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impulse said:

Nice impressions chico, thanks for sharing. I wonder if Fostex intends to keep stretching the TH lineup downward or if this is it... One nice thing about the old Denons was how it started with the humble D2000s, such a shame they got the axe.

Yeah.  Well Fostex came out with the TH600 so they're getting a little more affordable I guess. 

It's a shame that Denon discontinued the Dx000 though.  I think the new denons are supposed to be very different (and they're ugly).


I'd love to have the chance to audition some of those (specially the HD 800, T1 & TH900) but realistically I'm not sure I'd ever allow myself to splurge on anything that high end so I'm probably better off...

Yes, it's sort of bittersweet auditioning them, knowing how much they cost and that I can't afford them.

Still, I'm happy that I'm fortunate enough to own the Q701s/Anniversaries.

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evshrug said:

Woah. WOAH!
I have this feeling... The Sennheiser HD800 may one day delay my dream purchase of a Porsche.  But yeah, that HD800... your description sounds Amazing Chico, and I've only read good things about it otherwise. Wish you'd been able to hear the HD700 too.

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If you like the Q701, I think the HD800s are considered the natural upgrade.  If I could own only one flagship (LOL, like I could own more than one! ) the HD800s would probably be the logical choice.  I need my soundstage!!  If I was going to get a headphone like that, I would need to do a lot more listening/research first.

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evshrug said:

Shipped to the UK? Avoiding VAT? Yeah... $5 less is worth waiting for to buy from Amazon US.

Now I want to see on camelcamelcamel.com how long it was selling for $65 and how often it's done that.
Edit:

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Mine wasn't sold from Amazon, but the 3rd party seller J&R. Same company as you, just through Amazon instead.
 
 

Quote:

mad lust envy said:

AHA! So the D7000 strikes again!

What did I tell you? That headphone... best bass... evar.

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Grr now I want one, I love my w1000x, and these closed cans have a LOT of sound stage as well :O as much as my dt 880 for sure [although 880 is on thick intimate amp, w1000x on Clean Lean spaicious amp]
 
ethier way the D7000 is sadly on my list q.q one will show up soon! And when that time comes [maybe when I get my first Tax Refund] I'll end up with em <3 

So it seems for a headphone/mic combo the Skullcandy SLYRs have the best value $100 and under? They seem to be hard to find, I live in canada.

Depends on current pricing, sometimes the CAL drops as low as $65 so even with a pricy ModMic they'd cost about the same (or much less w/a cheaper mic).

Okay so I got my Sportapros in.

Headband is terrible, lol. So cheap looking. Pretty comfy though. I still prefer the parts express headband, as its a lot less obtrusive and just as comfy.

Popping the drivers out wasn't as easy as I though. They were really on there, but they came out soon after, and putting them back on was a lot easier, as well as taking them off from then on.

I got a brief session with the sportapro headband, and I didn't feel the headband and enclosure didnt really affect SQ like I thought it would. It slightly alters how the drivers sit on my ears compared to the PE headband, KSC75 clips, and KSC35 clips.

Ultimately, I think the KSC75 sounds best with its own clips (as long as the clips are bent inward so the driver hugs your ears tightly. They are a bit loose out of the package). The KSC35 don't fit the same way on the KSC75 clips as the enclosure is thinner, so it sounds more ideal off it's own clips as well. After a longer session with the PE headband, I ultimately felt that it's too finicky with placement and alters the sound of either Koss driver depending on where it rests. With their own clips, the drivers pretty much sit in the perfect spot, everytime. So while the PE headband is nice for those that just can't deal with clips, I'd say the clips are better suited, sonically. The Sportapro headband is nearly as good as the PE headband, but with more plastic and overall parts. The headband works in a pinch, but I'd say it's worth getting the PE headband instead.

So what about the Sportapro driver? Is it the sams as the KSC35? Well, one exterior difference from my KSC35 to the Sportapro driver is that the cable is slightly thicker (almost imperceptible), and it terminates into a right angle 3.5mm plug with a much better strain relief. So the Sportapro sold today has a better cable than the KSC35 sold by Koss directly. Though the cable is different, that could be purely a design change, and not because the two are different.

Testing the differences on all headbands and clips, I can say that despite slight variation of sound (possibly driver variation or if you wanna believe, burn in as my KSC35 has a TON of hours as I used it like 5 hours every night at work), the KSC35 and Sportapro, to ME are the same.

Here's the predicament. The Sportapro might have the same drivers, but the KSC35 clips are the BEST for the KSC35 in terms of raw SQ. This to me personally, is undeniable.

So while you can get Sportapro for cheap, you won't have the KSC35 clips. I can't even find the KSC35 clips for sale alone.

The only thing I can think of is that once your Sportapro drivers go bad, you can send the drivers alone in for repair and tell them its a KSC35 but dont have the clips. Lol. You might get caught as the cable is different.

All in all, I suggest the Sportapro + KSC75 as a makeshift KSC35. The difference isn't huge, but I feel the KSC75 clips on the Sportapro drivers is maybe just a hint inferior to the same with KSC35 clips.

Too bad it goes for $45 on Koss. That's too expensive over the Sportapro which is around $20. $25 just for cheap plastic clips is illogical. With the Sportapro + KSC75, you get two different drivers, plus really comfy clips for $35.

Was able to A/B the Sportapro drivers w/KSC35 clips vs KSC35 w/KSC75 clips. While similar, the Sportapro still edges out the victory, so it lets me know the Sportapro really is the same as the KSC35.

One thing I noticed is that the KSC75 with it's own clips is more v-shaped than the KSC35 or Sportapro drivers with tbe same clips. Its unquestionably brighter on the treble, and slightly mid recessed in direct comparison. Bass is near the same (that clip bending mod really brought out the bass in the KSC75).

Btw, to clarify on why I think the KSC35 clips are better sounding than the KSC75 clips, its because they aren't bendable, and automatically places the KSC35/Sportapro drivers at the optimal distance and placement for most balanced sound. The KSC75 clips might be bendable, but is harder to put in the perfect distance/tightness. My KSC75 clips make the KSC35 slightly more bassy than balanced in comparison to the KSC35 clips. Not by much, but it's noticeable. In theory, the KSC75 clips can be just as good as the KSC35 clips, but getting it to be that perfect would be hard, not to mention the constant use would change the distance eventually. Not an issue with the KSC35 clips.

Quote:

mad lust envy said:

After a longer session with the PE headband, I ultimately felt that it's too finicky with placement and alters the sound of either Koss driver depending on where it rests. With their own clips, the drivers pretty much sit in the perfect spot, everytime.

Too bad it goes for $45 on Koss. That's too expensive over the Sportapro which is around $20. $25 just for cheap plastic clips is illogical. With the Sportapro + KSC75, you get two different drivers, plus really comfy clips for $35.

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I don't see what is so hard about positioning the parts express headband.  It's no different than any other earpad headphone.
 
I've used the KSCs long enough that I can tell when the drivers lock into that "perfect spot" - where the center of the driver lines up with the center of my ear.  It takes me 3 seconds to put them there, then I'm good for the next couple hours.
 
It's true that the clips have less room for error in placement, but I think the clips actually make them sit too far back and high on MY ears, where they are no longer firing in the center.  Closer to behind center.  With the headband I make them fire right into the ear.
 
 
I don't know why the KSC35 is so expensive.  I think Koss is just milking them since they de-discontinued them.
Someone should just sneak into the Koss factory and steal a bag of clips.

Lol, true.

As for the PE headband, I just can't get proper placement as easily as the KSC35 clips. With the clips, it's perfect in less than a second. The PE headband takes a lot longer for me, and because it's nowhere near as secure on my head, it moves out of position, making me redo the whole placement. Also, it's a bit harder to bend for maximum SQ compared to the KSC75 clips.

Overall, the KSC75 clips have the best of everything. Placement, comfort, and not hard to come by. They just need to be bent.

Man, the Sportapro headband is a pain to bend properly. I overbent, and it took forever to bend back to a stocklike form. Out of the box, the Sportapro is hella tight, making the drivers super bassy. Now, it's more or less about as good as the Parts Express headband in terms of SQ. It's actually a pretty decent headband, though it needs more extension for larger heads. The PE headband has plenty of extension.

Hey
 
I have been thinking of getting a set of AD700 headphones due to the rave reviews they have been getting here and elsewhere for some time now. I need them for gaming. 100% gaming.
 
I play FPS games on PS3 and do not have an Astro mixamp. I do however run my PS3 through HDMI to my Onkyo 509 (TX-NR509). So at the moment I already have great surround through my 5.1 system. I do however wish to be able to game chat and my wife cant take the noise and also practices piano in the same room. Which I cant take!  (I am aware there is no built in mic but I am willing to do a fix since these are apparently worth it for the quality...)
 
Now I am hoping I can save some cash and connect a set of AD700s through my audio receiver. Is this possible? I mean is this going to work in the same way? Will the directional positioning be as good? I get the impression that the standard Jack in most Audio Receivers doesn't output a surround signal. Does this mean the AD700s + AStro Mixamp is the only way to go?
 
What about something higher end like the K701s or is the issue the Audio Jack Output....?
 
I would love some ideas from you guys on the best bang for my buck I can get given the set-up I already have.
 
Thanks!
 
 

Quote:

mad lust envy said:

Man, the Sportapro headband is a pain to bend properly. I overbent, and it took forever to bend back to a stocklike form. Out of the box, the Sportapro is hella tight, making the drivers super bassy. Now, it's more or less about as good as the Parts Express headband in terms of SQ. It's actually a pretty decent headband, though it needs more extension for larger heads. The PE headband has plenty of extension.

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It's pretty awkward, because it's designed to be wearable above the head, behind the head, and also fold up. 
 
For me the drivers don't quite pivot enough to sit flat on my ears, which gives me uneven pressure that gets sore after a while.  I also just think they feel awkward on my head. Too many unnecessary plastic pieces and folding joints.
 
The parts express basically disappears on my head.  The headband itself barely even touches my head - it's mainly like a floating clamp to hold the drivers against my ears.

Oh I agree. I meant to say the Sportapro headband is comfy, but not as comfy as the PE headband. I second that there is too much plastic on the head contact, especially the ones that sit directly on the top of my head. The PE headband is a thin metal strip that molds to the head. Can't get much better than that. It literally does disappear.

One thing that sucks about the Koss clip ons is how susceptible they are to getting hair rattling on the driver.
 
I was playing around with some frequency sweeps and my right driver has got a rattle.  Normally it's no big deal.  They get hairs in there pretty easily but it's not hard to take them apart and blow them out.  But I just took it apart to inspect for hairs and I think it's got a hair underneath the diaphragm.  How the hell do I get that out!?

shanek248 said:

Hey, I have been thinking of getting a set of AD700 headphones due to the rave reviews they have been getting here and elsewhere for some time now. I need them for gaming. 100% gaming.


I play FPS games on PS3 and do not have an Astro mixamp. I do however run my PS3 through HDMI to my Onkyo 509 (TX-NR509). So at the moment I already have great surround through my 5.1 system. I do however wish to be able to game chat and my wife cant take the noise and also practices piano in the same room. Which I cant take!  (I am aware there is no built in mic but I am willing to do a fix since these are apparently worth it for the quality...)


Now I am hoping I can save some cash and connect a set of AD700s through my audio receiver. Is this possible? I mean is this going to work in the same way? Will the directional positioning be as good? I get the impression that the standard Jack in most Audio Receivers doesn't output a surround signal. Does this mean the AD700s + AStro Mixamp is the only way to go?


What about something higher end like the K701s or is the issue the Audio Jack Output....?


I would love some ideas from you guys on the best bang for my buck I can get given the set-up I already have.


Thanks!

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Surround and connection issues aside, you're gonna be listening to your wife's piano right thru those AD700... Open headphones might not be the best idea if isolation's an issue, unless she's like one room away. She'll probably even hear the AD700 leaking in between piano notes.

You should really read thru the first post of the thread, it'll answer lots of questions, but the AVR that do a competent job of surround emulation thru the headphone output aren't many... Mostly Yamahas and older discontinued models from other brands I think, don't hold me to that tho.

I have really short hair, so ive never had an issue with that. My driver rattle had to be a blown driver, the first time. I abused the hell out of my clip ons.

I also had the same rattling problem, which I tried to fix in every possible way. In the end, I'm pretty certain that it was a blown driver as MLE said.
 
That's also why my next portable headphone won't be a koss, even though I really liked its sound signature...Either way, I'd still recommend the hell out of 'em to anyone.
 
 
*edit*
Been using my DT990 with my vintage receiver...Just one thing: HOLY S***, this thing is putting the Fiio E9 to shame. I couldn't have possibly imagined a quality amp would have so much impact on the sound...I'm amazed. And delighted.
 
Yes, it has slightly more background noise than the Fiio, but It's hardly noticeable and honestly the pros outweigh the cons to the point that I just don't care...It'll be tough going back to the E9 now.