Audio Technica ATH-AD700 vs ATH-M50 - Page 2

Just got in the ATH-AD700s (ordered them before I knew about the bass issues. Going to return them). The bass that is present has a solid punch to it but just isn't there in quantity. They are very brilliant in the highs and slightly lagging in the mids. The clarity is excellent and I know what people say when they talk about the soundstage, it is ENORMOUS and fantastically precise. I can easily distinguish between the different instruments. Hopefully the FA-011 provides the same assets as this one without all the liabilities!

After testing out the ATH-AD700s with some piano I can assure you that that is its true calling. It sounds GLORIOUS the clarity the tone, it's simply perfect. I can hear the keys bottoming out it sounds as if I am there playing it myself. I can hear EXACTLY where every key is as it is pressed. Amazing.

Alright so I received the FA-011's and these are my thoughts. The Bass is a significant improvement over the ad700s and the sound overall is more rounded and full. The mids have also improved. The ad700s do have a certain "bite" to them in the higher frequencies that I think adds a level of clarity that the FA-011s lack but I'm not sure that would have been possible if you had put in the same level of bass. The soundstage, while not as big as the ad700s, is substantial and seems rather accurate. All in total its a bit of a tradeoff, you're giving away some clarity to get a full rich sound. As for the comfort the FA-011s ARE UNBELIEVABLY COMFORTABLE. They rest on your head like a cloud. I'm still testing them and I"ll provide updates as I discover more. Also, axelcloris, Is that pipe tobacco I smell on these?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

Gamefly, where are you located?

 

A 100 hours of use with the FA-011 might improve their sound.

 

The Xonar DG is a half-way decent headphone amplifier and DAC.

Adding an external headphone amplifer should give at least a little improvement to the FA-011.

On eBay they sell single tube headphone amplifier from $50-$120, ships from China.

 

Or a

Little Dot 1 + Hybrid tube amp.

O2 (Objective 2)

I'm in Chicago. Also Axelcloris said he had used them for ~150 hours so I'm assuming they're already as broken in as they will get. I have noticed that this thing sucks a lot of power so I'm sure a better amp would help I have this thing cranked up to about 75% to get a decent volume.

oh and yes it is to the >64 ohm setting

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxelCloris 

 

Pipe tobacco? I certainly hope not, as I'm a non-smoker and live alone. :p Maybe the air from cleaning the tiny area around where the mesh and wood met that I couldn't reach with a cloth?

maybe haha crazy. Axel what were your thoughts on these?

Alright here's an update now that I've had time to decently test these. The bass is as solid as people say very tight and punch, very deep, while at the same time never becoming overwhelming. Silibance can be an issue as the highs are emphasized and so on some very particular songs it can be a bit painful but that is rare. Something I have noticed is that VERY RARELY (only one instance so far) there is a slight distortion. The instance I noticed is on the song "sax quartet" from the cowboy bebop soundtrack. At 27 seconds when all the saxs are playing there is a pressure and a distortion and when I compared it to my other headphones this was the only one to have it. Like I said though, this only happened once. As I mentioned before it doesn't have the same kind of "bite" that the ad700s have on some acoustic songs(which is really where the ad700 shines imho) however notes are clear and crisp. What really makes these phones beautiful is how full the sound is. Every note, while not necessarily the most crisp, is lush and full. The overall listening experience is deep and fantastic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AxelCloris 

 

Honestly, I gotta say that you and I have similar opinions of them when it comes to music. I do have Sax Quartet as well, but I can't recall listening to it on the Fischers.  If you want a suggestion, listen to Space Lion off the first OST. Start it up, close your eyes, and just melt... seriously, it's that good on them. And I still maintain that they are one hell of an all rounder for their price. My only beef with them, and I mentioned this before in another thread, is that when I'm listening to them while running Dolby Headphone the soundstage feels off. And for gaming, I don't like my bass quite that high; I imagine it's great for some but it was a bit too much for me.

I actually noticed that about the dolby headphone. I think it's because as LFF mentioned in his review the soundstage actually is a bit exaggerated and covers 220 degrees instead of the usual 180. I think this causes the virtual speakers to sound ever so out of place. I actually don't mind the bass being high since it isn't muddy.

OH MY GOD you just blew my brain to pieces. That ambient bass, the crisp sound of the hands on the drums, the wail of the saxophone, that...is nirvana.