Flat response headphones

[FunkyMonkey]

I would like to buy some headphones that don't have their own character as I have tried several and they all have their own quirks that I find distracting, e.g. too much bass, forward treble, etc.

So are all studio monitor type headphones the same as each other?

 

[MajorFubar]

Really the short answer is no, we haven’t invented a transducer with a completely flat response, but you’re right that some headphones are shall we say more obviously tailored to their intended demographic than others. Even studio monitor headphones don’t all sound the same. You haven’t mentioned what your budget is, but if it’s this side of £150, for accuracy the Audio Technica ATH-M50X are IMO the benchmark, but a different pair of ears to mine could just as easily give you a different equally-valid answer.

 

[Vladimir]

The trick is even if they measure flat on their own, due to your ear canal and whole headphone fitting to your head will make freq. deviate from flat very badly. The distortion from the ear canal creates that 7-10kHz spike (distortion is percieved as increase in loudness).

 

[Al ears]

I would like to buy some headphones that don't have their own character as I have tried several and they all have their own quirks that I find distracting, e.g. too much bass, forward treble, etc.

So are all studio monitor type headphones the same as each other?

You might get more responses if you repost in the Headphones section of the forum.

 

[insider9]

The problem is that flat response will be perceived as lacking in bass and bright at most volumes.

Like All Ears said reposting in Headphones section would help. Also include the budget please. There are many good headphones about but finding ones that suit your requirements in full may not be the easiest of tasks.

 

[MajorFubar]

The problem is that flat response will be perceived as lacking in bass and bright at most volumes.

+1, unavoidably linked to the thorny subject of do people really want flat-sounding speakers and headphones, considering that if you could plot the average frequency sensitivity of human ears you would see a midrange hump. We're less sensitive to low and high frequencies, especially at moderate volume levels.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

Having read all of the comments, the only conclusion is that there is no such thing as studio MONITOR headphones, and by extension the same can be said of speakers.

Therefore, it is a marketing term and of no real use?

 

[insider9]

Having read all of the comments, the only conclusion is that there is no such thing as studio MONITOR headphones, and by extension the same can be said of speakers. 

 

Therefore, it is a marketing term and of no real use?

Not quite, I have a pair of each. I use AKG K712 Pro that are marketed as reference studio headphones. Also my Red Rose Rosebuds were also marketed as studio reference monitors.

The point I was making that due to the nature of how we hear and perceive sound the completely flat frequency response will sound awful to most. It is also volume related. You need to take provisions for that and audition for yourself.

The way we all perceive sound is so personal as we are all different. Our sensitivity to different frequencies varies as well as it varies person to person. Yes, looking at reputable brands and their product marketed as studio reference can be a good start but o wouldn't pay much attention the marketing and sound quality only. And how it is to you and not anyone else.

What headphones/speakers have you used in the past and what did you like/dislike about them?