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| Sony MDR-XB700 |
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| Etymotic Research mc3 earbuds |
HEADPHONES PLAY AN IMPORTANT
role in a musician’s life, whether used for
monitoring audio in recording sessions,
or simply listening to Pink Floyd’s
Dark
Side of the Moon for the 10,000th time.
But with so many different types available,
at prices ranging from $30 to $3,000,
picking the best pair for the task requires
a little information. Think about how you
intend to use them—if you’re tracking bass
with headphones, you might want them
EQ’d to accentuate the low end, but if you
plan on using them as an alternative for
mixing, you might prefer something with
flatter response. If you need maximum
isolation, you might consider a pair with noisecancelling
abilities. Let’s take a quick look
at different types of headphones.
“Over-the-ear” headphones are typically
the largest (and heaviest) style of “cans.” They
are ideal for recording sessions where you
have to be in the same room as the drums or
guitars, or any environment with high levels
of background noise. A closed-back ear cup
will reject more outside noise, and create
a tighter soundscape, while open-backed
designs can sound more natural, but let in
more external noise. Open-backed phones
also let more sound escape—a factor to consider
if you’re tracking near a live mic. The
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro pair is a good representative
of closed-back phones with relatively
flat response. If you want to bump
up the low end, Sony’s MDR-XB700 set
has extended low-end response and cushy
ear pads for comfort. The Audio-Technica
ATH-AD500s are full-size open-ear phones
that boast detailed highs and mids with a
balanced low end.
“On-the-ear” phones are common
in the consumer electronics market, so
decent sound quality can be had inexpensively.
But consider your purpose for the
headphones—consumer-level phones tend
to be voiced with hyped high-frequency
response and extended lows. For chilling
out with your favorite tunes, that’s fine—
just don’t mix your next album with them.
They have less isolation than over-theear
headphones, but can be more comfortable
for longer wear, and better suited
to tracking when you need to hear your
surroundings. This type of headphone is
also available in open or closed-back versions.
The Grado SR60i is an economical
and highly rated choice, known for their
uncolored, balanced basic tone.
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| Grado Prestige SR60 |
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| Sennheiser HD 280 |
“In-your-ear” monitors are not really
headphones, though they do the same thing.
Chances are you already own at least one
pair of “earbuds”—now consider how much
listening you do through them. Is good
enough for a phone call also good enough
for listening to your band’s new track? The
“buds” allow a fair amount of external noise
in, and may be tricky to keep in your ear
if you’re playing live with them, but high
audio quality can be achieved. Yuin’s PK1
and PK2s are a big step up from your average
buds; the PK2s are for consumer electronics,
while the more expensive PK1s were
designed for use with a headphone amp.
The other type of in-your-ear monitor
inserts into the ear canal like an earplug.
They filter out a considerable amount of
ambient noise, and fit more securely, making
them a common choice for live work. The
key with off the shelf models is finding a
pair that fit your ears properly, a potentially
expensive bit of trial and error. The extra
cost and time to get custom-molded earphones
makes sense if you’re using them
in a professional context. The Monster Turbines
have a ball-shaped plug that works
for many people, and have extended low
range response with good midrange presence
for vocals. If you prefer a more conical
shape, try Etymotic Research mc3 earbuds,
which also spec a flatter, more accurate
tone signature.
There are plenty of choices on the market,
but understanding how you will use them
will help you find the right pair (or several
pairs!) of phones for you.