for tracking, not mixing. Great isolation for monitoring while singing. But too bass-light for mixing.

LOL bit...I remember you and I having this conversation before. I so wish you lived closer to me to try mine. They are really low end heavy. Other than what I think is a 50 Hz bass boost, I love the way they handle highs and mids. They must have changed them since you bought yours and added more lows or something. I have a little Sonitus eq saved for when I do have to mix with these and it's really helped a lot to where I was surprised to hear what my mixes sounded like on real monitors after. :)
 
-Danny

@Danny... From what I've read the current version of the HD280s are updated from earlier versions and supposedly have a better bass response than the originals. I saw the early reviews and almost didn't buy them because of that. I've never used the older versions though so I can't really say if there is any difference. Like I said they seem to match up well to what my monitors are cranking out... even in the bottom end department. Still sounds like the MT50s might be a little better for mixing though so I'm keeping them on my to buy list. Hope all is well in Danziland. :-)

Didn't read everything, so sorry if it's been brought up. I used to to ATHm50's, but I discovered the KRK8400s feel better with them. ymmv

So you like the 8400s better. Is the low end there? Do they color the sound much?


Thanks!


J

cclarry

I also just recently paired my ATH-50's with a Focusrite VRM Box. It's revolutionizing the mixing process for me and I think your headphone mixes will improve 500% by using one. 

So I picked up the Focusrite VRM today for $79...and I must say it's a pretty impressive 
little box.....quite a wide variety of monitors and 3 different "atmospheres"
to listen in...(VRM stands for Virtual Reference Monitors, in case you didn't know)

The Yamaha NS10, which they call the Japanese White Classic,  a standard in most Studios...
KRK Rokit6 G2
Auratone 5C
An American Passive and British Studio, not sure what these are supposed to be...
Genelec 1031A
KRK VXT 8
Adams S2.5A
Rogers LS3-5A
Stirling LS3-5A 

Some British Hi Fi speakers, both 80's and 90's, computer desktop speakers, micro bookshelf system, and 26" Flat Screen speakers.

It will definitely help with my mixes, that much is for sure...sound quality is quite simply "stunning"

It's like owning an assortment of high and low end monitors, having them hooked to your DAW, and being able to turn a switch to listen to your mix on each set...and compare how your mix sounds on each - that's a pretty good "reference" source if you ask me...dynamic range is 108db - that's pretty darn good too....
It connects via ASIO USB or S/PDIF (which is what I'm using, as the ASIO is limited to 48K, and I record in 96K)
Of course, as sharke says, it's not the same as actually listening to the REAL speakers, but it is a darn good substitute for spending about 5 grand on monitors to "compare" your mix in....especially when your working for peanuts in the first place...

Just thought I throw my 2 cents in...

And it certainly beats endlessly burning CD's to check your mix on different systems. I only wish it had a "car" simulation. 

@Danny... Slow but steady here, man. I think I'm finally out of the testing phase and now neck deep in trying to make it all do something useful. Glad you brought up that ARC software again. That would probably be a far better use of any cash that might have gone towards another set of headphones. Won't do much good until I move anyway though because I don't have a consistent set up right now. I have to stack my monitors on the desk at the end of the night so unless I tape off specific spots to place them at the start of a session I'd spend more time running ARC than actually making tunes. At least I don't have to completely tear them down and stick them in my gear closet anymore. Man was that ever a huge hassle. Cheers, dude.

I have the M50's and the shure 840 , the 840's are more neutral .
Much better for checking mixes ,especially in the low frequencies .

Here are some opinions about mixing with headphones.

For me, headphones are an ESSENTIAL part of the mixing process. Before I start mixing, I listen to each track individually (soloed) on phones. Often I'll catch something like really low-level mic handling noise or hiss that cuts in during a punch that I would never hear on speakers.

Also, it's important to consider the playback medium. More and more people are listening on earbuds and headphones these days, so you have to at least reference to headphones as much as you do to speakers, if not more. 

It is entirely possible to make mixes on headphones that translate over any system. I was shocked when I was doing some video editing in Europe and all I had for monitoring was a set of Monster Turbine Copper earbuds. I did the mixes behind the video, fully expecting to tweak them considerably when I got back home. I put them up on the speakers, and didn't have to change a thing.

Speaker of airplanes - I never mix or master within 48 hours of being on a plane. I always end up having to redo them, so it's not worth it.

ATH-M50s are great in the bang for the buck category, probably the best out there at that price point. I also have a set of Beatz (don't laugh) for monitoring the lows, as most headphones are bass shy. I like Sony phones for DJing because the mids cut, which can really help with high ambient noise, but I never really warmed to them for mixing. AKG makes some great phones, they have the "airy highs" thing nailed. Ultrasones are fun for listening, but I've never been able to do mixes that translated well with them.

It's amazing the difference, to read a thread about mixing on headphones on this forum as opposed to, say, Gearslutz. 

If this were Gearslutz, you'd have 50 replies in succession that said "I would NEVER mix on headphones. Under ANY circumstances. It's COMPLETELY pointless. Your mixes are going to sound like CRAP."

I have 3 of these, all high impedance, and they are pure gold.  Going from them to speakers makes mixing pure pleasure.  I sure wish that AKG still made these as they are comfortable to wear for long periods.  I'm constantly checking e-bay and craig's list for these.

Danny Danzi

CJaysMusic


I use the old AKG - K240's and to me, they represent the actual sound. These phones do not hype anything. I love checking my mixes with them. I hope they never break, as i think they are discontinued.

CJ

Hahaha CJ...it looks as though you and I are the only ones that love these things. I'm glad I'm not crazy and you feel the same about them. They could use just a little more low end in them, but the cool thing with them is, as soon as you use too much low end, they let you know about it. LOL! I want to try the ones that replaced them. I've not had a chance to check them out yet, but my friends that have them claim they are even better. I keep forgetting to buy a set or borrow a set to see for sure. Like you, I hope mine never break either. I bought 3 sets though, so I have 2 for back-up that are still in the box. I never let clients use them...they are MINE! :)
 
-Danny