[mamaloney]

im looking at the ath a/ad700's and the senn hd555's and im having trouble deciding on which one to get. I will be listening in a room that has alot of noise in the background. the senns are $130 and the ad700's are $110.

 

[1Time]

Welcome.

So you will want closed headphones that isolate fairly well and not open headphones like the HD555 or AD700.
Quote:

Originally Posted by mamaloney /img/forum/go_quote.gif I will be listening in a room that has alot of noise in the background.

 

[mamaloney]

I guess. Sound quality is important too, though I am currently using crappy skullcandy fmj's. (they were $20)

 

[mamaloney]

also, I listen to music at really low volumes. right now my windows volume is at 18 (w7), wmp is at 12, and my in line volume adjust is 1/4 of the way from full.

 

[mamaloney]

anyone else have anything to say?

 

[laboitenoire]

Yeah, you will definitely want to purchase closed phones if you're listening that quietly in a noisy environment.

 

[mamaloney]

okay. will the a700s be the best choice as far as sound quality and soundstage?
also, how comfortable are they?

 

[mamaloney]

also, what is a good <$35 amp? I am looking at those cmoy ones.

 

[1Time]

What is your combined budget for headphones + amp?

 

[mamaloney]

umm, $140.

 

[dclancy]

I owned the a900's and never thought they benefited from an amp. Some will say they will, but it felt negligible. Especially if you're planning on listing at low volumes, you may not hear the subtleties in the difference.
I'd try the a700's and and go from there.

 

[mamaloney]

Im running onboard audio so i figured i should get it.
thanks for all the help guys!

 

[mamaloney]

also, do open headphones have any isolation at all? I was thinking i can put my new computer in my room and close+weatherstrip the door to block out sound, because I heard that the ad700s have a really good soundstage which is important to me. (fps gamer)

 

[Equus]

No, by their nature open 'phones will leak sound in and out. In my experience when I was checking out a co-worker's Grado SR80 I had to crank up the volume to hear above the ambient noise in the cubicle farm.

Soundstage isn't bad on the A700, though I can't compare to it's open brethren. A700's sound fine out of the onboard on my desktop without amplification...still punchy and fun. I'll go home and plug them into one of my portable amps, but if I recall they don't scale with an amp really.

 

[CrackBerry9000]

Sounds like your on the right track with the A700 but a cheap amp is completely unnecessary. Take a look at the full sized Shure headphones, I have yet to read a bad review on them.