A Gamer's choice: Ath-ad700 or ath-a500?

[Ramathorn9]

Hey, I'm a newb to posting on these forums (although I've been reading a lot in the shadows). Great advice always and I hope I can get some more for the choice I have to make.

I'm looking for phones that will be principally GAMING headphones, but will also be used for casual music (more mellow, indie stuff) and definitely movies. I've researched a lot through searching these forums, and I think that either the ath-a500 or the ath-ad700 will be good for me.

My budget is $100-150, and the ad-700 and a-500 seem to fit nicely in that frame. I really DONT want to use an amplifier. I don't necessarily want isolation for the purpose of being isolated from those around me, I just don't want everyoen around me to be hearing my music.

I can't decide between the two, mainly because of their principal difference- closed for the a500 and open for ad700. I'm going to college soon, and will be driving these off of probably either an Audigy 2 ZS (pcmcia soundcard

) or my cheap x-fi on my home desktop.

I don't wanna piss off my roommates as soon as I get there

so exactly HOW much will the ad700 leak? I play my music and my games at a normal sound level, not anything super loud. Will the ad700's be really audible at a 5-10 foot distance???? Also, will the ad700 be as great for gaming (mainly CS:S, gotta have that positioning) as the a500's?

I read this nice review: http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/inde...;pid;1283;pt;1

Also, i've heard that OPEN phones position even better than closed. Is this true? I remember playing CS wiht my friend's cheap closed Bose headphones, and it seemed like the sounds were being nailed into my brain (really uncomfortable and weird). Of course, I expect more expensive phones to not have the same troubles. There's not too much info about the Ad700 so I can't judge the quality leap over the a500, although that review above seems to really vault the ad700 on a pedestal in terms of its huge accurate soundstage.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Help? Thanks in advance!!

~Ramathorn

 

[IHaveNoSpaceBar]

For gaming either A500 or A900. I hear as far as quality of sound goes in game play you can't tell any difference between the A900 and the A500. But when you listen to music, you will probably notice the quality.

I have the A500 and I am happy, well...maybe I will get the A900 someday.

You should post in the headphone sales section here something like..

WTB A900 and specify that you only got $150...if u want new then just buy the A500's off audiocubes for about $100.

 

[some1x]

For gaming purposes, I think the most important thing is just to get used to how a particular headphone does things. Logically speaking, one would expect HD650/RS1/W5000/Baby Orpheus to have much superior positioning compared to a lowly HD535 (running directly from a PCI128 sound card!). However, they all sounded wierd and better, when compared to the "reference" HD535.

 

[Ramathorn9]

Actually, maybe i exaggerated when I said 150

I'd feel really bad about spending all my saved money. So i'm looking more around the 100 range. I don't think i can afford the 900s, and I definitely want my headphones new. And I know I can buy the ad700's for 110, and the a500s for 100 at audiocubes.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

A500. Hands down, no contest. They've got the perfect sound signature for games, they attenuate outside noise and don't leak, and they're comfortable even for long listening sessions. Plus, they don't need (nor benefit from) an amplifier.

Go get 'em.

 

[Ramathorn9]

But isn't the open nature of the ad-700 and just open phones in general, supposed to allow a more natural and precise soundstage? I remember hearing that hd-555's were also good for this reason. I don't really want/need isolation for the purpose of being isolated from outside noise, but more isolation so I don't bother those around me.

For that purpose, aren't open phones, like the ath-ad700, better?

...and sorry to ask so much, but is it possible for anyone to comment on exactly HOW much open audiotechnica phones leak (be great if somoene has tried the AD line).
(I'm reallyyyyy leaning towards the ad700 based on the really good stuff I've read about them from the few reviews on head-fi and the one i posted. I'm just making sure im not making a bad decision)

 

[Ramathorn9]

bump, anyone know???