first full size headphone and soundstage

Maybe an AKG K70x? The sound stage is certainly pretty big and sound kind of surrounds you. Generally headphones that do surround sound are done with gimmicky effects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinjaSquirt 

Maybe an AKG K70x? The sound stage is certainly pretty big and sound kind of surrounds you. Generally headphones that do surround sound are done with gimmicky effects.

I agree; the AKG K702's have the biggest soundstage of any headphone I've heard.

(Many have noted this attribute of the AKG K70x series - some even say it's too big.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrconfuse 

okay so normally headphones don't have that effect

Depends. :)

On the headphones, the recording, and the electronics being used.

Generally, though, it's unusual to hear things directly to the rear - it will be more in front, on top, and to the sides.

I don't think you'd be satisfied with anything short of the Smyth SVS Realiser, in which case you're going to be paying over $3,000.

Otherwise, I'd think you'd need something with more of a "headspeaker" design, like the Jecklin Float, AKG K 1000, or Stax SR-Sigma (but that last one's become quite expensive lately).

If you don't need the sound to be in front of you, but just sort of atmospherically presented, then you could try a Stax Lambda model. Some say its soundstage is even wider than the K 701/702/Q701 (which in turn is allegedly wider than the AD700, which is already pretty wide), but I cannot make that comparison for myself.

I'd recommend the Sennheiser HD 598, and a Headroom amp with crossfeed, to more accurately mimic the imaging of speakers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrconfuse 

thanks, I'll look into the cheaper pairs, can't afford the $3000 cans lol

That's perfectly understandable...but keep in mind that they greet newbies here with "Sorry about your wallet." for a reason. Prolonged exposure won't be good for your bank account. (I mean, look at me. Started out with an AD700 for a first serious headphone, and now I'm packing Stax with more Stax on the way!)

Just keep in mind that more expensive headphones also need a dedicated headphone amplifier to make the most out of them-or, in the case of electrostatics, just to use them at all. (Not surprisingly, their amps are specialized and quite expensive.) The AD700 doesn't benefit from amplification, I've heard that the HD 555/558, HD 595/598, and AD900 don't benefit with an amp either, but the K 701/702/Q701 is notoriously insensitive and needs one by many accounts.