Playing with Headphones - Guitars101

Ikaros · 01-22-2006, 09:46 AM

Last night I tried playing with headphones because it was very late and didn't want to wake up the family. I don't have a good pair for guitar playing yet so I grabbed the cheap little Logitech headset on my PC and used that on my 15 watt Marshall MG series amp! I was blown away! I'm going to have to buy a decent noise cancelling headphone now - any recommendations? on brand/model good for guitar playing?

Also, why does the amp by itself not sound as good as it does with cheap PC headphones on? Maybe its a brain perception thing going though both ears at the same level? Or maybe its my living room? The amp is sitting in a carpeted room in the corner "hole" surrounded between two couch ends. Maybe the true amp sound is being absorbed by all that, deadening the sound? In the headphones everything sounded so full and alive. It made me really get into my playing which sort of sounds dull sound quality wise with the amp alone. That is why I've been on my little tone quest journey to improve the quality of guitar sound!

**Supersonic** · 01-22-2006, 10:17 AM

AKG makes some nice "cans" and so does Sennhieser. If you've got a Sam Ash or Guitar Center near you I strongly advise going in and giving some a listen.

**Sabertoothedfly** · 01-22-2006, 02:35 PM

I had some of the Sennheiser's they are good headphones can't go wrong there. Here is a set I have been looking at to use with the POD XT...flat response & won't break the bank...

http://www.zzounds.com/item--AUTATHM40FS

DannyBoy · 01-22-2006, 03:33 PM

i have similar feelings about the difference between my amp and my PC speakers.

the PC SPeakers make it sound really kinda cool.

HOWEVER. once the amp is turned up and the power cranked things change entirely. It's all about how things interact with speakers.

**Geordie** · 01-22-2006, 04:01 PM

DT 150's i have 3 sets for when the boys are round mixing etc and wouldnt part with them . The price and the quality of sound is great

Rythameen · 01-23-2006, 05:11 AM

I've had great luck with Sony's MDR series.................they sound great.

**CanyonCarver** · 01-23-2006, 10:44 AM

I have a set of AKG cans I bought back in 1978 to listen to my stereo. They are used everywhere from radio stations to recording studios. I recommend them.

kruz5150 · 01-23-2006, 11:31 AM

I've really good luck with Sony's MDR series they are pretty cheap and sound nice!

crematia · 01-24-2006, 03:52 AM

I use AKG K240S and can highly recommend them. 100 bucks or so. They are semi-open so you can hear sounds coming "outside" the phones, speech and so on, and I found that to be disturbing at first but have gotten used to it. If that's something you dislike, maybe closed set like AKG K171S might be better for you. Anyway, AKG makes brilliant headsets.

Ikaros · 01-24-2006, 05:35 PM

For now I'm looking for new headphones $20 or less that will be decent for use with a 15 watt practice amp. I'm waiting on my brother to track down a pair of Koss full headphones he says he still has that we used with our Techniques stereo system in the 70's listening to Pink Floyd, LOL. I can't remember the model. Hopefully he can find them because I remember they sounded good.

**Sabertoothedfly** · 01-26-2006, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanyonCarver

I have a set of AKG cans I bought back in 1978 to listen to my stereo. They are used everywhere from radio stations to recording studios. I recommend them.

I just got the headphones in that I linked too, they sound great, some would say they don't have enough bass, yet isn't that the point?~ they sound sweet to me, I also play the stereo in truck set to flat even though I have two ten inch subs-it just sounds better...anyway...I was looking at musiciansfriend and ran across these on closeout...wish I had seen this before I bought these audio technica studiophones...the specs on these look great...

AKG Headphones http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...nes?sku=241018