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Best Studio Headphones for Mixing
Mixing music is not an easy job; it’s an art, and this form of art needs complete attention to every bit of the tune, and that cannot be done without an amazing headphone. Even though many headphones claim to be the best mixing headphones but when we are talking about mixing, a detailed technicality is needed.
The design features and various other aspects entirely depend on the type of work we are going to carry out by using this headphone. Choosing the best headphones for mixing is not a piece of cake. When you are truly into music environment, you know what aspects to be taken care of. For mixing, an open-back design is an absolute necessity.
Likewise, there are many other specific features as well which should be presented in the headphone selection. You may be a little paranoid about the situation and tired of looking for the best mixing headphones but this article will take you through some specific features and will help you to make a better purchase decision.
Review of the Best Studio Headphones for Mixing
As we said earlier, choosing the best studio headphone for mixing is not an easy task, and that has to be done with an expert view on the products.
3 – GRADO PRESTIGE SERIES SR325e
Why You Should Choose These Headphones
There are many reasons for that, the above reviews discussed five best mixing headphones and they are packed with useful features and all of them are especially designed for better mixing experience.
- All of these headphones are open-back design, and this is the most crucial factor for the studio mixing job. It provides clear and airy sound.
- All of these headphones are made of a high-quality and durable material for lightweight structure and long lasting performance.
- These headphones are featured with ultra-soft ear pads and headbands for incredible comfort and allow the user to use them for extended hours.
- The cords or cables provided with these headphones are of top notch quality that helps the user to use them for many years without any wear and tear.
Tips for buying
Sennheiser HD600 Full & extended bass, comfortable, clarity, precise, lightweight Initial clamp force, headband durability issue Audio Technica ATH-R70x Accurate, natural open-back sound, detailed transient response Headband size might be a little short for extra-large head size Grado Prestige Series SR325e Improved sound and build quality, very open and detailed sound Style issue AKG K712 Pro Accurate, comfy, precise listening, lightweight, genuine soft housings Odd headband design Shure SRH1840 Great for mastering or critical listening, clean sound A bit thin headband padding
1 – SENNHEISER HD600
Overall:
The Sennheiser HD600 headphones are being engineered for the true audiophile. It is made with advanced diaphragm design in order to eliminate standing waves for clean and sound-free artifacts. These headphones also allow users experience great listening that are free from any acoustical disturbances as well.
One reason why HD 600 becomes the favorite of most mastering engineers worldwide is because of its fantastic addition to a dedicated listening room.
Features and value:
Sennheiser HD600 headphones are professional open-back headphones with lightweight aluminum voice coils for excellent transient response. These headphones also have Neodymium ferrous magnets in order to maintain optimum sensitivity and great dynamics. These kinds are created in a sophisticated design to create an elegant finished. The open metal-mesh earpiece covers are high in quality.
All of them are packed in very solid and well padded case.
Review summary:
The Sennheiser HD600 headphones received hundreds of prompt reviews online and most of the users give a fair rating of five stars. Aside from the great features they offer, these headphones also have extraordinary uses and purposes and so they are greatly helpful when it comes to obtaining great mixes. A pair of Sennheiser HD600 headphone is absolutely amazing.
Prices/ Reviews: SENNHEISER HD600
2 – AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-R70x
Overall:
The Audio Technica ATH-R70x is the Audio Technica’s first pair of open-back reference professional headphones. It stands as a flagship model in line of professional studio headphones in the market worldwide. This headphone offers especially designed drivers and acoustically transparent housings. The aluminum honeycomb mesh provides accurate and natural open-back sound.
Features and value:
Audio Technica ATH-R70x has high-efficiency magnets and pure alloy magnetic design to make the distortion lessen and make sure that accurate and extended high-frequency response can be achieved. It also has carbon composite resin to improve structural rigidity. This is important to provide detailed transient response.
When it comes to the ear pads, rest assure that you can have the desired comfort for they are made with breathable fabric and improved wing support for excellent long-wearing comfort.
Review summary:
The feather-light weight and robust construction make this headphone perfectly suited for professional use and this is what users love the most. This headphone is known for its natural sound perfection and it is the kind of gear that do not color the sound. Generally, the Audio Technica ATH-R70x has a very smooth, polite and balanced sound signature.
Prices/ Reviews: AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-R70x
3 – GRADO PRESTIGE SERIES SR325e
Overall:
Grado Prestige Series SR325e Headphones use a powder-coated aluminum housing for an added mass and smoother transitions from the lowest to the highest frequency range. The authentic style of the headphone goes perfectly with the latest flow. This series has a new driver and cable design with an added mass from the metal housing to minimize transient distortions.
Features and value:
Grado is happy to present the new 3rd generation award winning headphones “e” series. The new and updated version is packed with improved sound and build-quality. The Grado Prestige Series SR325e headphone has aluminum air chamber; UHPLC copper voice coil wire and UHPLC copper connecting cord.
The prestige series headphone is simply a wonderful headphone. Having technical advances is one of the best features all Grado Prestige Series SR325e Headphones can offer.
Review summary:
One pair of Grado Prestige Series SR325e Headphone will give everything you need in a pack. Headphone that boasts ultra-low resonance metal alloy housings and deliver san unrivalled sonic performance is a good value for money. No doubt why Grado Prestige Series SR325e Headphones receive a number of positive comments.
Prices/ Reviews: GRADO PRESTIGE SERIES SR325e
4 – AKG K712
Overall:
The AKG K712 headphones are reference, open and over-the-ear kind which is greatly use for precise listening, mixing and mastering. The over-ear design offers maximum wearing comfort for fatigue-free working while giving you spacious and airy sound without compromising quality. It also has an improved low-end performance in order to deliver precise and powerful sound results.
Features and value:
This headphone has a genuine soft leather headband not just for a comfortable fit but for a lightweight carrying as well. The transducers are carefully selected for a consistent and accurate localization with a professional mini XLR connector for the cable’s quick replacement. It also has an additional coiled cable and revolutionary flat wire voice coil for amazing impulse and treble response.
Everything is packed in one premium carrying bag.
Review summary:
Most customers found this gear to be exceptional due to many great features. The use of over-ear design is essential for maximum wearing comfort. It uses of sophisticated open technology for spacious and airy sound. It also has an improved low-end performance for more powerful sound imaging.
Prices/ Reviews: AKG K712
5 – SHURE SRH1840
Overall:
The Shure SRH1840 headphone appears close to perfect for those who just want a little more detail without spilling over. This headphone is totally immersive and it is an unsual brand for a highly esteemed brand’s flagship headphone. Shure is very generous so take advantage on its friendly price.
Features and value:
Professional open-back headphones like Shure SRH1840 are an amazing pair. It has individually matched neodymium drivers for unparalleled acoustic performance with smooth and accurate bass. It has been circumaurally designed for exceptional and natural sound, wide stereo image and increase in the depth of field.
The headphone is made with lightweight housings featuring aircraft-grade aluminum alloy yoke and stainless steel grilles for improved durability. Its ergonomic padded headband is fully adjustable so you do not have to worry if you are going to use them for hours.
Review summary:
Shure SRH1840 headphone’s customer review is beyond perfection. This gear is an excellent flagship headphones from Shure that you will temp to get some more. What this headphone is offering will surely the things you will get. Most users love its absolutely clean sound, ergonomics and price. This is a great tool ideal for mastering or critical listening.
Prices/ Reviews: SHURE SRH1840
Maintenance Guide
Whichever headphone you chose, there is some basic manual instructions and maintenance guide to be followed for better use of the headphones.
+ Leather Pads
- Use plain tap water for it is ideal for cleaning leather pads.
- Wipe down leather pads after use before storing.
- Clean the headphone with soft damp cloth or leather cleaner only.
- Apply a leather coat conditioner if necessary.
- Do not use saddle soap, this can actually harm leather.
+ Cables
- Keep the power cables away from the audio cables.
- Role the cable wires to avoid any tangles.
- Never coil the wire around your hand or anything while using it.
- Think like a fishing reel and gently fold the cable in progressive halves.
- Use clean and soft damp cloth in cleaning the cables.
+ Foam Tips
- Slosh them around in some warm soapy water.
- Let the tips dry completely.
- Do not squeeze the foam tips.
- Wipe them gently with a clean damp cloth.
- Replace the tips every three months or when they become soiled.
Things You Need to Know Before Buying Headphones
Buying headphones is not as easy as you think. Whether you opt for buying expensive or cheap ones, there are some important things you should know before getting the things you like. This will serve as your guide towards a really satisfying shopping.
– Headphone Type Consideration
+ IN-EAR HEADPHONES: In-ear headphones are the smallest and most portable type of headphones. It fits into the canal of your ears and they are powered by small drivers. Headphones in this type can be easily wrapped and stored making it great for use in travelling or commuting purposes.
This small-sized gears are light in weight yet they are comfortable to wear and easy to store. If you hate invasive nature of the fit, you better choose another one.
+ ON-EAR HEADPHONES: On-ear headphones literally sit on your ears and of course, this type is literally much bigger than in-ears. This style uses larger driver casings with a headband that makes the ear cups in place on your ears.
Seemingly, it is more comfortable than in-ear headphones. This type is commonly foldable. However, since the ear cups sit atop your ears comfort may be an issue when use for longer hours.
+ OVER-EAR HEADPHONES: Over-ear or around-ear headphones are the largest headphones but they are usually the most comfortable kind. Over-ears have large driver casings and headband as well. The ear cups wrap completely around your ears.
This type of headphone is usually louder and presents a more detailed sound signature. Since it is bigger, portability might be an issue.
– Headphone Specialization
+ NOISE CANCELLING: Headphones with active noise cancelling technology offer peace and quiet ambiance to the listener. Headphones with active noise cancelling feature use small microphones and produce noise in the opposite frequency to cancel sound coming from the outside source. Noise cancelling headphones are useful in drowning out droning sounds.
If you are going to choose headphones with this feature, you can expect this to be good even in noisy environment but they require additional power.
+ GAMING: Gaming headphones are especially designed for gaming and they are commonly portable with great consoles to enhance the in-game audio experience. Headphones like this provide a virtual sound experience and help gamers identify the direction of the audio.
Gaming headphones are excellent for gaming purposes but they are usually not good when it comes to music listening.
+ WIRELESS: Wireless headphones do not need cords and cables anymore so you do not have worry about cable length and tangling issues. Wireless headphones work great due to one of these three major transmission technologies: radio frequency, Bluetooth and Infrared.
In most cases, wireless headphones are better when it comes to portability and they are more suitable for outdoor use. This device is useful when the source is placed at a far distance so you cn continue doing other things while listening. However, the quality of the sound may not be as good like those wired ones.
– Headphone Terminology
+ CLOSED-BACK: Closed-back Headphones is a kind that creates a great sort of privacy. It prevents others from listening to what you are listening to. This is great especially when it comes to listening in public places or in a very noisy environment. Generally, this design creates sound more in the head.
+ OPEN-BACK: Open-back Headphones is opposed to closed-back types for sometimes they leak sound making it inconsiderate to use in public places. However, this kind has a much more open sound giving a more comfortable and realistic listening experience.
+ FREQUENCY RESPONSE: The frequency response of headphones provides full range of sonic frequencies that only a pair of headphone with great frequency response can achieve. Headphones with extended frequency response provide a deeper response than headphones with just below or normal responses. Wider range of frequency response makes better tone and so the listening.
+ SOUNDSTAGING AND IMAGING:The terms soundstaging and imaging are refer to the ability of headphones to create a precise sonic stage and image within the mind of users. Headphones with good soundstaging and imaging are a great impression for live performances where the individual elements of the sound need to be distinct and create an amazing feel.
One of the best functions of imaging is the separation of sonic elements that provides a more realistic and true to life sound.
+ IMPEDANCE: Impedance is a simple term of headphones that represents the amount of power needed to make a pair of headphone going. Headphones with low-impedance require less power to drive. Therefore, they are easily be used with source devices with weaker amplifications such as smartphones and other portable devices.
On the other hand, headphones with higher impedance need the use of dedicated amplifiers with increased amplification to drive headphone. Headphones with higher impedance are less prone to blow-outs.
Conclusion
All the above-highlighted headphones are best studio headphones for mixing. As seen in this article, professionals are happy with all these products and they rated them very high. All of these gems have incredible features to give solid competition to each other. You cannot overlook any of these headphones. Thus, we recommend you to have a detailed look on every one of these headphones and buy the best one that fits your need.
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