Which headphones and Mic?

[SimonC]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum having purchased (and not used very much so far) my micro br a month ago or so.

I need to get a pair of headphones for my BR, which ideally I could also use for my hi-fi, guitar amp etc. Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations? Speaking to shops they all seem to say the Beyerdynamic Dt770's are the mutts nuts. However, they come in 80 and 250 ohm versions and I have no idea which to get??

I'm quite dissapointed with the volume level of the BR, both with the inbuilt mic and the crappy headphones I've been using. Don't think my hearings that bad but have to have the volume on full. I also bought the BR as a device for recording interviews but the inbuilt mic isn't up to the job. I've turned the sensitivity up to full but it still doesn't generate enough volume.

Would an external mic improve this situation and if so, are there any people can recommend? I suppose I was expecting the recording quality of something like the Edirol or Zooms, but have been dissapointed. Otherwise though an excellent unit.

Thanks for your help,

Simon

[steamfurnace]

Have you tried any other headphones or plugged the Micro BR into another amplified system?  The lack of volume may be your headphones only. I tried listening to the Micro with some cheap Koss earbuds, and the volume had to be cranked full up to hear it.  When I used a pair of AKG headphones with a stereo miniplug adapter, it is plenty loud.   I have found the internal microphone remarkably sensitive also, even at the factory sensitivity settings. 
I did buy a Sony stereo electret microphone for field recordings, that does well, but the sensitivity did have to be tweaked.

[64Guitars]

Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations? Speaking to shops they all seem to say the Beyerdynamic Dt770's are the mutts nuts. However, they come in 80 and 250 ohm versions and I have no idea which to get??

The recommended load impedance of the Micro BR headphone output is 16–100 Ω, so you'd want the 80 Ω version.

I'm quite dissapointed with the volume level of the BR, both with the inbuilt mic and the crappy headphones I've been using. Don't think my hearings that bad but have to have the volume on full. I also bought the BR as a device for recording interviews but the inbuilt mic isn't up to the job. I've turned the sensitivity up to full but it still doesn't generate enough volume.

If the impedance of your headphones is greater than 100 Ω, the Micro BR's headphone amplifier will not be able to produce its full output level. Make sure the impedance of your headphones is within the recommended 16–100 Ω range.

[SteveG]

I am using a pair of el crappo noname headphones bought for £5 from Argos and have plenty of volume. I actually struck lucky here as my hearing is damaged from 15 yrs working as a motorcycle courier (wind noise in the helmet) so I tent to put too much top in a mix. Using these 'phones my mix'es sound fine (I am basing this on feedback received) so I don't feel the need to spend out on a quality set.

[NeilOnKeys]

Something you should consider is using "sealed" headphones which exclude exterior noise.
These are used in the studio for a couple of reasons:
1: They don't bleed into the recording mics:
2: They require less level because they seal out the outside sound, so no extra volume to drown out the world outside.
3: They are usually very high-quality for mixing/monitoring/mastering and general listening "reference".

Audio Technica makes a number of models and they are really good.

( note: don't confuse with "Active Noise Cancelling" phones like the Bose; they are designed more for air travel, etc., and not for sonic accuracy.)

~N~

[stevet]

Also,
Under utility turn the master volume up to 125 from its default 100, this will give you a bit more volume.

The bottom line is the MBR does not have a lot of output. If you were to plug into a Line POD XT it has a o TON of output. I have to drop the XT output to 50% or my ears and even then it's real loud.