HeadRoom for Headphones …
For the last three years I have been using a set of BeyerDynamic DT-990 headphones. This set is widely used for studio recording sessions and broadcast production. They are very durable and the sound quality is excellent. Their bulky appearance would suggest that they are quite heavy. On the contrary … It turns out they are extremely light weight relative to their physical size.
In terms of comfort, I have mixed feelings. Let me explain: The ear cups are surrounded by a gray velour material that is extremely easy on the ears. The problem I have with this set is the upper head band that is intended to shield the internal metal support. This creates discomfort during prolonged use. In my opinion this seems odd if you consider their lack of sheer weight.
I decided that it was time to look into a new set of headphones that would suit my needs in terms of production monitoring, and double as a comfortable option when listening to radio programs, podcasts, and music. Considering these requirements, I’m faced with a dilemma: I need a set of headphones that would perform well during production, and be capable of reproducing pleasant sonic quality when used for private listening of media content.
This past Tuesday, I picked up “The Departed” DVD. I’m a Scorsese fan, and I was anxious to view this film. There is a scene in this film where the actor engages a rack full of high end McIntosh audio components in order to queue up and play an audio cd through headphones. At first glance, I immediately recognized the specific set of headphones. I made a mental note, and finished watching the film.
HeadRoom is my favorite resource on the web for headphone reviews and documentation. This site does not support or make reference to every single headphone manufacturer. On the other hand - most of the big players are documented. I decided to visit the site and see what they had to say about the set that I saw in the film, the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro’s.
Considering the low price of this set, I didn’t expect much. I’m not suggesting that price in general is in fact my only method of quality assessment. But considering the price that I paid for my BeyerDynamics, the Sennheiser’s cost much less, priced at $99 US. It turns out they receive high marks in all categories, and HeadRoom includes the HD 280 Pro headphones in their “top 10 list.” Best of all, the review clearly states that this set “has also long been the headphone choice of audio, film and field recording/mixing professionals due to its accurate tonal presentation, ambient noise attenuation properties and ultra-durable build quality.”
I’m expecting my set sometime this week …
I thought I’d make reference to an interesting comment that is specified in their review of the AKG 240S headphones. This is a popular set within this community. HeadRoom states: “Although these headphones [240S] share the same numerical appellation as the 240M and 240DF, the 240S model is not designed for true reference use.” Interesting …
Note that the Headroom website sells headphones, and they only list the brands they sell, which is far from inclusive. I believe that if you surveyed 100 sound professionals picked at random, you’d find that the most popular headsets are Sony, such as the MDR-7506 ($99 typical). These aren’t mentioned on the Headroom site as far as I can tell.
I’ve never tried the SennHD280 Pros, but I do have 2 sets of the AKG 240S. I’d agree that they’re not reference-quality, probably because they pack too much bass. They seem to have a real emphasis in the lower end that makes them great for pop/hip-hop/rock but less solid for other applications. Still, they’re pretty good for everyday use here in our studio, they’re really sturdy, and though they get hot in the summer, they’re pretty comfortable.
Let us know about the Sennheisers though. I’m always looking for creative reasons to upgrade