Spring 2019 Review - Production Headphones
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In our next review we take a look at headphones designed specifically for music production. Most producers and engineers will recommend that production headphones are an essential piece of kit for any recording studio. Not only this, a decent set of full frequency headphones is also a great alternative to speakers for those who may not have the money or space for high-end monitors. Another thing to note here is that even if you do have a good set of monitors, your room may not be perfectly acoustically treated and headphones become a very important point of reference for your tracks. Plus it is highly advisable that you check the stereo image of your work on headphones. If your mix-downs are translating well from your usual monitoring set up to a good pair of headphones, then there’s a good chance you’re on to a winner! In this review we will look at a variation from the budget end to the more pricey sets of cans but the bottom line here is that a good pair of headphones could save you a lot of time and strife when it comes to both the idea’s stage and mixing stage of composing and producing music.
Now, a word about the types of headphones in this review. Most will be familiar with ‘closed-back’ headphones. This means that the outer part of the earpiece is closed off and any external noise will be much less likely to interfere with what it is you are working on. Conversely, open-back headphones allow the sound to escape from the outside of the headphones. You might think this sounds counter-intuitive but what this also allows is the user to hear the ‘sound of the room’. Using open back headphones can be considered more like using speakers as it will sound more like you are working in an acoustic space, giving a more spacious or airy sound. The choice here is often down to personal preference, however you may want to consider whether the environment you will be working in will be noisy and it might be important to block out that external noise. likewise, if you will be working in the presence of others (say, on public transport), be aware that the sound of open back headphones will be easily heard by people nearby. Furthermore, open back headphones maybe more suitable for performers such as vocalists recording lyrics as closed-back headphones will drastically alter the perception of the performers voice to themselves, possibly making them conscious resulting in a below par performance.
There are other factors to take into consideration when when deciding which headphones are right for you. One such factor is ohmage (Ω). This refers to impedance, i.e. the effective resistance of an electric circuit or component to alternating current, arising from the combined effects of ohmic resistance and reactance. In leyman’s terms this means that the higher the ohmage, the more gain you will need. This means that if you are working exclusively though the line out (headphone port) or your laptop or PC you might be better off with lower ohmage headphones, likewise if you are wanting them to double up as general listening headphones. If you have an audio interface or headphone amplifier you will be able to benefit from the increased clarity of the higher impedance models.
The products featured in this article are ordered from least to most expensive. That’s not to say that any in the list are categorically better that any others. As with most things in life you generally get what you pay for but some of the entries here are particularly good value for money, especially some of the mid-range ones that come recommended by some of the most prevalent audio engineers in the industry. Finally, the actual fit and overall comfort of the product is not to be overlooked. Theres no point shelling out on a product that might sound great but will end up being very uncomfortable after an hours use, so as we have advised in other reviews, get down to your local music store and see if there are demo models that you can try before you buy. There maybe be several products suitable in your price range and you might find that it is the ergonomic design that will help swing it for you.
KRK 8400
Beyerdynamic DT770
Beyerdynamic have been producing headphones for a long time. Anyone who has ever been in a recording studio (or seen any archive footage from Abbey Road Studios) might be more familiar with the DT100’s, a stalwart of the recording and broadcast industries since the 1970’s - not because they sound great, but because they are easy to wear on one ear (a preference for many vocalists and drummers), plus all the parts are serviceable and replaceable, and the same is true for the 770’s, however these actually do sound great! The frequency response you get for the reasonable price is unrivalled. The sound of these headphones is very true and accurate - and headphones that go as low as 5hz at around the £100 mark is very helpful for those wanting to pay particular attention to the low end of their mixes whilst not having access to large speakers or pricey subwoofers. The padded circum-aural design of the cups and padded headband make these cans very comfortable, even over very long sessions. They also come in an open back version, the DT990’s, that are around the same price, and a ‘semi-open back’ model in the DT880’s which tend to be around £70 more. The DT990’s come in a 80 and 250 ohm version so if you have an interface or headphone amp, the higher ohmage version should be considered. One downside of this whole range is that they are quite bulky and do not have a ‘fold away’ design like some others in this review, and they are probably a bit to hefty to use whilst out and about. They are however, a very rugged and robust feeling product that have a trustworthy sound.
Price: £103
Cup Type: Closed (DT990 for open version)
Frequency Response: 5Hz - 35-kHz
Impedance: 80 Ω / 250 Ω
Cable: 3m straight
https://www.bopdj.com/sound/headphones/studio/beyerdynamic-dt-770-pro-80-ohm.html
Audio Technica ATH-M50X
Audio Technica is a brand synonymous with high quality audio equipment. They have a full range of the M-series headphones, at varying price points. The M50x sit in the middle of the range and a great all round headphone. They deliver accurate audio and outstanding comfort, perfect for long sessions in the studio and on the go. Contoured earcups seal tight for excellent sound isolation, with minimal bleed. This means they will also triple up as great general listening headphones as they pack away neat and tidily and are also suitable of DJ use, especially with the 90° swivelling ear-cups, which will also come in handy for various other performers if using in a studio application. Another handy feature for such applications is that they come with three different detachable cables, so you can use them in different situations as you see fit.
Price: £119
Cup Type: Closed
Frequency Response: 15Hz - 28kHz
Impedance: 38 Ω
Cable: 3 x Detachable cables (1.2m - 3.0m coiled cable, 3.0m straight cable and 1.2m straight cable)
https://www.bopdj.com/sound/headphones/studio/audio-technica-ath-m50x.html
Sennheiser HD380
Sennheiser are famous for Microphones and Headphones. This model are collapsible, high-end headphones and are ideal for professional monitoring use. The HD 380 Pro offer a closed, circum-aural design which provides excellent passive attenuation of ambient noise while Sennheiser’s Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement (E.A.R) technology channels the audio signal directly into the user’s ears. The headphones are lightweight but don’t feel as rugged as some of the other offerings from Sennheiser but are still well built enough to withstand day-to-day studio use, and the 2 year warranty that Sennheiser offer will back that statement up. These are full frequency headphones and give a very true representation of your tracks, and the slightly higher price tag makes sense when you compare the frequency range of these compared to some cheaper options.
Price: £129
Cup Type: Closed
Frequency Response: 7Hz - 27kHz
Impedance: 54 Ω
Cable: 1m coiled extendable to 3m
https://www.bopdj.com/sound/headphones/studio/sennheiser-hd380.htm
AIAIAI TMA2 Studio Preset
AIAIAI are a new brand compared to most the others that feature on this page, and they only make headphones and earbuds (for the moment, at least), so you’d hope they know what they are doing. However, as the Danes like to do, they have taken a different a approach to most manufactures and they are set apart in that they have four ‘preset’ models. The idea here is that the whole range of products is modular, with two or more versions of the headband, drivers, ear-pads and cable available. This means you could buy the monitor preset and use these as production headphones, then when you move over to the decks you can swap the drivers and ear-pads to a more suitable configuration (you’d have to buy the other parts, of course). All of the components are available in a number of alternative specifications, all of which are compatible with every other component in the range. The available options include three headbands, four speaker units, five ear pads and six cables, which can be mixed and matched to create 360 possible combinations. Furthermore there are configurations created by artists, producers and DJ’s that you can find their website and available to buy. The swapping out of parts is quite straight forward and can be done in a matter of seconds. It also means if one part breaks they can be quickly and easily replaced, and will be less expensive then buying a whole new set of cans!
Price: £155.99
Cup Type: Closed
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20-kHz
Impedance: 32 Ω
Cable: 1.5m coiled (but you can choose a different one if you prefer)
Audio Technica ATH-M70X
Where as some of the reviews in this post also mention variations of the brand in questions offerings, Audio Technica have found themselves with two separate entries. There is in fact four different models in the M-series of headphones. We have included the two that we think are suitable for music production - there are some cheaper option in the M20X and M40X variations. However the M70X are like the big daddies of the range. Ergonomically they are all fairly similar, however the 70’s have a more slightly more sleeker design and a nice, slimmer and more minimal design on the headband, however this comes without a compromise as the ear-cups still swivel like those lower down in the product range, and as a result they pack away nicely in a rather fancy protective hard case that comes as standard. It’s worth noting that the impedance is very low for a product at this price point, but it does make them extremely versatile. In fact the company recommend the following applications; Front Of House, Mastering, Studio Mixing and Tracking, DJing, Post Production and even Audio Forensics - yep thats pretty much everything then! If you are in the market for a high-end, versatile, reliable pair of closed back headphones, these are the ones!
Price: £229
Cup Type: Closed
Frequency Response: 5Hz - 40kHz
Impedance: 38 Ω
Cable: Cable: 3 x Detachable cables (1.2m - 3.0m coiled cable, 3.0m straight cable and 1.2m straight cable)
https://www.bopdj.com/sound/headphones/studio/audio-technica-ath-m70x.html
Sennheiser HD600
The Sennheiser HD600 (as well as the HD650’s) can be seen somewhat as the flagship model for the brands range of reference headphones. The price reflects this, but they do sound excellent - very true, very accurate. These are also some super comfy headphones and are also fairly lightweight. The reason the HD650’s are also mentioned above is that they look very similar, and actually sound very similar as well. There are numerous reviews and comparisons online that you could spend a long time wading through, but to save you the effort let us say that the HD600’s are probably the more suitable model when it comes to music production. The HD650’s are said to have a slightly warmer and fuller sound, while the HD600’s are more airy and and natural, with a slightly more pronounced treble. Both versions are open back and they give a very natural and transparent feel to the audio. For the money you do get some slight more advanced engineering in extremely lightweight aluminium voice coils, which ensure excellent transient response. They cannot be folded away and won’t transport particularly well, i.e in a rucksack, but if you are spending this much on headphones you might want to keep them safe in your studio anyway. We wouldn’t recommend wearing these on the bus… and neither would the person next to you!
Price: £279
Cup Type: Open
Frequency Response: 12Hz - 40.5 kHz
Impedance: 300 Ω
Cable: 1.5m straight
Decloak Review - Entry Level DJ Controllers
We take a look at the latest entry level DJ Controllers on the market to try and help make sense of the myriad of choice. Pro and Cons discussed for each one to try and help you with your decision if you are thinking about purchasing your first controller.
In this series we explore what is on the market in terms of music production software & hardware and DJ equipment. Each time will aim to provide you with all the information needed to be confident in your next purchase. Join our e-mail list here to keep posted on future articles.
SUMMER 2018 Review
ENTRY LEVEL DJ CONTROLLERS
Buying your first DJ controller can be a daunting prospect with so much choice out there. Not only is it important to decide on the right brand of controller but you also need to consider the software that it will control. For the most part all the DJ softwares out there do essentially the same job, but there might be extra features that may or may not be of use to you. Most companies offer free trials or preparation modes, so it might be worth trying these out and seeing how you get on with the user interface and track analysis capabilities before making your purchase. It’s also important to note that different programs have varying minimum system requirements and these should always be considered so that your computer or laptop will be able run the programs smoothly. This article includes the versions of programs that come free with the controller. It’s usually possible to upgrade to the full versions or even get mapping for different programs altogether, so it is rare that you're completely pigeon holed after making your purchase. All prices in the article are correct regarding to www.bopdj.com July 2108.
To add value to your purchase here at Decloak we offer DJ courses in any of the listed DJ controllers below. Check out our DJ courses available here.
NUMARK PARTY MIX
£77.54 - Virtual DJ LE
The Numark Partymix is the cheapest of the options provided in this article, and you get a fair amount of bang for not so much buck. The hardware unit is small and compact and weighs just under 1kg, so will be perfect for house parties, especially as it has built in LEDs which sync to your music and give an extra dimension to your sets, that none of the other controllers in this price range offer. The Party Mix runs Virtual DJ and you get the activation code with the product. The unit features four performance pads on each side of the mixer section which can be utilised for cueing tracks, FX and even sampler mode to give your sets that unique edge. Such a compact unit does have some drawbacks though. The pitch faders are small, meaning beatmatching can be tricky and there is just two EQ controls - bass and treble, as opposed the traditional three band EQ found on most DJ mixers and controllers. All in all this is a great product for the price point, but might be lacking in features for those aspiring to get into clubs anytime soon.
For more info on the Numark Party Mix click here
Roland DJ-202 -
£219 - Serato DJ Intro
Roland are fairly new to the DJ controller game, but this should not mean they are overlooked in anyway. The main things to note here is that unlike its bigger brothers the DJ-505 and DJ-808 it does not include Roland’s now famous TR style drum sequencer, however it does still have sequencing capability. This is done by using the performance pads, which have eight modes, we won’t go into all of these right now, but they do provide sequencing capability to layer extra drum patterns over DJ sets. Roland have even included samples from there classic drum machines so you can lay beats down from the get-go. Another thing that makes this controller stand out is the MIDI out on the rear of the unit, meaning you can feasibly connect a drum machine or synthesizer and have this synced up seamlessly with the music you are playing on the controller. All of the controllers in Roland’s range boast the lowest possible latency platters meaning this product must be a serious consideration if scratching is going to be in any way incorporated into your sets. Another attractive feature for the DJ/MC is the Mic input that has studio-grade echo, gate and ducking effects.
For more info on the Roland DJ-202 click here
Pioneer DDJ-SB3
£229 - Serato DJ Intro
The DDJ-SB3 is the latest controller in Pioneer’s Serato Controller range. It is very similar in layout to the DJ-202, but where the DJ-202 boasts the drum sequencer, the DDJ-SB3 has the innovative Jazzy Jeff endorsed ‘Pad Scratch’ mode. This is a new feature that allows users to recreate scratch sounds just by pressing a pad. These sounds are synced to the tempo of the music so will always sound natural. Although there has been some backlash from scratch purists, this feature actually allows budding scratch DJ’s to realise the importance of timing and sample selection when it comes to scratching. So for those wanting to start out but without the money and or space for turntables this is a great way to begin to learn the art of turntablism. Furthermore, the Jog Wheels on this controller are aluminium (most in this price range are plastic) and super responsive so will handle genuine scratch routines with ease when in Vinyl Mode. Amongst other improvement from the previous models in the DDJ-SB range, this latest incarnation has larger pitch faders at 45mm. Other cool features on the SB3 include auto loop, key lock, FX fade, filter per channel, slip mode, ¼” jack mic input and four deck mixing.
For more info on the Pioneer DDJ-SB3 click here
Numark Mixtrack Platinum
£203 - Serato DJ Intro
The second Numark controller to feature, the Mixtrack Platinum is the latest in the mixtrack range. The main selling point here that the other controllers in this price range are lacking is the dual 1.75” LCD display screens in the centre of each jog wheel. This is a feature that will attract those that are conscious of staring at a laptop whilst mixing. There’s that now old adage of DJ’s looking like they’re checking their emails mid set, which can now be minimised with this controller as you can see information such as BPM, playhead position, key lock on/off, slip mode on/off and the time elapsed or remaining for the playing track. This can also help speed up your workflow and allow more time for actually mixing the tracks. A general gripe of controllers at this price range is the truncated length of pitch faders compared to industry standard kit. Not so with the Mixtrack platinum - the pitch faders are super long and even the more finicky DJ’s would be satisfied with them. The Mixtrack platinum also features a three band EQ, a bidirectional filter per-channel, 4 deck mixing and a strip for needle search so you can quickly and easily preview tracks.
For more info on the Numark Mixtrack Platinum click here
Pioneer DDJ-400
£249 - Rekordbox
This is the latest in the Pioneer DDJ range, and an eagerly awaited update for its predecessor the DDJ-RB. There are many improvements, most notably the increased length of the pitch faders. The layout is also improved, with the effects section mimicking that of Pioneers DJM range. This means that those looking to get into the clubs ASAP might benefit from this layout as it shouldn’t be too dissimilar to what you might expect to see in DJ booths across the world. The same goes for the loop function buttons being located at the top left of the jog wheels, which have indents on. Both of these features are inherited from the CDJ-2000NXS2 flagship player. Unlike most the controllers featured thus far that have a ‘mirrored’ layout, the DDJ-400’s deck sections are identical in that you will find the pitch faders to the right of both jog wheels, again giving the feel of a more professional club set up. This controller also features eight performance pads which can be used for beat jump, beat loop, slip loop pad FX (which are really cool) and can also utilise Rekordbox’s sampler feature. It should be noted these pads are quite small, even smaller than that of the DDJ-RB. Like other units in this price bracket there is the 3 band EQ and HPF/LPF on each channel. It should be noted that only two channel mixing is possible with the DDJ-400.
For more info on the DDJ-400 click here
Pioneer WeGo4 - £269
Rekordbox/Virtual DJ LE
You might think this controller looks a little different to some of the others. This particular unit makes DJing very accessible. It comes with licences for Rekordbox and Virtual DJ LE, however it is also compatible with Algoriddim DJ Pro. With this, all you need is an iPhone or iPad with an iTunes or Spotify Premium account (plus a half decent Wi-Fi connection) and you you will have millions of songs at your fingertips. There is no compromise for convenience here, with Algoriddim DJ Pro allowing you to manipulate tracks from iTunes or Spotify in exactly the same way you would with your own library in Serato or Rekordbox. Beat sync, key sync, looping, fx etc. are all possible, meaning hours of fun with hours of music. It must be said the unit itself feels more plasticky and less professional than it’s cousin the DDJ-400, and the layout is maybe less intuitive for some with the loop and fx being on clicky buttons around the jog wheels unlike the nice, soft tactile pads seen on most controllers. However, it is compact and portable and definitely a great choice for house party and hobbyist DJs that might not have the time to go searching for music to download or already have a large collection behind them. This is even more so with the connectivity. It works with iPhone or iPad plus Mac OS and Windows Laptops. There is a two band EQ with filter however this can be changed to a 3 band EQ within the Rekordbox settings if this is your program of choice.
For more info on the DDJ-WeGo4 click here
Denon MC4000
£359 - Serato DJ Intro
This is a two deck Serato MIDI controller for the professional DJ. Most notable about the hardware is that it is in a steel chassis so will give peace of mind to those gigging out and about regularly - the build feels as solid as a tank. Plus the pitch faders are described by Denon as ‘long throw’ and measure in at 100mm, wiping out any concerns that many people have about fiddly pitch faders often seen on the more compact all in one units. Another plus for the mobile DJ is the dual mic input with studio-grade echo effect, and “ducking” feature allowing DJs or MCs to effortlessly lay vocals to the top of the mix without having to ride the faders. The overall layout also feels professional with the full complement of three band EQ, bi-directional filter, three Serato FX on/off pads with depth knob, looping section and four performance pads, making this a contender for most comprehensive controller at this price range. It is also compatible with Traktor 2 and Virtual DJ.
For more info on the Denton MC4000 click here
Reloop Beatpad 2
£445 - Algoriddim DJay 2
The Beatpad is the most expensive controller in these reviews. It too utilises the power of modern technology with Algoriddim DJay 2, plus you get the program included in the price, along with eight performance pads that the WeGo4 dearly misses. These are however, rather strangely located above the jog wheels, braking tradition with most other controllers. Despite this, the overall build quality certainly lives up to the rugged Reloop name. The slick low profile jogs, large tempo fader, rugged fader, selector and EQ pots all have a nice, professional feel. And like many others in the list, mapping for Traktor 2 and Virtual DJ are also available so your not stuck with one program. The pads have eight different modes such as hot cues, loops, sampler and touch or jog FX, all of which will work seamlessly well with your own library or tracks loaded from iTunes or Spotify, as do the beat sync and key sync to allow harmonic mixing. This controller comes with cables to connect iPad or Android tablet to the controller and a nifty slot to hold your tablet so you can see exactly what is going on with your performance and makes viewing and loading playlists and tracks really simple. The Beatpad 2 is the king of connectivity, as it also supports iPhone, and other android system, Mac OS and Windows, making this one of the most versatile controllers on the market.
For more info on the Reloop Beatpad 2 click here