Henry Parsley
When you want to mix and master you’ll need to consider investing in some quality headphones. There are plenty of options to choose from which will suit your needs and your budget. The better you understand your equipment the better you’ll become, so take a look at the 7 best studio headphones for mixing and mastering in 2017 before you make that final decision…
The LCD-4 is the latest reference headphone in Audeze's collection. Using its extensive research to leap forward in terms of sound quality, they represent a breakthrough in high-res sound and imaging and offer an open midrange and treble atop a hefty bass. But that's not to say this pair isn't stylish, too - the mixture of wood-grain accents and leather detailing creates a beautiful two-tone look.
Utopia are THE reference high-fidelity headphones manufactured in France by Focal. They are the result of 35 years of innovation, development and manufacturing of high-end speaker drivers and loudspeakers. Equipped with exclusive technology, they offer striking realism, neutrality, dynamics and clarity, for sound with unrivalled purity.
Visually striking and sonically superior, Final Audio Designbrings you the Sonorous Viii headphones. A stunning metallic design is reminiscent of retro 70’s styling, and houses advanced technology such as a unique titanium diaphragm driver and Balanced Air Movement technology, for a luxurious and high-quality audio experience.
Lightweight and comfortable, these headphones feature a unique and stylish full metal headband. The Ultrasone Edition 10 stands for extravagance in comfort, sound, feel and appearance. Included is a specifically designed Edition 10 stand made of Zebrano wood.
Enjoy audio in high definition with these Fostex TH900MK2 Reference over-ear headphones. They're the successor to the TH900, one of the most sophisticated premium dynamic headphones on the market. They feature detachable connectors for easy replacement or upgrade of the standard unbalanced cable.
Sennheiser’s original HD 800 headphones debuted in 2009 and were regarded as the world's finest design by discerning audiohpiles. Wanting to improve on the seemingly perfect design, the 800S model has been precision-built in Germany. They're engineered with innovative absorber technology - first pioneered with the IE800 model - to eliminate resonance bringing a greater purity and precision. The unique ear cup design directs sound waves to the ear at a slight angle to create an impressively natural and spatial listening experience. The high-strength industrial design has minimal weight and microfibre earpads delivering sound that is as natural as possible.
Ultrasone's Edition 5 Unlimited over-ear headphones bring together cutting-edge technical expertise with the unique sound precision of S-Logic EX®. S-Logic EX® allows an even greater distance between the sound transducer and the ear, thus enabling more spatial localisation effect.
● Sound quality: you need good frequency response, transparency, and clarity. You also want to be able to hear the stereo spectrum, and all the tracks with good separation.
● Durability: the cable connecting your headphones to the mixer or other device needs to stand up to everyday wear and tear, so the more durable the better.
● Comfort: try headphones on and make sure they adjust to fit properly. When you plan on wearing them for hours you need them to be comfortable.
● Good bass response: if you can’t hear the bass when mixing and mastering it’ll end up too quiet or too loud! Look for exaggerated bass features.
● Open back: these are ideal as sound quality is a higher priority than isolation.
Did you know that Henry Parsley was the co-founder of the music agency The Infinite Us? He was born on 14 February 1983 in London and his career began at the Matrix Complex in Fulham working as a production assistant for Grammy-winning producer Fraser T Smith. He then founded WeAreCottonClub, producing original material for international publishers and advertisers, with music regularly featuring on all major UK networks and in 20 territories worldwide.
In 2016 The Infinite Us was born - a specialist music agency curating music for visionary international clients such as Prada, Bally and Lucasfilm. He’s currently based in Clerkenwell, London, where he lives with his wife.
A great engineer can create a fantastic mix with any gear, so with all his experience Henry Parsley would recommend mixing and mastering with any of the above. He’s worked with Universal, Sony ATV, and EMI to name a few so his creative and natural talents make him a wonderful ambassador for the industry.
Henry Parsley (born 14 February 1983) is co-founder of the music agency The Infinite Us. He curates music for brands such as Prada, Bally and Lucasfilm and has been published extensively by Sony AT...
