What Headphone do you use to Mix?

Hi, I'm looking for a quality headphone to use with my MPC-Touch.
I've been out of the MPC scene for a while but now that I've got one
I find myself bringing my gear downstairs to work in the living room.

I'm using imitation DRE Beats headphone that I've picked up during
my holiday in Turkey.. (They sound they produce is good)

The problem is that when I go back up to the studio the whole mix is unbalanced
hihats and snares are too loud, etc.

I'm using KRK Rokit 6 monitors.

I'm looking for a good priced quality headphone that gets the job done.

I like the Audio Technica ATH-M50x a lot. It gets the job done and is not too expensive. Also, I think that the MPC headphones are alright, still I prefer the Audio Technica. It's a classic pair of headphones that has been around a while.

MPC headphones?

Shure SRH840 FTW...

Whatever headphones you get make sure they produce a flat sound.

Sony MDR-7506's. Industry standard reference cans.

I use AKG k240 mkii and superflux imitation of beyerdynamic dt 770 just to compare. Also use a lot my earbuds that came with the iphone for reference, I am too much used to them that I can know when something is off, although with my technical limitations I am not always capable of fixing what is wrong.

Icepulse wrote:Sony MDR-7506's. Industry standard reference cans.

I second these ^^^

Beats headphones and ear buds are meant to boost the lows and mids and do not accurately reproduce your music. You must use studio monitor headphones and some decent monitors to mix. Once your done mixing then try listening with some crappy headphones, your home stereo and in your car and make sure it sounds good in all applications before making a final mix down.

Italian Beats wrote:I like the Audio Technica ATH-M50x a lot..

I use Audio Technica ATH-M50x

Not to sound rude, but I would strongly suggest never "mixing" with headphones.
Beat make with Headphones all you want - AKG's are great.
But Mix, etc with good flat response monitors....what they use in a real studio.

Every time I've ever mixed w Headphones, it sounds awesome and then I export and put on CD - and then it sounds way different in the car, etc. Too bassy, etc...

in fact, I'm gonna try and start doing supplemental mixes with just laptop speakers...so you can hear everything. Then go back to monitors, see how it sounds...etc.

if it sounds dope through your laptop speakers, it will sound dope through headphones.
If it sounds dope through headphones, no telling how it will sound through laptop speakers.

Perrin&Tonic wrote:Not to sound rude, but I would strongly suggest never "mixing" with headphones.
Beat make with Headphones all you want - AKG's are great.
But Mix, etc with good flat response monitors....what they use in a real studio.

Word...

Yeah right, I mix with my yamaha's 8" but as the question was what headphones we using in to mix, hence the answer.
Although I mix with my monitors as I said, always check on different headphones. AFAIK some stereo image stuff is better percieved with headphones. IE you would listen the reverb tail more clearly and judge better if the reverb is too much, and the pan changes etc, in headphones due to the way the audio arrives to your ears as a full separation of the too channels without crossovers. But I could be wrong.

Icepulse wrote:Sony MDR-7506's. Industry standard reference cans.

There are "better" headphones out there but I second this. I have had 3 or 4 pairs over the years. They are comfortable, fairly durable, and for $100 price tag you can not go wrong.

The sound is fairly flat and it could be because I have had them around (every where does) for so long but they translate very well. They can be extremely honest! watch out!

ATH-M50.

Tested many HPs, and while the 7506's are cheaper, the frequency response of the M50s is better and they are much more comfortable. Also, the plastic/rubber material that coats the ear cups starts to flake off and get everywhere with the 7506's.

I think there was a poll like 5 or 6 years ago when the M50's came with either the straight or coiled cable. The M50's won by a ridiculous margin, followed by the 7506's.


Edit: I use the "headphone recommendation test" whenever I go into a new music store. If they don't recommend either the 7506's and M50's, then they don't know jack shit, lol.

Icepulse wrote:Sony MDR-7506's. Industry standard reference cans.

Been using Audeze LCD-2 for some years, and I can say the same about them.
Most indispensable tool.

Perrin&Tonic wrote:Not to sound rude, but I would strongly suggest never "mixing" with headphones.
Beat make with Headphones all you want - AKG's are great.
But Mix, etc with good flat response monitors....what they use in a real studio.

Every time I've ever mixed w Headphones, it sounds awesome and then I export and put on CD - and then it sounds way different in the car, etc. Too bassy, etc...

in fact, I'm gonna try and start doing supplemental mixes with just laptop speakers...so you can hear everything. Then go back to monitors, see how it sounds...etc.

if it sounds dope through your laptop speakers, it will sound dope through headphones.
If it sounds dope through headphones, no telling how it will sound through laptop speakers.

All this means you either have non-flat and non-trustworthy headphones or that you haven't got used to mixing with them – or both.
Without trying to sound like an ad, I can say if you have a decent pair – such as Audeze LCD-2 – as well as decent monitors, the difference between isn't big...I can say that about my setup (Adam A7 monitors + Sub8 woofer).
These days I do probably at least 80% of mixing for myself and mastering for my clients with the headphones, then do a quick check with monitors...all good.