Recommendations for quality headphones

[clay49]

I'm assuming the goal of all good headphones is to be FRFR, and that's what I'm looking for. I need some cans that will give me an accurate aural image of what I'm dialing up inside my iso cab (which is going to FOH).

I'm not particularly concerned with price per se (within reason of course, as I have learned in this business that there is always someone who'll charge 5x what a product is reasonably worth, and there is someone who'll glibly pay it). Let's just say I'm not looking for the "Private Stock" headphones, but don't mind paying several hundred dollars (around $300 or a touch more) for an accurate, comfortable set.

 

[Rex Anderson]

Audio Technica ATH M50.

 

[Endr_rpm]

Audio Technica ATH M50.

Yup. The 40s are nice too, but I need the extended bass the 50 offers

 

[clay49]

Awesome, and only $100, too...best of the moderately priced???

 

[Empros]

ATH M50s are the best. Affordable and hold their own against any other headphones in my opinion. A must buy!

 

[straticus]

What does FRFR mean?

 

[clay49]

What does FRFR mean?

Full Range Flat Response...wherein the headphones don't color or accentuate a particular frequency, but rather give you an accurate tonal image of what your rig is actually producing.

 

[335guy]

Another vote for the Audio Technica ATH M50.

 

[GuitarsFromMars]

Audio Technica ATH M50.

This.

 

[Crowder]

Another vote for the Audio Technica ATH M50.

And another. I just picked up my first pair of them. Good for tracking. They seal pretty well.

 

[digiTED]

I picked up the M30 last year on a blow out (IIRC ~$30 ish) Not bad on my informal Scarlett > S-Gear / MBP noodling rig. Perhaps a bit brittle in the highs tho.

 

[clay49]

Great, guys! I appreciate the input.

 

[TimmyP]

What is the application? Which is more important, absolute fidelity or maximum isolation for live use? If the former, Grado. If the latter, ExtremeHeadphones. In between, the AT isn't bad if you like very heavy bass.

 

[straticus]

Full Range Flat Response...wherein the headphones don't color or accentuate a particular frequency, but rather give you an accurate tonal image of what your rig is actually producing.

Oh, ok. Thanks!

In that case I'd recommend checking out the Focal Spirit Pros. I picked a pair up a while ago and they are outstanding!

.........and very FRFR

 

[clay49]

What is the application? Which is more important, absolute fidelity or maximum isolation for live use? If the former, Grado. If the latter, ExtremeHeadphones. In between, the AT isn't bad if you like very heavy bass.

Application is last line of my first paragraph in OP.

 

[RobJ]

I was pleased with these: http://www.alessandro-products.com/main.php?p=headphones

They are modified Grado's and open. I got the Series One.

 

[krunchy800]

I'm very happy with my Sennheiser's HD 380.

 

[clay49]

Keep 'em coming

 

[dragan]

if money is no object I like beyer closed ears , for cheap I like the sennhieser ,AT , Fostex

 

[clay49]

if money is no object I like beyer closed ears , for cheap I like the sennhieser ,AT , Fostex

Well, money is an object, within reason, given that I've seen headphones that cost several thousand dollars...makes me chuckle, quite honestly. Can't see how there is a significant difference in aural quality between a pair that costs $350 and one that costs $3,500. I would imagine it is somewhat on par with a $2,000 PRS DGT and the same guitar in the Privat Stock line that runs $18,000, but sounds exactly the same.