[Deathsnapper]

Hey, I'm considering getting a new pair of headphones and would like some advice. First I'll give a bit of background relating to the decision.

I recently got my first pair of decent headphones; about 3-4 weeks ago the pair of SR60's I ordered a couple months arrived! They were actually the newer SR60i models, not that I would know the difference at this point aside from the physical build structure. Anyways, right now I've clocked about 120ish hours on them. I really like these headphones, but I've decided I want to try to get something that sounds different for my next pair; I'm most interested in a very large sound stage.

I listen to a bit of many genres, typically I listen to classical, jazz, fusion, metal, rock, blues, shred guitar/instrumental rock, and stuff that fits in/around this area of music. Though occasionally I'll listen to somewhat electronica music (i.e. Ratatat, etc.). I would also be using these headphones for gaming, but I'm not too picky (hey, I'm dealing with the SR60 sound stage for gaming right now!

).

For this pair of headphones I wanted to get something that fits more into the jazz/classical genres. As I mentioned I'd like a large sound stage. Bass isn't really all that important to me; I keep reading things about the SR60s lacking bass, but to me they seem pretty much where I like it, a small bit more would be nice though. All of my music is ripped to FLAC (from my own CDs, so I know the rips are good

) and I play it directly through my computer's output (my sound card is a creative x-fi titanium), so for the time I don't have any external amps/DACs; maybe in the future, but not for a while.

I'm also a currently-unemployed university student. So money is very short and any money saved really helps.

Having said all that is it worth getting the AD500s, or would it be better just to pay the extra for the AD700s? I've done a lot of searching through the forums and haven't found many people comparing them, but it seems the difference in sound quality is fairly small between the two pairs. Has anyone compared the two burned in side by side? I would really like to know how big of a gap there is between the two.

Thanks for reading!
~Dylan

 

[lucky]

Personally, I'd get the AD700; they're under $100 shipped at the moment. Pass up the junk food for a week if you have to. If I absolutely couldn't go past $75, then I'd try the AD500. I own the AD700, and have never heard the AD500.

 

[blue_lammer]

I haven't seen any comparisons on AD700 vs AD500 but they are like you say, great for classical and jazz. The AD700s are also fabulous for gaming if you don't mind that the headphones leak sound.

 

[Deathsnapper]

I already got myself a cheap pair of closed headphones (HD201) for when I absolutely can't leak sound, they don't get much use but it's just something I decided I need around

 

[scytheavatar]

AD500 = teh crap. It's the AD700 without the clarity. So all you have is soundstage with poor clarity and poor bass. Don't waste your money on it, just get the AD700.

 

[donunus]

heres a page with models like the ad700, ad400, and ad500. The ad400 is recommended here over the ad500.
Headphonic: Browse Products | Headphonic: Australian Headphone Specialists: Buy Etymotic, Alessandro, Audio Technica, Ultimate Ears, Talisman, Meier Audio and more

read the short impressions by clicking on the headphone

heres the ad500s review:
The AD500 is a very comfortable fullsize headphone that has a nicely balanced and detail sound. Exhibiting a fair bit of upper end detail the AD500 can sound a little bright at times. Midrange is smooth while bass is balanced and controlled.
These headphones suit music, specifically classical, better than games and/or movies. If you're after headphones for games/movies or rock/contemporary music, consider the AD400, or Beyer DTX800/900 instead.

 

[ddoingwell]

I had the AD500s for a month and sold them on after hardly listening to anything on them save for burn-in tracks. They didn't give me anything my much cheaper Philips SHP8900s had to offer and were very chirpy in the high end. A regrettable purchase. I've heard the AD700s and for me, they were too coloured and again, didn't give me anything my much cheaper Philips SHP9000s gave me. Neither the AD500s nor the AD700s were much more comfortable than the Philips and both felt like they wanted to fall off my head.

I'm probably not an Audio Technica kinda guy. I've bought two sets of portables, including the much-lauded ES7s for my son, and hated them both. The headphones I mean, not my son.

I'm not much help here am I? Most people I know who've had the AT700s have upgraded within a year. No AT-love from my corner of the world

 

[Deathsnapper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus /img/forum/go_quote.gif heres a page with models like the ad700, ad400, and ad500. The ad400 is recommended here over the ad500. Headphonic: Browse Products | Headphonic: Australian Headphone Specialists: Buy Etymotic, Alessandro, Audio Technica, Ultimate Ears, Talisman, Meier Audio and more read the short impressions by clicking on the headphone heres the ad500s review: The AD500 is a very comfortable fullsize headphone that has a nicely balanced and detail sound. Exhibiting a fair bit of upper end detail the AD500 can sound a little bright at times. Midrange is smooth while bass is balanced and controlled. These headphones suit music, specifically classical, better than games and/or movies. If you're after headphones for games/movies or rock/contemporary music, consider the AD400, or Beyer DTX800/900 instead.

That review seems to say to me that the AD500 are better for classical music, but if you want rock/movies/gaming get the AD400s. I'm pretty well specifically buying them for the former so this review seems to tell me to avoid the AD400s. Though I never considered them in the first place anyways.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddoingwell /img/forum/go_quote.gif I had the AD500s for a month and sold them on after hardly listening to anything on them save for burn-in tracks. They didn't give me anything my much cheaper Philips SHP8900s had to offer and were very chirpy in the high end. A regrettable purchase. I've heard the AD700s and for me, they were too coloured and again, didn't give me anything my much cheaper Philips SHP9000s gave me. Neither the AD500s nor the AD700s were much more comfortable than the Philips and both felt like they wanted to fall off my head. I'm probably not an Audio Technica kinda guy. I've bought two sets of portables, including the much-lauded ES7s for my son, and hated them both. The headphones I mean, not my son. I'm not much help here am I? Most people I know who've had the AT700s have upgraded within a year. No AT-love from my corner of the world

Interesting, but I still feel like giving them a try. Off hand do you happen to remember how the 500s and 700s you tried compared? Like how different they were?

It seems not many people have tried both pairs in such a way that they can compare them

Oh well, still a couple weeks until I plan on buying either, maybe someone will come along with the knowledge

I'll probably end up with the 700s though.

 

[ddoingwell]

You're asking cranky old me for an opinion? Jeez...

Well, considering you have Grado SR60s (yup, I haddem and hated'em) and do seem to have varied tastes in music, the AD700s WILL give you something markedly different than the SR60s. Much different. Don't go for the AD500s. That's my impression and my jaded opinion. If your only other headphone was a closed DJ-style thumper then maybe the AD500s would be a relief but after the Grados, the only thing you'd really gain is a reduction in headaches and a whole lot of high-end sibilance.

Honestly, my best, most fave all-round fun headphone has to be my AKG K240S. Clear, decent soundstage, engaging and reasonably comfortable, these fit in well with almost all the music I enjoy. My K501s are preferred for acoustic music and my Philips SHP9000 are probably better for nujazz but by-and-by, the K240S do an admirable job with all forms.

Getting back to the AD700s (do we have to?), overall, they are very good headphones but in the short time I heard them, I just could not get used to the "air" thang...they felt like they were falling off my head, the soundstage sometimes seemed to be indistinct and then there's that funny feeling I had that they are adding something to the tonalities that just seems a bit, shall we say, specific to the headphone not the music.

I should probably say that I'm a muddle-aged career pro muso with 30 years of performances, yards of stage/studio experience and my ears are doubtlessly altered by those excessive evenings of too much ego and too many artificial distractions at the too-loud gigs; also, my tolerance for bad sound is nonexistent. The AD700s don't give bad sound; they're just not giving my preferred sound.

If you can, try the AKG K240 series. Lots of hi-fi shops have AKG listening posts and if you can, find one and see if the shop will allow to take in your own source/music. If not, enjoy your new AD700s. YOUR impression of them really is all that matters.

Cheers,
Don

 

[Deathsnapper]

Thanks, I really appreciate that. I'll also look into K240s. Sounds like you think the AD700s are good headphones, they just have certain traits that aren't to your tastes. And yes, I specifically chose them to be very different from the SR60s

I guess now I will be deciding between a pair of K240s or AD700s. Seems the general consensus is that the AD500 are significantly worse than the AD700.

 

[nullphi]

I have been looking at trying an open can for a while, and the AD700 has been at the top of my list. I haven't really looked at the AKG K240, but I see that they are semi open. Are they truer to closed or open headphones?

 

[ddoingwell]

The K240s are very open in function though they don't let as much sound out as the AD700s. Lads, don't misunderstand me: the AD700s are good though I've yet to meet an owner (not reviewer) who raves about them as much as the hype may indicate.

Deathsnapper, I see that you're in TO; there's a bloke on CraigsList in BC (Nanaimo I think) that has a whack of K240s from a studio. Do a little search there if interested.

Cheers
Don

 

[donunus]

Ive had the k240s before. They are a lower level headphone than the ad700 IMO. Much less detail, less balanced, and generally just sounds cheaper.