[usg414]

HI guyz,
Need a quick suggestion on which one to buy..
Am no audiophile, though i prefer nice compact bass but not too much, and soundstage for gaming..
Also I have XONAR DG 5.1 sound card(with a small inbuilt amp), but basically run from an umamped source..
I want to know 518's are worth spending more..
Currently own HD202.
Thanks..

 

[Digital-Pride]

The HD518 has a nice warm bassy sound signature that should pair nicely with the card you have.  It's a bit on the dark side and the bass can be a bit boomy sometimes, though it's well controlled for the most part.  The HD449 is a bit more accurate and natural sounding(from what I've read) with bass that is not quite as prounced but tighter and better controlled.
 
So, which one should you get?  Well, if you want that sound stage and well rendered explosions for gaming, I would lean more to the open-back HD518, though the HD449 is probably not too bad in that area.  For general music listening, I would probably lean more toward the HD449.  It's really up to you which one to get.  Welcome to Head-Fi by the way.  So sorry about your wallet.

 

[usg414]

Hey Thanks digital-pride, both for the reply and the welcome note
 
I Got to add:
XONAR DG is itself worth only 30 $, so i am considering the amp on such a small chip to be negligible..
I think it all comes down to soundstage for me, if it distinctively more on 518 than 449. Then i shall buy that..
 
PS: though it is written on HD 449 on BOLD and biggest letters(Excellent soundstage ).

 

[usg414]

u owned both 449(similar to 448) and 518. Is the soundstage distinctively more..

 

[Digital-Pride]

Quote:

u owned both 449(similar to 448) and 518. Is the soundstage distinctively more..

 
The HD448 has a surprisingly nice spacious sound stage for a closed headphone, so the HD449 will likely have similar performance.  The HD518's will be a bit airer with better spacial imaging.

 

[usg414]

9As i said am no audiophile so i guess 449 would be enough for my needs music and gaming i.e,

also i want 2 know abt d soundstage of hd280 cuz i like thier sound.. Thnx in advance

 

[Digital-Pride]

Well, the HD280's soundstage is okay(for a closed headphone).  It's a bit on the small side so instruments sound closer together than they should be.  For gaming it's passable but probably not ideal.

 

[usg414]

Yea thanks, ordered the 518's.

 

[Digital-Pride]

Nice.  I think you'll enjoy using it.