Cans For Mixing: ATH-M50Xs or Focal Spirit Professional

[schismatic]

I'm looking for some headphones specifically for mixing with. Want something very flat and true so that I can make decent EQ and instrument balance decisions, particularly with bass.

I've read around a bit and narrowed it down to these two. Which ones should I go with?

 

[Studdy]

You will get mixed answers no right or wrong. I went through this a couple years ago. I ended up keeping the shure 840s. Simply because they sounded the most true to me.

 

[schismatic]

I've gathered this while reading various opinions, you're right there probably isn't a right or wrong.

I like the sound of the Focals for making EQ decisions, but I'm concerned that they are closed back, given that opinion generally leans towards open backed cans for mixing.

The plan is to use these to compliment my studio monitors for referencing, not to replace them. I want something true because my mix environment, while semi-treated and with the benefit of IK ARC, doesn't always translate mixes well. So this is why I lean towards Focals at the moment. Others I've considered are HD600s and DT880s.

 

[Sloan]

the focals look like consumer phones to me but i'm not sure what they sound like. i love my m50's. i've been going headphone crazy lately. shure srh440s kinda suck. ultrasone hfi550's are like m50s but with way more high mids - sound cool and i scored some super cheap on ebay.

the monoprice 8023 dj headphones are amazingly good for about $20