[wahsmoh]

The bass on these headphones is just jaw dropping. Everything sounds so separated even on this hip-hop track from Three 6 Mafia I am listening to in FLAC.  The slam just sits right below the rest of the sound without breaking separation even with the deepest 808 lows. The bass isn't the kind that shakes the earpads, it's the super clean kind that you feel air moving from the ortho pushing with authority.
 
EDIT: This is coming from a guy who owns 2 12'' subwoofers. One for my car, one for my house :]

 

[reddog]

I'm hoping he is working on a completely open mad dog.

I would gladly buy a open mad dog. I am still in awe at how great the alpha dogs sound, especially for a set of closed headphone. A open ended MrSpeakers headphone would greatly please the audiophile with in me.

 

[aamer23]

I would buy a set too, I hope they can make a Reference product that can take on the Top 5 for about the same as the MD's or MD Pros

 

[aamer23]

should we start a new thread - New Open MrSpeakers Headphones who wants one? if the community get behind this maybe they might do it 

 

[HarleyZH]

I'm pretty sure that I've read that making an open fostex mod is considerably harder than the closed versions - there don't seem to be too many DIY jobs of those around.

 

[aamer23]

well they could switch driver types to say Grado with their own custom cups, frame and cables and paint especially paint, love the AD's finish

 

[torta]

Have been listening to AD for a while, and for me (having also Fidelio X1) excels with classical and vocal centric music. But ... the biggest gripe is the weight. I listen while I work, and while the difference between X1 and AD don't seem much on paper in real life feels a bit different. My question is for recommendation for similar sound signature to AD ... in open type headphone (I don't need closed cans so much, but wouldn't mind if they would be lighter). It could be a bit warmer also (AD with dots are still a bit bright for me), but just a bit ... I want to keep it for classical and acoustic/vocal stuff.
Maybe Grado (I fear they could be to bright) or Hifiman 400i?

 

[HarleyZH]

Grado will be too bright/aggressive - not really alike to the Alpha Dog. HD600 seems like a reasonable option if comfort is desired. Haven't heard a 400i to comment. HE500 is just as heavy/bulky as AD. 

 

[aamer23]

yep the 600/650/700 more comfortable however, for me the 600/650 were lacking in detail at the top end. HD 700 were better than the 600/650 but much too expensive (700 should not be more than 550 to 600 USD). that is why i bought the ADs. the Grados were very detailed but I did not have a long session yet with them so cannot say if they are harsh in general or just with poor source material. 

 

[gelocks]

Instead of an open headphone and/or re-hashing more T50RP driver usage, I'd prefer a new design, new drivers, etc... (I basically think we have heard the limit of those Fostex drivers and anything else that might be squeezed will be minimal).
 
So come on Dan!

 

[HarleyZH]

The HD700 would be a worse option for the above poster.  Would be no good for Torta as they are too bright, brighter than the AD or HD6X0 series. 

 

[Lohb]

  Instead of an open headphone and/or re-hashing more T50RP driver usage, I'd prefer a new design, new drivers, etc... (I basically think we have heard the limit of those Fostex drivers and anything else that might be squeezed will be minimal).
 
So come on Dan!

Those limits are not too tardy.

 

[reddog]

The HE-400I is a very comfortable headphone although I find the head pads warm when compared to Alpha Dogs. I found the sound on the HE-400i to be a bit more drier, less lush than the AD'S. But it's one of the best open backed headphones I have heard yet. I will give a detailed review on the HE-400i's sometime this weekend. But I feel the AD'S are my favorite headphones I have heard so far.

 

[aamer23]

The HE-400I is a very comfortable headphone although I find the head pads warm when compared to Alpha Dogs. I found the sound on the HE-400i to be a bit more drier, less lush than the AD'S. But it's one of the best open backed headphones I have heard yet. I will give a detailed review on the HE-400i's sometime this weekend. But I feel the AD'S are my favorite headphones I have heard so far.

I do agree with you overall SQ and balance is great and I have not heard any headphones I would want more than the AD yet

 

[torta]

I found the sound on the HE-400i to be a bit more drier, less lush than the AD'S.

Hm, I thought ... by other online comparisons, that the opposite should be true. I thought 400i is a bit thicker sounding? Did you mean an particular range of FR or overall impression? I find the AD a bit thin for me and sometimes I EQ treble to about -3db.