[howzz1854]

hey Guys.... 
 
so i recently upgraded to AD900 because wanted a little bit more bass presence than the AD700 i had. as it turned out, the AD900's mid range captured me, but a little too much, to top it off, the bass on AD900 seems weaker in volume than AD700. i guess i am really on the quest trying to find a set of can that has slight mid range brightness but not as much as AD900 but also not as recessed as AD700, at the same time has a bit more bass presence than AD700 and AD900 but not overwhelmingly overshadowing the rest of the frequency range. i also want the can to be open and have a larrrrggggee sound stage, since that's what i love about the AD700/900. 
 
does such a can exist? are we talking HD600? or is there something around the $200 dollar mark. 
 
as of now.. i think i might return the AD900 and look for something. i really tried to like my new AD900, but just couldn't. it's just too bright/forward, and too shy on the bass that for music, other than classical or instrumental, feel like skeleton (lack of weight). Don't get me wrong, on classical and instrumental recordings, AD900 is the best sounding i've ever heard. but it just doesn't fair well for the rest of the genre i listen to. 
 
i listen to Rock, Jazz, some hip-hop, R&B, classical, trance and techno. so a little bit of everything. 

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,
 
Fischer Audio FA-002
Beyer DT880
Sennheiser HD600
Hifiman HE-300
 
Very best,

 

[howzz1854]

Quote:

Heya,
 
Fischer Audio FA-002
Beyer DT880
Sennheiser HD600
Hifiman HE-300
 
Very best,

 
thanks! that's the exactly kind of answer i need. 
 
very interesting. i am looking at the DT880 and HD600. should i consider HD650 as well? 
 
it seems the DT880 600ohm has more bass than the regular 32ohm. i think either case, i'll have to upgrade my current soundcard to the Asus Xonar Essence STX
http://usa.asus.com/Multimedia/Audio_Cards/Xonar_Essence_STX/
 
that thing supports up to 600ohm and has quality Burr Brown PCM 1792A DAC and TI TPA6120A2 opamp

 

[SennHI808]

HD598?

 

[Katun]

Quote:

HD598?

 
X2

 

[howzz1854]

hummm.... HD598 and DT880 are definitely more reasonable priced than HD600. 
 
between HD598 and DT880, what are the pros and cons. 
 
and i am really torned between the 32ohm and 250ohm version of DT880, which one should i get. 

 

[Katun]

Most are going to say the DT880 needs an amp. HD598 absolutely does not require one.
 
HD598 is far more flexible in it being able to play anything you throw at it really well. Movies, music, games; whatever. It has a smoother, more balanced sound, that's much easier to listen to. Soundstage is also bigger on the HD598. The DT880 on the other hand is going to sound a fair share brighter and have a colder/thinner tonality to it. I personally wasn't a fan of it's midrange, nor treble. While it has a cleaner, more pure sound than the HD598, I find that's hardly a trade for all the HD598's positive qualities. HD598 wins with comfort too, although Beyer's velour is heavenly (while the shallow earcups are definitely not)...

 

[howzz1854]

humm... this is going to be tough... looking at both response graphs... DT880 and HD598 are both very similar, with DT880 has a higher and brighter high end. 
 
comparing both of these can in the mid range, which one would you say is brighter in the mid range. 
 
i wonder if anyone has tried all AD700, AD900, DT880 and HD598 can shed some light on this. i still just looking for a can that has enough forwardness in the mid, more forward than the AD700, but not as forward in your face as AD900, at the same time has better bass than both AD700/900, and very very very wide sound stage. since i also use my cans to game as well, so soundstage is very important. 

 

[Katun]

Quote:

 
i wonder if anyone has tried all AD700, AD900, DT880 and HD598 can shed some light on this. i still just looking for a can that has enough forwardness in the mid, more forward than the AD700, but not as forward in your face as AD900, at the same time has better bass than both AD700/900, and very very very wide sound stage. since i also use my cans to game as well, so soundstage is very important. 

 
I have. I've actually owned them all multiple times each.
 
I personally like the AD900 over the DT880, but not the AD700.
 
You may want to look up the MA900 as well. Direct competitor to the HD598.

 

[howzz1854]

Quote:

 
I have. I've actually owned them all multiple times each.
 
I personally like the AD900 over the DT880, but not the AD700.
 
You may want to look up the MA900 as well. Direct competitor to the HD598.

 
that's actually very interesting..... what did you like about the AD900 that's better than both the DT880 and AD700. i just curious. 
 
as which would you say has the widest sound stage, AD700, AD900, DT880, or HD598. 

 

[1audioz]

DT880 if you prefer more of a reference, clinical sound.
 
HD598 if you prefer a warmer, less treble spiky, musical version of the above.
 
Source: T1 owner.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

hey Guys.... 
 
so i recently upgraded to AD900 because wanted a little bit more bass presence than the AD700 i had. as it turned out, the AD900's mid range captured me, but a little too much, to top it off, the bass on AD900 seems weaker in volume than AD700. i guess i am really on the quest trying to find a set of can that has slight mid range brightness but not as much as AD900 but also not as recessed as AD700, at the same time has a bit more bass presence than AD700 and AD900 but not overwhelmingly overshadowing the rest of the frequency range. i also want the can to be open and have a larrrrggggee sound stage, since that's what i love about the AD700/900. 
 
does such a can exist? are we talking HD600? or is there something around the $200 dollar mark. 
 
as of now.. i think i might return the AD900 and look for something. i really tried to like my new AD900, but just couldn't. it's just too bright/forward, and too shy on the bass that for music, other than classical or instrumental, feel like skeleton (lack of weight). Don't get me wrong, on classical and instrumental recordings, AD900 is the best sounding i've ever heard. but it just doesn't fair well for the rest of the genre i listen to. 
 
i listen to Rock, Jazz, some hip-hop, R&B, classical, trance and techno. so a little bit of everything. 

What source(s) are you currently plugging your headphones into?
What DAC or Amp, if any, do you currently use?

 

[howzz1854]

sorry. i am currently running B-inspire soundcard with the CMI8788 Cmedia processor (with DD Live / DTS Connect), it has the Asahi AK4396 DAC / JRC 4580 Op Amp for analogue (110+ SNR) for analogue. it's not THE best but definitely above average soundcards. 
 
if i get the Bayer, i'll definitely look into getting a Asus Xonar Essence STX, which drives up to 600ohms of headphone. 

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Q701 is your best friend. They are the clearest step up from the AD700 I have heard. Even over the HD598 which I found too emphasized in the midrange. The DT880 doesn't have a HUGE soundstage. I'd call it about average sized for an open headphone.

Seriously, the Q701.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

sorry. i am currently running B-inspire soundcard with the CMI8788 Cmedia processor (with DD Live / DTS Connect), it has the Asahi AK4396 DAC / JRC 4580 Op Amp for analogue (110+ SNR) for analogue. it's not THE best but definitely above average soundcards. 
 
if i get the Bayer, i'll definitely look into getting a Asus Xonar Essence STX, which drives up to 600ohms of headphone. 

The B-Enspirer uses the same audio processor (CMI8788) and Dolby features as the Essence STX.
I would say keep the current sound card and just buy an external headphone amplifier, plug it into the front out/headphone jack of the sound card.