Best Un-Amped Music/Game HP's <$300

[[S]uds]

Before anyone says it, I have searched. And yes, there are plenty of posts about this subject. But not one of them offers all of the answers I was hoping to find. It's a wealth of information to absorb, so it's plausible I may have missed it, but meh.

Anyways, as the title says I am looking for a great all around set of cans, hopefully with a low impedance that sounds great un-amped. I know, I know. I'd benefit greatly from an amp and have a bigger selection of cans to choose from. But I want something that's simple, something I can take with me without lugging around an amp(even a portable amp).

Criteria? Open or closed, it doesn't matter. It just needs to have a wide sound stage, with great imaging, and amazing positional audio. These will be mainly used for music(Prog Metal) and gaming(FPS) and will be using my Sound Card(X-Fi, might upgrade to Asus Xonar or Prelude) as my source. Ideally, I'd like to spend less than $300. Any higher(probably lower too), and I'd need an amp to drive the cans to their full potential.

Now, through my research, I've got a couple of options that I am looking for input on:

1) Audio Technica AD700/900
2) Ultrasone HFI 780
3) Sennheiser HD-555

Thanks for any and all opinions. And if anyone has any other suggestions besides what I've listed, feel free to let me know. I'm open to anything.

 

[JMCIII]

SoundStage! All In Your Head

Read the review. Than maybe (OK, probably) you'll have another to add to your list. Open backed but quiet open backed (if that's understandable), inexpensive, and can offer sound quality that can stand with the big boys. Fit is, to me, the only issue. And how they fit you is something only you can decide.

Oh, and they sound just fine, thank you very much, un-amped. (Amping with a quality amp helps, but is not required to get the best out of the AT ATH-AD700's.)

 

[[S]uds]

They are already on my list, it's the first option. I couldn't decide between the two(AD700 and AD900), so I listed both. But thanks for that great review, it just pushed me closer to the AD700, especially because I can currently get them from Buy.com for ~$80 with a coupon.

 

[JMCIII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uds /img/forum/go_quote.gif especially because I can currently get them from Buy.com for ~$80 with a coupon.

Now that's a deal too good to pass up. Sweet find. Buy and enjoy.

 

[npm0925]

From a console perspective (PS3), I'm pretty satisfied with the AD-700s. As many have said, they have a huge soundstage and excellent clarity (top-notch in both categories). The problem is that bass has very little impact. The explosions in Half-Life 2 and the sword-swinging in Devil May Cry 4 don't sound nearly as satisfying as they do with an amped HD-650, for example. Other than that issue, they are fantastic.

 

[synaesthetic]

The difference between the AD700 and the AD900 do not justify the price difference, in my opinion. The AD900s are twice as expensive, even online.

However, the build quality of the AD900s is superior to that of the AD700s and the earpads are nicer. My AD700's earpads are imperfect (one is squishier than the other).

Edit: I find the AD700's bass to be very sufficient, but then again I'm an Ety fanatic so a basshead I am not. =)

 

[JMCIII]

Bass out of the ATH-AD700s will be very dependant on fit. If they're too loose, you'll lose bass to the lack of a tight seal. If they fit, then they'll offer enough bass to satisfy - unless you're just into bass over all else.

Personally, I'd buy headphones that excelled in music reproduction - because if they get that right, they'll sound just fine on games.

 

[[S]uds]

So what would you recommend for HP's that excel in music reproduction? I'm leaning towards the AD900 or the HFI-780. Would the bass impact of the Audio-Technica's be increased if I were to get the Closed version(A900)? Closed also seems to be $30 cheaper.

 

[JMCIII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uds /img/forum/go_quote.gif So what would you recommend for HP's that excel in music reproduction? I'm leaning towards the AD900 or the HFI-780. Would the bass impact of the Audio-Technica's be increased if I were to get the Closed version(A900)? Closed also seems to be $30 cheaper.

Couldn't say, as I've not heard them. But, in the for-what-it's-worth catagory, closed back headphones don't offer the feeling of space, the bloom of the instruments that an open backed design can. Thier only claim-to-fame is that they cut off outside noise.

 

[[S]uds]

So, can anyone that's had any experience with the Audio-Technica AD700 and AD900 tell me if the price difference($90 for AD700 and $250 for AD900) is worth it? Is there a huge difference between the two or is build quality just that much better?

 

[[S]uds]

Any other opinions? I'll be making the purchase soon and I am hoping for some more opinions on this matter.