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- Apr 12, 2004
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Let's start with the pursuit: ever since I first came to Head-Fi, I've always been looking for a closed portable headphone that I could use at work. So in the interest of tracing history I'll go back to the beginning and explain why I tossed out each one I ran into:
- Senn PX 200
Pre-Head-Fi. Back then it sounded great!!! Looking back, I don't know how I ever put up with it. Could never get a seal for decent bass, it sounded cloudy, and overall it was a piece of crap. Durable though, gotta give it that.
- AKG K271
First Head-Fi-induced purchase. This headphone just needed too much amplification. And it wasn't comfortable to wear for extended periods. And it gave me headphone hair.
The sound was nice though.
- Sony MDR-V6
This one needed much less amplification but still more than I liked. And eventually the mid-range recession, treble spike, and lack of comfort with even the velour pads put me off.
- Audio-Technica ATH-ES5
Ok I have to admit, it was tough casting these out. I liked them a lot. Lots of infectious energy and deep bass. But the scrunched-up mids and messy upper-treble finally got to me, it just wasn't refined enough. Still, the fact I owned these for 10 months speaks for itself.
- Audio-Technica ATH-FC7
Really bad. I'm not sure how AT let this one slip out of the gates. Well ok it's fine for people who've never heard good headphones before, but the sound was so murky and fuzzy it wasn't enjoyable.
- Beyerdynamic DT770-80
These sounded pretty good. But the recessed mids and overbearing bass finally got to me. There is such a thing as too much bass!
- Sony Headphile CD3000
Ack, take it off! I knew as soon as I heard this that the Sony sound sig would never be for me. Too bright. And too detailed. Yes you read that right.
- AKG K81DJ
Blech. Bloated bass anyone? The mid-range didn't engage me either, it sounded weird and unnatural. Treble not refined enough either. And waaaaaaay too much clamp! Holy isolation Batman! I mean I wanted closed, but these took it to the next level!
- Audio-Technica ATH-A900
These were pretty good. But not good enough. Treble too metallic and grainy. And the recessed mids bothered me. And it was HUGE. I mean HUGE! Until you see these in person you have no idea how big they are!
- AKG K171S
I thought a return to a K271-like sound would be nice. I was wrong. Nothing wrong with the sound per se, but...pleather! The grip plus the pleather made it uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. What was AKG thinking with a supra-aural??? And these needed just as much amplification as the K271 too.
- Beyerdynamic DT250-80
I started to like these when I found out how well they performed with electronica. However, the love fest sunk like the Titanic with music other than electronica, which is only about 1/3 of my CD collection. They weren't "fast" enough either, they were sluggish in the mid-bass. And the super-flat treble finally got to me. Yeah I like mid-range, but I need treble too man!
- Audio-Technica ATH-OR7
These might have been perfect if AT hadn't put that darned hole in the earcups! The leaking was intolerable! Oh and the recessed mids really bothered me too. I need SOUL from my music! The OR7 stole it from me!
So as you guys might imagine, by the time I sold the OR7 I was pretty disappointed. I was certain I would never find a solution for a portable closed can. I set in for disappointment.
And more disappointment.
And even more disappointment.
Time passed.
Still more time passed.
(I wasn't listening to music at work during this time. It made me sad.)
Then one day I had enough funds to go after one of my long sought-after headphones. Audio-Technica's ATH-ES7. I'd been eyeing these since the K271S mind you.
HOLY CRAP! Today I am now kicking myself in the nuts! I wish I had just gone for these first! All I have to say for now is that these are awesome closed portable cans! They're not super-refined but they've got everything else I like! They've got mid-range! They don't have a treble that's too flat! The mid-bass is punchy enough for any kind of music! And it sinks low enough for most purposes too!
I can now say my journey came to an end with the ES7! Finally I have something to listen to tunes at work! Works great out of the Bithead! Get them from AudioCubes and don't look back! Full review coming much later, this is all I'll say for now, but these are rockin' my world! They even have some sonic similarities to the AD2000!
- Senn PX 200
Pre-Head-Fi. Back then it sounded great!!! Looking back, I don't know how I ever put up with it. Could never get a seal for decent bass, it sounded cloudy, and overall it was a piece of crap. Durable though, gotta give it that.
- AKG K271
First Head-Fi-induced purchase. This headphone just needed too much amplification. And it wasn't comfortable to wear for extended periods. And it gave me headphone hair.

- Sony MDR-V6
This one needed much less amplification but still more than I liked. And eventually the mid-range recession, treble spike, and lack of comfort with even the velour pads put me off.
- Audio-Technica ATH-ES5
Ok I have to admit, it was tough casting these out. I liked them a lot. Lots of infectious energy and deep bass. But the scrunched-up mids and messy upper-treble finally got to me, it just wasn't refined enough. Still, the fact I owned these for 10 months speaks for itself.
- Audio-Technica ATH-FC7
Really bad. I'm not sure how AT let this one slip out of the gates. Well ok it's fine for people who've never heard good headphones before, but the sound was so murky and fuzzy it wasn't enjoyable.
- Beyerdynamic DT770-80
These sounded pretty good. But the recessed mids and overbearing bass finally got to me. There is such a thing as too much bass!
- Sony Headphile CD3000
Ack, take it off! I knew as soon as I heard this that the Sony sound sig would never be for me. Too bright. And too detailed. Yes you read that right.
- AKG K81DJ
Blech. Bloated bass anyone? The mid-range didn't engage me either, it sounded weird and unnatural. Treble not refined enough either. And waaaaaaay too much clamp! Holy isolation Batman! I mean I wanted closed, but these took it to the next level!
- Audio-Technica ATH-A900
These were pretty good. But not good enough. Treble too metallic and grainy. And the recessed mids bothered me. And it was HUGE. I mean HUGE! Until you see these in person you have no idea how big they are!
- AKG K171S
I thought a return to a K271-like sound would be nice. I was wrong. Nothing wrong with the sound per se, but...pleather! The grip plus the pleather made it uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. What was AKG thinking with a supra-aural??? And these needed just as much amplification as the K271 too.
- Beyerdynamic DT250-80
I started to like these when I found out how well they performed with electronica. However, the love fest sunk like the Titanic with music other than electronica, which is only about 1/3 of my CD collection. They weren't "fast" enough either, they were sluggish in the mid-bass. And the super-flat treble finally got to me. Yeah I like mid-range, but I need treble too man!
- Audio-Technica ATH-OR7
These might have been perfect if AT hadn't put that darned hole in the earcups! The leaking was intolerable! Oh and the recessed mids really bothered me too. I need SOUL from my music! The OR7 stole it from me!
So as you guys might imagine, by the time I sold the OR7 I was pretty disappointed. I was certain I would never find a solution for a portable closed can. I set in for disappointment.
And more disappointment.
And even more disappointment.
Time passed.
Still more time passed.
(I wasn't listening to music at work during this time. It made me sad.)
Then one day I had enough funds to go after one of my long sought-after headphones. Audio-Technica's ATH-ES7. I'd been eyeing these since the K271S mind you.
HOLY CRAP! Today I am now kicking myself in the nuts! I wish I had just gone for these first! All I have to say for now is that these are awesome closed portable cans! They're not super-refined but they've got everything else I like! They've got mid-range! They don't have a treble that's too flat! The mid-bass is punchy enough for any kind of music! And it sinks low enough for most purposes too!
I can now say my journey came to an end with the ES7! Finally I have something to listen to tunes at work! Works great out of the Bithead! Get them from AudioCubes and don't look back! Full review coming much later, this is all I'll say for now, but these are rockin' my world! They even have some sonic similarities to the AD2000!