Official Denon AH-C700 Comparisons/Impressions

[antonyfirst]

Originally Posted by soozieq

Having said that, I do love my Denons with a passion - but my curiosity has been piqued by the PKs (??) - and as I only have one set of headphones now, it would be just silly not to have another pair

I can't help but agree.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Originally Posted by Karma 23

Here's my quick impression of the c700's (thanks, soozie, for letting me listen to yours!). I won't go into much detail here; I'll just compare them to the PK1's (tstarn, you readin' this??).

Upon listening to the Denons, what hit me first was actually how good the PK1's sound for earbuds. I mean the soundstage is night and day when A/B'ing both phones. So how do they compare? They don't, really. I mean one sounds like excellent full-size headphones and the other like excellent IEM's. The Denons, of course, is the latter. It really boils down to how much isolation is needed. I personally think the PK1's sound better overall mainly because of the much wider soundstage. The Denons, though, sound awesome for IEM's. I was extremely impressed with how low the bass extended (close to Sennheiser 280 Pros) and how smooth the mids and highs were. But did they give me the thump that I was looking for? As HeadphoneAddict predicted, no. I'm actually looking at SF5 EB's now, as I've read that if the bass doesn't satisfy with those, then nothing will (IEM-wise).

All in all, would I consider the Denons? Yes, if if I lose too much clarity with the SF5 EB's. I mean I like bass, but not to the point where everything else is drowned by it. However, I do believe that the PK1's are superior sound quality-wise, but since I need isolation, the Denons or SF5 EB's will have to do.

It's been noted the SF5 EB need at least 200 hours to burn-in on the dynamic woofer, just so you know in case you don't like them out of the box. I suspect that is why we either gets reports they love it or reports they hate it, but few in between.

Also, while PK1 might sound more like some full size cans, some full size cans will sound more like speakers.

The PK1 doesn't interact with enough of the pinna to quite do the full job, while cans like my Ultrasone HFI700DVD sound more like speakers because they take advantage of the whole pinna of the ear in how they place the drivers low-forward.

I place PK1 and traditional cans in the same category though, as they are not IEM and do have an advantage of using part of the ear for imaging. They also fit that category for me because they aren't practical to wear during most of my listening time (fall out too easy). After sampling some a while back, when I saw the minibox-E/PK1 package deal I came close to biting. But I have to keep reminding myself that with my ear shape that earbuds fall out to easy, earbuds fall out too easy, earbuds fall out too easy...

Also, I already have some nice Sony earbuds that sound similar to Yuin, they came with the D-EJ2000 (although the Sony are missing the forward mids). And they don't need an amp like the Yuin. Anyone know the model of those buds? They are quite nice, if they'd stay in place. I started using them with my 2.5mm - 3.5mm cell phone cord for MP3 on my LG 9400 phone, because I can safely drive with them in. But, they live in the car and don't get used anywhere else, because I can't do anything with them in or they fall out (even with foam covers which hurt the sound but should make them sit better).

[ajmiarka]

The C551s came in yesterday. I let them play through party shuffle on iTunes last night to start the burn in process.

First impressions so far are good! Fit wise, they are smaller than the C700s which is nice for my ears. Not as fatiguing.

The material seems to be made of the same metal as the C700s. I remember reading some sites saying it was a plastic material (Audiocubes, I think), but it feels like the same metal as the C700s. Hard to tell because the chamber itself is smaller than the C700s.

The cord is not the same as the cord of the C700s which is made by "magical elves". They do tangle more than, but that's not really a problem for me because the main cord is shorter and comes with an extension. The cord is a Y cable. This is good because I use a Shure microphone adapter with my iPhone and overall it's a good length.

The headphones also come with a nice small and sturdy case. It has a pouch for the additional ear tips (comes with S/M/L tips). I use the smallest ones and they fit well.

I recently had to return my C700s, but from memory, the C551s provide very similar sound stage as the C700s. The sound is very wide and very clear.

The bass is still present and is fun and filling. Seems to be a little more present than the C700s though. The C551s are able to produce a lower bass sound than the q-Jays. Some songs where the q-Jays would cause distortion at a lower level, the C551 (as well as the C700s) would be able to push through a clearer bass response.

If anything, I would compare these to the V-Moda Vibes, but with better clarity at all levels. Vocals are clear also. They are not "in your head", but seem to be a little forward and in front. The C551s do produce a very similar sound to the C700s though. Overall I am happy with the purchase!

As for comparing them to the q-Jays, the q-Jays are able to separate out instruments better. The C551s do have the clarity, but you are able to pick out instruments easier with the q-Jays.

Both phones rock though!

[ricthaman]

Hi,

Since you own bith sony 706 & 808 could you please tell me if the Denon's are better then the UE super.fi 5's you've owned.

And I mean in combo with the 808 and 706. I'm just wondering if there's something better then my V-moda vibes. I really love them, but I'm always looking for something better. I love very ambient and atmospheric music.

Like the new Nightwish album (dunno if any of you knows them). It needs very good earphones 'cause it's very deep and ambient. Sometimes very acoustic too. Especially the instrumental version.

So how would the Denon's or Super.fi's handle that kind of sound?

BTW, I got into this thread through atraclife.
Juli right? Me DSP

greetz

[athenaesword]

Originally Posted by ajmiarka

The C551s came in yesterday. I let them play through party shuffle on iTunes last night to start the burn in process.

First impressions so far are good! Fit wise, they are smaller than the C700s which is nice for my ears. Not as fatiguing.

The material seems to be made of the same metal as the C700s. I remember reading some sites saying it was a plastic material (Audiocubes, I think), but it feels like the same metal as the C700s. Hard to tell because the chamber itself is smaller than the C700s.

The cord is not the same as the cord of the C700s which is made by "magical elves". They do tangle more than, but that's not really a problem for me because the main cord is shorter and comes with an extension. The cord is a Y cable. This is good because I use a Shure microphone adapter with my iPhone and overall it's a good length.

The headphones also come with a nice small and sturdy case. It has a pouch for the additional ear tips (comes with S/M/L tips). I use the smallest ones and they fit well.

I recently had to return my C700s, but from memory, the C551s provide very similar sound stage as the C700s. The sound is very wide and very clear.

The bass is still present and is fun and filling. Seems to be a little more present than the C700s though. The C551s are able to produce a lower bass sound than the q-Jays. Some songs where the q-Jays would cause distortion at a lower level, the C551 (as well as the C700s) would be able to push through a clearer bass response.

If anything, I would compare these to the V-Moda Vibes, but with better clarity at all levels. Vocals are clear also. They are not "in your head", but seem to be a little forward and in front. The C551s do produce a very similar sound to the C700s though. Overall I am happy with the purchase!

As for comparing them to the q-Jays, the q-Jays are able to separate out instruments better. The C551s do have the clarity, but you are able to pick out instruments easier with the q-Jays.

Both phones rock though!

so would u consider the c551s a considerable improvement over the c700s? or would they be more like an either or kind of decision for you?

[soozieq]

Originally Posted by ajmiarka

The C551s came in yesterday.
First impressions so far are good!
The headphones also come with a nice small and sturdy case. It has a pouch for the additional ear tips (comes with S/M/L tips). I use the smallest ones and they fit well.

A case? That's just cruel. . .

[soozieq]

Originally Posted by ricthaman

BTW, I got into this thread through atraclife.
Juli right? Me DSP

Yes,

Since you own bith sony 706 & 808 could you please tell me if the Denon's are better then the UE super.fi 5's you've owned.

I sold my second 706 a couple of weeks ago but remember the sound very well. But as for which headphone is 'better', I can only say that the Denons are better for my own listening preferences.

The UE's were my first step up from supplied headphones, and they sounded 10x better than anything else I'd heard up to that point. Nice big soundstage, but with a very warm bassy sound (especially with the 706) - and the vocals seemed too warm and thick. . . so I sold them (and then bought them again when I was trying to 'warm' up the 808!).

But the vocals were still too thick. I wasn't keen on the treble either, I can't even remember why anymore. And the bass was too much with the 706, which already output plenty of bass itself.

I know the UE's have 2 drivers and the Denon's don't, but I think the Denons are far superior in terms of sound quality. They're much much clearer, and although the soundstage is a little smaller, it's still perfectly acceptable and doesn't detract at all.

I'm just wondering if there's something better then my V-moda vibes. I really love them, but I'm always looking for something better. I love very ambient and atmospheric music.

I've never tried the V-moda vibes so I can't compare. But I can say that I find the Denons suit everything I play, and I didn't experience that 100% 'completeness' with any of my previous headphones. I used to have remove certain styles and just leave whatever suited the headphones!

[warrior05]

Originally Posted by ricthaman

I'm just wondering if there's something better then my V-moda vibes. I really love them, but I'm always looking for something better. I love very ambient and atmospheric music.

IMO - the C700s are much better than the Vibes. I picked up a pair of V-Moda Vibes soon after it started getting some attention. I liked them but it was early on my canalphone buying craze. I quickly found out there was a number of canalphones that I preferred over the Vibes that were in the same price point not to mention more expensive ones.

To try and give you some perspective: On a scale of 1-10, I would put the Vibes at 6 and the C700s at 9. Keep in mind this is strictly canalphones I'm talking about and I've tried a number of them: CX300, C350K, JBL 220, V-Moda Vibes, V-Moda Bass Freq, C700K. Out of all of these, the C700s are easily the best I've heard.

[ajmiarka]

Originally Posted by warrior05

IMO - the C700s are much better than the Vibes. I picked up a pair of V-Moda Vibes soon after it started getting some attention. I liked them but it was early on my canalphone buying craze. I quickly found out there was a number of canalphones that I preferred over the Vibes that were in the same price point not to mention more expensive ones.

To try and give you some perspective: On a scale of 1-10, I would put the Vibes at 6 and the C700s at 9. Keep in mind this is strictly canalphones I'm talking about and I've tried a number of them: CX300, C350K, JBL 220, V-Moda Vibes, V-Moda Bass Freq, C700K. Out of all of these, the C700s are easily the best I've heard.

From your scale, I would add to that and say the C551s are an 8.

[ajmiarka]

Originally Posted by athenaesword

so would u consider the c551s a considerable improvement over the c700s? or would they be more like an either or kind of decision for you?

I would say the C551s are on par with the C700s. I wish I would have had both at the same time. The C551s do impress me. I like that they have a smaller body which I can fit into my ear better.

As noted above, if the C700s are a 9, the C551s are an 8 in terms of sound. From memory, I feel that the C700s provided a little bit more detail.