[appar111]

I know these are different cans, in that one is closed (A55) and the other is open (AD5) but does anyone have any experiences with either of these cans? I'm looking for something nice and airy that will work for soul, jazz, some rock.. I know they go for about the same price at audiocubes (~$95-99). Either looks like a good choice without an amp. Will the open ones sound dramatically different (i.e. more airy, better soundstage) and the closed ones have more impact due to the closed construction?

So which would be a better choice, being that they both have similar power requirements, frequency response and price? Or should I save up and go for the next level up, like the AD7's/A700's?

appar111

 

[wallijonn]

i implore you to listen before buying.

me, you can't give me an ATH. if you did, i'd end up gutting it.

do a search - you'll find some uncomplementary opinions on them.

 

[DLP]

You'll also find some rather complementary comments on some of the ATH line as well. Unfortunately, no one has really bothered to dabble too much with the lower end of the ATH line. I do agree with try if you can, though I doubt anyone has tryed either of those headphones.

 

[appar111]

wallijonn-
is your opinion of the at stuff because you got burned so bad with the AD-10 purchase? I can understand that putting you off to a certain brand, but do you have any experience with other cans in the AT lineup? Or is your opinion solely based on the AD-10's?

 

[wallijonn]

i've heard the A1000. I wasn't impressed. too muddy sounding for my taste (it definitely did not like my high impedance headphone jack). (You have to remember that I preferr the Beyer bright sound, though).

yes, I've wanted to hear the A100Ti, W100 & W1000. I suspect that I would not like the W100, inferring from what others have said. And I'm not convinced that DADS really works the way it is supposed to.

the AD10 was a mistake on my part. I feel that others may have liked the sound. But, for me, I prefer a more neutral & flat headphone. I like the Beyer signature. So, yes, I am being VERY prejudiced. (But I do try to be consistant - I implore everyone to listen to headphones before buying, especially when they get past the $200 range).

It's amazing how easily and well the ear adapts to a certain signature sound. I could not adapt to the ATH sound. (Just as many can not adapt to the Beyer sound). My preference is the K501, HD600, DT880, and K1000. I would be doing many modifications to a CD3000 to make it 'listenable, to me'. As it is, I prefer listening to my heavily modified DT880 over my K1000.

Supposedly the AD10 was the worse sounding of the AD line. I just feel that for the $100 that the AD5 costs, another, if not better, headphone can be found for the same amount of money.

if you want to take a chance, by all means do so. the community can only be enriched by your findings. i just hope that you do not buy them, do not like them, then sell them, and never say a bad thing about them, ever. (Which is totally human. Who would want to pawn off a 'stinker' and then turn around and bad mouth them?)

if energetic sound is what you want, definitely try the ATH. do not let any bad things I say dissuade you. I'm just saying that i would rather try a Grado MS1, SR225, or any other number known quantities before trying an unknown wuantity. If you have tried a HD580 or HD590, and do not like it, that is completely your right. just do not expect a high resell value for a headphone that no one else has heard; at least someone is more likely to buy a used MS1, SR225, HD580, HD590, et. al.

I'm just sorry that I got into cable swapping after I traded the AD10 away. I tried everything but a different cable.

 

[appar111]

You say you like the Beyer stuff, which has a bright sound. And that the AT stuff is more energetic-- I take it by "energetic" you mean that it has more impact, or body or something, as opposed to more high end (since you already said the Beyer stuff is bright?) And the brightness of the Beyer is different from, say, the Grado "bright" sound?

I have a pair of Grado SR60's on the way, as well as some gold 888's. If the 888's aren't my cup of tea, I already have a buyer lined up.. so we'll see what happens.

Do you have any experience with the DT531? I've heard that despite the 250 ohm impedance, they don't sound too bad unamped. Plus they have those silver velour pads--- looks verrrrry comfy..

 

[wallijonn]

i have always wanted a pair of DT531s. some of the guys who have bought them really like them. i can get them from NYC for abour $130.

Snuffles really liked them. Since then, his "air guitar" headphones have supposedly become the DT880.

Within the Beyer line, like just about any other manufacturer, there are differences in sound. In the Senn HD580/590/600 line, 2 sound almost identical, while the HD590 sounds different. In the Beyer line the Dt831 and Dt931 are considered bright by many. Each has their own failings. I have said that the DT880 is not bright to me, while others say that it is sibilant. My reference is the DT831/DT931. Their reference is probably a darker headphone. And as such, much discussion has been done on the definition of brightness, bright, and sibilant. It makes some good reading, should you wish to do a search for those threads.

Just about all the Beyers use the same pads. I can interchange my DT831 pads with my DT931 and Dt880, and I suspect with the DT531, DT770, DT990 and just about anything beyond the Dt250. They are very comfortable. They do trap heat, though. But at least it is not leather or pleather.And they do not sqwish (squish) down like the ATHs. I feel that the ATHs should have better pads - the sound will be less bright if the driver does not come into contact with the jaw. The further pad also increases the bass perception. On Beyers the midrange seems to become recessed with full pads. Which is why I suggest that once a month the Beyer pads be rotated 90 degrees - to prolong the life of the pads. You can not do that on eggo shapes (HD590, HP910, et. al.) and the ATHs (because they have a "raised" end on the pad - they can only go in one way. In this case the pads should be removed and then swapped (the right pad goes to the left earcup, the right pad goes to the left earcup)).

What does the Dt531 sound like? I have no idea. I just know that a lot of people like their overall sound. ATHs, in my opinion, do great acoustic guitar. But if you like triangles or oboes, there may be a problem. So for rock, the ATH is in the same camp as the Grado. If you happen to like electronica, jazz or classical, you may not like them as much. My reference is female vocals. Others like auditioning with male vocals or pianos, or violins, or what have you. I'm sure that you have your own preference. For me, my sex rap has to have a "bitching" bass slam. Beyers may not have that slam. So one has to keep looking. To some the answer is the V6. I do not like the V6. But for those that do, that is their right. Nothing wrong with it.

BTW, I use my DT831 with my computer. It doesn't sound bad. But, I do not critically listen to my music on my computer. On my other computer I use the heavily modified Grado SR80.

So, you may want to contact those people who own DT531s and ask them their opinions.

 

[D-EJ915]

hmm...everyone else seems to think that the beyer's are muddy, anyway...the A500's do well with headphone outs and sound great when you lower the low bass little on an equalizer, I recommend them, and they're $100, which is much cheaper than the others

 

[wallijonn]

DJ,

muddy?

i think not.

not even the 770 (which is bloated).

if it sounds muddy to you, try a more powerful amp, preferably (<sic>) with separate power supplies.

i am glad that you inputted your opinion on the A500, though. it can only help.

 

[appar111]

D-EJ915,
So are the A500's as huge as everyone says? They don't look like they would stick out from the side of the head as much as the ATH-A55 does. But then again, the finish looks cooler on the A55.

So the A500's sound pretty good out of the headphone out huh? I don't use any bass boost, but like a full sound, so maybe the bass of the A500 would work perfect for me? Also, the A55's have been said to have a bit of a midbass hump (somewhat boomy), but I haven't heard this in the descriptions of the A500's.

D-EJ915, any chance of posting some pics of the A500 on your head, or at least some alternate photos of them? I only have the pics from audiocubes to go from...

I think that either one of the A500s or the A55s will be more to my liking than the A700 or A900 (not only because of the cheaper price, but the high end won't be as piercing as what it can be on the 900's..)

 

[D-EJ915]

THE PERFECT SIZE COMPARO!!...OK
4 steps to knowing size of A500's...

1. Buy 3 25-pack CD-Spindles (or take 3 empty ones...)

2. Put one on top of your head

3. Hold the other two over your ears

4. Look in mirror and realize the size

-can be done with 50-pack spindles to, just imagine a line in the middle