YOUR PRACTICE SOUND - HEADPHONES

[Juan Expósito]

Hi, after a little of discussion in Louie Palmer topic about the headphones used...

I am using Vic Firth SIH1. They give me a good / beautiful / isolated drum sound from the outside, but I don´t like the speakers sound of the headphones. I have sounding through the headphones everything from my mixer/recorder: drum mics, CD tracks, metronome...

I am thinking about adquiring another brand / type...

So, what are you using on this part of your head, in your drum practice time ?

Maybe in-ear phones, Extreme Isolation headphones, Metrophones, Vic Firth, cheap models... ?

Comments, comparatives, models used... will be welcomed.

Vic Firth
http://www.vicfirth.com/product/buynow/ ... utton=SIH1
Extreme Isolation Headphones
http://www.dv247.com/headphones/direct- ... nes--21267
Metrophones (without the metronome)
http://www.bigbangdist.com/metrophones.htm

[bstocky]

I had the Metrophones with built in metronome years ago and hated them. They're build solid but all that metal adds up to a lot of weight. I couldn't wear them for more than 20 minutes. Changing the metronome battery was brutal but you wouldn't have to worry about that. The audio cable rotated and the sound would cut in and out and one of the ear cushions deflated.
Garbage. I actually wrote the company a letter because they cost a fortune and were just terrible for me.
The Vic Firth ones are ok. I used to like them but after trying inears I'll never go back to cans/headphones. I use Shure's basic in ear model and love them. I wear them live, practicing and even on 7 hour bus trips and experience NO discomfort with them.
If you have the money go big and get the best ones molded to YOUR ears. You'll never want to wear anything else.

[YamahaPlayer]

I use StudioKans and Sennheiser HD280 headphones.

[patdrums]

Westone ES-5's. Expensive but worth every penny.


Pat

[chris perra]

Senheisser hd 280's great sounding, and isolate as much, if not more than the vic firth's

[Juan Expósito]

Thanks everyone.

About the in-ear models:

I have some very good I-pod type of in-ear´s. The music sounds incredible but the sound from my drums outside is unpleasant.
I suppose that with those models above the thing has to be very different.

Without plugging it, how is the sound from your drums that you get with the in-ears ?

I am searching:
Westone here
http://www.westonemusicproducts.com/uni ... /UM-Series
Shure
http://www.shure.com/americas/products/ ... /index.htm
Wow, Westone E5...950 $
http://www.westonemusicproducts.com/mus ... -Audio/ES5

[jem]

I have HD280's, they sound very good but they don't isolate that much. I combine them with molded ear plugs, tune them up to be in balance with the kit and use the ear plugs to protect my ears. Did a record many years ago without properly shielded phones. In a small and very loud drum booth. Spent a week there and regret it ever since...

Would love to thy these ones out
http://peltorcomms.3m.com/Americas/Prod ... gory_Id=31

[nomsgmusic]

Gordy Knudsen's GK "Ultraphones." THE BEST isophones, EVER!!! And if anything ever goes wrong with them, he'll stand behind them and fix them for you. But under almost 10 years of CONSTANT use, mine have NEVER (!!!!!!) had issues.

They are light, super comfortable, and the extra deep (extended) cups are amazing. He uses Sony elements, and the low (or is it high) impedance drivers allows for no chance of distortion with high (or low) impedance headphone amps. I have used them on countless sessions, for practice, teaching, on busses and planes (surrounded by noisy musicians,) and even for listening to music for pleasure at home. I have used them on 10+ hour marathon sessions (in a really live booth, but aren't they all) and my ears felt exactly the same at load out as they did at load in. I even used them live, (when I was in darkness,) they are a little bulky.

I am really careful with my ears, I wear custom plugs live, but I just don't "trust" in ears. The SPL's must be huge at the ear drum, with that sound and no air getting in (pressure.) But I am no doctor, Andy V could chime in here.

I even love the way my drums sound through them, even if I am not having my drum sound piped back to me, my drums sound good. And if you want a little more drums, you just slide them off your ears a smidge, and let some drum sound in.

I'll play drums du jour, even backline cymbals in a pinch, but I never leave my house without those phones, and my Roc and Soc Nitro throne. Comfort is EVERYTHING when you are getting paid to be creative. There are enough things we can't control, I am through with rolling the dice on my comfort!

One of the BEST pieces of equipment that I ever bought.
Your head, and your ears will NEVER be the same!

Mark

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

I use Equation Audio headphones. They aren't completely isolated, but give a good enough balance with the acoustic drum sound without being too loud.

[Kurtis]

i made mine out of gun muffs. worked some ear buds into them if i want to play along with music.