But the main reason I got it is that it mixes microphone inputs and backing tracks (coming from the computers) in the analog stage and sends them to my headphones, with control over the relative mix of microphones and backing audio, and a volume control on the head amp. The Presonus has two channels of 50 dB microphone preamps. The Benchmark can amplify microphones with high outputs, but lacks the sensitivity for low-level condenser mics. (I also own a Presonus Studio 24C, which is intended for use with microphone inputs like a lot of commercial-sound products. It's much easier now, even though digital clipping sounds far worse than peak compression on tape. Back in the days of recording needledrops onto tape, we had to hit that record-level mark right on the button, which required listening to the whole album to check every peak to make sure we were using every bit of the limited dynamic range of the tape recorder. And the Benchmark has immensely detailed gain controls. But its very high signal/noise ratio means I can record with 6-10 dB of headroom and digitally amplify the file after recording to whatever I specify as the peak level, without also amplifying noise into the audible range. It is superb, and dramatic overkill for recording LP's. I have since moved that device to my upstairs office computer (feeding an old Carver amp and cheap and ancient Alesis monitor speakers), and bought a used Benchmark ADC-1 USB for my main system. Using it, I cannot tell the difference in FLAC files and original playback. It did not measure particularly well here (SINAD at 91 dB as I recall), but it's good enough for this purpose. I have a battery powered headphone amplifier, so driving them isn't a problem (though if I can drive them directly from the recorder, the better).I have used a Creative X-Fi HD external sound interface, and it worked well enough for needledrops. It's likely they will be used outside way below freezing also, so the comfort requirements are kind of different from wearing them comfortably inside. Obviously the sound quality is an important factor, but the isolation capability AND the bleeding are the kind of things to be considered also - nobody wants their headphones to bleed on to the audio they're recording. I know the 7506 is pretty much the industry standard but the more modern K371 has a way of making its case here too, I believe.

All of these headphones are at about the same pricerange, though the HD25 can go a little higher depending on the model. So, if you have any experience with any of these headphones for this particular purpose or even have a model to add on to this list, please make your voice to be heard. On my short list there's also the mdr7506, K371 and the 280, the DT770 gets too bulky to be hauled around I believe. I've previously owned the original m50, hd25 so I know what they sound like (but didn't use them for this purpose). I've been looking for field monitoring headphones for couple of days.

Vinylstudio monitor headphones