We are accustomed to the fact that if something is professional, it means it is definitely better than others of the same kind. But is this always the case? Quite often in descriptions of headphones you can come across such a phrase as monitor headphones. At the same time, the model names may contain the words “Pro” or “Professional”, which are perceived by many as a sign of the quality of these headphones. Is this really so and what does the inscription mean? professional or monitor headphones on the box?
Too lazy to read? Watch my video:
What are monitors?
Before talking about monitor headphones, it’s worth saying a few words about what monitors are.
Monitors are speakers that are installed in front of musicians and aimed at them. They are used so that musicians can hear themselves when performing. These are the same speakers in front of the stage that rock musicians love to stand on for greater respectability.
Innovative solutions
What does “monitor headphones” mean? These are constantly improved and very expensive devices for sound reproduction. Improved sound quality in modern models is achieved using high-tech methods. Standing waves are minimized - absorbed by a special diaphragm material. The damping system for closed-back monitor headphones was developed through expensive scientific research and its design is kept in the strictest confidence. The dimensions and shape of all structural elements of the device are optimized using computer modeling. Manufacturers are struggling with harmonic and intermodulation distortion in headphones. There is also a relentless war to reduce the weight of models.
Who are monitor headphones intended for?
The concept of monitor headphones comes from “monitor” or monitoring, i.e. control. In the case of headphones, monitoring refers to sound control during recording, processing, and mixing.
Those. These headphones are intended for sound engineers, sound engineers and other professions whose activities are inextricably linked with recording and processing music and sound. This is evidenced by the inscription “professional headphones”.
Well, because Since such headphones are most often used in studios, they have another name - studio headphones.
Speakers used in studios are called studio monitors. They are used for the same tasks as monitor headphones.
But for headphones to be proudly called professional, just the inscription on the box is not enough. They must have certain qualities that distinguish them from headphones for music or gaming headphones .
Audio-Technica ATH-M: for every occasion and budget
There are 2 ways to find the ideal: seek advice and try it yourself. If we turn to public opinion, it turns out that in the amateur and professional environment the headphones of the Japanese company Audio-Technica are very popular, part of the ATH-M line of 4 models: the initial ATH-M20x, the basic ATH-M30x, the semi-professional ATH-M40x and the legendary flagship ATH-M50x.
A legend is not born, it is made. The first version of these headphones without the letter x was released back in 2007 and instantly won the recognition of music lovers who listen to and write music. In the throes of choice, I listened to the entire M-line and a significant part of competitors recommended by specialized communities in the price range from 70 to 250 dollars.
I chose a fresh, modernized flagship called ATH-M50x . And that's why.
The ATH-M line stands out sharply against the background of not only amateur, but also professional solutions. The Japanese came up with a very cool move: using cheap, simple and comfortable headphones with a flat amplitude-frequency response as a base, they improved the already cool “ears” with each new product.
The “Twentieth” base model would be an excellent everyday companion for a smartphone or computer. The ATH-M30 has a slightly more comfortable headband and is noticeably more massive. Finding itself in the middle of the lineup, the ATH-M40 received a more bulky and reliable design, an expanded scope of delivery, and a detachable cable.
The basic smooth sound improves with each number without fundamentally changing. The entire ATH-M series has a relaxed, smooth and very pleasant sound. When money is tight, you can take the cheapest ones - and you won’t go wrong.
Then why multiple options? Audio-Technica simply offered to pay for exactly what you need. The higher the number and price, the more cool features like a detachable cable; the deeper and more accurate the sound, the more correct it is for professional listening.
Accordingly, ATH-M50x is the most advanced. And the most popular, for 11 years in a row.
Linear frequency response
First of all, monitor headphones must have a linear frequency response. This is a very important fact when processing audio. Headphones should not “color” the sound.
Frequency response of Beyerdynamic DT880 headphones (black line) (taken from the site www.ferra.ru) Not the best frequency response for monitor headphones. A drop below 100 Hz, two humps at high...
Let's imagine that during recording we used headphones with slightly lowered low frequencies. As a result, the sound engineer will add them (bass) when processing the recording.
But not all listeners use exactly the same headphones. As a result, those in whose headphones the low frequencies are already elevated will have an excess of bass and will probably even buzz.
In general, normal audio equipment manufacturers always try to ensure that their audio devices have a linear frequency response. However, in the case of headphones, their sound is often colored by raising the low and high frequencies. This is done to please the average user.
Also, most phones change the sound quite a lot with various enhancements. As a familiar example of bright sound, we can cite headphones from the Apple company.
For this reason, if you use monitor headphones to listen to music, many will find it more boring, insipid and, as is often said, “sterile.” You shouldn't expect punchy bass or highs here. There will be exactly as many of them as the sound engineer planned.
By ear it will even seem more likely that the middle is highlighted. Because It is the most audible part of the human hearing range. And with many monitor headphones (for example, the Sennheiser HD380 Pro), the mid frequencies are often specially raised to make it easier to work with vocals, so vocals, guitar and many acoustic instruments will be slightly highlighted. Which I personally really like.
Frequency response of Sennheiser HD 380 Pro (green line) (taken from personalaudio.ru) These headphones are considered one of the reference headphones among monitor headphones. The hump of 500-2000Hz is convenient for working with vocals, and the full frequency range is 8Hz-27kHz, the frequency response is almost linear.
Sensitivity, resistance, sound source
The studios use stationary equipment that is powered from the network and has sufficient power reserves. Therefore, the developers of monitor headphones are not faced with the task of ensuring high sensitivity.
To fully “drive” monitor headphones, as a rule, you need a high-quality amplifier that can provide sufficient power. This is especially true for low frequencies. In any case, a regular phone will not be able to drive monitor headphones such as the Beyerdynamic dt 770 Pro or Sennheiser HD 380 Pro.
Beyerdynamic dt 770 Pro (~$180) are full-size closed studio headphones.
The headphones shown above have an impedance of 250 ohms, which is almost ten times the standard impedance of 32 ohms. And this is a common occurrence with professional headphones. At a higher impedance you can get better sound. In addition, this is a lower current load for the amplifier.
Some manufacturers have two or even three versions of the same headphone model, differing only in impedance. The headphones shown above from Beyerdynamic come in 3 versions, with an impedance of 32, 80 and 250 ohms.
The higher the resistance of the headphones, the more voltage the headphone amplifier must be able to produce in order to drive them. Most portable devices are powered by batteries with a voltage of 3.6 Volts, and they cannot provide voltage higher than the supply voltage.
For example, to drive TDS-5 isodynamic headphones, whose resistance is about 90 Ohms, a voltage above 5-6 volts peak-to-peak is required. Therefore, for a portable device you should definitely look towards lower impedance headphones.
Open type of devices for mastering and mixing
Let's look at products that are focused on mixing and mastering sounds.
Sennheiser HD 650
Sennheiser's wired full-size open ear headphones fit comfortably on top of your ears and do not put pressure on them. The device clearly reproduces the upper tones of musical works, but for low sound you need to connect an amplifier.
Dynamic headphones for mixing music operate in the range of reproduced frequencies from 10 to 41000 Hz, their impedance is 100 Ohms. They have a sensitivity of up to 103 dB and a maximum power of up to 500 mW.
For connections there are the necessary connectors, removable cables and cords.
The voice coil was made of aluminum, and the ear pads were covered with soft silk. The back surface of the cups is covered with copper metal mesh.
Country of origin: Ireland.
Cost - 16,200 rubles.
Sennheiser HD 650
Advantages:
- very detailed, clear sound;
- a real professional tool;
- excellent frequency range;
- high-quality assembly;
- very durable;
- elegant, original look;
- comfortable to wear;
- durable, replaceable cable;
- affordable price.
Flaws:
- poor equipment;
- The cable fastening system fails over time.
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
Dynamic, open devices with a frequency range of 5 - 35000 Hz, with an impedance of 250 Ohms, sensitivity - 96 decibels, maximum power of 100 W. The open design significantly expands the sound threshold of music, promoting surround and airy sound. Demonstrates fairly accurate tonal reproduction with bright high-frequency sound, detailed, dense mid-range sound and elastic, fast bass.
For professionals, this type of stereo phone is one of the best for working in studios, and for amateurs – for listening to music at home.
Country of origin: Germany.
Cost: 13,990 rubles.
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
Advantages:
- clear, light sound;
- brightness of high and mid tones;
- wide stage, spacious bass;
- excellent assembly;
- velor ear pads;
- tight fit;
- budget price.
Flaws:
- poor sound isolation;
- sibilants skip;
- not universal;
- sometimes difficult to use for mixing.
Ultrasone PRO 2900i
Dynamic wired open devices with 40 mm drivers, impedance - 40 Ohms, frequency range - from 6 to 42000 Hz. The sound pressure is 96 decibels. The technical performance of the product is impeccable; high technologies are used related to:
- Mylar speakers coated with titanium;
- neodymium magnets;
- using ULE technology with protective plates made of special metal.
Velor tips are installed on the ear pads, and the structure itself can be folded before transportation and in this form takes up very little space.
The product is highly recommended in professional circles; it works well with different types of music.
Country of origin: Germany.
Cost - 14990 rubles.
Ultrasone PRO 2900i
Advantages:
- natural sound;
- clear, distortion-free sound;
- reliable, practical design;
- high-quality assembly;
- comfortable fit;
- ease of transportation;
- inexpensive.
Flaws:
- fixed cable;
- a strong amplifier is required;
- You need warming up, good sources of sound and recordings.
Studio headphone designs.
As a rule, monitor headphones are made full-size, that is, they completely cover the auricle. You can easily sit in these headphones for several hours without experiencing any discomfort at all. Read more about the types of headphones in this article .
Sennheiser HD 380 Pro (~$150) are full-size headphones that cover the entire ear.
But the concept of monitor does not oblige headphones to be full-size. Yamaha RH-5MA on-ear headphones are also monitor headphones. This is even evidenced by the proud inscription on the box and the earcups of the headphones themselves. Initially, these headphones were developed by the company for use with a synthesizer.
Yamaha RH-5MA(~$50) - on-ear monitor headphones with a semi-open design
At the same time, professional headphones can have both a closed and open design. If headphones are used by a singer when recording vocals, then they should definitely have a closed design. Otherwise, the microphone will pick up their sound.
But sound engineers in the studio may prefer an open design, because it better conveys the depth and width of the scene. There are also intermediate models, for example the Yamaha shown above.
Read more about this in the article: Open headphones and closed headphones, which ones are better and for what purpose
IEM - headphones
But even this is not all. Nowadays IEM headphones are gaining more and more popularity. This abbreviation stands for In-Ear-Monitors, which can literally be translated as in-ear monitors.
These are plugs that are not inferior in sound quality to full-size ones and are created for professional purposes. This is an interesting type of headphones in its own right, which will be discussed separately.
AKG K240S
Comfortable studio over-ear semi-open headphones with increased impedance and precise, detailed sound.
AKG K240S ($75) are inexpensive on-ear, semi-open monitor headphones. The sound is quite smooth, thanks to the semi-open design, there is a wide stage.
By the way, fans of inexpensive models will be interested in the rating of the best budget headphones.
Main characteristics
- Device type: wired headphones
- Type: full size
- Technology: dynamic
- Frequency range: 15 – 25000 Hz
- Impedance: 55 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 101 dB
- Maximum power: 200 mW
- Harmonic distortion: 0.3%
- Weight: 240 g
- Type of acoustic design: semi-open
- Connector: mini jack 3.5 mm
- Gold-plated connectors: yes
- Cable length: 3m
Equipment
- Headphones
- Cable 3 m
- Adapter 6.3 mm
- Case
- Documentation
Video review
- Sound quality. The sound is monitor and that says it all.
- Detachable cable.
- Quality materials and reliability.
- Convenient wire. It is soft and durable at the same time./li>
- Convenience. They sit comfortably on the head.
- Comfort. Your ears may sweat. Ventilation is implemented at a low level.
Price
As a rule, prices for studio headphones are quite steep. This is understandable; manufacturers often have to spend a lot of time on research and resort to complex, expensive technical solutions to achieve the desired characteristics.
An example of such a solution would be spraying platinum onto the inner surface of the dome (central part) of the speaker cone to give it greater elasticity and strength.
Another example is the mentioned Sennheiser HD 380 Pro, which have a rather complex system of sound guides, meticulously calculated by German engineers, thanks to which such a linear frequency response is obtained. Their insides can be seen in the article: Disassembly and light damping of the Sennheiser HD 380 Pro
Of course, the cost of these headphones is justified. Although not always the complication and rise in cost of technology leads to a significant increase in sound. And the brand and marketing expenses have a strong influence on the price tag.
Here we can offer an alternative - the little-known Chinese company Superlux, whose popularity is growing every day. The company specializes in producing high-quality audio equipment.
Engineers take studio headphones from world brands as a basis, and with a minimum of changes, create their own models that are as close in characteristics as possible to the originals. The price tag is reduced by 3-5 times. Excellent budget monitor headphones HD668b .
Rating
When deciding to purchase a certain model of monitor accessory, you should pay attention to the list of top “ears” that belong to the middle price category, according to “professional” music lovers and studio musicians.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
pros
- balanced sound
- design
- high-quality sound insulation
- reliable build quality
Minuses
- heavy wire
- rigid headband design
From 6990 ₽
Relatively cheap in their segment monitor headphones for home use, providing high-quality sound transmission and maximum isolation from the outside world.
Sony MDR-7506
pros
- accurate frequency transmission
- maximum sound insulation
- ergonomic design
Minuses
- build quality
From 6800 ₽
The ideal combination of simplicity of design with a powerful technical component that can satisfy the most demanding connoisseur of monitor-type accessories.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
pros
- balanced frequency transmission
- perfect sound insulation
- “rich” equipment
Minuses
- limited ability to adjust headband size
- plastic construction, which causes rapid wear of the accessory
- low ergonomics
From 8880 ₽
Perfect for music lovers or novice musicians, due to their combination of convenience for “home” use and a wide frequency sound panorama.
Bose Quiet Comfort 35
pros
- build quality
- comfort during prolonged use
- ability to disable active noise cancellation function
- long battery life
- Wireless option, easy to activate
Minuses
- mediocre sound transmission for a product in this price category
- no equalizer
From 22990 ₽
Monitor headphones, close in quality to professional studio equipment, offered by suppliers at a relatively reasonable cost in comparison with competitive models on the electronic accessories market.
