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"wide" soundstage with closed headphones (Audio Technica ATH-A700)

post #1 of 9
12/1/08 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 
Hi. I have been a Sennheiser HD497 headphones users for some years but last night I had the chance to try a very good priced Sennheiser headphones model HD201. Even tough the sound was no particular good the sound gave me a sense of space or surround sensation never felt before, like I was in a room listening from speakers several feet from my head. I read some discussions at this forum and learned that this feeling is supposedly achieved with any closed (circumaural) headphone (which the Senn's HD 201 are) but I don't know for sure. As I LOVED that kind of hearing and would like to get some better headphones with the same or better effect, I read some great reviews about the Audio Technica ATH-A700 in amazon.com and some reviewers described the sound that I am talking about, saying that the sound was like music "in your head" like you were actually playing in the band with "separated" instruments and very wide "soundstage". I was also reading about the Ultrasone headphones with their S-Logic Natural Surround. Anyway, would I achieve such wide soundstage, "head-inside-a-music-box", "music coming from speakers several feet my head" feeling with this Audio Technica ATH-A700? I read great reviews also for the ATH-AD700 but as they are OPEN TYPE HEADPHONES I think they might not be that good in the kind of sound I want to achieve. Are the ATH-A700 for what I want? Thank you very much for all your help!
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post #2 of 9
12/1/08 at 7:01pm
Thread Starter 
Would really appreciate your thoughts and/or opinions on this post. Thanks you a lot!!
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post #3 of 9
12/1/08 at 7:13pm
What is your budget for this purchase?

What will you be using with these headphones, a PC, receiver, ipod, an amp, or what?

Do you want closed headphones so the sound does not leak out and bother others? Or do you want closed headphones so you are not bothered by externals sounds?

What kind of music do you listen to?
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post #4 of 9
12/1/08 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 
Mostly pop, rock and synthpop. From Sting to Enigma from Depeche Mode to Guns n Roses. My budget will be from $1 to $200+- and the reason I want closed headphone is not for isolation purposes (that is not an issue to me) but because I have read closed headphones provide the sound feeling like music coming from speakers feet away and the other thing I talked about in my original post. Thank you again!
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post #5 of 9
12/1/08 at 8:34pm
What will you be using with these headphones, a PC, receiver, ipod, an amp, or what?
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post #6 of 9
12/1/08 at 8:40pm
I loved my A900's for just that reason. Great starter cans as they are easily driven and source forgiving. They really made my ipod sing, something none of my headphones, for one reason or another, can't do.
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post #7 of 9
12/1/08 at 8:50pm
Open headphones generally have a wider soundstage than closed headphones do. The AD700 would give you what you want more than the A700.
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post #8 of 9
12/1/08 at 9:35pm
Thread Starter 
I will use it with my iPod or with my Sony Discman. I think I will buy the A700. I know the AD700 are regarded as better sounding headphones but all the reviews I have read about the A900 and A700 insist on their wide soundstage, great imaging and sense of you head into a music box and I have not heard similar reviews about the AD700... Is is true that closed headphone give the head just feet away from real speakers feeling?
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post #9 of 9
12/1/08 at 10:36pm
The AD700 has a wider soundstage than either the A700 or A900. It has one of the largest soundstages you can have in the pricerange. The A700 and A900 have wide soundstage for a closed phone but open headphones can still beat them rather easily. Closed headphones can provide a more intimate listening experience though because you are less easily distracted by outside noise. Unless im misunderstanding what you want the AD700 has one of the airiest, most spacious sounds you can get for $100.

Here is a quote from Marcus from headphonic comparing the A700 and AD700. "The A700 has boomier, slower bass than the AD700, but the A700 lacks soundstage, separation, detail and clarity. Basically it's a boxed in, closed, muffled sounding AD700."
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