Wich Headphones shall I get for producing?

speakers

Hi Cirro!

So I think jimmarchi1 is advocating you go for studio monitor speakers instead of headphones :)

It's a good idea to eventually have both. For headphones, here's what I would do. Read this guide, it's both a primer to what you need to know about headphones for producing, as well as some recommendations of popular, well-reviewed models: Best Studio Headphones.

If you're a visual person, check out this infographic. 😄

Of the 3 you mentioned, the most well-suited for producing are the Sennheiser HD 280. From what I know the Bose QuietComfort 25 are more "recreational listening" type headphones, and the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II are great for DJing. Having said that, I've seen a bunch of pro producers work on their music with both! So at the end of the day, it's just about how well you know your headphones sound signature, and making sure you have various sound systems available to reference your mix.

You're welcome! For what it's worth, I had the Sennheiser HD 280 myself when I got into music production. I didn't really use proper studio headphones before that so the HD 280 were damn impressive. Considering they are more on the budget end, they're rock solid.

I later upgraded to beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 (~$40 more if you go by Amazon pricing), and to me those are vastly superior! They probably exaggerate bass a little more, but you get used to that. They just sound warmer, and their comfort level is off the charts. Those ear pads feel like warm fluffy clouds against my head. They just fatigued me less than the HD 280 over long producing sessions.

Is there a big difference between Sennheiser HD 25-1 II and Sennheiser HD 280?

Yes I would say there is. For starters they feel much differently on the head, HD 25-1 II being on-ear, and HD 280 being over-ear.

I know I sound nuts, but I assure you all that when it comes to music I am not.

Stay away from anything bose for record production.

I recommend speakers, secondhand is fine as long as the seller assures you there are no invisible rips in the cone, glue separation or problems with the weeter assembly (and studio designs are typically quite durable, though some of my favorite studio speakers are a bit delicate like the tweeters in the original NS10 or the woofer cone material in 80s Tannoy nearfields that has a tendency to dry out and separate from the surround just from exposure to modern HVAC conditions but I am on a tangent)

all headphones are deceptive and hard on your hearing to varying degrees.... open and semi-open designs are the least colored in general, present a slightly more true stereo image and are easiest on your ear drums for extended listening... you cant back up from them, roll off axis from mix position or go in another room with the volume cranked.... if you can only afford headphones please bounce your stereo tracks to CD (or mp3 if you must, but god does mp3 suck a rat) often and take them to other playback systems for reference... maybe your car?

Lots of guys manage to learn their headphones and create music without much in the way of speakers butits mainly DJ oritented music (dance, hip hop etc) and I can't speak for their top end hearing, but I can tell you nothing gave me more ringing than DJing, not even playing in a loud rock band without earplugs

ah shnapp, I totally got sidetracked here and stopped working on my day job work. FUCK this is way more interested than grant writing.

do whatever you want dude... just trying to help

ask me a question and I'll give you a good, detailed answer with enough basic info for anyone at any stage of music creation... I don't know what you're doing unless you tell us, so please don't take offense if I suggest something that's obvious to you, I am not trying to be condescending, just thorough.

In this case your #1 concern is protecting your hearing.... I reiterate that I think open or semi-open is a good way to go on this score due to the reduced SPL at your ear drum thanks to the venting as well as for accuracy reasons due to proximity effect, etc. Personally I am an AKG fan when I use headphones for critical listening purposes, but lots of companies make very good open and semi open designs at a range of prices.

EDIT: I think you will find that wallet-friendly sennheisers are not as accurate as AKG, Beyer or AT models. In fact, I don't really like the expensive sennheiser designs, I think their drivers sound harsh for production purposes and they are rapidly fatiguing for me. YMMV though... maybe its just me not being used to their sound having enver worked anywhere that had them in the gear closets.

if you want another model recommendation, check out a pair of these:

http://equipboard.com/items/akg-k240

EDIT 2:

Also, the sony headphones mentioned in the equipboard article ARE THE STUDIO STANDARD. I have never worked in a commercial facility that didn't have at least 4 pairs of them in each studio, though they are typically found out in the live rooms for overdubs and not in the control room. Their less obvious drawbacks are being fairly uncomfortable on your head after 30 minutes and a real lack of sturdy build quality if you start dancing around while wearing them.... you see more broken Sonies (is that how you pluralize Sony?) than any other headphone, but then again you see more of these headphones in general LOL, but seriously, every last piece of them is easy to break and they fall of your head easily if you turn quickly and when something startles you while wearing them theya re going to fly off your ears and hit the floor and they will not be happy about it.

yes

nevertheless they are a standard and will let you hear things the way most professionals do when they resort to headphones... although in dance music there are nos tandards for anything, but as far as commercial studio productions go... anyway

can you go to a retail location and try anything on? If so, do it. See what feels good on your head, over your ears etc

Here's another throw for Speakers. I use JBL's and the sound is so realistic, a doorbell can ring in a TV show and I will think it was my doorbell.

If protecting your hearing is of no concern, you need to get some custom made Westone, Dual Driver in-ear monitors. They are great, won't fall out, and allow so much more volume and clarity. The days of a DJ holding a lunchbox sized earmuff up to his ear while his mixes are over. In ear monitors are professional and worth ever bit of cost.

I got mine for about $300 after getting my ears molded at a local hearing aid shop.

Tested Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Audio Technica ATH-M50 and Sony MDR-7506. By far, the Sony MDR-7506 are the best for mixing and tracking.

studio standard, treat them gingerly, they are not built as well as the competition