Recording music on a budget can be difficult, but there is hardware that surpasses even the best.
For the past 12 months or so, I have started to record again after a few years of not being able. Instead of splashing out on a new pair of studio monitors, I opted to get a pair of headphones which works out great in a house of.... expressive gamers. After testing several in the music store, I was surprised to find out just how much these were at the performance they give. I am talking about the Alesis SRP100 Studio Monitoring Headphones.
Look and Feel.
- At first glance, these headphones look similar to the mountain of other ''studio headphones'' that are available on the market. There is a one piece steel rail that runs over the top of the phones giving them very stiff structural rigidity, connecting both side cups and the faux leather band.
The faux leather band is double stitched all the way round and is connected to the cups on either side via a spring retainer which helps it to fit any size head.
The cups themselves are a fully closed back design which is perfect for isolation from external sounds and the ear cushions fit comfortably over the ears and isolate even further.
To top of the look, the cable is bright blue and nice n' thick which helps insulate against signal interference. It also helps when it comes to cable management for those that either use a high end rack or are like me who have a simple sound board.
Overall the look of the headphones may seem to be just like every other 'eBay Special', but the design is specifically for audio isolation and ultra comfort for those that record for hours on end.
- When I record, I tend to be at it for a minimum of 4-5 hours at a time, so having a pair of headphones that are comfortable is paramount.
The head band is very wide and combined with the spring retainers, it fits very comfortably across the top of my head. Although after a while it does start to get uncomfortable as it does tend to trap sweat which can irritate. This is more because I have a shaved head, but with a simple wipe with a towel, the problem is solved for another few hours. Those with hair need not worry.
The ear cups themselves are a simple round shape but are very large to help with the comfort. The cushion used has a faux leather cover, but a basic sponge core. Yet still after extensive use the sponge remains just as soft and full as it was the day I bought them.
The faux leather on the cups however has started to... fluff up and has a more suede texture to it. Which is actually not a bad thing, if anything, it makes them more comfortable.
As some of you know, I wear glasses, so wearing headphones for a prolonged period of time can become uncomfortable across the side of your face and the bridge of your nose from the pressure of the headphones. These on the other hand are ultra soft and I am yet to experience any discomfort from having my glasses on while wearing these.
Most over ear headphones are immediately comfortable out of the box, but most ''budget orientated'' ones, they tend to use poor quality materials and after a short period of time, they degrade from use. The SRP100's are still as plush as the day they came out of the box, and the materials used are of a high quality. They are comfortable and can be used all day every day without fear that they will get worse.
Performance.
- The full range 40mm drivers are voiced to be very flat with no hints towards enriching bass and treble as so many others do. This flat equalization is perfect for studio use as you can record and master more accurately, creating a much richer sound.
Compared to my old Sennheiser HD 650's that are almost 8 times the cost, the performance of the SRP100's is actually better and more clear. (the HD 650's cable is broke and only the left channel works). It just goes to show you don't have to spend a fortune to get good audio quality.
Most headphones on the market have a limited vocal range which is usually 25hz to 20khz. This is because the human hearing range can not hear beyond this limit. However, anything beyond this range can have an impact on the human body. For example, some cinemas have chairs that have a built in audio system that uses infra-sound (Sound range below 20hz) to enhance bass to make you feel what you are hearing. The SRP100s have a vocal range of 10hz to 30khz which just about guarantees that you will hear anything in the studio. While the rule of thumb is that most people have a limited hearing range, it is not entirely true as there are some that have a wider hearing range and these headphone make sure that they cater to everyone.
This wider range does not impede on the clarity of the sound coming from them. The bass, mids and treble all come through crystal clear with no muddiness.When I am mastering, I use the EQ to narrow down the band and find ''bad noise'' in each channel so it can be eliminated which increases how clear it comes through. In order to do this, the headphones need to be ultra accurate in order to pick up the frequency. I am able to run the full range of frequencies to find the unsavoury noise and remove it. Even the 650's struggled with this but now a year later, the headphone are still going strong and can pickup everything you throw at them.
Conclusion.
For under £50, and cheaper in sales, these headphones far surpass my expectations of what a budget headphones can do.
The construction is simple and solid with a design that is almost perfect for audio isolation. The materials used are of a high quality which last.
The hardware used may seem like a gimmick, but in actual fact, it does exactly what it says on the box. It is a superb bit of kit that is ideal for the beginner or enthusiast.The one big problem is that Alesis have since discontinued this product however there are plenty still left on the market for you to pick up at a bargain price. For the drummers among us, Alesis produce the DRP100's which are identical in every way except for larger cups to isolate more and are voiced specifically for drum monitoring.
I have already ordered a second pair of these amazing headphones as a backup as I will not be able to get another set in the future. So get them while you can. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you for reading.
Stu @TechMojo
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