[Eagle Eye]

OK, here is the dilemma I am in. I have no way to audition any of the top end headphones so I am going to trust the opinions of the experts here on Head-Fi. I have been reading for several days and can't make up my mind on what to do to choose the headphone that will best fit my needs. I want full sound and good soundstage. On ear or closed does not matter too much to me.

I have bought the Purity KICAS (Non Caliente) and am waiting it's arrival. I also have the Headstage USB/DAC Cable and although I may upgrade it to something else at the moment it sounds great to me. I have the ATH ES7 and Sennheiser HD 25 SP II. I have owned the ATH ESW9 and the ATH ESW10 and loved the sound of the ESW10 but sold them when I needed the money for life. I have not heard any other upper end headphones.

These headphones will be used at the desk top and I will use the ATH ES7 as portable (Love the sound of the ES7).

My interest in music is smooth jazz (fourplay/spyro gyra/rippingtons) as well as soft stuff such as Michael Buble/Eva Cassidy/Eric Clapton etc. I like almost any music that is not RAP/Heavy Metal/Hard Rock.

Here is the phones I have been reading about but whatever I choose I want it to be matched nicely with the desk top amp.

Phones (In no particular order of preference):
1. Sennheiser HD 600
2. Sennheiser HD 650
3. Denon AH D5000
4. Denon AH D7000
5. ATH W5000
6. ATH W1000X
7. ATH ESW10

I will stop now and await your opinions and advice. I thank you all in advance as I know it get's old helping other people decide. I love this site and appreciate any input you have.

 

[Blackmore]

If you love ES7 you probably will like/love W5000 as well. Soundstage is bigger and doesn't feel artificial, at least to my ears. Plus the music you listen, they will fit the bill, imo. Not that others will not, but that's the one I would go for it.
Just search up here, cos lots of folks have some comfort/fit issue with them, which I didnt, but also seems that they are picky to source/amp. I tried them through Benchmark and found bit on the warm side, however liked them anyway.

 

[Palpatine]

The non Caliente KICAS is not quite as warm sounding as its sibling.
I'd suggest going to a Sennheiser sound...in particular the HD650.
I think they will do your taste in music fine and sound great with your amp.

 

[mmayer167]

Would the K702 be within consideration? you should be able to drive them fine with your gear, and if your patient with burn in as ive found with my pair you will be greatly rewarded! The reason i mention the 702/701... with smooth jazz they are perfect to my ear, they aren't rock out cans but it doesn't sound like you will be doing much of that. also they are a bit cheaper than the top sennies.. you dont live near duluth, MN do you? cuz i'd for sure let you aud them !

 

[Eagle Eye]

s a pretty long drive from West Texas to Minn. Appreciate the offer though. I don't know why this decision is so hard for me except for the fact that I at 62 am pretty much on a fixed income and I need to make this a wise choice as I will have to live with it for a while. Please keep the opinions coming as all are of utmost value. I do not consider myself an expert since I know what the word means. Ex is a has been and Spert is a drip under pressure so therefore I never want to be an Expert. LOL (My attempt at humour) The vast kowledge here on this site is so valuable to folks who are just sound/music lover's without having all the technical knowledge. I appreciate you all.

 

[Aimless1]

I pretty much agree with Blackmore's advice. For the music you like you will probably enjoy the W5000 more than the other cans. Fit can be an issue as he pointed out, but the headphone can be adjusted to compensate. You already like the Audio Technica sound and I think you would be disappointed with the Sennheiser presentation. I have not heard Denons.

You can cut your investment risk by waiting to buy used on the for sale forums here. Here are some recent links, but there are others:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/ic-ath-w5000-467636/
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/fs...-conus-438976/

If you don't like them or they don't fit it would be easy enough to resell them for what you paid or close to it.

 

[Frank I]

If you like open cans and really enjoy jazz and the other music as Vocals Light rock and classical music the 701/702 would be my recommendation. The AT I listened to are bass light. The Shure SRH 840 also does very well with those especially vocals. In closed cans they are my favorite. I also love my AKG 701.

 

[atothex]

W5000 is my personal favorite of those, but it's picky with amps, as well as heads.

 

[AmanGeorge]

Out of those cans, for your musical tastes I would probably pick the Sennheiser HD600 - the 650 would probably be fine too if you were okay with a dark presentation. The AKG is a good bet as well. Denon bass will be too intense - stay away. When I had the AT W1000, I was not super impressed. They had a very pleasing treble, but that was about it. Maybe the W5000 is a big step up, I don't know.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye /img/forum/go_quote.gif OK, here is the dilemma I am in. I have no way to audition any of the top end headphones so I am going to trust the opinions of the experts here on Head-Fi. I have been reading for several days and can't make up my mind on what to do to choose the headphone that will best fit my needs. I want full sound and good soundstage. On ear or closed does not matter too much to me. I have bought the Purity KICAS (Non Caliente) and am waiting it's arrival. I also have the Headstage USB/DAC Cable and although I may upgrade it to something else at the moment it sounds great to me. I have the ATH ES7 and Sennheiser HD 25 SP II. I have owned the ATH ESW9 and the ATH ESW10 and loved the sound of the ESW10 but sold them when I needed the money for life. I have not heard any other upper end headphones. These headphones will be used at the desk top and I will use the ATH ES7 as portable (Love the sound of the ES7). My interest in music is smooth jazz (fourplay/spyro gyra/rippingtons) as well as soft stuff such as Michael Buble/Eva Cassidy/Eric Clapton etc. I like almost any music that is not RAP/Heavy Metal/Hard Rock. Here is the phones I have been reading about but whatever I choose I want it to be matched nicely with the desk top amp. Phones (In no particular order of preference): 1. Sennheiser HD 600 2. Sennheiser HD 650 3. Denon AH D5000 4. Denon AH D7000 5. ATH W5000 6. ATH W1000X 7. ATH ESW10 I will stop now and await your opinions and advice. I thank you all in advance as I know it get's old helping other people decide. I love this site and appreciate any input you have.

The W5000 is great for Jazz.. Highly recommended.. 2nd would be the HD600.. I would also include the K501 & maybe the 701/2.

 

[Eagle Eye]

Now my head is really spinning, LOL. Will have to look into recommendations and make a decision in the next week or so. Hope I get more recommendations to help me out. Thanks guys.

 

[Aimless1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice /img/forum/go_quote.gif The W5000 is great for Jazz.. Highly recommended.. 2nd would be the HD600.. I would also include the K501 & maybe the 701/2.

I'm not familiar with the Purity Kicas but if it is enough amp to properly drive the AKG K501, that is an excellent choice for your genres. The headphone is no longer manufactured and has been out of production long enough that you are not likely to find NOS (New Old Stock) available. Goes for less than $200 on the used market, has the sweetest midrange of the K501/601/70 IMHO and delivers much more than the price would suggest. It was my favorite jazz/classical/accoustic/female vocals headphone until I acquired the W5000 for many times the price of the K501.

 

[Redo]

Give the K701/702's some consideration as well

 

[feifan]

I'm with Frank I, Redo, and mmayer167 -- for accuracy, isolation, soundstage -- the K701 is hard to beat. If possible, listen to it before deciding, using a favorite CD.

I haven't heard the K702. In your list, I've only heard the HD650. IMO, the 650 is an excellent all-around, but it doesn't have the 701's neutrality. With proper amping, you can enhance the 701's low end, i.e., if you ever feel the need to do so.

 

[moonboy403]

I've heard the first 5 headphones on that list in addition to the K501 and K701. IMHO, my order of preference would go like this for Jazz stuff:

1) W5000
2) K501
3) The rest...