[tolkencatholic]

Hey guys. I currently own a HFi-580 and will be looking into upgrading to either the ALO-780 or the Ultrasone HFi-680. The HFi-580s are great. Bass impact is amazing and as my first good can, has made me hear things in my music that I've never heard before! However, the recessed mids are becoming more and more bothersome to me, making the cans sound a bit hollow. Just wanted to know if anyone has any impressions and comparisons between the 680s and ALO-780s. Budget is $600.
I'll mainly be using it for my iMod rig, listening mainly to rock, electronica, and hip-hop.
 
Thanks!

 

[blueyan]

With $600, you can get HD650 , Pro 900 or  DT990 .

 

[tolkencatholic]

Think the HD 650 might be too laid back for my tastes.
The Pro 900 are meant for studio work, don't know if they'll be fun for old rock 'n' roll.
The DT990 seems like a beast to power.

 

[genclaymore]

I seen AKG 701/2 for 235-240 new on ebay which where I got my AKG702 new. I also saw the DT990 600ohms on amazon for 229 i think.

 

[Ultrazino]

I'm 100% sure that he does not want an AKG!
 
I haven't heard the 680 but the consensus seems to be that the 780 easily beats it, especially with an ALO-mod. Also, the 680 is lighter on bass than both the 580 & 780, I think.
 
The Pro 900 are not meant more for studio work as is every other expensive can.

 

[genclaymore]

I disagree fully from having the HFI-780s before moving to a recenty AKG702, The normal HFI-780 only has its bass quailty over the AKG 701/2.  It was fully burned in  with 300+ hours into them and was orginal HFI-780.   The HFI-780 bass got old after using it for a 2years, thats why I sold it couple of weeks ago. I heard alot more detail with the AKG 702 then what I heard from the HFi-780s.
 
The AKG 701/2 are studio Ref headphone, it has bass but its not a basshead headphone.It has to be amped to have bass, of course I dont know about the modded HFI-780 because I would have never got the HFI-780 modded as ALOs would been costly for me to have done.
 
Tho if the op is a basshead then he would be better off with headphones that for them.

 

[tolkencatholic]

I don't mind the bass, but I definitely am not a ''basshead.'' I really like the HFi-580, but the recessed mids having been getting to me lately. A little less bass wouldn't be a problem for me. Reason why I went for the 580s was because I really really REALLY did not like the Senn. HD280 Pro. As long as a headphone does not sound like that, I'll be happy

 

[tolkencatholic]

The Pro 900s look really nice! How do they do with regular rock recordings? (ie Radiohead, Arcade Fire, or Spoon)

 

[tolkencatholic]

bump

 

[vchao137]

let me get the 580s off you when you get your new phones =]

 

[stang]

I used to own ALO-780. Extremely recessed mids. I wouldn't touch them for rock (I mainly listen to rock and metal). Beyerdynamic and Grado are much better suited imo. Sennheiser HD580/600 were pretty good with rock, too. Denon D5000 I didn't like too much with rock, either. It seems I am not much of a closed can person. Shure SRH-840 are supposed to be pretty good though, I have to try them sometime...

 

[nigeljames]

ALO-780 certainly do NOT have recessed mids on my system and I love them for rock and metal.

 

[stang]

Well compared to my HF-2, I AB'd them and couldn't stand ALO-780 after hearing the Grado's mids. I tested them both with my Zero's amp and Qinpu A3. I now have better gear, but the ALO-780s mids certainly could not compete with that of the HF-2.

 

[nigeljames]

Well can't comment on the Grados but I prefer the ALO-780 to both the K701 & HD650 + SD v2 cable.

 

[stang]

For which genres? I could only stand ALO-780 for electronic based music like trance. Grado is great for jazz and some rock, whereas I love my DT880 for metal because it isn't overly harsh/bright like my HF-2 are. Got K1000 now, but may get rid of them anyway (give back to friend). Only paid $550, but that's another story though...