[keanex]

Quote:

I guess I should revive this topic, I got the K701 and im not sure if it has a stage that makes me happy.  I was expecting a lot more of it and I really dont want to spend even more on amping just to make them sound their best.  Im having difficulty finding anything with an nice, airy and vast sound stage.  I like them a lot, but I think they are too heavy for my extended listening hours.  
 
any ideas?  Same budget applies, roughly $225 or trade worthy for the K701

This isn't exactly the best thread to be posting this in, the K701 are open, even if only semi. Sorry for bringing this off-topic slightly further, but I might as well answer the question, and I feel you should look into the Ad900.

 

[swbf2cheater]

Yea i definitely should have edited the title, Im open to any type.  open or closed

 

[tdockweiler]

Just get the HD-598 and be done with it. They're much easier to drive than the K701 and even the HD-600. The AD700 has a much larger soundstage and perhaps more clarity and detail, but they have a slight dip in the mids somewhere and are massive and uncomfortable for some. I'm guessing they no longer need to be portable?
 
The AD900 should be much better, but I haven't tried it because the "Wing" system doesn't always work well for me. The AD2000 did work well for me though, but the driver touched my ears. AD700/AD900 has a bigger soundstage than the ATH-AD2000 though.
 
BTW the HD-598 has a much larger soundstage than my HD-650 or the old HD-600. Of course I don't have a $1000 amp and with one it'd probably be 1000x larger according to what I've read.

 
I also love my DT-880 32 ohm's soundstage. Amazon often has them for $200 as like new. I actually prefer the soundstage of my DT-880 over that of the HD-650.
 
In order of size of the soundstage, here is how I'd rank them:
 
AD700>HD-598>DT-880>HD-650
 
I'd much rather give up some things I prefer about the AD700 over the HD-598 and just go with the better comfort. Level of clarity of the HD-598 is just good, especially for a $170 headphone. The HD-650 is MUCH more clear and detailed, but it's also more fatiguing SOMEHOW. The HD-598 is one of the few Sennheiser headphones that has impressed me. I wish my HD-650 had that kind of soundstage.I actually bought the HD-650 because I liked the HD-598 so much! Turns out that I still use my HD-598 for games and movies over the HD-650.