Some good bassy headphones for mixing?

Discussion in 'Mixing and Mastering' started by venndi, Apr 29, 2017.

  1. venndi

    venndi Ultrasonic

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    I currently have an AKG K550, but for me the bass is almost not noticable. Or maybe my head is too small for that AKG...when I push a little to my ears, then is much better.
    I know that headphones are not the best for mixing, and also should be flat sounding, but the problem is, for example the guitar have this fuckin low end, and when cut these 80-250 frequencies a bit, then there is no difference, only when I listen beck on my stereo sound system.
    I look in this price range like the AKG K550, I bought it used for 100 euro. So for 100 euro/USD
    Maybe the AKG 701?
     
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  3. Von_Steyr

    Von_Steyr Guest

    Yep.Should work great.
     
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  4. RedThresh

    RedThresh Producer

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    Go-to choice for me are the Beyerdynamics COP (Custom One Pro) :
    -Bass level is adjustable on the fly (physical setting of the bass response on the can itself)
    -Has really low impedance (16 ohm)
    - 5-25khz
    -Huge noise cancelation...
    -Beyer-certified strong and durable cans (metallic cans, metallic hoop, some pieces of hard plastic)
    -Sub level can be really strong at max setting, like you really have the felling of two tiny subwoofer on your ears pushing those 60Hz, actually they might get fatiguing if you keep them 6 hours at strong volume with max subs, physically normal I guess
    -You can have velvet earpads (!!) :bow:
    -That's just a DT770 (one of the industry standard for sound mixing/engineering) with a plus of modernity and this lovely soft-to-huge bass response.

    I tested many bassy monitoring cans, and they are my favourite choice for subby music monitoring and listenning. Plus you can completely close the bass blowhole to get some sort of DT770 sound , so you can just swap between full flat monitoring to normal/augmented/heavy subs (4 settings). It's even customizable, I changed the earpads for the velvet well known ones from DT770.
    It is some sort of upgraded/electronic oriented version of DT770, with (lot) more guts in it. And it's even priced like it is (DT770 is 50 bucks cheaper) : 150 bucks

    If for some reason COP doesn't attract you (while it answers all your needs), just go for DT770s or MH50s.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2017
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  5. kimikaze

    kimikaze Platinum Record

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    Bassy headphone for mixing? Are you sure? And 701 are bass light.
     
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  6. RedThresh

    RedThresh Producer

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    It's not that much surrealistic you just need another flat cans OR an hybrid one (like the Beyer COP). Agree on the 701s though. They are too flat for the OP needs.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2017
  7. Pistascho

    Pistascho Member

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    How about a pair of BeoPlay H2 ?
     
  8. beatmagnus

    beatmagnus Guest

    I really like the Grado SR 80e's, they remind of NS10's in headphone form for some reason. They have a nice honest sound with good bass response, open back, and if you mix nice in them then chances are the mix sounds good on a variety of speakers. Nice price point as well.
     
  9. RedThresh

    RedThresh Producer

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    NS10 good bass response? :dunno:
     
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  10. RedThresh

    RedThresh Producer

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    So if I follow some logic answered, a speaker monitoring system with subwoofer is bad for mixing too? Well I don't think so. You just need another flat system for checkings or a subwoofer pedal.
    That's simple, if you do music that need defined bass/subs with notes, you NEED true sub/bass monitoring, and this applies for headphones checkings too. You need two cans (flat/bassy) or an hybrid one. Except if you do rock or whatever flat music.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2017
  11. venndi

    venndi Ultrasonic

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    Okay, I'll keep in mind the Beyerdunamic COP.
    What about ATH M50? It is more bassy than the K550?
     
  12. Pipotron3000

    Pipotron3000 Audiosexual

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    Another vote for Beyerdynamics
    Their 770 880 are very nice. And COP probably is.
     
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  13. Pronto

    Pronto Kapellmeister

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    [​IMG]

     
  14. RedThresh

    RedThresh Producer

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    Yeah I like AKG but I don't remember any cans from them with bassy response, they are always flatty flat, which is good but not for the OP


    Yeah MH50s are more bassy, not as strong as the sub response of the COP, but it has good bass response.
     
  15. Olaf

    Olaf Platinum Record

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    I believe the 701 have even less bass than the 550.
    But the Beyer 770/990 could be what you're looking for.
     
  16. Thankful

    Thankful Rock Star

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    But... think about this, while YOU hear more bass in your bassy headphones, there actually isn't the same bass in the final result that most of your audience hears.
     
  17. RedThresh

    RedThresh Producer

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    It's true. But Bass Music (easier to call any music with dedicated sub/bass lines front mixed) is listenned on bassy systems, it's not good to 100% mix with bassy monitoring, but it's a must to actually have the possibility to listen your product in a bassy environment. That's why you need Speakers flat monitoring + speaker with sub monitoring (or a subwoofer pedal, then you need just one kit), and a bassy headphones + flat headphones (or an hybrid one that can do both).

    Your statement is 100% but again it's not that much black and white ever in producing/music. Like you need headphones checkings while mixing, you also need bassy responses checkings. Maybe you can override this with 30 years of mixing experience, but at any other stage that's a must.

    Having a bassy monitoring solution is a plus as long as you keep it mind while balancing the lows in the final states (mix bus/master).
     
  18. Bunford

    Bunford Audiosexual

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    I'm confused by this request. Why do you need bassy headphones? Not sure if it's a lack of knowledge or lack of clarity in espresso f what you need, but what you should be asking for is flat response headphones with a dynamic range that goes down to the bass range. In my experience, most headphones will go down to 20Hz, which is the lowest frequency perceivable by human ears. Most quality headphones will reach here. What you need are good flat response headphones that DO NOT colour the bass in the mix, i.e. not bassy. This allows you to mix in the bass properly and not have a pair of headphones that mislead your ears with a bassy mix that sounds shit on any other sound system. Mix the bass in rather than rely on bassy headphones. Personally I use Audio Technica M50X with Sonarworks Referencing to ensure a flat response.
     
  19. RedThresh

    RedThresh Producer

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    Well same answer. You're right but it's not that much black and white. Having a bassy monitoring choice (with flat ones like I said) is constructive when you're doing subby music. This rule of "NEVER use bassy monitors" is coming from ""old school"" engineers doing music that were not based on subs. When you're doing this kind of music, you of course need a full flat monitoring response, but having a second system or an hybrid one to get a more subby response, is a real pro. Only con is to keep in mind to not always mix with the bassy one, but you can't mix what you can't hear, if you dont hear the whole subline in the mix you won't mix it well. But if you mix 100% on bassy settings then rest will be unbalanced regarding the sub region. That's why you need both for "bass music", academic rules from rock engineers doesn't fully apply here.
     
  20. venndi

    venndi Ultrasonic

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    As I said above, with these headphones I can't hear this low end by guitar tracks, especially when I picking the palm mute notes. So, when I think that I had cut enough from this 80-250 freq range, it's actually not enough. There is no tonal difference when I mixing listening through the K550, and when I mixing just with my stereo sound system (remove more of these 80-250 freq), and listen it back with the K550. Two different result on the stereo system, but with the K550 is no difference, or not noticeable . Sorry for bad explonation, my english is not perfect.

    Also don't agree that the sound would be too bassy or not proper since the headphones are not flat.
    I think that with the headphones which sounds I like, will be the best. For example if I listen my favorite bands/songs, and like how the headphone sounds, then I think my mixing will be good, but, when I mixing the music with headphones where I miss the bass, then my mix will be probably too much bassy.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2017
  21. beatmagnus

    beatmagnus Guest

    Referring to the dry flat sound of NS10's, they make mixes sound like crap until you mix properly on them and then they sound good on any speaker. Yes due to the ribbon in the SR80e's they have a warm sound that can give the bass needed in headphones but still have the flat sound needed for your mix. You don't want a lot of bass in your monitors or headphones when you mix but you want correct frequencies. Closed back headphones are not recommended for mix.

    Sub Frequencies take up more headroom in the overall mix which is why a lot of people roll of some of the extreme lows like 20hz. I understand you're trying to stipulate "bass music" but modifying (and heaven forbid adding) any sub frequencies to your mix doesn't actually do any favors to anyone and reduces the headroom of the frequencies that do take precedence in the mix.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 30, 2017
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