Bang & Olufsen headphones for video editing

[Tero Ahlfors]

It really doesn’t matter what headphones you use though I wouldn’t use bluetooth ones because of possible audio/video sync issues.

[Chris Wright]

the more drivers, the better. some headphones have tweeters called a 2-way.
reason being, a single driver can’t play all freqs at the same time with zero distortion, creates a muffling power loss effect.

having a more flat response curve is ideal +-3db across the range, although you can tweak it with a 20 band to flatten out anyway.

so it all comes down really to three things, how many drivers, freq range, and how much distortion after flattening the response curve. this is sometimes listed as ohms or higher impedance for better bass driving. you usually get what you pay for with speakers/headphones.

[Eric Merklein]

I’ve worked on a ton of network and cable shows and supervised more mixing sessions than I can remember.

If you can use speakers, they are much better than head phones for high end audio mixes. The basic reason is that 99% of TV viewers will listen to your audio on speakers, sitting at least 3 feet away from the source. So it’s best to do the mix as close to the same listening environment as your audience.

Try a pair of Genelec’s ! They ain’t cheap, but the sound is beyond amazing.

E

Many thanks.

[Chris Wright]

this only works if your room is acoustically built for high, low freqs, reverb and echo; otherwise headphones are better.

[Ben Shoemaker]

B&O makes great audio equipment but I’ve never heard their name come up in headphone comparisons. Typically it’s going to be Sennheiser, Bowers and Wilkins, AudioQuest, and HiFi Man.

What are you editing? What is driving the headphones(laptop, audio mixer, dedicated headphone DAC and amp)? What is your editing area like? Is it soundproof or are you dealing with background noise that you need to block out?

I prefer closed back headphones for editing. They let me concentrate and catch any little annoying sounds that need to be filtered out. The Sony MDR-7506 headphones have closed backs, they are bulletproof, sound great, and are under $100.

For critical listening, I have a set of Sennheiser HD 600 headphones with a dedicated DAC and headphone amplifier. But they are open back so I have to be careful about background noise negating the benefits of a better headphone.

If you currently don’t have any headphones, give the Sony set a try first. Also, don’t buy the most expensive headphones either thinking they will be better just because of the price.

Also, if you go to an audio store to test some out, bring something that you’ve listened to 1,000 times before. Don’t just listen to whatever demo that they have playing.

I hope that helps.

– Current computer guy – Former Technical Director – Wannabe TV Broadcast Engineer –

[Natasha Khiara]

Hey Eric,

Thanks so much for your response!
My audience is actually going to hear everything on headphones so it makes more sense for me to use them as well.
Apart from that, where I edit is not quite built for speaker use, ergo I am unable to do so.

P.S. You’re right, Genelec’s are amazing!

[Natasha Khiara]

Thanks Chris, this was really helpful!

[Melvin Chong]

Audio Technica ATH M50. Cheap and good.

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Professional-Headphones-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B016YJDV74/ref=pd_sbs_267_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B016YJDV74&pd_rd_r=6265eded-8d99-11e8-bb99-0baf3359ef3b&pd_rd_w=kp8Lg&pd_rd_wg=HwUAv&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=8702255303818932494&pf_rd_r=32HNAHXHSB5TSC75Q22E&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=32HNAHXHSB5TSC75Q22E

[Eric Merklein]

Smart move then. You know do know what you’e doing ☺

[Rich Rubasch]

This is all about fit since you will be wearing them a lot. Higher end Sony, Beyerdynamic, Shure, AKG and B&O (I have their turntable) would be fine….I even love my Grado’s! But fit is going to be everything. My kids don’t wear my Grados because they don’t like the fit, but I can wear them all day.

Do you have piercings that could hurt with certain headphones? the B&Os I have seen are narrower and don’t fit over the entire ear, where sony and Beyer full cup do.

I would recommend going to Best Buy Magnolia store and trying on a bunch…..you’ll find the perfect pair!

Then order them from B&H. (purposefully snarky remark…)

Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media Inc.
Video Production, Post, Studio Sound Stage
Founder/President/Editor/Designer/Animator
https://www.tiltmedia.com