i don't think that's a good idea to mix on headphones in general. 2nd reference is ok, however i'd be very careful to "mix" the low end judging only from headphones when there's no monitoring available that has the necessary lo end response...better get a nice subwoofer for your current monitors...

Grado headphones are the most neutral I've used. I'd avoid Beyer and Sennehiser in that price range. I'm not suggesting that all cheap headphones from these companies are bad, but some are pretty horrendous in this price range. You can get the Grado SR-80 within your price range, but you need to ensure that the headphone output from your equipment isn't just an afterthought, as is all too often the case.

Good luck!

John Stafford

PS Grado headphones are open, so you can't give them to someone in front of a mic.

I would not go for the HD280. They are a nice sounding headphone that is very well sealed, but the bass is quite exaggerated. The [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.akg.com/…"]AKG K240 DF[/]="http://www.akg.com/…"]AKG K240 DF[/] is a pretty natural sounding headphone which can be had for about $160.

I have to agree that the AKG K240 series (I use the Monitor version) are very even, accurate and comfortable. The comfort factor becomes critical if you're using phones over extended periods. Headphones eventually cause hearing fatigue, so having an accurate set of full-range monitor speakers is what will ultimately give an engineer the mixing capabilities they require. Having a set of AKG K240s (or something of similar quality/comfort) is both a good idea and investment. Your ears will thank you.

I use Bayerdynamic dt880 pro and find them a great 2nd refference to my BM6a's.

Some times (3am) I cant play music too loud so the headset allow me to carry on into the early hours. They are also good simply for checking how things sound every 30 minutes or so - to make sure the main monitors are not missing anything.