Remedial
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Posts
- 142
- Likes
- 0
Okay, this is not a review (at least not yet, need to let them suckas burn in a little bit more before I undertake that task), but I just wanted to dispell some rumors concerning these oft-maligned headphones.
First off, they are not designed to be fun-sounding, pleasurable listening headphones (hence, the term flat-response is used quite profusely in the marketing of these phones).
They are supposed to be the antithesis of a, let's say, Koss PortaPro or Grado headphone. The least amount of coloration as possible. Thus, they are deemed solely as studio monitors.
Audio Technica has not tried to push these as perfect for home listening or great for use with portable audio. Not once.
If you still don't agree, let me give an example:
There are a very popular pair of studio monitors known as the Yamaha NS-10's. Now, I've never used a pair or even been blessed with being in the presence of them (for those that do, heed warning, they were discontinued by Yamaha because the cones were made with asbestos, and we all know what that does). But, as far as I've HEARD (strong emphasis on this word), if you play a regular cd through these, it's going to sound horrible. But this is for good reason. The logic is, if you can get your mix to sound good on the NS-10's, they're going to sound great on damn near anything (of course, this is an overstatement and long-time recording myth, but you get the picture).
The truth is, if you're going to use a pair of headphones for mixing, you don't want a pair of 'phones that have boosted highs or lows, recessed mids or any of the other fanciful combinations that headphone companies use to get that pair of phones that you love so much to sound good. You want something that's flat and is going to give you a true picture of what you have (hence, the term reference headphones is used).
Then, after you achieve the most balanced mix that you can, you let the headphones/cd player/etc... companies do what they have to in order to give you that "fun" sound that you've grown to love (mostly because that's all you've ever known).
I guess the point of my tirade is this:
Don't buy studio/reference headphones with the intent of using them for pleasurable listening, get disappointed when you don't get that and then trash them every single chance that you get.
It's not fair. It's like asking Brett Favre to try being a pitcher and then chastising him when he's not successful by asking questions like, "I thought you were good at sports?"
There are different phones for different purposes and we should push that more often.
P.S.
This applies not only to the ATH-M40fs, but the AKG 240DF and the AKG 271S.
P.S.S.
The popularity of the HD 280 Pro by the audiophile community is really starting to make me reconsider its place as a reference headphone.
First off, they are not designed to be fun-sounding, pleasurable listening headphones (hence, the term flat-response is used quite profusely in the marketing of these phones).
They are supposed to be the antithesis of a, let's say, Koss PortaPro or Grado headphone. The least amount of coloration as possible. Thus, they are deemed solely as studio monitors.
Audio Technica has not tried to push these as perfect for home listening or great for use with portable audio. Not once.
If you still don't agree, let me give an example:
There are a very popular pair of studio monitors known as the Yamaha NS-10's. Now, I've never used a pair or even been blessed with being in the presence of them (for those that do, heed warning, they were discontinued by Yamaha because the cones were made with asbestos, and we all know what that does). But, as far as I've HEARD (strong emphasis on this word), if you play a regular cd through these, it's going to sound horrible. But this is for good reason. The logic is, if you can get your mix to sound good on the NS-10's, they're going to sound great on damn near anything (of course, this is an overstatement and long-time recording myth, but you get the picture).
The truth is, if you're going to use a pair of headphones for mixing, you don't want a pair of 'phones that have boosted highs or lows, recessed mids or any of the other fanciful combinations that headphone companies use to get that pair of phones that you love so much to sound good. You want something that's flat and is going to give you a true picture of what you have (hence, the term reference headphones is used).
Then, after you achieve the most balanced mix that you can, you let the headphones/cd player/etc... companies do what they have to in order to give you that "fun" sound that you've grown to love (mostly because that's all you've ever known).
I guess the point of my tirade is this:
Don't buy studio/reference headphones with the intent of using them for pleasurable listening, get disappointed when you don't get that and then trash them every single chance that you get.
It's not fair. It's like asking Brett Favre to try being a pitcher and then chastising him when he's not successful by asking questions like, "I thought you were good at sports?"
There are different phones for different purposes and we should push that more often.
P.S.
This applies not only to the ATH-M40fs, but the AKG 240DF and the AKG 271S.
P.S.S.
The popularity of the HD 280 Pro by the audiophile community is really starting to make me reconsider its place as a reference headphone.
