[Patrick Wolf]

I noticed the specs are slightly better on the A700.

A700
Frequency response: 5-35,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 102dB

A500
Frequency response: 5-30,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 100dB

My main use will be:
1. Games
2. Movies
3. Music

I haven't heard ANY high-end cans before, the only cans I've used and still use are the KOSS TD-61 which I've had for about 10 years and are falling apart. You can get them at amazon.com maybe...for about $15. I can't test any high-end cans either because my town is small and has basically nothing compared to most of you.

For music my TD-61 sound pretty poor. I thought they sounded fairly good for movies, games not as good, but OK.

Time for the good stuff. I'm very light on music listening, do very little in fact. Mostly games and movies on the PC.

Bottom Line: I need good cans for gaming/movies, connecting via the Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 control unit via X-Fi, or directly through the X-Fi.

A700 better than A500 for this? A900 too much $$$.

 

[afireinside]

Save the cash. The A500s are said to be almost the same as the A900s, almost. If you've never heard good cans then you won't be able to tell a difference anyway. Plus you'd need to listen to music to do so.

 

[003]

If the A900 is to expensive, you might want to see if you can get a used one from the for sale section. The A500 and A900 are susposed to have basicly the same sound signature, with the A900 having slightly more controlled bass and detail. The A500 will however be a HUGE step up from what you have now. The A700 is susposed to sound totally different.

 

[zyxwvutsr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 The A700 is susposed to sound totally different.

References? I'm really curious, I've heard this somewhere else, but i've also heard that a5/7/900 sound really similar.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 If the A900 is to expensive, you might want to see if you can get a used one from the for sale section. The A500 and A900 are susposed to have basicly the same sound signature, with the A900 having slightly more controlled bass and detail. The A500 will however be a HUGE step up from what you have now. The A700 is susposed to sound totally different.

Totally different? Really? How can that be?

 

[yellafella321]

its the other way around. A500 is very very different from the a700 and a900. a700 and a900 are practically identical. A500 has subwoofer like bass, its muddy, and simply not as articulate. It also doesn't lack show as much of a midrange deficit as the latter two.

i have an a700 fs cheap if you're interested

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellafella321 its the other way around. A500 is very very different from the a700 and a900. a700 and a900 are practically identical. A500 has subwoofer like bass, its muddy, and simply not as articulate. It also doesn't lack show as much of a midrange deficit as the latter two. i have an a700 fs cheap if you're interested

How much?

Condition?

I may just spring for the A900 as to avoid upgraditis.

 

[warubozu]

I agree with yellafella321, the A700 and A900 sound very similar in detail, soundstage, and bass. The A500 has a deeper bass extension while the A700 and A900 has a tighter bass, they are also slightly better in detail than the A500.

 

[manchau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by warubozu I agree with yellafella321, the A700 and A900 sound very similar in detail, soundstage, and bass. The A500 has a deeper bass extension while the A700 and A900 has a tighter bass, they are also slightly better in detail than the A500.

For trained ears they have slight difference sound but for noob's they're 99.99% same.

 

[warubozu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchau For trained ears they have slight difference sound but for noob's they're 99.99% same.

Yes that is true.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Well on the issue of bass, how is it supposed to sound; accuracy? I would think if is was tight it would also be deep, but that probably depends on the source (game/sound effect). If it's just boomy, it would probably sound muddy which isn't good, I wouldn't think. I want the explosions to sound (and feel?) real.

I'm not really sure how to describe bass.

BTW, I have above average hearing. And wouldn't really consider my ears noobs.

 

[brn80]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Wolf BTW, I have above average hearing. And wouldn't really consider my ears noobs.

lol.. well manchau meant 'noob' as in not having enough experience listening to many other cans as you mentioned. You should be fine with the A500 I think, as IMO if you game a lot, you won't notice if the bass is going 'deeper' or having more extension etc. But the problem is once you get them you'll wonder how the next one up sounds... that's the case that seems to be going for getting a higher end model. It depends how much you want to spend, I think sine most people have said, the 700 and 900 are similar, I'd keep an eye out on the FS forums to pick up a deal on the A700.

 

[manchau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Wolf Well on the issue of bass, how is it supposed to sound; accuracy? I would think if is was tight it would also be deep, but that probably depends on the source (game/sound effect). If it's just boomy, it would probably sound muddy which isn't good, I wouldn't think. I want the explosions to sound (and feel?) real. I'm not really sure how to describe bass. BTW, I have above average hearing. And wouldn't really consider my ears noobs.

A500's are not boomy like low end headphones or multimedia 5.1 speakers and it's bass is better then any $500 subwoofer IMO. The difference of bass between A900 and A500 will not be noticable for you immidiately untill youe ears are trained and had experience to distinguish the difference in high fedility sound.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

OK. So which has better bass?

A700?

 

[003]

Forget about the A700. It's either the A500 or A900. The A500 I hear has more "impact" than the A900, with a little less control. The A900 has slightly less impact, but more control. If you're a basshead, you may perfer an A500.