Audio Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 review - Take two subwoofers...straight to the head. - Page 6

Forward or laid-back sound has nothing to do with the frequency response balance and forwardness is far from the same thing as being "aggressive" which is what you seem to think is the same as forward. Pro900 is very aggressive sounding and XB500 isn't aggressive sounding, it's the opposite like you pictured it but it's very forward sounding though.

Aggressive = Frequency response balance related, emphasized mids & highs (especially range 4 ~ 12kHz). Often shrill/harsh and more tend to cause sibilance or ear-fatigue.

Forward =  Soundstage related, engaging/fun/"in-your-face" or "on-stage" sounding, often leads to smaller soundstage. Picture yourself sitting in a concert hall, the closer to the vocalist and instruments the more forward sounding.

Laid-back = Soundstage related, lean/relaxed, "concert hall" sounding, often leads to bigger soundstage. Picture yourself sitting in a concert hall, the further away from the stage the more laid-back sounding.

Why are you asking for advice from me in the first place if you just correct everything I say?

HD650 was forward and non-aggressive. HE-500 is forward and aggressive. Pro 900 is recessed in the midrange, but it's still pretty forward AND aggressive. If we are talking midrange = forward, then most of the headphones I have tried aren't forward, even though most of them I've tried are. The HE-500 is about the most mid centric headphone you can get, and also happens to be the most forward headphone I've heard. But, I've had plenty of headphones that have a recessed midrange, yet are still relatively forward in sound. And I've also had aggressive headphone that aren't treble heavy and fatiguing, and vice versa.

And IMHO, the XB500 is the least forward sounding headphone I've ever heard. And it definitely isn't aggressive.

Read my post above, aggressive isn't the same as forward sounding. Yes it's confusing, when talking about forward mids (would require another word IMO) the person usually means the opposite of recessed mids, ie that it would be neutral or boosted but when talking as forward or laid-back sounding of a headphone overall it's soundstage related, not frequency response related. Pro 900 is aggressive but slightly laid-back sounding, XB500 is non-aggressive and forward sounding. HD650 is non-aggressive and laid-back sounding. Grados are aggressive and forward sounding etc.

I want a very forward but non-aggressive bassy (balanced deep & upper bass) headphone.

Okay, I see. But the terms "aggressive" and "forward" usually go hand in hand. Case in point, I'd like to know just one headphone on this planet that is laid back and aggressive.

And yes, now I see what you want. But if the XB500 fits the bill, why look for something different? But so far, I think the MK2 is the closest thing I've heard to what you are describing.

Laid-back and aggressive: Most Beyers (DT770/990/T1 especially), Sennheiser HD800, common flagship HP sound cuz this usually leads to great soundstage as well as transparency.

Some are more neutral in this regard as well D2000 is quite good example that can't really be put into any specific category, it's more in the middle why I think it appeals to so many people.

Yea I know XB500 fits the bill very well and that's why I'm so satisfied with (after some EQing) but I have a hard time believing that there isn't at least ONE headphone out there that would satisfy me more than this $50 headphone, however since I'm so satisfied with it I don't have any urge to try new headphones either, only if I can gather enough and solid info about a headphone that would have those characteristics, I'm willing to give it a try.

This is going horribly off-topic now however so let's try and focus more on Pro700mk2, sorry guys, hopefully it was useful read for some1 though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPGWiZaRD 

Laid-back and aggressive: Most Beyers (DT770/990/T1 especially), Sennheiser HD800, common flagship HP sound cuz this usually leads to great soundstage as well as transparency.

Beyers? I knew they were aggressive, but I never thought of classifying them as laid back. DT990 more so than the DT880 though. D2000 could be an exception then. Pro 900 a bit too, although the D2000 is still more aggressive than the Pro 900 by a tad. But so I guess the consensus is: laid back = recessed midrange, aggressive = forward/bright treble, forward = upfront midrange? If so, I'm on the same page.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPGWiZaRD 

Yea I know XB500 fits the bill very well and that's why I'm so satisfied with (after some EQing) but I have a hard time believing that there isn't at least ONE headphone out there that would satisfy me more than this $50 headphone, however since I'm so satisfied with it I don't have any urge to try new headphones either, only if I can gather enough and solid info about a headphone that would have those characteristics, I'm willing to give it a try.

That's impossible to avoid. Who would have thought I'd take the SRH940 over the HE-500, the AD700 over the PRO 900, or the FX67 over the DBA-02 or Golds? Not me. But even with my satisfaction with the headphones I own, I always wonder if there is another one out there waiting to be discovered; and there probably is. But I really won't ever know. Partially the reason I've tried so many headphones in the past, and continue to try more. Trying to find that really special one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GN3RAL KARL 

The MK2's are going to be sold, I can already foresee it.

You mean the HE-500? MK2's are staying put!

sdomebody had a pair on the for sale thread last week!

140$ if my memory serves.

I was tempted

man i think im gonna pick up a pair when i get back from vacation if i  can get them at that price from buy.com

How would you compare the sound quality to the DT770?

Any of you heard the M-Audio Q40? Would be nice with a comparision between those. :)