Headphones

[New_Zealand]

I'm going to have to edited on my laptop (Vegas Pro) on my next project and the speakers are really crappy. I stop by Bestbuy and their selection wasn't very good. So I'm now looking at Amazon but of course I can't see them in real life to know if they are any good. What are you guys using that doesn't cost tons of $$$$$$ Thanks

 

[rs170a]

The models listed below are considered by many in the pro audio community (folks who record sound on location for a living) to be the industry standard models.
Sony MDR-7506
Sony MDR-7510 (replacement for above model)
Sennheiser HD-25 Mk2
The Sonys are about $100 while the Sennheiser is about $200.

Mike

 

[David W. Richardson]

Keep in mind that the OP doesn't appear to be looking for headphones suitable to record location sound -- he's asking about headphones for editing.

Depending on what kind of project you're doing, and what level of editing you'll be doing on your laptop, headphones are generally not a good idea. They're fine for doing the audio cuts, as long as you're planning to let someone else handle the quality aspects of the audio editing. The thing is, by and large headphones are designed to make things sound GOOD. But what you want with editing is to hear a TRUE reproduction of the sound you have, so you can accurately tweak it for GREAT sound. It generally takes a good set of studio monitor speakers to accomplish this. I don't know of any headphones that can do it -- certainly not inexpensive ones.

 

[David Jimerson]

That's generally why, if you were going to use headphones, you'd want the 7506es or the HD-25s, because they don't do the enhancing and just give you the sound.

 

[David W. Richardson]

That's generally why, if you were going to use headphones, you'd want the 7506es or the HD-25s, because they don't do the enhancing and just give you the sound.

Then I'm confused. I've read many times in the Audio section that headphones aren't a good idea for quality sound editing. Isn't this why people spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for studio monitor speakers?

 

[rs170a]

Then I'm confused. I've read many times in the Audio section that headphones aren't a good idea for quality sound editing. Isn't this why people spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for studio monitor speakers?

You're correct in that headphones aren't recommended for serious audio editing.
However, if the OP is not prepared to spend hundreds (thousands aren't necessary) on a decent set of monitor speakers as well as having the speakers and room properly tuned, then a decent set of neutral-sounding headphones make a much better choice than a set of cheap computer speakers.
If this is a project for home use only, then headphones are OK.
If it's for broadcast or other higher-end work, then headphones are OK for the initial edit but mastering in a good studio is highly recommended.

Mike

 

[David Jimerson]

Then I'm confused. I've read many times in the Audio section that headphones aren't a good idea for quality sound editing. Isn't this why people spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars for studio monitor speakers?

Yes. I was just adding to your point that a lot of headphones enhance the sound and don't let hear what the audio truly is.

 

[clang]

But almost any headphones will be better than crappy laptop speakers

 

[Heartfelt]

I bought a pair of phones for tracking vocals in my project studio. I was steered to Shure phones, don't remember model at present but... Reasonable and pretty flat. I was pleasantly surprised a most phones are badly scooped in the middle.