Please recommend headphones for music production mixing under £500

[dickiefunk]

Hi,

I've been using a pair of Beyer DT880 Pro's for a few years. When I tried bought these I also tried the following headphones :-

Audio Technica ATH-M50x
Sennheiser HD-380
Sennheiser HD-650
AKG K701
Sony SRH 840
Beyer DT1990 Pro

Of these my favorites were the Beyer DT880's and the Sony SRH840 followed by the Beyer DT1990 Pro.

I would like to upgrade my DT880 Pro's for something that translates even better and am wondering what you would recommend for around £500?

 

[DVDdoug]

Probably the most important thing is comfort.

The pros will tell you not to use headphones as your main monitors. If you are going to do it, it's probably up to you to learn how they translate.

Here are some excerpts I've collected -

This is from Recording Magazine "Readers Submissions" where readers send-in their recordings for evaluation:

As those of you who have followed this column for any length of time can attest, headphone mixing is one of the big no-no's around these parts. In our humble opinion, headphone mixes do not translate well in the real world, period, end of story. Other than checking for balance issues and the occasional hunting down of little details, they are tools best left for the tracking process.

And this is from a mixing engineer, also Recording Magazine:

Can I mix on headphones?

No. But in all seriousness, headphones can be a secret weapon and it really doesn’t matter what they sound like…

Over time, after constantly listening back to my work from different studios on those headphones I really started to learn them. They became sort of a compass. Wherever I went… It became a pattern for me to reference these headphones to see if what I was hearing was “right”…

I learned them, I knew them, I trusted them. It didn’t matter whether or not I loved them…

So, can you mix on headphones? Probably. I just think you really need to put some time into learning them first…

This is from Floyd Tool's book, Sound Reproduction

Headphones entertain masses of people. Professionals occasionally mix on them when conditions demand it. Both rely on some connection to sound reproduction, that is, loudspeakers in rooms, because that's how stereo is intended to be heard. Stereo recordings are mixed on loudspeakers.

This is from Ethan Winer's book, The Audio Expert:

(Headphones) are not usually recommended for mixing music because you can hear everything too clearly. This risks making important elements such as the lead vocal too soft in the mix. Mixes made with (headphones) also tend to get too little reverb, because we hear reverb more clearly when music is played directly into your ears than when it's added to natural room ambience...

...It is good practice to verify edits using (headphones) to hear very soft details such as clicks or part of something importing being cut off early.

 

[staticV3]

Since you've tried and experienced the difference between closed- and open-backed headphones already, it would be useful to know which type of headphone you're looking for.

 

[dickiefunk]

Thanks. I should also have mentioned I own a pair of Neumann KH120’s and an EVE TS108 sub which I do my main mixing on. The headphones are for doing the odd checks here and there mainly. I would also use them for doing quick mixes when I’m away but not for serious releases.

 

[dickiefunk]

Since you've tried and experienced the difference between closed- and open-backed headphones already, it would be useful to know which type of headphone you're looking for.

I tend to prefer the sound of open backed headphones.

 

[staticV3]

I tend to prefer the sound of open backed headphones.

In that case, I would shortlist the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and Focal Hadenys.

 

[Blumlein 88]

I have done a little recording, and mixing on phones. I don't recommend it either. I have the older DT880's. I suggest the AKG 371 phones. Far better translation. I find you need a little crossfeed for ensuring your mixing isn't good on phones lousy on speakers. Something like 15%. Even then, you are much better off checking on some speakers. Don't know your situation, but some JBL LSR 305 mkII's are very good, as cheap as headphones ($298 per pair) and not terribly large. Better choice for mixing if you can use them.

EDIT, just saw your comment on open back phones. The AKG 371s are closed back.

 

[XaviMartinez55]

I would not mix on headphones (although I do it all the time). Specially bass frequencies and instrument imaging end up being a mess.

What I do is to start a rough headphone mix, but the minute I have my levels up, I change to my old trusty ESI Near 05 monitors (even my crappy Logitech laptop speakers...if you get your bass heard through those, you know your mix will be fine)

Plus, long mixing sessions will take a toll on your hearing , after 2 hours you'll no longer know what you are hearing.......

I use a pair of DT770's for mixing......but again...don't do it if you can avoid it.

There's also software like the ARC, that theoretically allows you to mix using headphones, it has presets by headphone brand and model, kind of recreating how would the mix sound on monitors (but using the headphones).

 

[l3xtown]

DT880
HD560
АКГ371
HD650/600

 

[l3xtown]

Привет,

Я пользуюсь парой Beyer DT880 Pro уже несколько лет. Когда я пытался купить их, я также пробовал следующие наушники:-

Аудиотехника ATH-M50x
Sennheiser HD-380
Sennheiser HD-650
АКГ К701
Sony SRH 840
Бейер DT1990 Pro

Из них мне больше всего понравились Beyer DT880 и Sony SRH840, а также Beyer DT1990 Pro.

Я хотел бы обновить свой DT880 Pro на что-то более качественное, и мне интересно, что бы вы порекомендовали за 500 фунтов стерлингов?

Hello. Do you like working at 880? What is your Pro or edition version? I had 770/880/990/900/880Pro - the best ones are the dt 880 Edition 250

 

[mkolmar]

All the caution about mixing on headphones is well-placed. After we stipulate all that, mixes done on speakers should be checked with headphones too. Spectrum analyzer while mixing can be a helpful, objective reference for overall curve and unwanted resonances.

Mainly I use Sony MDR-V6 (closed) for utility purposes and Sennheiser HD560S (open) for listening. I would not specifically recommend these, which is how I found this thread. But those models have no major problems, and I am familiar with their sound. Many of the other headphones discussed on these threads are somewhat similar in character, e.g. close to Harman curve in critical range, good imaging, inevitable bass rolloff without unusual peaks, a little bright, somewhat irregular highs. One of the Beyerdynamic models would be an obvious alternative to Sennheiser, but it's not clear that any of them would be a notable improvement.

Any recommendations would be welcome.

Mixes made with (headphones) also tend to get too little reverb, because we hear reverb more clearly when music is played directly into your ears than when it's added to natural room ambience...

Conversely, reverb and some other effects can seem balanced on speakers and exaggerated on headphones.

 

[Earfonia]

Sony SRH 840

Do you mean Shure SRH840 ?
I have Shure SRH840 and use it. I think the tonality is natural / neutral enough for pro audio application. It is less bright than the DT880.
But compare to those 2, I still prefer the Shure SRH1540 for pro audio work like mixing.
But for the last few years I use IEMs for Mixing, found a few that I find quite useful for mixing. It is easier for me to hear the details and reverb level with IEM.
With DSP IEM these days like the Moondrop MAY, you have 9 bands parametric EQ to tune the IEM to your neutral target.

 

[edG]

What did you end up doing, OP? I’m in a similar situation.

 

[solderdude]

Hint:

Look for Jade Audio JT7 (don't be scared of the price as that is no indicator for quality).

JT7

back to Jade Audioback to measurementshome Published: Nov-27-2025, updated Feb-05-2026 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons fl…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

 

[edG]

Hint:

Look for Jade Audio JT7 (don't be scared of the price).

JT7

back to Jade Audioback to measurementshome Published: Nov-27-2025, updated Feb-05-2026 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons fl…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

Surprisingly cheap, well within budget! I was considering more expensive options (Ananda nano or Sennheiser). I’ll check them out, thank you!

 

[solderdude]

For Sennheiser look for HD 400 PRO (which is the HD 560S) and HD 550.

All more expensive but comfort/fit might be a factor to consider.
For the price of the JT7 you could even keep one in stock.

I own HD560S, HD550 and JT7 ( + a bunch of other HP's) and should I be forced to use HP's for mixing (nearfield monitors not an option) than I would go for the JT7.
In fact ... I use JT7 more often than my (all time favorite) EQ'ed HD800.

 

[edG]

For Sennheiser look for HD 400 PRO (which is the HD 560S) and HD 550.

All more expensive but comfort/fit might be a factor to consider.
For the price of the JT7 you could even keep one in stock.

Definitely. I’m not familiar with Jade Audio. Was considering the HD650 though they are a bit past my intended budget, but I know I’ll regret saving a buck to stay at the entrance of the better, longer lasting experience.

 

[solderdude]

Jade Audio is a subbrand of FiiO.

I have owned (and still do) a HD650 for over 20 years.
Has been my favorite for many years.
Not using it anymore. The FT1 has better tonality 'out of the box' compared to calibrated nearfield monitors.

Sennheiser is a reputable brand with good aftermarket support for the TOTL models.
FiiO is just starting with headphones but is making a splash with the JT7.

Should I be abandoned on an island and was allowed to take only one HP with me it would be the JT7.
It does need some amping if you want to play it loud.

 

[l3xtown]

Jade Audio is a subbrand of FiiO.

I have owned (and still do) a HD650 for over 20 years.
Has been my favorite for many years.
Not using it anymore. The FT1 has better tonality 'out of the box' compared to calibrated nearfield monitors.

Sennheiser is a reputable brand with good aftermarket support for the TOTL models.
FiiO is just starting with headphones but is making a splash with the JT7.

Should I be abandoned on an island and was allowed to take only one HP with me it would be the JT7.
It does need some amping if you want to play it loud.

Focusrite 16i16 4 Gen ? Ок?

 

[solderdude]

Headphone out is very wimpy.
Not enough for JT7.
just buy a headphone amp and connect that to the headphone out of the 16i16.

• Maximum Output Power
  57mW into 33Ω
  27mW into 300Ω
• Impedance11Ω