Headphones for pianoteq

Don't give up on the Beyerdynamics too soon.  But try the Beyerdynamic DT880.  They are semi-open sides.  IMHO, the key to pleasant full range listening.  I am still using my original pair - since 1989.

Lanny

Good idea, I really like Beyerdynamic. Why do you prefer semi-open headphones? Whats the benefit compared to fully open do you think?

The 'boxed-in' effect of closed headphones makes me feel uncomfortable. Semi-open is a good 'halfway' solution. I don't like having lumps of plastic over my ears at all, but I'm reasonably happy with my AKG k240s.

I actually prefer the DT990, which i buyed after comparing it to the DT880. The 990 has, due to its open design, more bass. That means you even feel the bass in a matter, that you dont with the semi-open version.
Best test was the bass split of the Steinway D Preset. The lowest A note results in feeling the vibration in the left ear very strongly.

But others will hear your output.

AKG k240s not bad ... I have a pair and they are not too expensive but I am totally in favor of the DT880s.

Lanny

Well thats your personal opinion. He should decide for himself. I personally felt the difference between those models more, than i heard the difference.
Also i think Beyerdynamics are very bright, to give you a detailed sound. So a bit more bass fits in nicely.

But I guess get the 880 when you want to hear good piano recording, get the 990 when you want to feel the piano.

Thank you for all your feedback. It seems like the DT880 is a popular option. I'm surpised that you are describing the DT990 as more bass-heavy, I thought it was the other way due to the fully open design of the DT990. Would you say that semi-open headphones generally are the most neutral ones and most easy to the ears?

Some final thoughts on the Beyerdynamics ... regardless of which model chosen, you can always EQ the sound.  The thing about the DT880 (or any brand open sided) is that your ears will not sonically fatigue as much.  As for Evil Dragon's comment about "feeling the piano", you will not bodily feel a sound program with headphones. External speakers - and powerful ones at that - can impart the realism or presence of an orchestra or piano in an open air environment.  Any additional frog hair splitting comments are welcome!

Lanny

I do sometimes "feel" the bass in my chest when using headphones - it must of course be psychological, but it's quite uncanny how real it feels.

Greg

HD 650 are reference earphones. Great, used this or similar model a long time past but at first, I didn't like them at first when my understanding of them was early and yet formed (neutral sound compared to other more consumer style 'phones).

You might like them more than anything - but just because more expensive, doesn't mean you'll prefer them. They're probably more in a similar bracket as Beyerdynamic 1990?

I think it possible for some ear damage if not fairly aware of the power of these kinds of items - they are capable of great loudness but you may be compelled to listen at high levels because the bass/treble is more flat. In long sessions, it's a struggle to keep the volume safe sometimes, I know all too well. It's always really tempting to just listen another few times at borderline unsafe levels. Sure you can also hurt your ears with atypical headphones, just saying with reference flatness plus power comes some risk that you aren't getting enough bass etc. Just a little more reliance on EQ maybe and/or an external headphone amp - and a lot of extra pieces of string - or more frog hairs

In the end though, unless you know why you might want a particular flat response (reference) earphone, you may be better off with a sweeter (enhanced bass and treble) type like Beyerdynamic 990 - IMO. [reason being, it took me years to properly get my head around the 'paradox' of listening for mixing vs. listening for pleasure - it's always a thing, you never truly 'know' like a robot extracting data on the fly, except experience guides you with time. Every room, every earphone, every instrument, every player, every 'mix' is different - reference flat lines give us 'extra' surety in our decisions to tweak something or not for recording/mixing mainly.

This day and age, you can make a career out of a telephone level output via Youtube and millions of fans say "wow" an buy all your T-shirts. Maybe it's old school but IMExperience, quality studios and maybe majority? of long-time respected audio techs, engineers/producers will have grappled with this - you really may not want to, or have to, to be honest.

But [main point], knowing it's a thing, might save you from buying really expensive headphones which sound not so inspiring, to you, for playing piano

Worth saving some money though, if you can get a better long-term enjoyment from 990s or other exceptionally good consumer style - just IMO.

If you have the budget (you say 500EU) maybe you can get a 990 and 880 or the 650 and 990

Last horse feather, sorry I mean frog hair ;0) - how to get to try them in person, that's the real question - there should be at least a good selection in any mid size music outlet, but don't buy unless you really feel comfortable with your choice, always good if not redundant advice

[edit to add]:

@Pianoteqenthusiast, thank you for your good advice. And to everyone else.

@Lanny, nearly 30yrs with the same Beyerdynamics and going strong - wow - if they still make 'em like they used to, I'm thinking of buying them. My Rolands are gaining noticable fuzz in ~6yrs.

@skip, yeah, similar here sometimes. I've been putting it down to a mix of jawbone vibrations to nerves meeting up somewhere with adrenaline system (good/exciting music helps it along for sure) - and suspension of disbelief which only getting easier in Pianoteq.