Monitoring Headphones?

B

Bigredf

Member
Morning guys,

I was wondering what people would recommend as a pair of headphones for myself as cameraman for monitoring sound in the field.

Currently working with an extreme outdoors show where we can be in the mountains for up to 2 weeks at a time and require lightweight gear to be stored in our packs.

I have done a bit of research myself, but haven't come to any conclusions on what would be the best set of headphones to invest in.

So basically what I need is a pair with the following features:
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Cut out or ambient noise reduction
- Preferably fold up headphones, but willing to give plugs or wrap arounds a go

Currently using some cheap plugs as they are easy and lightweight, but having difficulties monitoring proper sound which is becoming obvious in post.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

Thanks

Sam
 
The two most popular headphones sound mixers use are the Sony MDR-7506 and the Sennheiser HD-280Pro. Both are good. Both will run you just under a hundred bucks.
 
The SONY MDR-7506 is what I use and I'll tell you why.

I run a recording studio in addition to my video work and I have 5 different types of headphones.

The Sony MDR-7506 is tailored to video monitoring because they are foldable, they can connect to either 1/4" or Mini connectors like on cameras, they have slightly boosted highs and lows so you never miss any sounds you are getting on set, and they are LOUD. They are 50% louder than my other studio headphones and this is of utmost importance because most cameras and portable field recorders do not have very loud output amplifiers, so this helps ensure you will get enough volume to hear what you need to hear.
And they fit well and block out ambient sound.
Yeah....they're about $100....but they are SERIOUSLY worth it.

http://www.cnet.com/products/sony-mdr-7506/
 
I've had both the 280s and the 7506 and the 7506 are by FAR more comfortable to wear for extended periods. A big deal using something pretty much every day. Worth every penny.
 
I have lots of headphones but if there was one set I would choose as a gen purpose it would be the Sony 7506,
it has good sound, isolates well and goes loud for critical listening. It folds and is also good for just listening to music on your i pod etc! The coiled cable is useful too!

Check out the sennheiser HD25 too as they are easily repaired and smaller!
 
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I also use the Sony MDR 7506. They are great, but have one big drawback for field use in my opinion: The cable. It's long and it's coiled, which is great for studio use, but in the field all it does (for me anyway) is make it heavy, in the way, and difficult to manage. I had a local sound shop replace the coiled cable with a straight one for me on a different set of headphones, and it makes things a lot easier in my opinion.
 
+1 on Sony MDR7506... and yes the extra long cord can be a plus and a minus... however, the build quality, sound, comfort and durability of these headphones are very good.
 
Yes, I own several pair of Sony MDR-7506, and some MDR-6V as well. IME, they are virtually identical except for the gold plating on the plug. Except that the MDR-V6 is typically less expensive. The 7506 is the perennial favorite for a good reason.
 
I agree with Richard and I had the V6 (V7?) in the 80's and they sounded just the same as all the 7506 I have had since then.
 
If you have a sound person, and you're just monitoring so you can follow along with the story, just get light earbuds. Otherwise, the Sony 7506 is good, and takes a beating, too.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. Gives me a better idea of what professionals are using.

I like the sound of the Sony 7506, only issue is the size of them for my type of work.

Buds may be the best option. Has anyone had experience using buds for audio monitoring?

The option of the Sennheiser HD 26 could be a goer, they are lightweight and significantly smaller in scale by the looks of things.
 
If you're actually shooting(not just on stix), I wouldn't recommend over the ear headphones. I don't understand why so many people shoot with a camera on their shoulder while wearing over-the-ear headphones. No offense, but whenever I see guys in the field like that I automatically think "studio guys" or "guys that don't shoot in the field full-time". I've used in-ears since the late 90's(NOT to be confused with earbuds). I started out with generic foam one's and switched to custom molded sets back in '07. I also tie into the camera with a mini "coily" cable so that I can take the camera off of my shoulder and sit it down, move it around, etc. and minimize the chance of breaking a cable. Some of my audio guys don't even wear over-the-ear headphones in the field when we're running around anymore.

Don't get me wrong, good over-the-ear headphones are great(I have two pair of Sony 7509's and two pair of Ultrasone Pro 900's for my audio bags), but they're just in-the-way and not conducive to shooting in-the-field with and/or off-the-shoulder.
 
How about Shure SE215? Brilliant headphones, I have them for few years now and never had any problems with them. Also it looks like they fit your description perfectly ... For the record wires do create little background noise but nothing that I can't deal with. [h=2][/h]
 
Run&Gun said:
If you're actually shooting(not just on stix), I wouldn't recommend over the ear headphones. I don't understand why so many people shoot with a camera on their shoulder while wearing over-the-ear headphones. No offense, but whenever I see guys in the field like that I automatically think "studio guys" or "guys that don't shoot in the field full-time". I've used in-ears since the late 90's(NOT to be confused with earbuds). I started out with generic foam one's and switched to custom molded sets back in '07. I also tie into the camera with a mini "coily" cable so that I can take the camera off of my shoulder and sit it down, move it around, etc. and minimize the chance of breaking a cable. Some of my audio guys don't even wear over-the-ear headphones in the field when we're running around anymore.

Don't get me wrong, good over-the-ear headphones are great(I have two pair of Sony 7509's and two pair of Ultrasone Pro 900's for my audio bags), but they're just in-the-way and not conducive to shooting in-the-field with and/or off-the-shoulder.
Click to expand...

Again, thanks for the reply guys.

Filming on a tripod probably half of the time. The rest of it is "johnny on the spot" style filming freehold. The camera's I'm using are only hand-held and don't require a shoulder mount. We would be using larger cameras if we could be simply can't through weight.

I'll do a bit of research on those other models you guys suggested.

Thanks for your time
 
Bigredf said:
Morning guys,

I was wondering what people would recommend as a pair of headphones for myself as cameraman for monitoring sound in the field.

Currently working with an extreme outdoors show where we can be in the mountains for up to 2 weeks at a time and require lightweight gear to be stored in our packs.

I have done a bit of research myself, but haven't come to any conclusions on what would be the best set of headphones to invest in.

So basically what I need is a pair with the following features:
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Cut out or ambient noise reduction
- Preferably fold up headphones, but willing to give plugs or wrap arounds a go

Currently using some cheap plugs as they are easy and lightweight, but having difficulties monitoring proper sound which is becoming obvious in post.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated.

Thanks

Sam
Click to expand...

Sennheiser HD 25-1 - It's what I have used on location for the last 25 years.

Very efficient and the rt.angled connector doesn't get in the way when plugged into a camera.
 
Is there an wireless solution that I can monitor my h4n around the set without dragging cords and tripping fixtures? strange how noone is asking for that for shooting it's a problem I face every single shoot. So is there such thing? As affordable as possible just want to hear the conversation shooting with 50+mm lenses. Next solution is a headphone with extreme cable length to keep on the floor without disturbing us much, what's most affordable solution for that too?

Calling myself an audio noob would be super-strawberry-flavor-sugar-coating, and it's something I am struggling with on low budget stuff without an audio guy (recently most shoots, so I am starting to get a hang of it, the h4n plus lavs and h1 monitored and synced in post is giving me excellent results strangely, when gain is set correctly, as there's no magical audio noise reduction solution like ''neat video'' is for video sadly, they all simply don't work.
 
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