Headphones help: HD 280 Pro vs. HD 380 Pro vs. ATH-M50...

eiker_ir

eiker_ir

Well-known member
Hey guy, i'm in need of some new headphones soon and i'm trying to keep the price under $150 if possible. I'm currently torn between the classic Sennheiser HD 280 Pro and the newer Audio Technica ATH-M50 which seem to have great reviews everywhere i look. The HD 280 Pro also look like a good option.

Anyone has experience with these models that they can share? I'll be using them mostly to monitor dialog while recording and some of the most important factors for me are:

- Isolation
- Flat/natural sound
- Build quality/comfort.


I'd appreciate any help or comments :)
 
eiker_ir said:
Hey guy, i'm in need of some new headphones soon and i'm trying to keep the price under $150 if possible. I'm currently torn between the classic Sennheiser HD 280 Pro and the newer Audio Technica ATH-M50 which seem to have great reviews everywhere i look. The HD 280 Pro also look like a good option.

Anyone has experience with these models that they can share? I'll be using them mostly to monitor dialog while recording and some of the most important factors for me are:

- Isolation
- Flat/natural sound
- Build quality/comfort.


I'd appreciate any help or comments :)
Click to expand...


Didn't you post this exact same question in another forum?

Well - I posted my answer there.
 
If you are a pin-head the Senn HD280 will be Ok for you. Me, with my big fat head... Sony is all that's comfortable for all day use.
Senn HD280 all plastic.
Try them all if you can.
 
Have the HD280 and Sony MDR7506. MUCH prefer the Sony. But I admit, it might be because I had them first. When I accidentally left them at a site and didn't get them back, I bought the Senns, only to order another pair of Sony phones a few weeks later.
 
I find the Sennheiser HD280 Pros to be the most physically comfortable headphones I've ever used, which counts for a lot. (I guess that makes me a "pin-head," thanks BRH!) YMMV.

- Greg
 
John Willett said:
Didn't you post this exact same question in another forum?

Well - I posted my answer there.
Click to expand...


hehe yeah, need to get every opinion i could get


Thanks for the help so far guys. Like i said in another forum i've considered the 25-1 and the Sony's but i've always been more comfortable with pads that cover all the way around my ear instead of sitting ON my ears.
 
quick update, i ended up getting the HD 380s because i found them for a price too good to pass up. Being using them for a couple hours listening to some music, clips i had on the pc, etc. and so far they seem like a good choice. Build quality is good and light and the earpads are very comfortable.

I'll be shooting next week at a club to see how they really perform when it matters. Thanks for everything :)
 
I know you listed 2 specific types of cans. But I want to add another option, though they are discontinued by the manufacturer. I absolutely love and recommend my Ultrasone HFI 700's Find a working pair on ebay, craigslist, anywhere.

You won't get the isolation nor the fit and comfort with anything else. I love my 700's.
 
Between the 280, 380, and MDR7506, which one would be best for filming interviews and speakers in crowded areas. With one of these phones, I would be mostly recording voices and would like to hear as little sound from the outside. I have a little bigger head and with some headphones, my ears get moist. So I want something comfortable and sturdy.

I talked with a person on these headphones, and he said you really can't go wrong with these choices in this price range, they are all good, but there is a sound difference between the 280 and mdr7506.
Also the ATH-m40x and ATH-m50 looks good, but then the price is going up.
MDR7506 looks to be tried nd tested and can do the job.
My only concern is I don't want highs or bass pushed more then what is normal. I want an accurate sound for editing.
I am leading toward the MDR7506.
 
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You should should really audition as many as possible. The sound is subjective (what your used to or want to hear), and comfort varies from one person to the next. There's also accessories, like the Garfield Softie ear pads or the Beyer replacement ear pads which fit the 7506.
For more isolation, Remote Audio makes a low-noise version the 7506.
 
Thanks for the comments. I live pretty far from any big city. And there is no store even close to here that sells pro-headphones. So that is why I am thankful for this forum to read about comments.
Thanks for the info on the ear pads. I will look into this.
Have a good day.
 
I've used 7506's for 20+ years.
About a month ago I decided to purchase the Sennheiser HD-25-1ii which is another industry standard.
http://www.trewaudio.com/store/Sennheiser-HD25.html

I think it's because I'm so used to the Sony's I just cant get adjusted to the HD25's.
I will say I majorly prefer the feel and size of the HD25s over the sonys.
I can see why people like them, I'm just too used to my 7506's.

If anyone is interested I'd sell them to you. 9.5 out of 10 condition.. barely used.
$160 bux
 
My personal choice is for the HD 25-1 II (I use mine with the optional velour earpads that are supplied in the box).

But out of your list I would g for the HD 380 Pro.
 
Same as Rippie, last year a bought a pair of HD280s but could not get used to the sound or them after using the 7506's since 1990.
My other peeve was they were not comfortable hanging on-the-neck in-between takes and such.
 
I am not a professional and as such you may want to think of my opinion as less influential, but I purchased the Audio Technica ATH-M50X and for listening pleasure, and cutting together dialogue with video they are pristine. The only other comparison I can make is to the Shure SRH840 which has a little more low end power and larger ear-pads than the M50X. I am super satisfied with my purchase, however.
 
Hi, i have a pair of headphones MDR-V300. I think they are ok.
I plan to upgrade to 7506. Is there any noticeable difference ? does it worth the money if you were me ?
Is it that good compare to the MDR-V300?

Thanks in advance,
deleuze3
 
I don't understand the popularity of the Sony 7506 this side of the Atlantic... Anyway.

I'll go with the Sennheiser HD25-13-II (the 600 ohms version). To me (and I'm not the only one) this version sounds better than the standard 70 ohms counterpart.

This headphone has the quality of it's defaults. What ? Let me explain here.

While it's not the flatest pair of earphones, too much bass, short highs and scooped mids, these "defaults" push the operator to stay focused and if you can get anything sounds right on it, you can get it sounds right anywhere.

The isolation is also good and it's virtually indestructible, the only problem you're likely to have is a false contact on the cable connector.

Now, this is my recommendation for recording dialogues on the set and it doesn't exactly match your criteria.

My second recommendation is the pair of headphones I last bought : the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

Good isolation, confortable and "flat", but I prefer to say that it sounds really natural, pretty close to the HD600 I own, but with a low end !

Hope that helped,
Stéphane.
 
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