Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › I absolutely the AT A700. Suggestions for an open equivalent/improvement
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

I absolutely the AT A700. Suggestions for an open equivalent/improvement

post #1 of 9
1/19/07 at 7:00pm
Thread Starter 
I am absolutely in love with the AT A700 sound connected to LDM+ running off Zen sleek with a small -ve V curve.

I am looking for an improvement and would like an open headphone. Only problem is, I really don't know what I want better. Maybe I should just say overall better sounding/refined headphone. I really have no clue what will sound better or what it can do better. But keep in mind I like the sound signature of the A700.

My budget is around 200 bucks max, I would prefer to stay in the 100$ range, but can go upto 200 if its really worth it. No in ear solutions please. Full size open cans, circum or supra aural dont matter.

Listen to primarily rock/metal. Will also be using the headphones for gaming, but priority goes to music.

PS:Please dont recomment the A900, I want to try out something else.

Thanks
Reply
post #2 of 9
1/19/07 at 7:01pm
Thread Starter 
wow, I messed up the title. I meant to say I absolutely love the AT A700

Sorry abt that
Reply
post #3 of 9
1/19/07 at 8:45pm
Although I haven't had the opportunity to audition a pair, perhaps a pair of AD700 may offer slightly more refined sound of the A700. They're $149 from Audiocubes and are the open version of the A700's.
Reply
post #4 of 9
1/19/07 at 10:06pm
I used to own an AD900; they have a nice wide soundstage and are wonderfully airy, however they are severely lacking in the bass dept. I'd gather the AD700 were somewhat similar. In terms of similar forwardness, yet with some amount of bass and open, maybe you ought to try the HD595. I recently acquired a pair, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of bass they had.
Reply
post #5 of 9
1/19/07 at 10:33pm
Thread Starter 
I did consider the 595, but several ppl feel it sounds exactly like the A700 with less bass and slightly more mids. I would like to step up if possible and not linger around the same SQ. Are 580's worth considering?

As for AD700/900 I did take a look at them as well, but I would like to take a look at other makes just to get a broader perspective on whats out there
Reply
post #6 of 9
1/19/07 at 10:55pm
Get the Alessandro MS1. The A900 mids do sound recessed. I would imagine the A700 to sound similar. To my ears, the MS1 are similar to the A900, but they add back the mids. The bass doesn't go as deep though. They sell for ~$85 used. A lot of people like them for rock music. If Grado and Audio Technica teamed up and made a set of cans with the sound of Grado with the body style and comfort of AT's, I'd be set. One last thing about the MS1, they leak... a lot.
Reply
post #7 of 9
1/19/07 at 11:00pm
I haven't personally heard the HD580 but it might be something you might want to check out. Esp. since you can get them around the $100-130 mark, they are said to be really good value. However I believe the general consensus is that they are a bit laid back, so if you like cans with a forward presentation, they may not be to your liking.

The HD600 are said to be very similar to the HD580, and I had given them a listen briefly at a meet. I do have an A900LTD, and I found that the Senn's, although were nice, they definitely didn't have a forward presentation, and to me, the bass just wasn't enough.

I've heard a few good things about the Ultrasone lineup, and that may be something to check out if you're looking for something different. I haven't heard a pair myself but will be getting a chance to demo a 750 soon. Although I think their open back varieties are a tad bit expensive starting out.

Edit: I just noticed you mentioned Rock/Metal. I agree with user18; I forgot about mentioning the Grado lineup. The MS1 sounds like it would be a good starting point in that direction.
Reply
post #8 of 9
1/19/07 at 11:13pm
I just got my 750's yesterday. After using my A900 for so long, the 750's just don't feel comfortable at all. Pre-burn in, they sound very dark, I'm hoping they brighten up a lot. I hope Audio-Technica will come out with some new cans. They really don't have anything between the A900 and the W5000.
Reply
post #9 of 9
1/20/07 at 12:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by user18 View Post
I just got my 750's yesterday. After using my A900 for so long, the 750's just don't feel comfortable at all. Pre-burn in, they sound very dark, I'm hoping they brighten up a lot. I hope Audio-Technica will come out with some new cans. They really don't have anything between the A900 and the W5000.
Really? I heard they had a similar sound sig as the A900's albeit a little more open/diffuse sounding because of their proprietary S-Logic thing. I've been trying to justify getting rid of the A900LTD's to something cheaper but so far nothing has been able to trounce them; the competitors are either not forward enough, don't have enough bass, or plain just don't have the refinement.

Apologies to the OP for going on a bit of a tangent..
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphones (full-size)
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › I absolutely the AT A700. Suggestions for an open equivalent/improvement