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Which Headphones to set up a processor ?

G

gtrmediasmix

Hello everybody,

Which headphones are for you the best ones to set up a broadcast processor ?
A few years ago, I saw pictures of Bob Orban using an AKG K-501...

Thanks, Mike
 
My headphones of choice are the AKG 240M. Although this all really depends on what equipment you are monitoring through. If you are using a consumer receiver it will color the sound. So try to use a quality product with as few bells and whistles as possible. I personally find that the headphone volume from most processors is not quite loud enough especially if you are close to the transmitter.
 
RF Man said:
My headphones of choice are the AKG 240M. Although this all really depends on what equipment you are monitoring through. If you are using a consumer receiver it will color the sound. So try to use a quality product with as few bells and whistles as possible. I personally find that the headphone volume from most processors is not quite loud enough especially if you are close to the transmitter.
Click to expand...

The 240's have been redesigned and are now 600 ohms instead of 75.

Personally though, I'd avoid using headphones for this task. I would instead suggest using hi-fi studio speakers for monitoring the adjustments, since the changes you make are easier to detect. It's also much less fatiguing on your ears.

R
 
my recommendation...bring an inverter into your car....use a clock radio and listen on a GOOD car stereo.

Adjust your processing using a Wi-Fi enabled laptop while logged into the unit.

I've found it's the best way to get there, and quick. I don't use phones, just lots of radios...

some turned up loud, some turned down really low.
 
Or set up an internet connection to your processor, and tweak it from the studio. I know the Orban units will allow you to control them remotely via a computer. Not sure about the others though.

R
 
all good suggestions, but a pair of headphones plugged into the processor will allow you to get a good 'feel' for what each adjustment does...then you can listen on the monitor of your choice and know what effect each adjustment should have in the finished product
 
Gary Glaenzer said:
all good suggestions, but a pair of headphones plugged into the processor will allow you to get a good 'feel' for what each adjustment does...then you can listen on the monitor of your choice and know what effect each adjustment should have in the finished product
Click to expand...

The problem is, a lot of engineers who use the headphone approach, are going to experience colorations in the sound. There's a tendency for increases in fatigue, and it won't be long before you're making extreme tweaks that you are missing. Studio monitors gives you more detail, and lets you better hear what your tweaks are changing.

Then there's the issue of hearing loss from excessive headphone levels that you are dealing with while trying to adjust a processor via headphones.

R
 
The problem is, a lot of engineers who use the headphone approach, are going to experience colorations in the sound. There's a tendency for increases in fatigue, and it won't be long before you're making extreme tweaks that you are missing. Studio monitors gives you more detail, and lets you better hear what your tweaks are changing.

Then there's the issue of hearing loss from excessive headphone levels that you are dealing with while trying to adjust a processor via headphones.

R
Click to expand...


For overall listening I agree with using speakers/monitors and listening to an off air feed. The STL and the transmitter will also determine what your final product sounds like. I also spend time listening in my car where I spend half my life.
 
I use AKG 240 for headphone listetning as well, but I cannot emphasize enough the need to listen on various audio systems (monitor speakers, hi-fi speakers, in car audio systems, etc) to make sure you're not compensating for particular speakers/headphones. Headphones are good for adjusting distortion, etc as they give more detail, however for overall balance I prefer speakers - small speakers!

Large speakers tolerate much more mistakes and will make lots of things sound OK which are not, I find smaller speakers much more revealing....


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
Goran Tomas said:
Large speakers tolerate much more mistakes and will make lots of things sound OK which are not, I find smaller speakers much more revealing....
Click to expand...

Yeah, those little bitty PC speakers work great for that. ;)

I do agree with checking your overall sound on as many radios as you can, from portable to hi-fi. I've got a stereo clock radio at home, and when I tune in to KEOM (the station I work for) I can detect this weird swooshing type sound. Not sure what that's all about ???

R
 
Goran Tomas said:
I use AKG 240 for headphone listetning as well, but I cannot emphasize enough the need to listen on various audio systems (monitor speakers, hi-fi speakers, in car audio systems, etc) to make sure you're not compensating for particular speakers/headphones. Headphones are good for adjusting distortion, etc as they give more detail, however for overall balance I prefer speakers - small speakers!

Large speakers tolerate much more mistakes and will make lots of things sound OK which are not, I find smaller speakers much more revealing....


Regards,
Goran Tomas
Click to expand...

Headphones should be used for distortion and at lower levels. Playing headphones at high volumes does nobody any good, since the distortion is masked and you're killing your hearing.
 
Goran Tomas said:
however for overall balance I prefer speakers - small speakers! Large speakers tolerate much more mistakes and will make lots of things sound OK which are not, I find smaller speakers much more revealing....
Click to expand...

In the 8100A/XT2 days, I would have agreed. But in the Omnia 6/Optimod 8400 days, there is what I call an "extra octave" of very deep low end that didn't exist in previous processors. The small speakers show no trace of that, whereas some receivers in rusty old cars can almost lose a fender from that low end. I'm still searching for a set of cans that will reproduce that sound when plugged into my portable Inovonics 530 modulation monitor and save me from having to make an adjustment & run out to the car to hear whats really happening below 100hz.
 
wgliradio said:
Headphones should be used for distortion and at lower levels. Playing headphones at high volumes does nobody any good, since the distortion is masked and you're killing your hearing.
Click to expand...

I agree. I never listen with headphones loud, in part because AKGs 240 with 600 Ohms are hard to drive loud with most headphone outputs, so I kind-of take low levels in headphones for granted ;)


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
BobOnTheJob said:
I'm still searching for a set of cans that will reproduce that sound when plugged into my portable Inovonics 530 modulation monitor and save me from having to make an adjustment & run out to the car to hear whats really happening below 100hz.
Click to expand...

Try Audio Technica ATH-M40fs. They have lots of very deep bass. In fact, one time I was skimming the LOTR movie and listening on these headphones. There's a scene in mines of Moria when the creature called Balroq arrives (kind-of like Jurrasic park scene, when they feel and see on the water heavy thumps of the dinosaur arriving). I really felt the size of this creature and heard more bass on these headphones, than with subwoofers in the cinema when I watched the movie originally. These headphones have bass...


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
Thanks for the tip on the Audio Technica phones. I have a pair on the way. When using the Koss Pro4AA's, there's not much bass in the lowest ocatves...and that's a critical region in a day when it's actually possible to have too much bass on the air. I look forward to giving these a try.
 
Goran Tomas said:
I really felt the size of this creature and heard more bass on these headphones, than with subwoofers in the cinema when I watched the movie originally. These headphones have bass...
Click to expand...

I understand Carole King was using that pair of headphones, when she sang "I Feel The Earth Move". ;D

R
 
Try Audio Technica ATH-M40fs. They have lots of very deep bass. In fact, one time I was skimming the LOTR movie and listening on these headphones. There's a scene in mines of Moria when the creature called Balroq arrives (kind-of like Jurrasic park scene, when they feel and see on the water heavy thumps of the dinosaur arriving). I really felt the size of this creature and heard more bass on these headphones, than with subwoofers in the cinema when I watched the movie originally. These headphones have bass...


Regards,
Goran Tomas

I got the Audio Technicas & they are everything you said they were. Many thanks for a good recommendation.

Bob
 
Goran Tomas said:
BobOnTheJob said:
I got the Audio Technicas & they are everything you said they were. Many thanks for a good recommendation.

Bob
Click to expand...

I'm glad you like them :)


Regards,
Goran Tomas
Click to expand...

I'm going to put this item on my wish list, for my home studio. If I like how they sound, I'll have to get a second pair for at work. :)

R
 
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