Lookng for new headphones!
Jul 1, 2012 at 3:55 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 17
xClariS

xClariS

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Hello everyone!
 
I'm wondering what the best headphones would be in the price range of $300-400 for Music-JPop, Games, Movies.
I recently got my hands on a Razer Tiamat 7.1, but I'm not really satisfied with what comes out of it. I mean, in games its pretty nice, but everything else is just so-so, not really good.
I've got a Yamaha DSP-A2070 amp which i found in my storage while packing up to move houses, I'm not sure if its still a good amp as compared to the amps they got out there these days, as it was made in 1993(?)
 
Was looking at the Q701, would this be a nice choice?
 
Any help would be appreciated!!
 
Jul 1, 2012 at 4:16 PM Post #2 of 17
Quote:
xclaris said:
I'm wondering what the best headphones would be in the price range of $300-400 for Music-JPop, Games, Movies.
I recently got my hands on a Razer Tiamat 7.1, but I'm not really satisfied with what comes out of it. I mean, in games its pretty nice, but everything else is just so-so, not really good.
I've got a Yamaha DSP-A2070 amp which i found in my storage while packing up to move houses, I'm not sure if its still a good amp as compared to the amps they got out there these days, as it was made in 1993(?)
 
Was looking at the Q701, would this be a nice choice?
Click to expand...

I believe you might have a really good Yamaha amplifier.
Yamaha still offers the manual in pdf format.
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/av/english/am/DSP-A2070.pdf
 
I'm guessing the A2070 offers zero surround sound for headphones.
And the headphone jack might have a high impedance, which is not beneficial to low Ohm (Q701 62-Ohm) headphones.
Personally I would sell off the A2070 and put the cash towards a new DAC and Headphone amplifier.
 
But you could all ways plug the Q701 into it and tell us how is sounds.
 
Jul 1, 2012 at 4:39 PM Post #3 of 17
Thanks for the quick reply!
 
Do you mind if you could share some nice DACs/Headphone Amps for let's say around the price range of $400~$700 combined? (Lower being better for me of course :D)
 
Oh and just incase you need to know, I'm usually on PC/PS3 if that matters.
 
And for the headphones It would be preferrable if I could get abit higher of a bass output than any regular headphones ^_^. (Quality being the priority though.)
 
Jul 1, 2012 at 5:00 PM Post #4 of 17
Quote:
xclaris said:
Thanks for the quick reply!
 
Do you mind if you could share some nice DACs/Headphone Amps for let's say around the price range of $400~$700 combined? (Lower being better for me of course :D)
 
Oh and just in case you need to know, I'm usually on PC/PS3 if that matters.
Click to expand...

With a PS3, best thing is a DAC/Amp with optical input and Dolby headphone processing, an Astro Mix-Amp. would be good.
If your PC's motherboard comes with an optical output, you could also connect it to the Astro Mix-amp.
With your PC, you could also just install an Asus Xonar DG (PCI) sound card ($14-$24), leave the Astro hooked up to the PS3.
Both the Astro Mix-Amp and Xonar DG come Dolby Virtual Headphone 5.1 and  half-way decent headphone amplifiers.
But you might consider buy a separate headphone amplifier that's better then the Xonar DG & Astro Mix-Amp to get the best out of the AKG Q701s.
The Fiio E9 headphone amp. is a good value, $115
O2 (Objective 2) headphone amp. $155.
Hopefully others on Head-Fi can make an even better recommendation for an Amp.
 
Jul 1, 2012 at 5:05 PM Post #5 of 17
Thanks for those suggestions!
 
I'll be researching some more DACs/Headphones/Amps until more suggestions flow in ^_^.
And as for headphones, would love some suggestions on which headphones to get (Closed, Open), where you get immersed into the music itself, if you know what i mean. Music is my top priority at the moment. :)))
 
Jul 1, 2012 at 5:34 PM Post #6 of 17
Regarding amp, I can recommend the Matrix M-stage. It´s a really nice amp for it´s price.
 
http://www.headfonia.com/matrix-m-stage/
 
There is also a version with integrated DAC, but I have read that the DAC doesn´t match the amp in SQ.
 
/ ChriG
 
Jul 1, 2012 at 5:49 PM Post #7 of 17
BTW, a cheap setup to "get immersed into the music" in my experience is to buy a nice vintage receiver (in my case the Marantz 22xx-series) and the "new version" of Sennheiser HD650, and a decent DAC to go with that :)
 
/ ChriG
 
Jul 1, 2012 at 5:58 PM Post #8 of 17
Quote:
xclaris said:
Thanks for those suggestions!
 
I'll be researching some more DACs/Headphones/Amps until more suggestions flow in ^_^.
And as for headphones, would love some suggestions on which headphones to get (Closed, Open), where you get immersed into the music itself, if you know what i mean. Music is my top priority at the moment. :)))
Click to expand...

The Sennheiser HD558s (50-Ohm) are cheaper then the Q701s and I believe they at a little less demanding on amplifiers.
I'm currently looking at replacing my HD558s with Q701, easier for me as I have decently powerful amps to work with and they both come with headphone surround sound built in.
 
Jul 2, 2012 at 5:04 AM Post #9 of 17
Sorry for the slow response, fell asleep :frowning2:.
 
I might be being abit picky here, but i just like the looks on Q701s more than the HD558s >.<~
To use a Q701 would I be fine with just using a headphone amp?
One of the ones that have been suggested?
Fiio E9
O2
Matrix M-stage
 
Or is there a better headphone amp I could get in the range of $300-400?
 
Thanks!
 
Jul 2, 2012 at 5:35 AM Post #10 of 17
Quote:
xclaris said:
Sorry for the slow response, fell asleep :frowning2:.
 
I might be being abit picky here, but i just like the looks on Q701s more than the HD558s >.<~
To use a Q701 would I be fine with just using a headphone amp?
One of the ones that have been suggested?
Fiio E9
O2
Matrix M-stage
 
Or is there a better headphone amp I could get in the range of $300-400?
 
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I guess I would go for the O2 (Objective 2),
There are a few threads on Head-Fi were all they talk about is "Amping the Q701".
As you have a decent budget, get a used Asus Xonar DX or D1 sound card ($55) for your PC.
It comes with a better DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) then the DG.
 
Jul 2, 2012 at 6:59 AM Post #11 of 17
OK! I've been reading for quite awhile now and heard HRT Music Streamer II+O2 would be a nice combo for the Q701s for around $300?
And I'll be getting myself a Asus Xonar D1 as well :D.
If theres any more suggestions you guys could come up with i'll be a happy man :D.
 
Jul 2, 2012 at 11:58 AM Post #12 of 17
Quote:
xclaris said:
OK! I've been reading for quite awhile now and heard HRT Music Streamer II+O2 would be a nice combo for the Q701s for around $300?
And I'll be getting myself a Asus Xonar D1 as well :D.
If theres any more suggestions you guys could come up with i'll be a happy man :D.
Click to expand...

You can't use the HRT MusicStreamer II and the Xonar D1 at the same time on the computer.
They can both be hooked up/installed at the same time, but you can only feed your audio thru one of them at a time.
Could use the HRT for music and the Xonar D1 for gaming an movies.
 
Jul 2, 2012 at 2:08 PM Post #13 of 17
Oh, well, to make this easier, could you just list the 2-3 things i should buy to make it easier :c
I'm pretty lost, so i just want to know which one to buy >.<~ Will make my life easier, because I already ordered my Q701s, thanks!
 
Jul 2, 2012 at 2:28 PM Post #14 of 17
I love playing games and watching movies with my Sennheiser HD598. The soundstage is incredible so games become incredibly immersive and I find the bass to be good enough to feel the impact of explosions or gunfire (the 598 isn't known for having a high bass response). Look at the Denon AHD2000. I have the 5000s and despite the fact that they are closed the soundstage is incredible. I haven't tried games with these yet but the bass on the 5000/2000 is incredible (deeper, more present, higher impact than the 598; although the 598 probably has a better soundstage). Let me know if you learn anything as I won't get to try the denons out on my PS3 until August. Hope this helps!!
 
Jul 2, 2012 at 2:31 PM Post #15 of 17
Quote:
xclaris said:
Oh, well, to make this easier, could you just list the 2-3 things i should buy to make it easier :c
I'm pretty lost, so i just want to know which one to buy >.<~ Will make my life easier, because I already ordered my Q701s, thanks!
Click to expand...

With movies you really need a sound card that has Dolby Digital, which the Xonar D1 comes with.
The HRT Musicstream II maybe a great DAC, but offers zero surround sound features for movies and gaming.
 
So just get the Xonar D1 and the O2 amp.
It should keep you in Audio Heaven for a time.
 
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