Hi everyone,

I've just started my Degree in Creative Tech - Audio Engineering & sound Production.

As far as gear I need to purchase, the most important thing, Im guessing is a good set of headphones.

I've heard that the beyerdynamic DT770 are good as far as reference headphones go and also AKG's.

Just wondering if anyone has a personal preference for specific mixing headphones??

I only just realised that my (cheap & shitty) low frequency heavy headphones are probably why all the music i make at home sounds so ridiculously shallow and thin when I listen to it on other speakers.... Duhh..

Yer learning's fun!!

Thanks ya'll

Check out the Sennheiser line.  You'll see quite a few references to them around the site. I've used the HD 280 pro cans for quite a few years with excellent results. As I'm also a drummer, these are circumaural and have really nice sound isolation as well. The debate is open on mixing with headphones, but some guys get good results. I mix in the open with studio monitors (KRK) and use the cans for reference.

Yes, the Sennheiser 380 Pro series is really good for the money. Even the 28o has a very flat response. 

I have been very happy with the Senn HD 598 phones I bought a while back.

If you are just starting your degree, you should talk with your instructors/professors before buying headphones for mixing. I would be very surprised if they want you using headphones for mixing at all...and if they do, I would be more surprised if they left it up to a new student to determine which ones.

Headphone mixing may be a neccesity for many home studio folks...but it is not the standard professional approach and certainly should not be taught to entry level audio engineering students. I assume you are going to school with the intention of becoming a pro audio engineer. With VERY few exceptions, pro audio mix engineers do not mix with headphones. I don't know of any credible audio engineering school that teaches new students to mix with cans.

Talk with your instructors. I'd be interested to hear what they have to say.

yes, I agree with Jim , could save you a lot of money and time..

 what is the context in which you are working?...for instance, would these headphones be for your own room away from the classroom or do you perceive using them in their studio?

 i would say more important than any equipment you buy, and i know this sounds idealistic, is to learn to trust your ears...calibrate internally what you hear in a bad mix and in a good mix...

 additionally even a great quality set of monitors are only as good as the room you know...if you can't factor in the room's intricacies into the equation, all sorts of uncertainties enter the mix..and they won't translate.

 if you spend time looking and listening with the setup of your college studio, ask questions maybe look at a professional studio to see how things are setup...what they are using on the walls and ceiling to minimise uncertainty in sound reflection...this'll go a long way to helping you decide whats important..

 if you are going to have your own room wherever you live what about taking all that knowledge and applying it to that room.. starting by making the room a place you like to mix in and so you know how it feels and sounds? wall treatment can be done pretty cheaply if you do it DIY..

@Jim...well, that's not entirely the case.  I know at Full Sail University in Orlanda, which is one of the top media production schools in the world, students DO mix with cans in the mix lab.  I mean its the only way 40 students can all be working on their various mixes at the same time. 

However, for FINAL mixing, they do have to book time in one of the mixing studios (can't remember how many are there off hand.).  But a lot of the prelim mixing gets done in the mix lab class room.

My brother works at Full Sail as their artists relations manager! He gave me the full tour of their studios.  Can't even believe the big sound studios!  Just amazingly awesome!  Drool, drool, drool...

Donald, I agree, Full Sail is an amazing facility. I am very familiar with it. I realize students do have to do some pre-mixing and production on headphones and I believe Full Sail even includes Sennheiser Pro cans in their "Lauch Box". And that is really my point to Razza. That he should be getting direction from his school about which headphones are appropriate for his coursework.

Jim, Yes, and that is very good advice for any student in that field!  Always ask the Prof!!!