Mad Lust Envy's Headphone Gaming Guide: (8/18/2022: iFi GO Blu Review Added)
Feb 26, 2013 at 2:31 PM Post #11,972 of 48,562
The STX and O2 should be decent with them. The Magni would be better though. It has more power at 600ohm.
 
Feb 26, 2013 at 2:46 PM Post #11,973 of 48,562
Thanks for the great write and thanks all that contributed. I passed on the Astros to go after the Dt990's after couple weeks of debating.Pretty much will be used for everything gaming,music,etc.. just felt these would be a nice all around set to start with. 
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Feb 26, 2013 at 7:20 PM Post #11,974 of 48,562
Quote:
This one is just ALOT cheaper than the 250 ohm:)

I own the Essence STX and an O2 amp and a decent receiver.
I would think a Titanium HD with an external headphone amplifier (like my O2) or the Schit Magni would be the best choice.
My O2 seem to provide more power to drive my 600-Ohm headphones then the STX and receiver.
I'm guessing the Magni is at least equal power wise to my O2.
 
Feb 26, 2013 at 7:24 PM Post #11,975 of 48,562
Quote:
 
Yeah, that's how I was doing it. Xbox HDMI to to, OPTICAL out on tv to mixamp. That way I could use all my devices with the mixamp. My TV however, a 55 inch Sammy, it seems was not able to output 5.1.
Turns out I was NOT getting a surround feed. I plugged in the optical cord straight from the 360 to the mix amp and fired up Far Cry 3. The difference was night and day. I can really feel the footsteps, gunshots and explosions.
 
Haha, here I was sitting there with the optical from the TV in the mixamp. Gunshot. Reload. Grenade. Unhook the optical and plug in the 360 optical. Gunshot. Reload. Grenade.
 
So yeah, thanks for the advice guys. What little I've been able to play since doing this (only played FC3, and for not very long), the results have been incredible. I hopefully should not have any other issues with the 598's.
 
 
On a different but related topic, I will be upgrading my surround sound system this week. Going from an old Samsung home theater in a box to an Onkyo NR515, BIC F12 sub, and Energy take classics 5.0.
 
My question, will the amp on the NR515 better drive these cans or should I continue to use the mixamp?

 
Hey EdwardB4 are you sure that  your not outputing 5.1 from your hdmi cord into your tv set then out the optical port of the tv to mixamp in 5.1 virtual surround?? IF NO, that's strange both of my sets do it but maybe its different from model to model samsungs??   So i assume you had the console hooked  up to HDMI port 1 which is usually the game mode port on the sammy's right??
 
I did just as you say you had done by putting optical cord from out of xbox360 straight into mixamp and your original way with the hdmi sounds no different!! They both put out 5.1 virtual surround on both my sammy's but again it could be diff on yours...
 
Feb 26, 2013 at 11:26 PM Post #11,976 of 48,562
The Q701s and K702 Anniversaries are locked in an epic battle as I speak!
 
Feb 26, 2013 at 11:33 PM Post #11,977 of 48,562
Looking forward to this as I have q701 and I'm thinking of returning themand getting the Annie
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 2:00 AM Post #11,978 of 48,562
Here are the initial quick comparisons:
 
Q701:
Faster sounding, more air, cleaner separation, soundstage is more laid-back, greater impression of depth and distance in the soundstage.
 
K702 65:
More "Musical", lush, smoother, more body, slightly darker treble, less air, soundstage gives impression of being more forward and intimate.
 
 
Whoo boy...I already have about two and a half pages of notes!
 
Okay.
 
Well, first off I will say that as far as I can tell, the sonic changes are due to the pads.  I've A-Bed back and forth between each can with their stock pads, A-Bed back and forth with each can wearing the latters pads, and A-Bed back and forth with the same can switching pads.  It's a little hard to due the last one, as I have to pause and unlock all the bayonet locks then swap pads and relock them (usually having to reposition that little grey foam that likes to fall out).  But, again from what I've heard so far the Q701 with 65 pads sounds like the 65 and vice a versa. 
 
So the good news is I think you can mod any x70x into anniversaries by using their pads.  You can also "own" both types of sounds if you own both pairs of pads.  No need to keep two headphone around..
 
The bad news is, I don't know which can I like more!  They both do some things well. 
 
As was ruled out earlier in the thread, the changes aren't just limited to bass, nor are they just limited to bass mids and treble.  I also detect some soundstage changes as well.
 
This is where the Q701 still appears to have an advantage.  It's main strong points are the soundstage size, sound separation, and air.  The K702 65s strong points are the thicker bass (obviously), as well as the rest of the balance being a bit thicker and weightier, more "musical" as head-fi would call it. It's a little warmer and a little darker.  BUT, the soundstage sounds a bit more intimate and upfront, whereas the Q701 still sounds more laid back and spacious.
 
My first thoughts after hearing the soundstage were, "OK, so the bass isn't "free."  Those flatter non-angled pads are compressing the soundstage."  I'm not 100% positive though, because I heard the anniversaries throw a couple sounds out pretty far, at a similar distance as the Q701.  So now I'm running some more tests to try and further disect the soundstage differences to see how much of the soundstage differences come from a byproduct of the weightier sound, and how much of it comes from actual having flatter pads and what role they are playing. 
 
I don't want to conflate a weightier sound with a smaller soundstage, because that's the impression you get at first listen (similar to how some people say the Q701 soundstage is smaller than older x70x).  Possibly the soundstage sizes are similar, but the 65s have more sound trying to fill up the same space (soundstage size) or even slightly smaller, which means you can't have as clear separation as some sounds start to bump into each other.
 
Or possibly the flatter pads are indeed a bit detrimental to the soundstage, and pan the sounds harder to the sides and decrease the depth.  Still working on analyzing that.  The flattest part of the Q701 pad is just about the same size as the entire anniversary pad.
 
I also think the anniversary sounds more like a modded Q701 then a universally "improved" Q701.  And judging by the pad swapping I did, it may in fact be primarily a pad "mod".  I wouldn't expect a pad mod to completely improve a headphone without some side effects though.
 
I think it's safe to say that the anniversary's balance is more general-purpose, where usually the x70x gets recommend more for specific genres (usually instrumental stuff) then others.  If your someone who digs the x70x but listens more outside of it's usual recommended genres, then the anniversary may be a better choice.  If you mainly listen to the "typical" x70x genres though, the original x70x might be better as that extra air and soundstage separation (and size?) is pretty important to those genres.
 
Still working on it...
 
Also, the anniversaries are quite sexy looking.
 
BTW, my initial impressions share some similarities to Blackmore's here >
http://www.head-fi.org/t/626971/akg-k702-65th-anniversary-edition/1515#post_9193460
 
Also this quote from Preproman from the previous page is pretty accurate "Q701 = extended treble but not harsh clear crisp balanced with more air.  65th.  Treble rolled off a tab bit but not in a bad way. More bass presence and the mids are more lush.  Still very balanced with less air"
________________________
 
....I've already listened enough to "normalize" a little to the anniversaries then gone back to the Qs and thought they sounded more "audio-technica-y"
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That's probably the experience you will get when tdocks Q701 arrive.  They will sound thinner, lighter, and brighter (similar to old x70x).  You probably won't like it after normalizing the anniversary sound.  But, the soundstage and imaging are worth paying attention to (and the air is appreciated as well).  Those are BIG for me.
 
I think they're both balanced in their own way, and are like variations on a similar balance.  Whichever one you've been listening to more may sound more balanced to you. 
 
So far if I could combine the two, I'd keep the majority of the anniversaries balance, but with the upper air of the Q701 and it's spacier sounding soundstage.
 
 
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/626971/akg-k702-65th-anniversary-edition/1575#post_9206925
 
I'm still listening, and adding more as I go.  I will consolidate the impressions all together after I've had more time.
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 3:38 AM Post #11,980 of 48,562
Quote:
oh noooooooo... I was hoping that the sound stage wouldn't get smaller.... sigh... oh well.  I'll have to hope that with more burn in that changes....

 
Yes, me too. 
 
 
I wouldn't wait for burn-in to change it.  From what I've heard, the pads are making the difference in sound.  And the pads do the same thing with my Q701s.  I swapped the anniversary pads onto my Q701 and it makes them sound like the anniversary - more body, but also more forward.  And my Q701s are WELL burned in. 
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Feb 27, 2013 at 3:49 AM Post #11,981 of 48,562
Quote:
 
Yes, me too. 
 
 
I wouldn't wait for burn-in to change it.  From what I've heard, the pads are making the difference in sound.  And the pads do the same thing with my Q701s.  I swapped the anniversary pads onto my Q701 and it makes them sound like the anniversary - more body, but also more forward.  And my Q701s are WELL burned in. 
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Oh man... I just bought a 65th Annie... I should of just got the Pads... well if anything changes please let us know.  Thanks!
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 8:01 AM Post #11,983 of 48,562
No. I heard the AD900 has worse positional cues and a wonkier soundstage.
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 9:00 AM Post #11,984 of 48,562
Ok, honestly ive read through about 700 pages. ( school sucks -_-) and I'm still confused. I'm a competitive gamer ( that's what I do besides college) and I'm looking for some headphones that would be the best for me. I'm working with a astro mix amp 2013, and looking for something arround 100-200. NEVER
Get Astros, I swear there partnered with dr dre. ( lol)
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 11:36 AM Post #11,985 of 48,562
Quote:
Ok, honestly ive read through about 700 pages. ( school sucks -_-) and I'm still confused. I'm a competitive gamer ( that's what I do besides college) and I'm looking for some headphones that would be the best for me. I'm working with a astro mix amp 2013, and looking for something arround 100-200. NEVER
Get Astros, I swear there partnered with dr dre. ( lol)

 
You first need to answer the all the normal prerequisite questions:
 
1. Do you plan to use it for only gaming, or music also?
2. Do you need it to be portable (like walking around and it listening), or mainly at a computer?
3. Do you need good sound isolation or is it ok if sound leaks out or in? (could bother you or other people if its an open vs closed headphone)
4. I'm assuming you want something with great comfort (As a gamer I understand the need during long sessions)
5. What is your favorite color?
 
Think that about sums it up. Answer these (mostly 1-4) and the other forum members will be able to offer you a little more advice.
 

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