What are the best monitoring headphones?

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What are the best monitoring headphones?
Posted on: 18.03.2012 by Sylvia Greener
What do you believe are the best headphones for monitoring when producing tracks?

What I was told yet is that Sennheiser HD-25-1 II and Audio Technica ATH-Pro 700 MK 2 shall be quite decent. Price is nearly the same.

Other proposals or recommendations? Budget is up to 250 bucks.
Inez Marcinik
19.04.2012
Originally Posted by mostapha
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.
Dennis Roesslein
19.04.2012
Originally Posted by vanaema78
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.
Dorie Scelzo
19.04.2012
Originally Posted by Sample Seven
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.
Edwina Fagel
19.03.2012
Originally Posted by ApplianceTyrant
I'd go Beyerdynamic DT 880, maybe a little outside your price range but still pretty close.
I'd go with DT 770, but otherwise agreed. Beyerdynamic is top-notch german stuff.
Sylvia Greener
18.03.2012		What do you believe are the best headphones for monitoring when producing tracks?

What I was told yet is that Sennheiser HD-25-1 II and Audio Technica ATH-Pro 700 MK 2 shall be quite decent. Price is nearly the same.

Other proposals or recommendations? Budget is up to 250 bucks.
Inez Marcinik
19.04.2012
Originally Posted by mostapha
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.
Dennis Roesslein
19.04.2012
Originally Posted by vanaema78
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.
Dorie Scelzo
19.04.2012
Originally Posted by Sample Seven
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.
Sylvia Greener
19.04.2012		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!
Julius Schoenhofer
19.04.2012		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.
Danial Sawn
19.04.2012		K701 is far too bass light to be used as monitoring headphones. Sony MDR series are popular, as are the Shure SRH series.
Most DJ headphones aren't balance enough to be used as studio monitors.
Melinda Wubben
19.04.2012		I've used the AKG K701 - they are very nice for monitoring, but outside the OP's budget. However, the K271-II is excellent for the price and very well suited to production monitoring. They're just a touch on the midrangy side of neutral, so anyone used to boom-boom DJ headphones might find them a little thin sounding, but that's not a bad thing!
Sylvia Greener
18.04.2012		I guess they're good for DJing but I believe they won't be as good for production purposes. Anyone having experiences with the Audio Tehnica I mentioned or the AKG K-701 ?
Ara Tima
19.03.2012		Pioneer HDJ2000s.

HD-25s are great tho, depends how big you like your ear cup.
Arlinda Finazzo
19.03.2012		I love my HD-25's. Best headphones I've ever owned.
Rolanda Clodfelder
19.03.2012		Sony 7506/V6 for me - pretty "non-exciting" sounding headphones but which is exactly what you need.

They can definitely hold their own outside the studio as well in terms of durability, isolation and levels.
Edwina Fagel
19.03.2012
Originally Posted by ApplianceTyrant
I'd go Beyerdynamic DT 880, maybe a little outside your price range but still pretty close.
I'd go with DT 770, but otherwise agreed. Beyerdynamic is top-notch german stuff.
Iraida Bonaventure
18.03.2012		I'd go Beyerdynamic DT 880, maybe a little outside your price range but still pretty close.
Dorie Scelzo
18.03.2012		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.

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