DON'T Make These Mistakes When Buying Headphones (With Free Buyer's Guide) NOT SPONSORED

In this video, I dive into some things you may want to pay attention to when purchasing studio headphones. This video dives into choosing the right ohms, the options of headphone amps, using closed back vs. open back, and I give some of my product recommendations!

Free Headphone Buyer's Guide:

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Alt Monitors: Fluid Audio Image 2

Main Microphone:
Sony C800G

Other Microphones:

Compressors:
AudioScape Opto Comp

MIDI Keyboard:
Arturia Keylab 61 Mk2
ROLI Piano M

Keyboards:
Moog Subsequent 37 -
Roland Juno 106 (Vintage)

Guitars:
Gretsch Jack Antonoff Signature Princess
Yamaha FG820 12 String
Gretsch G5260T Baritone

Preamps:
Rupert Neve Designs Newton Channel Strip

Pedals:
Hologram Chroma Console
Hologram Microcosm
JHS Emperor Chorus
JHS Colour Box V2
Chase Bliss Onward
Chase Bliss Mood Mk2

Camera: Sony A7iv

Lens: Sony 24-70mm f2.4

Camera Lights: Aperture Amaran 100Xs

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Timestamps
Intro 0:00
Giveaway 1:00
Choosing The Right Ohms 1:20
Do You Need A Headphone Amp 2:24
Closed Back Vs. Open Back 4:08
Pros Of A Closed Back Headphone 5:26
Pros Of An Open Back Headphone 6:12
Closed Back Vs. Open Back Bleed Test 7:00
Sound Signatures Of Different Headphones 8:00
Are Modeling Headphones A Scam 9:44
Why Not Just Use AirPods 12:45
How To Pick Your Perfect Headphones 15:05
My Recommendations 15:37
Free Buyer's Guide 16:50
Outro 17:37

[alexandrehouze]

Glad you mentioned the VSX headphones, bought them a while ago and use them everyday! Once you have a good workflow and know which room is good to spot low-ends, harshness etc, it's a gem when you produce in the living room!
Love your content Boss!

[XerumBeats]

really needed this guide lol. Working on a budget and need some good headphones for mixing and mastering 😅

[benbassmusik]

I’ve been discovering your YouTube channel for few weeks now, thank you for all of your precious advice!! Happy New Year from Paris 🎉

[jaibsoul]

Great video, thank you! Also want to add about the VSX: Steven has mentioned when traveling that he uses his VSX with an Apogee Groove. There's something to be said about traveling or going out with a compact quality DAC if you don't need an audio input for a microphone. I also have a Groove I use with VSX and it's definitely a bump up over the built-in DAC in my M3 Macbook, particularly in the soundstage.

[macdesi]

Great video, totally agree about the VSX, you need to spend a good week to adjust your ears to their phase(its like looking through binoculars and adjusting your sight), then listen to your fav tracks and find the room you like. Having bought a ton of headphones over the years, I can confidently say the VSX are a game changer.
But there is a learning curve for it. The Beyerdynamics are a solid choice too.

[christinacrago]

Thank you Austin for this breakdown! This opened my eyes to other headphones to check out!

[Trandofir]

Make Pop Music is the best producer channel on youtube 🔥🔥🔥

[lojoroad]

Thank you. I’ve learned so much from you over past couple of years and I’ve purchased gear and plugins based on your videos and recommendations. The Baby Audio plugins continue to be one of my favorites. I am using Focal Pro headphones with an Apollo Twin interface for the initial mix. I then use the Slate VSX to get idea of how it is going to sound on other devices. FYI, it is my option that you do not need a headphone amp if you’re using that Apollo.

[tommorton]

Great video as usual. I use the DT990 250ohms for producing and mixing and have a DT770 pair for tracking. The open back headphones get less warm on your head which is nice especially if you are wearing them a lot. The bleed also lets your family get your attention which is mostly a pro 🙃 Sound quality for tracking isn’t that big of a deal (at least to me) so that might be a place to save some money.

[MichaeLance]

Great info as usual man! Happy New Year

[alex-thelion]

Thanks Austin, like always crazy good content! Was actually in the market for headphones as well!

[mikebooth]

One of your best, Austin. I love that you keeps saying "there's no right or wrong" because that is opposite what the majority of YouTube production "experts" say. I'm using my DT990Pros and VSX much the same way you do and I'm wondering how big a step up in quality and accuracy the 1990 Pros are. I have around $500 in "found" money and maybe it's worth jumping up to the 1990s. What d'ya think? Thanks!

[MarvelousMinds-js]

This video is so helpful! Here’s a video request though, how to make a synth pop song like Trustfall by Pink, We Can’t Be Friends by Ariana Grande, and Close To You by Gracie Abrams

[Apollicus]

Good stuff as always. Not that I’m in the market for $500+ headphones but at least I now know some additional qualities to consider when buying.

[GirishHothur]

Thank you for this video, just in time ❤

[PaulEubanks]

Picked up a pair of Focal Lensys recently. For the price point these things are damn impressive!

[gabe_garreth]

I have the Philips SHP9500s and I love them for producing/mixing, but they bleed pretty bad sometimes when recording. I want to get the AT M40Xs soon. I tried them at guitar center and actually preferred them to the M50Xs.

[justdaniel]

Thanks for this, its really helpful for what im gonna buy <3

[dehavior]

Look, I’m 2sec in the video but I recently bought the Neumann NDH30 because you once said they were amazing, and I couldn’t be more happy I did. I had the DT770 pro 80 ohms before and the midrange basically feels non-existent compared to these. It’s like I’m discovering what midrange is after years of making music

[Ender.musics]

I needed this video thanks for all the information