Portal to the world of perfect sound: TOP overhead Hi-Fi headphones for recording and monitoring

Shure company has been on the world market for almost 100 years and is rightfully among the top leading manufacturers of audio equipment. It is for this reason that we could not ignore the inexpensive, but very balanced model of SRH240 headphones.

From English, Shure translates as "confidence", and this is exactly what characterizes the SRH240. Everything in them is made for the comfort of the user: a light weight of 181 g, a long 2-metre straight cable protected by silicone from tangling and twisting, a soft adjustable headband and ear pads made of leatherette, providing a tight fit.

The outer side of the headphones is made of glossy plastic, which from a practical point of view is not very profitable (scratches will be better visible), but it looks beautiful and impressive.

Note that the headphones do not fold. For a home or studio, this is hardly a matter of principle, but for cases when you want to take them with you on the road, it may be a disadvantage.

There will be no complaints about the sound, neither from fans of powerful basses, nor from their opponents. The bass is just right here: it does not clog other frequencies, does not mix everything in a heap, does not take out the eardrums with a hellish "exhaust". High clear and juicy. The middle is satisfactory. The mix is quite legible and bright, even at the maximum volume, but here it is high — 107 dB.

But listening to MP3 files in these headphones will not be comfortable. Although the impedance of 38 ohms still allows them to be used with portable sound sources, it is better to choose music as lossless for listening.

The fact is that in monitor headphones, in which, as in our case, dynamic drivers with 40 mm neodymium magnets are installed, it makes no sense at all to listen to music in compressed formats. You will not get the slightest satisfaction. Only Hi-Fi sound will help the headphones to fully open up.

The SRH240 is connected to a 3.5mm mini-Jack or 6.35mm Jack via a threaded adapter. Ear pads, when worn out, can be ordered replaceable. This option is supported by the manufacturer. In general, the model is reliable, but with a two-way cable going to the bowls, you need to be careful, it's too thin.

In summary, let's say that the Shure SRH240 is probably the best thing you can get from closed wired Hi—Fi headphones for $ 60.

The name Audio-Teschisa means the standard of high-quality sound. Everything that is produced under this brand can be bought safely, unless, of course, the price is not frightening. ATH-M40x headphones are no exception.

The ergonomics of the model have worked hard, and even a little too clever. The soft headband is adjustable, the bowls fold, turn in all planes, which you don't get used to right away. The cable is twisted, removable, long enough (3 m), plus an additional straight is included.

The plastic is matte, pleasant to the touch, the ear pads are dense, elastic, high quality leather. If the headphones are completely folded, they become twice as small and fit comfortably in a cloth case, which is also included.

The frequency range of 15 – 24000 Hz fully reveals all the possibilities of sound. The frequency response is smooth, without splashes, the bass is accented, not deaf, does not bulge and does not blur the overall mix. The high and middle are heard clearly. The model will perfectly cope with monitoring studio tracks when mixing. Those "jambs" that you won't hear from external monitors, the ATH-M40x will definitely not let you miss.

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is an ergonomic semi—professional headphone model in the price segment from 120 to 160 USD. A high-quality, though not cheap addition to studio equipment.

A wide range of high-quality music products are produced under the AKG brand. The K271 MKII headphones are a mid—low-cost model for studio monitoring.

The "ears" sit comfortably. Don't push. The headband is adjustable, the cable is removable it is not tangled, since it is twisted, and has a sufficient length (3 m) for the operations of a sound engineer within the workplace. There is also a spare direct cable included. In addition to the installed ear pads made of traditional kozjam, there are velour ear pads. To prevent the ears from sweating from prolonged use, it is better to put them right away.

Apparently, for greater reliability of the design, the manufacturer decided not to make it collapsible, and the bowls are rotatable, which added inconvenience during operation. You can put up with them, but this fact will alienate some from buying.

The headphones have a useful automatic mute function. When you take them off your head, the headband goes down and presses a special button. This is very convenient when you need to quickly switch from the sound of headphones to external monitors. The cable will not have to be removed from the socket at the same time.

Since the model is designed more for monitoring than for listening to music, its sound is so detailed that it even seems flat. The bass is clearly audible, but this is not the bass that will "pile up". The predominance of the middle frequencies of the upper range is noticeable. High smooth, without peaks.

The impedance of the headphones is 55 ohms, although they belong to the category of low-impedance ear monitors, it is better to work in them through a good sound card or amplifier. Then the stage will be as open as possible.

AKG K271 MKII are made in China, which is why their price of $ 150 with such technical characteristics does not seem high. But the rustic design and unconvincing build quality play a minus.

The German company Sennheiser has been pleasing all fans of excellent sound since 1945. "Sound in the main role" is the modern motto of this brand, and when you put on the HD 280 PRO headphones, it's as if you get right on stage.

The headphones are made very soundly, as befits a high-quality German product. The plastic is durable, pleasant to the touch. The design of the bowls is rotatable, you can turn them both vertically and horizontally, and if you want to listen with one ear, which is convenient for DJs. In addition, the headphones are very compactly folded. They are convenient to transport.

But why the cable was made non-removable is not entirely clear. It is twisted and quite thick, causes a sense of reliability, but also adds weight. Due to this, the left bowl from which the cable comes out outweighs the right one, which may cause some discomfort when using.

Ear pads are traditionally made of leatherette, there are no spare ones in the kit, so you'll have to save these. The ears in them will sweat, of course, but this is the trouble of many closed models.

Definitely, when good sound was distributed, HD 280 PRO were among the first in line. Absolutely smooth frequency response, without waves, conveys the sound as it really is. The sound stage is very detailed. For mastering, that's what you need.

The frequency range of 8 – 25000 Hz will impress an amateur, but considering that the human ear hears sound in the range of 16 – 20000 Hz, no matter how much someone would like to hear more, this is nothing more than fantasy. The impedance of 64 ohms indicates the stationary accessory of the headphones. It is better to connect them, at least, to the computer's sound card or directly to the mixer.

With all the attractiveness of the HD 280 PRO, it is difficult to say how they are better than the same Sony MDR-7506 or Audio-Technica ATH-M40x, with an almost identical level of price and characteristics. But for fans of the brand, this is not a question.

The iconic model of monitor "ears" from Sony has been the flagship in the niche for the third decade, competing for the championship with no less famous competitor Sennheiser HD 280 PRO. In fact, the models are almost identical in characteristics, with the only difference that Sony is more compact and ... more popular.

The popularity of the model plays to her, both plus and minus. There are a lot of fakes on the market, so you need to be careful and choose trusted stores to buy.

Ergonomically, the headphones deserve praise. They fit snugly, cut off all external noise, compactly fold into a branded soft case that comes with the kit.

A little upset vinyl ear pads, which are quickly erased from intensive use. But you can order new ones, as well as almost any other part of the headphones. The box even shows schematically how things change. A twisted long cable (3 m) looks reliable, which is confirmed by long-term operation, but it would be better if it were removable.

MDR-7506 are widely used in the dubbing of films and television broadcasts, where the openness of the sound stage with pronounced detail of medium and high frequencies is important. But if you need to get a "killer" bass from them, it's enough to connect to an amplifier with the possibility of equalization or a software player. Headphones really sound very comfortable for many, which is why they are so popular.

Sony MDR-7506 is an unsinkable cruiser in the fleet of monitor headphones. 25 years of successful navigation through the expanses of the music market is a worthy reason to choose this model.

The professional model DT 990 PRO from Beyerdynamic is a highly reliable and comfortable to use open—type headphones for listening to music on Hi-End equipment.

Everything in the model is aimed at maximum ergonomics. Round velour ear pads do not tyre the ears even after prolonged use. They are not hot, and they can also be washed in a typewriter, according to the manufacturer. The frame of the headband is made of a metal plate, if desired, it can be slightly bent to give the structure a more comfortable shape. The bowls do not rotate in a horizontal plane, and do not fold, but the headband is twisted, so it is more or less convenient to use headphones. The soft leatherette pad on the headband is made with rivets. It can be easily removed and also erased if desired. As for the assembly, there are no complaints, because it is German, and they know a lot about good things there.

The twisted non-removable cable comes out of the left bowl, has a length of 3 m in a stretched state and for some reason ends with a 3.5 mm mini-Jack plug. Due to the fact that the headphones are high-resistance (250 ohms) for comfortable playback, they require connection to a powerful amplifier. Fortunately, there is a threaded adapter for a 6.3 mm Jack in the kit, which allows you to do this.

As for the sound, here, as usual, everything is relative. But, in general, the overall impression is positive. The sound stage is very voluminous, each instrument is in its place and has enough space for disclosure. The low frequencies are moderate, but solid and detailed. The middle is not clamped and not failed. But the high ones are unnecessarily bright, up to the edge. It's no wonder, the frequency range in the model is set to 35000 Hz. Theoretically, a powerful amplifier could solve the problem of high-frequency bursts, but we didn't find such a thing at hand.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is a solid choice for 200 USD for a solid music pro and just a connoisseur of good sound, who did not forget to focus on the loud name of the manufacturer.