HELP!!! selecting an OPEN and CLOSED Heaphone.

[Vicarious]

Greetings gentlemen,
 
I have been doing some research and haven't been able to find an answer to my specific question, a friend pointed me to these forums saying that this is the place to find the answers i seek. I have searched but couldn't find a previous thread that addresses my question so i created this thread. So hears my dilemma;
 
I'm in the market for a TWO pairs of headphones one opend and one closed and here's the requirements for both sets;
these cans will be used for everything LOTS of gaming, Music (mainly rock, metal, alternative and indie), and for watching Blu Rays.
 
OPEN
 
- Mainly for FPS gaming and music with lots of Acoustics's, needs to have an exceptional sound stage for positional purposes in gaming and lots of detail.
- Bass isn't a huge requirement from these phones but i would still like to have some bass
- Sound leakage and isolation are not a requirement with these cans
- i have a Auzentec Bravura sound card which has a headphone amp, but still these cans shouldn't be too hard to drive preferably.
 
recommendations please? AD700???
 
CLOSED
 
Mainly for games requiring a good atmosphere (e.g dead space, stalker, Most RPG's, etc.), Also to be used for my heavier music choices (metal,and rock).
- Bass should be tight and impact-full, as well as produce good low freq bass.
- Isolation is a HUGE requirement as i want to be able to hear nothing else but the game/music/video I'm using to increase my immersion, sound leakage again doesn't really need to be great.
- i have a Auzentec Bravura sound card which has a headphone amp, but still these cans shouldn't be too hard to drive preferably
 
recommendations please? A900???
 
As for the price range, I'm hardly rich n=but i understand how much a quality headset can be so please make any suggestions bearing that in mind.
 
THANK YOU in advance I would really appreciate any ones suggestions or thoughts.

 

[Saturn]

Open: Sennheiser HD595
Closed: Audio Technica ATH-M50

 

[Vicarious]

thanks for the quick reply mate, How do you thing those would go versus say an AD700/A900 combo? what would be the advantage/disadvantages.

 

[Hayang]

I agree with Saturn's suggestion.
 
"Mainly for FPS gaming and music with lots of Acoustics's, needs to have an exceptional sound stage for positional purposes in gaming and lots of detail."
This is just begging for HD555/HD595 (get the HD555 and foam mod them).  OMG, they sound so good with acoustic music!!! And Mad Lust Envy rated them tops for competitive gaming.
 
M50 is also great for your closed needs.  However if isolation needs to be super serious (M50s isolate pretty well), I've heard the HD25s have even better isolation, as well as even tighter, more punchy bass.  They are more aggressive in sound signature too, often described as the Grado-like Senn.
 
I'm glad you've gone the two complementary headphones route.  I'm doing it too, but with a portable and home use setup (Sunrise SW-Xcape IEMS, and HD558)  I've had the HD555 and the M50s, but not at the same time.  I traded my HD555s for M50s and I realized afterward that I was not "upgrading" but just buying a different breed of beast.  The more and more I listened to the M50s, I realized the two cans are perfect complements to my ears, and I wanted them back.  M50 has the bass punch and muscle, while HD555s have a smoother, more polite but ever-present bass.  The HD555s have a warm midrange that makes guitars and solo vocals sound AWESOME especially in solo pieces, while the M50s' recessed mids let them sit back in the mix, which works well for thick mixes produced by bands.
 
So from my experience, those two cans are a very ideal complementary pair.

 

[JayB18]

Open: DT440, AD700, or AD900. Soundstage is larger on the AD700 and AD900 but the DT440 sounds better than the AD700.
Closed: DT250-80 Most closed phones give more or less 15db of isolation.  You will need to look into in ear models for the best isolation.

 

[SubZero it]

DT440 and AD900 have more basses compared to the AD700.
But for gaming after some time I decided to buy the AD700 (today), they have a really good sound stage and gives you perfect positions of enemies in game. This is at least what I've read.
Google for some review, hope to have helped you.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Closed: The M50 is terrible for gaming. No... better to get the Denon D1001 or Creative Aurvana Live. They have bigger soundstage depth and width, and the SQ is nearly comparable to the M50. Just slightly warmer and more laid back, while the M50 is slightly more aggressive.
 
Open: AD700, as long as  you know the bass is incredibly weak. Probably better to go with a modded Senn 555 or 595 if you want a little more balance from the sound. I'm going under the assumption that they sound like my PC360, which is overall a better headphone than the AD700 in all aspects except soundstage, and maybe 5% less clarity.
 
Oh, the Sennheiser HD598 is even BETTER than my PC360, but I gave it up because I wanted an all in one solution for gaming.

 

[Vicarious]

Hey fellow audiophiles. I thought I'd update this thread and tell you guys what i decided to go with.
 
I have bought both the Audio technical AD700's and the M50's and I'm very happy with both of these sets. both have their strengths , the M50 have there awesome deep and punchy bass coupled with great isolation whilst the AD700 are crystal clear and have a really amazing sound stage (REALLY impressive sound stage). Thanks for all the advice and feedback guys and let me know if you have any questions about these sets. Now i can sit back and wait for my speakers to come in from the post (Swans D1080MK11 Reference monitors) and It will complete my audio heaven!!

 

[SubZero it]

 
Quote:

Hey fellow audiophiles. I thought I'd update this thread and tell you guys what i decided to go with.
 
I have bought both the Audio technical AD700's and the M50's and I'm very happy with both of these sets. both have their strengths , the M50 have there awesome deep and punchy bass coupled with great isolation whilst the AD700 are crystal clear and have a really amazing sound stage (REALLY impressive sound stage). Thanks for all the advice and feedback guys and let me know if you have any questions about these sets. Now i can sit back and wait for my speakers to come in from the post (Swans D1080MK11 Reference monitors) and It will complete my audio heaven!!

I enjoed them really much...hope you will too