I am looking for a pair of headphones to use in my studio for mixing and recording with. I have the KRK rocket 5 monitor speakers and have read some reviews that the KRK 8400 headphones sound the same as the monitors as far as frequency response. Reviews said the response was flat and didn't color the sound any would be good for studio mixing. I also was looking at the  Bose AE2 headphones . Both at $150.00 in price which about the most I want to spend on headphones ... does anyone have any of these headphones and if so, what do you think of them or if not, what are you currently using. I use headphones along with the studio monitors when I mix to get a balance of the two and for mixing pans and effects. I also like using them to mix because the majority  of listeners use headphones or ear buds to listen to music anymore. Any opinion would be appreciated ...
 
Thanks

No headphones are flat. None. Even if you spend ridiculous amounts of money on them. It's just not physically possible, AFAIK.
 
However, that doesn't mean headphones can't be useful as secondary references. The very fact that they do bring out different elements in the mix can be helpful. I wouldn't look for (or even expect) any headphones to match my main monitors because their value is that they don't sound like my speakers.
 
In the $100-$150 range there are several widely-used models that should complement your KRKs well. Top of that list would be the ubiquitous Audio-Technica ATH-M50s. They're a little bass-heavy, but then your KRKs are a little bass-light so it might be a good pairing. Other candidates would be the Shure SRH940 or Beyerdynamic DT990.
 
But do yourself a favor and stay away from anything Bose.

bitflipper
No headphones are flat. None. Even if you spend ridiculous amounts of money on them. It's just not physically possible, AFAIK.
 
However, that doesn't mean headphones can't be useful as secondary references. The very fact that they do bring out different elements in the mix can be helpful. I wouldn't look for (or even expect) any headphones to match my main monitors because their value is that they don't sound like my speakers.
 
In the $100-$150 range there are several widely-used models that should complement your KRKs well. Top of that list would be the ubiquitous Audio-Technica ATH-M50s. They're a little bass-heavy, but then your KRKs are a little bass-light so it might be a good pairing. Other candidates would be the Shure SRH940 or Beyerdynamic DT990.
 
But do yourself a favor and stay away from anything Bose.

 
+1 on Bits assessment.
 
I have the 8400's and they are a tad bass light, which i think makes some people claim 'flat' purely because they arent mega bass heavy like most consumer phones. 

thanks guys, I only use them as a secondary reference and for working with pans, etc ....  I see where the ATH-M50's are popular with engineering and mixing and will prob go that route. I didn't know which ones had the best sound for mixing, that didn't color the sound too much .. not many music stores close by me that carry much in the way of professional gear for me to actually listen to compare ... Thanks for your  input .....
 

These are the closest thing to headphone perfection I have ever encountered:
 
http://www.koss.com/en/products/headphones/all/ESP950__ESP950_Electrostatic_Headphone
 
A cool $1000 but you get what you pay for. These rival the finest speakers on the planet too. They sound ridiculously good. It is possible to make an incredible headphone it is just that it costs a lot to own them that is all.
Not sure about mixing on them though but they are certainly good for listening.

I like the Beyer DT880 cans for mixing. Much flatter (to my ears) than the DT990. All the Shure cans that I've tried have a "nagging" upper midrange that wears me out, but others swear by them.
 

But do yourself a favor and stay away from anything Bose

 
+1

As long as we are talking phones...
Does anyone know any phones that have slightly deeper cups? I use AKG K240s and I just replaced the leather covers. I haven't tested them long wnough yet to tell but as we age our ears and nose continue to grow and even a slight touch from the phones on ear cartiledge begins to really irritate after a while. I have though about slipping some rolled up paper towel under the cup covers to try and make them have a little less give but I am not sure. I have some stick-on paper thingys that are designed for metal detecting phones, to abate sweat and they would add maybe 1/32 inch to the depth. I am in the 150 dollar range. Bass light phones might be better for me since I have bad tinnitis and only hear to 8khz now... maybe that would help balance things out. What I need is new ears, yeah and ear transplant... better yet a whole new head. I need nanoids.
So, any deeper phone cups, on quality phones, in my range.
Thanks.
J

Gawd - I love my K240's. Light on the ears - doesn't make you feel like you've got your head in a vise.

I have two pairs of K240's, but my favorite cans are the Senn HD280. Much better isolation than the 240's, great for tracking.
 
 
 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HD280Pro/

Does anyone know any phones that have slightly deeper cups?

 
jbow, the most comfortable headphones I've ever used are my Sennheiser HD-558s. Large earcups that surround my ears, velvety velour pads, and very lightweight. They're my listen-in-the-dark headphones. Flat, unhyped low end and crisper upper mids than my ATH-M50s, so they're also great for editing. Open-back like your AKGs with a similar frequency response. List price is $180 but can be had for as low as $105.