Headphone Suggestions?

[marigold]

Hi all,

 

I'd like to get hold of a pair of better-than-average quality headphones for some upcoming projects to do with liturgical music and possibly other voice recordings where I'd need to hear everything. I currently have a pair of normal quality over-ear headphones that do fine but squash my ears and hurt after a while, and they're not noise-cancelling. Has anyone got a recommendation?

 

 

Thanks!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhfW56UnyM4

[Nihil Obstat]

I would probably recommend Sennheiser or Klipsch. I would recommend avoiding Beats and Bose.

[Credo in Deum]

I have a pair of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRXB700-Headphones-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B001UE6PE0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
They are some of the most comfortable headphones I've owned

I really want the 1000.
http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Headphones-MDR-XB1000-Extra-Headband/dp/B004L721I2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

[CatherineM]

I've got little ears, and over the ears ones kill my ears. The only kind that don't hurt are Skullcandy low riders.

[Gabriela]

I bought these for listening to student speeches in my so-crowded-it-ought-to-be-a-labor-violation grad student office: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F54Y6GU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

They are incredibly comfortable. I can wear them for hours and they still feel like a satin kerchief.

[marigold]

I would probably recommend Sennheiser or Klipsch. I would recommend avoiding Beats and Bose.

  

I didn't know that. Thanks!

I have a pair of these:http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRXB700-Headphones-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B001UE6PE0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
They are some of the most comfortable headphones I've owned
I really want the 1000. http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Headphones-MDR-XB1000-Extra-Headband/dp/B004L721I2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

  

Good recommendations - on the pricey side but I'm considering them as a long term investment.

I've got little ears, and over the ears ones kill my ears. The only kind that don't hurt are Skullcandy low riders.

  

I have exactly the same problem, Catherine. I like my friends' Skullcandy headphones but have only tried on-ear ones and that does hurt after a while.

I bought these for listening to student speeches in my so-crowded-it-ought-to-be-a-labor-violation grad student office: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F54Y6GU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
They are incredibly comfortable. I can wear them for hours and they still feel like a satin kerchief.

Thank you! Great recommendation.

[truthfinder]

I have a pair of Sony MDR-NC7 which you can get relatively cheaply.  The only thing is that I've never had any other headphones so I have no idea how they compare, although they are pretty good a blocking what I'll call repetitive noises (airplane engines, ventilation fans, computer noises). 

[dUSt]

If you are really concerned about hearing true accurate sound, avoid noise cancelling headphones. They are good for blocking noise, but the sound quality will be worse because of it. I've never been a fan of noise cancelling headphones anyway because if I want to use headphones for that purpose a quality pair of foam tipped in-ear headphones block out noise way better anyway.
 
Now, on to the headphones, you can't go wrong with a pair of Sony MDR7506:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AJIF4E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000AJIF4E&linkCode=as2&tag=phatmasscom-20&linkId=2PMPF4GBBJZFWEXH
 
But, if you want the best studio headphones, with amazing sound, and super comfortable--like, super super comfortable, get a pair Beyerdynamic DT 770 PROs. We have used these in the phatmass studio for years:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016MNAAI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0016MNAAI&linkCode=as2&tag=phatmasscom-20&linkId=RAZJDZVC5XRSY63U

 

Avoid all the "designer" brands (Bose, Beats, V-Moda). You pay for the branding, not the sound quality.

[marigold]

I have a pair of Sony MDR-NC7 which you can get relatively cheaply.  The only thing is that I've never had any other headphones so I have no idea how they compare, although they are pretty good a blocking what I'll call repetitive noises (airplane engines, ventilation fans, computer noises).

 

That's a good recommendation, and a good point too - I think I want a fairly even balance of both hearing eeeeeverything in the actual recording, and not hearing the dishes being washed, the traffic etc. The voice recordings will probably be the more important for hearing every breath.

 

If you are really concerned about hearing true accurate sound, avoid noise cancelling headphones. They are good for blocking noise, but the sound quality will be worse because of it. I've never been a fan of noise cancelling headphones anyway because if I want to use headphones for that purpose a quality pair of foam tipped in-ear headphones block out noise way better anyway.
 
Now, on to the headphones, you can't go wrong with a pair of Sony MDR7506:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AJIF4E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000AJIF4E&linkCode=as2&tag=phatmasscom-20&linkId=2PMPF4GBBJZFWEXH
 
But, if you want the best studio headphones, with amazing sound, and super comfortable--like, super super comfortable, get a pair Beyerdynamic DT 770 PROs. We have used these in the phatmass studio for years:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016MNAAI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0016MNAAI&linkCode=as2&tag=phatmasscom-20&linkId=RAZJDZVC5XRSY63U
 
Avoid all the "designer" brands (Bose, Beats, V-Moda). You pay for the branding, not the sound quality.

Beyerdynamic! Hah!

I actually had no idea that noise cancelling might not be the best option, since that was what was recommended to me. So thanks for that, and for two more good choices.