What are the best monitoring headphones?

[Sample Seven]

Sennheiser HD280s have a pleasant sound and are very comfy to wear for only ~$100.

Personally, I wouldn't spend $250 on monitoring headphones. No matter what headphones I produce on, I put the mix on speakers afterwards and find it to sound different from what I was expecting. Headphones are useful for being able to sit on the couch and lay down some drum and synth patterns in comfort, but for legitimate mixing purposes you can't tear me away from using speakers.

Therefore I wouldn't splurge on headphones; at the $250 price point I doubt you'll find something that remotely compares to nice monitor speakers. Spend $100 on something decent like the HD280s and you should be happy.

[RockingClub]

Alright. Thanks for your ideas so far! What DJQA said sounded quite good in my oppinion. Maybe the AKG 701 could be an option! In this consideration, finding headphones that represent the sound as original as possible (no bass boost etc.) is the most important thing in my opinion. I also DJ, but these headphones are not meant to sound like DJ headphones with exaggerated bass boost!

[mostapha]

Sennheiser HD280s have a pleasant sound and are very comfy to wear for only ~$100.

280s and 380s are used in studios as artist monitors almost as much as 7506s, based on my limited experience. That being said, I don't consider them the least bit comfortable. I get sick of them after 5 minutes.

[ExploitedPixels]

I'd go with DT 770, but otherwise agreed. Beyerdynamic is top-notch german stuff.

Your probably right the 770s maybe a little better, but I do have a pair of 880s I have used. Beyer are usually my first choice mainly because the neutral tones - not too bass heavy, not too treble heavy, etc. Not necessarily monitor headphones though.


You may be able to find a good deal on Beyers, and I like them because of the neutral sounds they have, nothing is overstated. The only difference between them are the style: DT770 (closed), DT880 (semi-open back), DT990(fully open back).

770s - have a slightly heavier bass sound to them (can be modded into Darth-Beyers as well)
880s - are about pitch perfect with a very open soundstage and 3D positional
990s - Fully open and way too much treble. I would stay away from these.

[Conall]

HD-25s are a tiny bit too bassy for mixing on. I'd probably use something like an mdr-7506 if I had my druthers. Though apparently open back headphones give a better stereo image.

Thats odd you say that, usually people say they are lacking a little. Personally they have the flattest response of any headphone I've ever listened to and I'd recommend them to anyone.