Best closed headphones
 

Can anyone recommend a good type of closed headphone? I need it to monitor sound on my xh-a1, mainly for interviews in a loud environment. I do check the audio levels in my camera but started working with a wireless audio receiver since last week and i absolutely want to hear what my camera is receiving. This means the headphone has to seal off outside sound as much as possible. I"ll be doing interviews nearby loudspeakers on a dancefloor, probably generating 90-100 db.
Also it should not be to bulky and comfortable to wear.
Any suggestions?

Industry standards are the Sony MDR-7506 or Sennheiser HD25 or HD280. If you really need shielding from outside noise, Remote Audio makes a set, the HN-7506, that takes Sony's elements and mounts them in high noise level protection earpieces. You might also consider in-ear monitors from Etymotics and others such as musicians use for ear protection on stage.

I use the HD 25-1 which was specifically designed for the job.

The new HD 380 Pro also look interesting and fold flat in a special case.

I will admit to wearing these at noisy events even when not recording. (I have been known to take a camera to a disco as a prop so that I can protect what's left of my hearing with them).

I do use them for monitoring as well :-)

Thanks for the tips, I had not thought about in-ear monitors, a bit more expensive but I think it's worth the investment.

No doubt: Sennheiser HD 25-1 II. Industry standard here in Europe.

Check out Etymotics E4S and several models from Ultimate Ears. Note that in-ear monitors ARE NOT simple iPod style ear buds. Ultimate Ears even offers several models that are custom moulded on castings of your ear canal you have made at an audiologist's office and send with your order to give you the ultimate in fit and external noise exclusion.

I can tell you what I personally didn't care for in my recent adventures in closed headphones.

I tried the Sony MDR-V6, a headphone with some legendary status in monitoring circles. I came away totally unimpressed with:
1) the pressure they put on my head (comfort very poor)
2) the sound (too harsh at the higher end)
3) as well as the sound isolation (definitely not enough)

They did not totally envelop my ears like bigger headphones do, which may be the reason sound isolation was so poor. I have average adult male ears, btw :)

So I would personally avoid those as well as their replacement 'cause the replacement MDR-V7506 is physically identical; even if the sound is different I wouldn't touch them just based on comfort and noise isolation.

Today I may get chance to listen to some Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro headphones. If and when I do, I will report back. I have tried these on while I was waiting to be served at the local sound store. Good news is they were verrrry comfortable to me, and they blocked out a fair chunk of store noise, but haven't demo'd them playing music yet. They may be classed as 'bulky' to you, though. One nice advantage of the Sony MDR-V6 was their ability to be folded away neatly.

Anyway, I am also looking for a real good pair of closed phones and may just impulse buy them today.

There is lots of talk of the Sennheiser HD280 Pro, too. Personally haven't tried those (yet). I think the talk of high headband pressure was putting me off on those, from memory.

I've got two pairs of the HD280 Pros - one at work; one at home (well, with my son now...) They are a bit tight, until they break in. But seriously, for noise isolation and security in the field when your hands are full, being tight is better than being loose.

If you don't like tight cans, consider storing them on a volleyball or something that helps stretch them out.

The two most popular cans are the Sony 7506's and the Sennheiser HD280's. I have the HD280's and they are fine but I warn you that the isolation is still not that great. I sometimes record bands and the isolation is better in the midrange, but the lowend breaks through more easily.

Thanks all, this is really helpful. About the in-ear plugs, after doing some research and because it's a bigger investment I find it difficult to decide just based on the information on a website, it's almost like getting a pair of glasses that needs some personal assistance to choose the right ones and I haven"t found a store in Belgium yet that manufactures these. I think that I will be going for a Sennheiser HD 25-1 II which I found for just under 150euro, they are just the right size and based on some user experiences I read it's seems like a very good choice for my purpose, no?

I listened to those just a few hours ago and came away unimpressed. The sound is definitely nothing to write home about. I also don't like the fit (they seemed to be resting on my ears a bit). Over-all, unremarkable.

As promised, I have listened to the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones (as well as about 20 others from various makes the store had ready to listen to). I love them the best. So why didn't I walk out of there with one? They only had the 250ohm impedance version (Beyerdynamic make an 80ohm version of the same 'phone). 80ohms = higher volumes on portables, because they are more easily driven.

There was only one headphone more comfortable to me than the Beyerdynamic, too... and they were the Audio-Technica models with the 'wing' system, which is still by far the most comfortable headphone I've ever had the pleasure of putting on; I just didn't like the sound of the Audio-Technica models on display (they only had two or three, and only one of those had their wing design).

In short: demo the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro if you get a chance. It's light-years ahead of the Sennheiser HD25-1 II. A very balanced, non-fatiguing sound. Some would say warm, I would call it accurate and pleasing.

Edit: I also tried the Sennheiser HD280 Pro. It's a very inoffensive sound, I guess... but nothing grabbed me about this 'phone. Sounded sort of cheap to my ears, especially compared to the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. Head tightness wasn't as bad as I imagined, but still I felt it get worse after a couple minutes... and I had to take them off.

I have Sony MDR-7506 and MDR-7509 phones, and while they are good (MDR-7506 are a kinda standard in movie business) I still like my new Audio-Technica ATH-M50 better. Slightly better isolation, more comfortable, better bass.

Audio-Technica - Microphones, headphones, wireless microphone systems, noise-cancelling headphones & more : ATH-M50 : Professional Studio Monitor Headphones -

I use Vic Firth isolating headphones when recording in a loud environment. They're made to be worn by drummers, so they cut out a significant amount of environmental sound. You can find them at any decent store that sells musical instruments. They are a bit bulkier than normal headphones.

I too, have the Sony MDR-7506, and it works fine for me. The only problem I have is the ear cushions. They come off periodically and I have to be gentle when placing them over my ears. It's a bit of a challenge to put the cushions back on while recording a live event.

My question would be, if I may, is there a replacement cushion that works better? Stays on the phones? Or do I need to upgrade headphones?

Beyer 770's are my friend.

Anyone use the Sennheiser HD25SP Mk2?

I was looking online for the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II as mentioned previously and noticing the prices around the £145 mark. Then I happened across this:

Absolute Music Solutions: Sennheiser HD25SP Mk2 headphones

Almost half the price for almost the same thing. The only difference, they say, is; "They are a lower-cost alternative to the HD 25, featuring a simpler headband and a slightly different capsule design."

Worth going for, or should I stick with the HD 25-1 (non-SP version)?

HD-280 Pro user here. I've never had any issues with comfort on them, I have a rather large noggin too, and the response is pretty flat as it should be. I've not gotten a chance to try out many others but I do like them better than most Sony's I've tried, and a set of AKG's which I unfortunately can't remember the model. Isolation is pretty decent especially at higher volumes. Haven't tried them when shooting a band yet, but they work like a champ on plane rides.

Seeing as how some people seem to be picky about what they put on their head, I'd say check local stores as much as possible or talk to local pros that may let you try their cans out. It seems like such a personal preference type thing.

I have the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. Awesome headphones. Highly recommended +

When I first switched from the Beyer DT100's to HD 25's I was not comfortable with the new Sennheiser cans. They where larger than life in the low end and sounded boomy to me. I had to put the beyer's back on as a usable reference. However I got used to them now.
My point is that it takes a little time to judge and get to know a set of cans. You should be wary of first impressions.

Incidently I wore a pair unplugged for the Chelsea v Liverpool champions league football match last season to save my poor head. It was louder without the cans on even when they where monitoring audio...!

The HD 25-1 is much better than the SP - and they last, my own HD 25-1 are 20 years old this year.

And that's a good price as they retail for £199 +VAT in the UK.

The new HD 380 Pro (at about the same price) are better in my opinion (but not as good as the HD 25-1).

Ok, so I'm officially confused.

I'm interested in the Sennheiser HD 25 Mk II headphones, but I'm seeing two distinctly different types being sold as exactly the same thing and in some cases,for roughly the same price. Which is the SP version and which is the non-SP (the real deal).

SENNHEISER HD-25-1 MK2 PROFESSIONAL DJ HEADPHONES on eBay (end time 02-Nov-09 16:37:11 GMT)

SENNHEISER HD 25 1 MKII HEADPHONES on eBay (end time 02-Nov-09 10:42:45 GMT)

Both links you posted link to the HD 25-1 II - neither is the SP version.

It's just that the second one has the split headband closed up.

The SP looks like THIS - though, personally, I would go for the HD 25-1 II and bot the SP version.

Ditto. I've been using the same pair for a couple of years now and an very happy with them.

All this reminds me that I must get my mono Beyer DT 48s that I bought for my Nagra rewired for Stereo. Unfortunately I suspect a mini jack will look less than impressive compared to all that machined aluminium.

Sensaphonics ProPhonic 2X-S. They're a softer silicone mold than the Ultimate Ears, and sound very, very good. They are also much smaller than a set of 7506s!

Thought I would report back on this thread as I first came to it when deciding what cans to buy. Sound reproduction in my film productions is really important to me (isn't it to everyone?!) plus my sensitive ears hate the cheap and tacky, so was really trying hard to make the best decision here.

After much research online, my choices boiled down to two. Sony MDR-7506 and Sennheiser HD 25-1 II. They are two, well-respected, industry standard phones. To be honest, I couldn't choose between them and since I needed two pairs (one for me, one for my sound guy on the FM), I ended up buying both at the same time.

I've spent hours/days on different projects and purposely intermixing the two headsets. They each produce a very different sound.

Jimmy Tuffrey a few posts up from this one reported that he bought the 25-1s and to him they sounded 'boomy' ... He is right, they definitely reproduce a more basser sound than the Sonys. They are also unquestionably louder than the Sonys. Not that the Sonys reproduce a more 'tinny' sound. On the contrary, the 7506 is very clear and sharp, perhaps slightly sharper than the 25-1 II.

For comfort, I found the 7506 more comfortable than the 25-1 II. The Sony's fit more snugly around the ear and have a more cushiony feel to them. Having said that, the 25-1 II comes with additional, swappable ear cushions (haven't tried them yet). The 25-1 IIs feel more secure on the head though. The headbrace on the 25-1 II splits apart and it does make a difference. The Sonys have not slipped off yet though!

The Sonys are also more compact. They fold away which is nice, the 25-1 IIs don't. Both brands come with nice pouches to store them in.

However, on balance, and having listened for some hours with both sets, the Sennheiser 25-1 IIs, in my humble opinion, produce a superior sound to the Sony MDR-7506. And since it's the sound reproduction that matters the most, the 25-1 IIs are my headphone of choice at the moment.

Let me know if you'd like to me to run any tests between the two brands. Not sure how I could test though, since sound quality/clarity is often a subjective opinion.

Just my 2 cents.

My own HD 25-1 are 20 yeras old now and still going strong.

All I have done is to replace the earpads over the yeras - about 4 times I think.

The velour earpad option (which I now use), which are now delivered as a standard option, I find more comfortable than the standard leatherette ones.