Thanks for the help everyone!   Think I'm settling for the AD700x. I've had a Senn HD555 before and the crack that formed on the headband freaked me out constantly, not too keen on reliving that on a HD558 (unless it doesn't occur on these headphones).   Think my final setup will...

Ha. Sorry, I had started a thread earlier requesting information for a gaming + rock music set up with surround sound. PurpleAngel is aware of that thread.   The incredible thing is that that the AD700x is £85 but with shipping and customs it becomes around £120. Local AD700x's cost around...

Thanks so  much for the help!   Think I've decided to go with: Xonar U3 -> Fiio E5 -> AD700x.    I'd love to have the Recon 3D, but it's like £75 here, which is a lot of money. Infact, it costs £10 less than the AD700x I sourced on ebay.    Thanks again!

Thanks again! I didn't know the U3 offered surround sound! I am convinced to go for the U3.   Is it a good match up with the AD700? I realise that gaming requires a large/wide soundstage, but I also want a normal pair of headphones for rock/classical music. Think the AD700 come the closest to...

      Thanks for the advice!    The U7 is just out of my budget (if you consider the AD700). I am not sure if the U3 and U1 handle 5.1 surround. However, I am happy to see you endorse the 3D Recon, it's well within my budget and supports surround sound!

      I prefer a closed back headphone so that I can use it both at home and on the go. But it's becoming clearer to me that I either need two headphones - one for gaming and one for music - OR get a good pair of open headphones (that also 'work' for gaming).   Mad Lust's thread seems...

Hey guys,   Been recently made aware of this thread. It's immense and I appreciate the effort everyone has put into this.   I would like to clarify something.      I play games on a laptop and generally listen to music a lot more. I've been beginning to think about purchasing an...

That sounds interesting. However, I am a bit worried that their website doesn't work at all:   http://www.cybersnipa.com/   Are they no longer active?

Thanks a lot for the guidance guys!    Anyone have any opinions on the ATH-AD700/AD700x? The reason I am asking is that...

  AH! I already have that. All my music is ripped from my CD's into flac. So I guess the consensus is Grado + Creative X-Fi/Asus Xonar?

Thanks. I have only heard good things with the Grado. They're designed for portable devices right? So no need for an amp with my Sansa Clip?

Nope. I'll be listening to music while on the move.    Which would be better then? The Grado or the ATH?    Or are there any other options with regards to headphones? I mean, with the X-Fi Pro, I'll have around £120 left.

Hey all,   I would like some guidance. MY HD555s finally broke due to the infamous 'crack' on the headband. I bought them nearly 3 years ago, so they've been well used and started to show their age.   My tastes and interests have also progressed so I am looking for some guidance regarding a...

  No problem guys, actually I want to encourage this discussion, because I am really new to the headphone thing I would love to know more.I might contact Sennheiser when I get back.. I was planning on getting an iBasso D2 to boost myHD555's sound for both my iPod and my laptop.         

Hmm, seems assuring, I bought mine through amazon, how do I get sennheiser to service/fix them if I decide too?   Otherwise, I'll leave them be.

Hey guys,   I bought my HD555s almost 5 months ago, and I am worried to notice cracks on the bridge of the phones (the place that connects the headband to the speakers).   Where the red ring is:       Though the stress cracks are fairly small, I plan to keep these headphones...

Hey, just wanted to know how  much the the AMP cost you. Local dealer here is telling me 100 pounds. Which is very much unlike Fiio.... cheers.

Sorry, don't wish to double post, but would a CMOY amp go well with the HD485's? Or even the Alessandros?

I am very much tempted to go with the Alessandro's then. I'll see what I can do once I get my debit card through. If anyone else has any other views, post them through!

Quote: Originally Posted by Drubbing Ignore headroom graphs, they're not worth trying to understand because they don't really relate to sound or quality. Senns are not the be all and end all - they have a massive presence, some world class phones, but a number of their low end phones...

Are these grado's a significant upgrade to the 485's? I don't wish to question your experience, but I thought Sennheiser was the 'superior' brand here. Furthermore, can the Grado's withstand a large head? (I have quite a wide head and the skullcandy's I had the last time broke within 6 months)

Sadly, both the SR60 and the SR80 are well beyond my budget, around 90 or 100 pounds. I am stuck with 70 pounds. I'll try to find Alessandros in the UK.

So I guess my first set up will be: iPod -> LOD -> Fiio E5 -> HD 485 Sounds about right?

Does the fact that the HD485 is a circumaural headphone compromise it in any manner?

Thanks, I will look into the HD555. They are a little out of my range, not too much though. Another isssue is that I have a fairly large head, I'd reckon around 12 - 13 cm across (width), this shouldn't be much of a problem for the Senn's right? And is this the LOD you are talking about...