Studio Headphones

What are closed-backed and open-backed?

So open headphones today generally sound better than closed, and it is in fact easier to get an open back headphone to sound good, than it is a closed back headphone.

There are several variations on the theme of headphones, but the two principal types in use in studios and control rooms are closed-backed and open-backed. In the early days, headphones were all closed back until one manufacturer found that it was possible to get a better sound by allowing the diaphragm to move freely in open air. This refers to the outside of the earpiece on a standard headphone being either sealed or open with some type of grille. closed-backed headphone seals the transducer within its enclosure so that virtually no sound escapes to the outside world.

This is logical since enclosing the back of the headphone makes the diaphragm push and pull against a fixed mass of air that operates like a spring, opposing the movement of the diaphragm. However, with technology today, there are some extraordinary headphones on the market that are closed back. However, some of the more modern designs can produce a pretty respectable sound, and models worthy of consideration and auditioning include the audio-technica-ath-m50, Sony MDR-V6, Shure SRH840, AKG Acoustics K-240, and Sennheiser HD280. The last two models are particularly impressive, and I often use the Sennheiser HD280s myself when mixing on headphones.

Costs

The better the headphone, the more it costs. For accurate mixing duties I would suggest pairs costing about at least $80 or more.

This is usually the case, but often I've found that anything higher than $100 may not be worth its price.

Comfort

The ear area is where you have to be picky. After all, you'll be wearing studio headphones for a long periods of time. Models which don't make your ears hot and sweaty are worth seeking out. Make sure the headphones are adjustable. Try to go for light models, as it can also be problematic if they are too heavy.

Things to consider:

If you're investing in expensive headphones, then make sure that spare parts can be purchased easily; This is THE best maintenance advice I can give you as headphones are pulled on and off, fall off the desk, and get stood on fairly frequently, some replacement is expected!

The reliability of the cable and connectors is important, Some people don't like curly extending cables mainly because produce tension on the headphone when pulled and are usually heavier than ordinary fixed-length cables.

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