[Ayer_Lotus]

Dear Guys,

I'm now using KRK RP5(g2).
And thinking to get new better monitors like Adam A7x, Dynaudio BM5a..etc. But they are pricey. So should I save the money or buy a decent headphone instead of monitor?

So, KRK RP5 + decent Headphone (V.S) Better Monitor without headphone?
Which way you recommend?

This post has been edited by Ayer_Lotus: 07 January 2012 - 05:40 AM

[Alex venisse]

Depends how long your planing to save money for the monitors.

Also depends of the sound quality of your room

[00264167]

i think it will come down to your personal preference in the end, i love headphones but they also colour the sound more than my monitors and give ear fatigue/damage if using for an hour or more

[tehlord]

Alex venisse, on 07 January 2012 - 05:33 AM, said:

Depends how long your planing to save money for the monitors.

Also depends of the sound quality of your room

This pretty much sums it up for the most part.

[Ayer_Lotus]

Thanks. My room is not acoustically treated and just in my bedroom. And current budget is around $700. So I think, I can get a good headphone now but I'm not sure to get a good monitor with my budget. What I think is that if I have a headphone, I can second check my mixing.

(btw, I'm living with my wife in my room and also room is not sound-proof and when I listen loudly, ppl from other rooms hear. So headphone is better option?)

[Ayer_Lotus]

00264167, on 07 January 2012 - 02:02 PM, said:

i think it will come down to your personal preference in the end, i love headphones but they also colour the sound more than my monitors and give ear fatigue/damage if using for an hour or more

Thanks. I guess I don't use headphone for long time and just wanna do second check my mixing

[MaDI]

Ayer_Lotus, on 07 January 2012 - 04:37 AM, said:

Dear Guys,

I'm now using KRK RP5(g2).
And thinking to get new better monitors like Adam A7x, Dynaudio BM5a..etc. But they are pricey. So should I save the money or buy a decent headphone instead of monitor?

So, KRK RP5 + decent Headphone (V.S) Better Monitor without headphone?
Which way you recommend?

I'd say get some headphones. I have the same RP5 G2's, and they are more than enough to get good mixes. I was in the same place as you some days ago, and decided to order the AKG's K702. Will come back with opinions.

[iionas_]

I swear by the Shure s840's; I also have monitors but I use the headphones just as much as monitors!

[MaDI]

iionas_, on 08 January 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

I swear by the Shure s840's; I also have monitors but I use the headphones just as much as monitors!

Yeah, it's nice to have some closed headphones, but not as main headphones. For mixing you need open/semi-open.

[iionas_]

MaDI, on 08 January 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

Yeah, it's nice to have some closed headphones, but not as main headphones. For mixing you need open/semi-open.

Been mixing with closed and never had an issue; Im the opposite; I dont like to hear anything coming in.

Each to their own man if it works for me it may not work for you!

[PositiveAddiction]

I have a decent set of monitors, but they might as well be iPod speakers in my room. Hardwood floors, no curtains, no rugs (not yet). It's awful! I bought a pair of AKG Q701s in black a while ago on sale (gotta love price matching!!). As far as I'm concerned, they're just a repackaged version of the highly rated K701 series with a fancy endorsement. They are open and you can hear a pin drop while wearing them, but they are excellent for mixing after you break them in (the bass opened up after a few weeks) and once you get used to them. Having said that, the K271s come highly recommended, but I never tried them.

If I were you I would get a good pair of cans and mix on them at LOW levels. As is the case with cans and monitors ... learn them! Reference commercial CDs and try to match your mixes to sound like them.

With the surplus, take the lady out and add some more RAM to the computer. Save the rest for monitors when you get a better room

[RadioApe]

I got a pair of A7's (Not the A7X) For around $800 a year ago. Absolutely love them. My room is untreated, and square 10x10. The highs are crystal clear and the stereo field is amazing. The bass is a bit thin, so I boosted the monitor low end EQ and it's perfect for me now, I even turn offed my sub unless referencing. I'd get a pair of cans to A/B the mix.

[Ayer_Lotus]

Thanks guys! Now I decided to buy a headphone

Btw, I don't record vocal and don't play live, so isolated headphone is not essential. But for the open headphone, I'm afraid that my wife can still hear while I mix and I may also hear environmental sounds?

[Jason Is Dizzy]

get headphones... most all rooms are screwed up acustically so get some nice DT770s or 880s and love your mixes =D

[dankrueger]

Ayer_Lotus, on 11 January 2012 - 06:17 AM, said:

Thanks guys! Now I decided to buy a headphone

Btw, I don't record vocal and don't play live, so isolated headphone is not essential. But for the open headphone, I'm afraid that my wife can still hear while I mix and I may also hear environmental sounds?

I have AKG 701's and they sound fantastic, but I used to live in an open 1 bedroom apartment with my wife, so even using (open) headphones I couldn't turn it up too loud. Good thing is I could hear if she needed anything. I think they were the best way to get started, and I still choose to listen on them sometimes, but after 2 years I have a treated room with Dynaudios now.

[MaDI]

Jason Is Dizzy, on 11 January 2012 - 06:24 AM, said:

get headphones... most all rooms are screwed up acustically so get some nice DT770s or 880s and love your mixes =D

Hmm, dunno what to say, Beyerdynamics boost the lows unnaturally.

It's necessary that you listen before you buy, tastes in sound are different. But if you cannot listen, just go for the K702.

K702 compared to others

This post has been edited by MaDI: 11 January 2012 - 09:11 AM

[Sabri]

guys is it true AKG 701 = AKG 702 (Soundquality) if yes i will go with AKG 701
well my other question is
i use a laptop with a onboard soundcard i will plug AKG 701 with onboardsoundcard (directly to notebook)
but if i plug with an external soundcard (like Universial Audio,m audio,emu,alesis) will my AKG sound quality will change ? or just for saving cpu , more fast process,recording instrument ? thanks you guys

[tytan]

Sabri, on 11 January 2012 - 10:15 AM, said:

guys is it true AKG 701 = AKG 702 (Soundquality) if yes i will go with AKG 701

I think K701 are even a bit better for producing, but these headphones unfortunately only works well with decent amp.
I propose to ATH m50

[MaDI]

Sabri, on 11 January 2012 - 10:15 AM, said:

guys is it true AKG 701 = AKG 702 (Soundquality) if yes i will go with AKG 701
well my other question is
i use a laptop with a onboard soundcard i will plug AKG 701 with onboardsoundcard (directly to notebook)
but if i plug with an external soundcard (like Universial Audio,m audio,emu,alesis) will my AKG sound quality will change ? or just for saving cpu , more fast process,recording instrument ? thanks you guys

K702 = K701, same drivers, same sound. The only difference is that K702 has detachable cable.

Needs at least decent amplifying so connecting to your notebook directly is not a good idea.
A decent external soundcard has a decent amp for the headphone output, so yes, you will hear differences.

tytan, on 11 January 2012 - 11:09 AM, said:

I think K701 are even a bit better for producing, but these headphones unfortunately only works well with decent amp.
I propose to ATH m50

Another closed headphone reccomendation for mixing/mastering...

Listened to the M50, they are seriously overrated! Except for the low and low-mids those headphones are pretty ordinary TBH.

This post has been edited by MaDI: 11 January 2012 - 03:38 PM

[Sabri]

MaDI, on 11 January 2012 - 03:37 PM, said:

K702 = K701, same drivers, same sound. The only difference is that K702 has detachable cable.

Needs at least decent amplifying so connecting to your notebook directly is not a good idea.
A decent external soundcard has a decent amp for the headphone output, so yes, you will hear differences.



Another closed headphone reccomendation for mixing/mastering...

Listened to the M50, they are seriously overrated! Except for the low and low-mids those headphones are pretty ordinary TBH.

i checked the K701 and the ATH m50 for ath m50 they say its good for trance dance because of the bass section but K701 s more good with the amp so i will try K701 because i want produce other genre too (not just edm) by the way for K701 which amp is more usefull ? i see an FiiO E7 USB DAC is this a good choice for it ? if you know more option can you help me ? because i dont know what s the best amp for
headphones big thanks guys or who tryed help me

This post has been edited by Sabri: 11 January 2012 - 03:53 PM

[MaDI]

Sabri, on 11 January 2012 - 03:51 PM, said:

i checked the K701 and the ATH m50 K701 s more good with the amp so i will try K701 because i want produce other genre too (not just edm) by the way for K701 which amp is more usefull ? i see an FiiO E7 USB DAC is this a good choice for it ? if you know more option can you help me ? because i dont know what s the best amp for
headphones big thanks guys or who tryed help me

Nice amps that show you what the K7xx series can really do start from about 200 dollars, and from all i read, this below is one of the best buys.

http://www.amazon.co...5957156&sr=8-38

But i'd say wait for them to arrive and see how they sound on what you have. After the headphones got their burn-in (200-300 hours), go listen them on some different amps/interfaces at some local store.

[tytan]

MaDI, on 11 January 2012 - 03:56 PM, said:

Nice amps that show you what the K7xx series can really do start from about 200 dollars, and from all i read, this below is one of the best buys.

This is why a recommend ATH m50s. They dont need amp and sound great. Of course k701/2 are a bit better but you need pay more.
So if you have money just get k701/2 + decent amp + and be happy person.

[Arksun]

Bit off topic I know, but I've been lucky enough to be given a demo pair of sE Munro Eggs to test out. I'll post up a review on here after a few days if anyones interested in new monitors around that price range.

[MaDI]

Arksun, on 11 January 2012 - 05:18 PM, said:

Bit off topic I know, but I've been lucky enough to be given a demo pair of sE Munro Eggs to test out. I'll post up a review on here after a few days if anyones interested in new monitors around that price range.

Please do so, really curious about those crazy ones.

[Arksun]

MaDI, on 11 January 2012 - 05:48 PM, said:

Please do so, really curious about those crazy ones.

They look seriously funky yes

Next to my PSI:
http://www.musicprog...ges/A21M-sE.jpg
Compared to my older Dynaudios:
http://www.musicprog...BM6Amk1-Egg.jpg

[MaDI]

Arksun, on 11 January 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

They look seriously funky yes

Next to my PSI:
http://www.musicprog...ges/A21M-sE.jpg
Compared to my older Dynaudios:
http://www.musicprog...BM6Amk1-Egg.jpg

How about the sound?

[Jason Is Dizzy]

Arksun, on 11 January 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

They look seriously funky yes

Next to my PSI:
http://www.musicprog...ges/A21M-sE.jpg
Compared to my older Dynaudios:
http://www.musicprog...BM6Amk1-Egg.jpg

Nice how do you like the SEs?

[tehlord]

Arksun, on 11 January 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

They look seriously funky yes

Next to my PSI:
http://www.musicprog...ges/A21M-sE.jpg
Compared to my older Dynaudios:
http://www.musicprog...BM6Amk1-Egg.jpg

Even more off topic, is that a home made bass trap in the pretty cotton pillowcase in the first pic?

I needs to make me some of those soon.

[Sabri]

guys my head realy °ed because some one say me buy a soundcard no need amp or other part for AKG 701
so my last question about AKG701 what i must buy %100 soundquality an AMP ? or a SOUNDCARD ? or both ?? sorry for ° the scene lol have a nice day

(AKG701 + AMP) or (AKG701 +external soundcard) or (AKG701 +ext soundcard+amp) which one ?

This post has been edited by Sabri: 11 January 2012 - 08:20 PM

[DWilson]

Sabri, on 11 January 2012 - 08:15 PM, said:

guys my head realy °ed because some one say me buy a soundcard no need amp or other part for AKG 701
so my last question about AKG701 what i must buy %100 soundquality an AMP ? or a SOUNDCARD ? or both ?? sorry for ° the scene lol have a nice day

(AKG701 + AMP) or (AKG701 +external soundcard) or (AKG701 +ext soundcard+amp) which one ?

For best sound quality you want an external sound card, which you will most likely get in the form of an audio interface. A good audio interface will also have a built-in headphone amplifier that will power your 701's. Loudness comes from the headphone amp, quality comes from the D/A converters.

You mention the FiiO E7 DAC in your other post, which isn't really an amplifier (its a low-end d/a converter, which all soundcards have, even the cheap ones in your ipod and laptop, but it won't drive your headphones). If you just want an inexpensive headphone amp to use straight out of your computer, get the FiiO E9. I use this and really like it for my 'difficult to drive' headphones, right out of my computer. You can get the E7 as well, and plug this into the E9 and basically use it as a soundcard (connects thru the E9 unit via USB) It's kindof a weird set-up.

If you're just trying to drive your headphones louder, get an inexpensive amp. If you're going for supreme sound quality, save up a bit and get the audio interface (Apogee, RME, etc.)