Help! Headphone without amp?

[Baird GoW]

is there any better headphone out there for $150 thats better than the ultrasone pro 550?
is there any better headphone out there for $200 thats better than the ultrasone pro 650?
is there any better headphone out there for $250 thats better than the ultrasone pro 750?

Aslo if anyone could tell me how much better each is compared to the Audio technica AD700. i want one of those three headphones (listed above) and want more bass than the ad700 and sound better and all the other categories too.

im not looking for way better sound so if the upgrade from the audio technicas to the pro 550 would sound alot better i will prob just get the cheapest.

 

[lucky]

IMO, the AD700 are the best all-around headphones for under $250.

 

[1Time]

Better is often determined by personal preference, like preferring one color over another. For some, headphones "A" sound better than headphones "B". And for others, headphones "B" sound better than headphones "A". And this is because people don't all prefer the same sound, and they don't all plug their headphones into the same equipment. Preference and synergy.

Since you're considering Ultrasones, you also may want to consider the HFI580 or HFI780. And the AD900 might be for you if wanting to spend a little more.

 

[1Time]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky /img/forum/go_quote.gif IMO, the AD700 are the best all-around headphones for under $250.

And you base your opinion on your comparison with what other sub $250 headphones and with what source and amp? Or, is your opinion generally based on what you have read? Thank you.

 

[fraseyboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif And you base your opinion on your comparison with what other sub $250 headphones and with what source and amp? Or, is your opinion generally based on what you have read? Thank you.

I don't know about Lucky, but I have compared the AD700's to the DT880, K701's, HD580's and MS1's and prefer the AT's to all of them using the equipment detailed in my signature.

However, the OP says that he wants more bass than the AD700's so they would not be good for him.

The DT880's have very nice tight and detailed bass with more impact than the AD700s. They also have extreme amounts of detail and clarity. Maybe the OP should consider them.

 

[1Time]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraseyboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't know about Lucky, but I have compared the AD700's to the DT880, K701's, HD580's and MS1's and prefer the AT's to all of them using the equipment detailed in my signature.

OK, that's one who prefers the AD700 to these headphones with the following equipment. I quote this equipment below from fraseyboy's signature for future reference.

"Sources: Audigy 2 ZS, Beresford TC-7510 Mk III, Rockboxed iRiver H120, Samsung YP-Z5
Ampage: GoVibe V6, Little Dot MK II"

Of course fraseyboy has admitted to being afflicted with a genetically determined preference for the AD700, so without such a condition, preferences by others may vary.

 

[lucky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif And you base your opinion on your comparison with what other sub $250 headphones and with what source and amp? Or, is your opinion generally based on what you have read? Thank you.

The other $100+ phones I've owned are the HD555. I don't use amps, and have no plans to ever buy one for a headphone. My source is my Macbook, which I run into my UB802 because I don't worry about the headphone cable as much that way. My opinion's based on my preferences--namely, soundstage and clarity, and what I've read about the gamut of full-sized open phones in that price range, and for those two qualities. Simply put, there isn't a pair of phones under $250 I'd rather have than the AD700.

 

[member1982]

HFI 780. Ultrasones are bassy, but they need amping on portable devices.
The 550, 650 have higher impedance so lower volume on portable devices.

while the Pro 750 which i have, it shines best when on higher volume on portable devices, on lower volume (and after about A LONG TIME of burnin) lacks some detail, bass still good on my iPods, but on high volume the bass and everything are there... really nice. of coz amping will improve alot.

And also the sources are a must to be good, and if a song doesnt sound good, it could be the recording and how it is mastered, and in general u dont like the song But nearly everything i listen to i like even bands i dont like before

 

[1Time]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky /img/forum/go_quote.gif The other $100+ phones I've owned are the HD555. I don't use amps, and have no plans to ever buy one for a headphone. My source is my Macbook, which I run into my UB802 because I don't worry about the headphone cable as much that way. My opinion's based on my preferences--namely, soundstage and clarity, and what I've read about the gamut of full-sized open phones in that price range, and for those two qualities. Simply put, there isn't a pair of phones under $250 I'd rather have than the AD700.

A preference for the AD700 over the HD555 seems fairly common among those at Head-Fi who have owned both. And I agree, FWIR, with a preference for sound stage and clarity, there don't seem to be many (any?) headphones under $250 that are preferred over the AD700 without additional amping.

 

[Baird GoW]

just fyi ALL the headphones i stated in my original post have a list price over $250 they are all on sale and this is why i am asking if i should take the deal of not they are all ~$100 off list price. sooo every thing you have said about 250$ and under really cant compare cause the cheapest one i listed at its list price is $340.

 

[lucky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baird GoW /img/forum/go_quote.gif just fyi ALL the headphones i stated in my original post have a list price over $250 they are all on sale and this is why i am asking if i should take the deal of not they are all ~$100 off list price. sooo every thing you have said about 250$ and under really cant compare cause the cheapest one i listed at its list price is $340.

It sounds like you're determined to get the phones. If so, get them! :O) But the only phones I'd consider "upgrading" the AD700 to between the $250 and $500 mark are the AD900 (and that's a stretch, as some here says it's nearly indistinguishable from the AD700) and the K701/702. As I've said, one of my primary drives is soundstage (two others are clarity and comfort). So unless the Ulstrasones beat the AD700 in 2/3 (between staging, clarity, or comfort), I'd still pick the AD700 over any of the phones you mentioned.