Slate VSX Headphone : Can It Replace Your Home Studio Monitors and Pro Headphones?

Do you want to mix your music like a pro, but your home studio has bad acoustic that ruins your sound? Do you wish you could hear your mixes on different speakers and environments without leaving your room? If so, you need to check out this session.
In this video, I will show you how the Slate VSX Headphone System can solve your translation to other systems. I will also compare it with my home studio setup, which consists of studio monitors and headphones, and explain how the room acoustic affects the sound quality and accuracy of the monitors.
. Watch this video and subscribe to my channel for more content like this. Thanks for watching!

[@kerimallami]

Never thought I’d watch this long video but boy this helped me so much. Thanks so much for posting such valuable video, this got me over the fence and I ordered the vsx. Thanks so much!!!

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Glad I could help. Thanks for you support 🙏

[@germanviolinista]

Buenos dias 😊ya q pasaron unos meces como te a ido con los audifonos❓❓❓mil gracias

[@FredStarsVideos]

Hey Man!! So how has it been??

[@soloyuhself]

I don’t normally watch longer videos but I loved this one and loved everything about it . Thank you

[@HomeStudioGuru]

I'm glad you liked the video. Hope you can support my little channel by liking and subscribing 🙏

[@thomasyoung5680]

You explain the system and how to use it very, very well. The best I have heard

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Glad it was helpful. I have another video for vsx on my channel, a continuation of this video. Check it out and please subscribe and like. I'm making a new video for vsx with the latest update that we received on black Friday.

[@thomasyoung5680]

@@HomeStudioGuru do you offer a mixing course I like the way you explain audio

[@SuhFarRecordsMusic876]

Great video thanks man, got my vsx today can't wait to go back to my studio to try it.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Glad I could help 👍

[@kingcole001]

Great video Subscribed , Just got mine today and going to try them shortly 😎

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Glad I could help. Enjoy mixing

[@Ht-ic9qq]

I'm a beginner, i just wanted to thank you. Thanks, thanks, thanks! 👍

[@HomeStudioGuru]

You're most welcome. Glad I could help. Hope you can support my little channel and subscribe and like 🙏

[@officialdiomer]

Have you tried Audeze MM-100? If so, how would you compare them with the VSX?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Not really. I'm planning to buy it, but I have so many headphones. I recently bought the Neumann NDH30 and found it super accurate and translates very well. But I never used any Audeze cause I have one of the best Plannar headphone HIFIMAN HE500.

[@Mixxwizard]

It's a very nice & in-depth video. I agree with the key points on why someone should purchase these cans. Definitely, if you are at home mixing or want to mix projects on the road. I'm a DJ and Remixes. Creating Mashups for the clubs, the Club room allows me to hear what it should sound like. I use VSX on Ableton Live & Studio One projects. I enjoy viewing how other VSX users are using these cans as well. Thanks again for the video.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks for your message 👍

[@antoniofrederic6737]

Is the extra couple hundred bucks for platinum worth it? I can spend if it’s worthwhile but if essentials is likely to get the job done I’d rather go with essentials - ty!

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Essentials will do the job and more. All you need is to pick a room and know it well. However, some rooms help in finding resonances and sharpness more than others. I honestly use most of the rooms to get a 100% mix that translates 100% from the first time. But still, if you use references in the same room, you can catch these resonances on the spot, especially in the small speakers. Especially the Sonoma room. The only thing I believe you will miss is the Yamaha NS10 in the Dean's room without the subwoofer. These can get you great results. Now the essentials come with two EXTRA-free rooms. Archon Studios and NRG. So it's great to buy the essential and learn it well and then go ahead and try several rooms for free for 30 days and pick the one that you like the most and buy only that room. Also, the iPhone emulation is crazy.

[@iimmyyyy]

I believe the 770 were referencing the Beyerdynamic dt 770, thank you for this in depth review! Very pleasing to watch.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks for your comment. True. I checked that later and I found out the same .

[@flyingtrackerz22]

I bought Slate Vsx just after watching this vid :D I was really hesitating to get Audeze MM-500 but I think Vsx will do the job, you convinced me !

[@HomeStudioGuru]

I'm glad I could help with your decision. Take your time with it and don't be in a hurry to learn it. Every room has a time and learning curve.

[@flyingtrackerz22]

@@HomeStudioGuru Thanks man! I was wondering after your vid, when you use a room to show you something (harshness for example), you then modify your mixing in this same room or you go back to a main room to make mix modifications ?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Right now my favourite room and speakers are the midfield genelecs in the yellow matters room. When I did the video I didn't have it. So now I do all my mixes on these speakers and when I finish I go check on other speakers and rooms and cars

[@flyingtrackerz22]

​@@HomeStudioGuru Great thx ! I guess after the checks you go back to the yellow matters room to continue the mixing. Cheers !

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Exactly...you have to choose a speaker in any of the rooms to be your main speaker...like in your studio. These are the speakers that you learn very well, and everything else is just translation.

[@DeejayMenace]

Do I really need a Motu M2 external sound card or can I just use the built-in sound card of my MacBook Pro?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

The Macbook Pro M1 Version and above, they have an amazing headphone preamp. So I read a lot of reviews of people who talked very good about it. So definitely you don't need the Motu in this case

[@medstone3409]

Because of this video I bought VSX and absolutely love it!! Do you have some experience with other plugins like that, for example Realphones or SoundID Reference with their Virutal Monitoring addon?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

I'm glad the video helped. Now I use SoundID extensively in my room and all my 10 headphones. So yeah I love soundid. But to make soundid translate, you will need to eq things after flatting it out to translate. You can use VSX to help you equalize everything you hear in soundid on whatever source, speakers or headphones. You hear the sonic sound in your favourite VSX emulation and Try to imitate it on Soundid while listening to your favourite song. Now I can use both, and I even equalized my room and my speakers to sound exactly like the Neumann Neirfield in Yellow Matters room cause I do have them.

[@medstone3409]

Sounds awesome, thank you, definitely will try this out when getting Soundid too. Such an amazing technology available today, its crazy.@@HomeStudioGuru

[@germanviolinista]

😔No se cual comprar si senheizer 650 o los vsx slate digital 😢espero tu respuesta❓❓❓🏁🏁mil gracias

[@HomeStudioGuru]

I have both hd650 and the VSX and I assure you there's no comparison. VSX beats the crap out of hd650 in terms of low frequency, high frequency, and translation to other systems. Sennheiser hd650 though they saying good, it's my least headphone. It sounds and translate so wrong. If you want something to beat the VSX you will need to look at Neumann NDH30 or Audeze MM100 or if you can afford it MM500.

[@ChrisCorrado]

very insightful! thanx for the excellent infos in the video. you should have more subscribers....

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks man. It's a new channel. Just started officially like a month ago. So hopefully things will pick up. Thanks again for the support

[@FredStarsVideos]

Great review my Friend.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks man. Glad I could help

[@Vipinski]

I am considering getting the VSX, thanks to you now.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Glad I could help 😊

[@Celticsaint777]

Will the basic set be enough for someone just recording basic worship music?

[@Joeknowsit-ALL]

More than enough...even if you have all the rooms...you would pick one room that you will like more than others...imagine it's a real studio and you have to learn it as it is.

[@adr7657]

Great video Mate! ❤️🔥🔥🔥

[@vewilli]

Very informing. I‘ve been thinking about purchasing this system for weeks now, but somehow I‘m afraid I can‘t handle this properly, especially after you had said that it‘s completely different to usual headphones. You put it on the stereo out track and listen through the various studios, cars, etc. Then you start changing things on the various tracks in the mixer. Is that right? Is there a good tutorial for a not very advanced user on how you start with this system?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks. I will make now a new video on how to use thr VSX in details. Check my page in few hours and you will find it.

[@vewilli]

@@HomeStudioGuru cool!

[@HomeStudioGuru]

@@vewilli Video will be out in 30mn...check it out..if you're subscribed you will receive a message..cheers man

[@BIG_PASTA]

@@HomeStudioGuru really awesome you made a whole video in response to a comment from a person asking for help, just sayin :)

[@Joeknowsit-ALL]

@BIG_PASTA yep..I felt I missed a lot if information a lot of people were asking about. So it was a good continuation to the first video that kinda covered everything.

[@MentalS6k]

Brilliant video. Well paced & very informative. Thank you. New sub too ☺️

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks man...glad I could help 🙏

[@Innocence44]

Good vid. Is there an easy toggle on/off option for the systemwide feature on Windows? I'd like to be able to toggle between VSX and my speakers while listening/mixing. Also, I wonder how much using these to record my DJ sets in Traktor would improve the overall detail and sound quality. I prefer to mix my DJ sets on headphones and not my monitors/speakers. Any input?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Unfortunately, there's no toggle cause it takes the place of a new audio interface in your system. So you will need to go to that little speaker on the right and change back to your main audio interface. Now regarding the mixing. As I'm an X DJ. You're mixing two songs that are mixed and mastered already. The only thing that the vsx can help you with is that it will allow you to hear how bassy the two kicks hitting on top of each other so you can equalize them properly without losing the low end or over-boosting, but other than that I don't think it can help you in any other way.

[@Innocence44]

@@HomeStudioGuru thanks. I guess switching between vsx and my outboard audio interface in windows settings wouldn't be that big of a hassle, all things considered. As for dj-ing with them, I'm curious if any of the rooms/modes included in the software would provide a more detailed sound when compared to my hd600's and closed-back Shures. Are you saying clearer drums is the only part where I would notice an improvement? That's it? I might still give them a go, though.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

@Innocence44 The main idea of the VSX is when you try and mix and master a song, it will translate perfectly outside your studio. But in a term of Dj Mixing, Unless you're doing a live production with stems rather than just a full song, I don't see where it will help you, and in which sense except when the two beats on top of each other. I would love to hear what is it you're looking for from listening through VSX, and how you think it will help you in terms of Mixing...maybe you're targeting something I never thought of. Let me know what you're thinking about?

[@marvin1574]

thanks, i think im gonna get me a pair now

[@HomeStudioGuru]

I'm glad this video helped you in your decision. Cheers

[@rjb6919]

Moved into a very small room 3 or 4 years ago - kids grow for some reason. Been suffering with a pair of DT990's and translation has been shameful. For the price this seems like a great move from your review. Thanks for the insight.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

I feel you man. Same issue here. I can't believe how such small headphone can change everything. Now I don't worry if I have a studio or not...I can even mix and MASTERRRR in the toilet. .its crazzzzyyy

[@svarogstudio]

I recently got the VSX after using 990's for a few years. I do love my 990's but the translation and adjusting the low end has ben so much better with VSX

[@Joeknowsit-ALL]

100%

[@oinkooink]

I bet you bought those Beyers based on reports of how great and "accurate" they were. They're good cans...but you'd have to know the living piss out of them to mix properly. Same with HD600s or Beyer 880 or whatever. Good cans but none of them will be any kind of mixing silver bullet. I know from experience. VSX give you way, way more accuracy. An excellent option for those of us stuck in bad rooms.

[@svarogstudio]

I've gotten to know them pretty well over the years, mixed bunch of songs on them. But yeah, it was always back and forth after checking the mix on monitors and other systems. VSX just gives you the result right away. @@oinkooink

[@billymack4258]

Question, After I export my finished mix to a wav file to my desk top. In my case do I listen to the finished mix with my sony mdr 7506's headphones? I tried listening w/ the slate phones it does not sound good. I've also listen to other songs on itunes and they do not sound good either on the slate vsx phones so I'm thinking the vsx phones are only meant to use for mixing. Thanks for your time. 😎

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Hey man. Slate VSX is not a headphone. You are not listening to normal headphones as I mentioned in the video. You will hear the sound in a studio space. So if you've never been in big studios before and you're used to headphone sounds, you will feel weird at the beginning. So take your time with it. When you use it, put in your mind that you're not using a headphone, it's a full emulation of studios, unless you shut off the emulation it will be a normal headphone. But the power of the VSX after you learn it well, you will nail every mix from the first time...every decision you will make based on what you're hearing will translate everywhere perfectly. But take your time...listen to all kinds of music with it. It takes around a month for your ears to get calibrated and used to this style of sound... It happened once to me...I took my mix to a super studio in Romania, worth millions of dollars, and when I heard the music in that studio it sounded wrong...like I was in some club...everything sounded weird to my ears...but when I started mixing and hearing my mix outside the studio I realised that my home studio is the bad sound..problem is I got used to bad sounds that I find a perfect sound so wrong... This is what you're feeling right now. So take your time and learn vsx well, I'm serious it will be the best investment you ever made in your life...

[@nkingofficial]

My home studio is decent. I have good acoustic treatment and such, pretty decent studio monitors, good gear etc... ... But it's still a home studio. The room dimensions aren't going to be that of a proper listening environment, so yes - I just got the vsx headphones this week, and while I only have the base model and will definitely be upgrading soon to get more rooms - I'd say the vsx are going to absolutely help be a game changer. And the noise cancelation on them are actually pretty impressive. But sound wise, you can absolutely hear differences and nuances you can't hear from just your monitors, and each "room" and "speaker" has different tonal characteristics. It's quite impressive so far.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

100% the same here... thanks for sharing your experience 😊 🙏

[@billymack4258]

Great info! I just purchased the VSX Essentials not knowing I would only have 2 studio mixing rooms. Can you demo the others rooms? Thanks.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks. You can upgrade slowly room by room. Honestly if you can adapt your ears on one room, that's all what it takes. Imagine it's your own studio and learn the speakers well. Only disadvantage in your case that you won't be able to move from a room to another to hear your mix how it translates in different studios. Now regarding the demo. I doubt there is a demo to try the rooms, but I'm not sure about that. Maybe you can message slate team and see if they can help you in trying the rooms for like few days. They're very open and helpful. Thanks again

[@Celticsaint777]

Would I be able to do the comparisons in the car stereo mode using the essentials set up??

[@Joeknowsit-ALL]

​@Celticsaint777 sorry...I didnt understand the question!

[@Celticsaint777]

@@Joeknowsit-ALL what all studio models are available in the essentials package??

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Essential Includes: VSX Headphones Steven Private Mix Room Sonoma Studios LA Club Luxury SUV Car 770 Headphones Model Pod Headphones Model HD Linear 1 & 2

[@stevechandler8098]

I own VSX Platinum, and I record and mix in a home studio. I use amp sims for electric guitars and midi instruments for everything else. In other words the only things that are not happening in the box are vocals and acoustic guitars. I have some room treatments in my studio to reduce early reflections. It is a room within a room so the acoustic isolation is reasonably good (my furnace is on the other side of one wall). TBH, I'm using the VSX to check the final mix. There's something happening in the software that makes things sound odd. If I pan something hard left or right, it doesn't sound that way in VSX. That's really odd. When I compare how VSX sounds to my two pairs of monitors (Tannoy Reveals and Adam T7V, two speakers that couldn't be more different) it's another data point. The Tannoy's bass goes surprisingly deep but overall is rather weak. The Adam's bass is rich but falls off a cliff below 40 Hz. So the VSX is accurate bass down to at least 25 Hz, maybe lower. If I can get a mix to sound good on all of them, including all the rooms within VSX, plus my stereo speakers upstairs (midrangey Celestion Hifi speakers with metallic treble that makes excess reverb sound awful) then the mix will translate to almost anything.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks for your input. Now regarding the panning. I feel something is wrong with your VSX if you're not feeling it as it is in a real studio. Can you check the cable going all the way in the headphone socket? Cause it feels like you have a mono input if you don't feel the right and left panning. For me, I feel so much. I have the same Nearfield Neumann in my studio, the same as the Nearfield Yellow Matter Studio, and the panning feels the same. Try to contact support and see what would they tell you. It could be a faulty unit or a wiring issue. Cause these things pan like crazy...some of them feel the sound almost go left or right behind me. Especially the Zuma studio.

[@bg321able]

If I use say waves abbey Road mixing plugin then the hard pans are no longer hard. That's adbut should be as it is emulating you sitting in a triangle with your speakers... So even if left speaker has 100 per cent of the pan your right ear will hear it. When I disable the plugin then I hear the 100 pan.

[@wolflie7517]

thanks you! I would like to ask me if VXS is the best choice for me in a very small environment with no acoustics?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Yes, absolutely. As you noticed I have so many professional headphones and monitors. But nothing like thr VSX to get a proper mix that translates outside your studio to any system..

[@wolflie7517]

@@HomeStudioGuru thanks a lot! 😁

[@jcpuga]

I'm thinking between getting these $299 or Arc System with mic that came out $299 as well. Any thoughts?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Honestly no idea about the arc system...but out of my experience with SOUNDID. I can say its really capable specially in the area of phase between the two speakers...which gives you the full power of your speakers. Don't know if the other systems do that...cause these are so important when you're reading 2.1 systems with subwoofers. It will compensate the timing coming to your sweet spot from 3 different locations

[@jcpuga]

@@HomeStudioGuru I heard from most reviewers say SoundID was very similar to Arc System. If that’s true. Would you choose VSX over SoundID for your home studio? My goal being to have my mixes translate a bit better.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Soundid or arc system are the last step after perfectly treating your room. So if your room is treated well? And then you have a few peaks that you wanna lay straight. Only then you can use these systems. But don't expect soundid or arc to fix dips. cause these are physical issues with the room and nothing can fix them except speaker placements and acoustic panel absorption. Now if you don't have a good room and you want something that translates, here is where VSX comes and saves you so much money and gives you the best translation ever.

[@vewilli]

The 770 is the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (closed).

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Yes it's the closed version

[@Joseph_763]

does the vsx system wide feature works properly when playing/referencing from other source like youtube or spotify?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Yes. It works perfectly. You wouldn't know it's at the background.

[@Joseph_763]

@@HomeStudioGuru okay thanks for the info🙏🏾 I was wondering cause on Steven slate KZbin short about systems wide windows someone in the comments said the audio was going in and out..wanted to clarify before I purchased it… Thanks a lot again for helping me out..

[@HomeStudioGuru]

@Joseph_763 sure man...most of the problems that is happening with other people it's because of a driver problem with the audio interface... Version 1 had some problems but in one week they followed it with another version and fixed it all... It's superrrr now

[@Joseph_763]

@@HomeStudioGuru okay noted i got apollo solo so i will see. thanks 🙏

[@JTAITSINGER]

Great video. Thanks. I

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Most welcome....glad you enjoyed the video

[@joo_kraus]

thank you!!!

[@HomeStudioGuru]

You're welcome!

[@BurningBushPedagogy]

Are you really sure, your mixes you use the Slate and the emulation really translate, are you really sure? because I have heard pros who mix and master with sen HD 600 or 650 and clients are very happy, so all these vsx is seeming too much work to go through so many simulations rooms, almost 30 steps listening fixing your mix, but some just use one headphone, am guessing if you boost the highs to the point where you can fish out harsh and sibilance with the HD 600 that is much faster and better. about the club simulation, dont know, but there is always a way.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

I'm sure all kinda pro headphones can do the job. I, myself used to use a couple of headphones before VSX, Hd650, and HIFIMAN HE500. Passing it through Sonarworks Sound ID gave me a great result. The only thing that I suffer from with headphones, is Sub-frequency. Anything below 50hz. Especially if you're working with HIPHOP and EDM. The 808 translations always were either over or low cause I can't hear that frequency properly. If I mix jazz or rock I didn't have that problem cause you don't use those very low subfrequencies. So again what I'm talking about in this video is that VSX could be a great mixing headphone for all styles. Most of the people use one room and get over with it. It's just I like to reference several rooms. Now regarding your question, does VSX translate? Hell yeah, it does. How to use it, to each its own. This is how I use it and translates from my first demo compared to my other 12 headphones.

[@144K_IMMORTALS]

Hello there. Home Studio Guru. First off, God bless you. Second. I am a new musician. I am looking for a pair of headphones that can do everything for me at once and I have heard that the VSX is such headphones. According to your experience, my good mentor, I need a headphone that can help me, monitor, track, mix, record and master on my DAW of choice. I need just one pair. If the Vsx are not such could u please give me some suggestions? You earned a subscription and a thumbs up. God bless you

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Thanks a lot for your comment. I'm glad I could help. Alright, regarding the one headphone. The problem with mixing and mastering is that you can't do that on closed headphones. But you can't track and record on open headphones. So either you buy two headphones, one for tracking and recording vocals that is simple and another proper headphones for mixing and mastering. Orrrrr Slate VSX can do both...like you can use it as a normal headphone without the emulation for recording and with emulation for mixing and mastering. But I still think you should have at least two. In case you bought Slate Vsx. Maybe in a while, you can save for a high end open headphone. Here I would suggest Audeze MM500. Made specially for mixing and mastering. Focal Clear comes next. NEUMANN NDH30 comes 3rd. But those are all open headphones. So you can't track with them. So hope this answers your question. God bless you brother 🙏 🙌 ❤️

[@144K_IMMORTALS]

@@HomeStudioGuru have a budget of about 500 to 600$ to spend on headphones. I need to buy the good stuff from the get go. No errors or mistakes. I saw that the VSX are closed back. So you would recommend something like the Sennhessers or the Beyerdynamc openback headsets ? I ve seen the DT 990s pro and the 1990 x

[@144K_IMMORTALS]

You would recommend me buying VSX for closed back option, then I would need another one for open back. I am choosing between the DT 990s PRO DT 1990s PRO and the Sennhesser 600?

[@144K_IMMORTALS]

If Its not much trouble. Could offer me the best 2 options according to your knowledge of closedback and open back headphones both under 500$ Thanks

[@ManoElMacho]

Bro spent thousands on audio gear but couldnt get a decent camera lol. Nice video bud

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Sorry about that. True I feel so ashamed with my camera 😭😭😭. It's just that I started and didn't have experience in video. I will be investing in a great camera soon. Sorry again.

[@oinkooink]

Funny thing is...yes...a home studio is not an actual studio and yes Slate VSX can help you hear more accurately...BUT...most of us are recording in our homes not just mixing. A home is not a studio. It has standing waves, phase, mud, boom, noise etc etc. So although Slate can help you hear accurately to mix...it can't make your recordings more precise. Of course you can do what I do...use the Slate phones in a room/ speaker combo like Archon Fars and let those indicate to you the quality of your recordings. If they sound bad...do something to make them better until they sound ok in VSX.THEN proceed. Don't record like a nut and then expect Slate to make it better once you're mixing.

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Who said anything about recording? I'm talking about mixing here.

[@oinkooink]

@@HomeStudioGuru I said it. So what?

[@HomeStudioGuru]

@@oinkooink Nothing much ! I'm just wondering why are you talking about something that has nothing to do with this video ! I'm sure you can say whatever you want , but I'm trying to understand the point you're trying to utter here ! it's true, that recording in a wrong room is bad, but when no one said anything about RECORDING itself, why would you bring it in your comment ?! What are you trying to solve here ?!

[@oinkooink]

@@HomeStudioGuru I'm baffled that you think what I said has nothing to do with this video. We're talking about Slate VSX. I'm stunned you don't understand the point I'm making and how it relates to mixing on Slate VSX.

[@Joeknowsit-ALL]

😮

[@JTAITSINGER]

Beyerdynamic DT770

[@HomeStudioGuru]

Yep

[@NickHettinger]

"PromoSM" 👍

[@CMO5569]

💩 ❤