[DavidA]

  Does anyone use the HD 700 for gaming? I currently use the HD 598 and I like it a lot, but 700 always seems to get rave reviews for its comfort, which is a very important factor for me

I've used my HD-598 and HD-700 for playing computer games (Test Drive, Tomb Raider, Call of duty, Crysis, Metro: 2033, last light) and they were both pretty good, the HD-700 will give a wider sound stage and has better details but as @Rob80b stated you will need a amp that will pair well and a good DAC might also be helpful.  I used Bifrost DAC and Project Ember AMP with the HD-700 using the optical connection out of my computer.

 

[DavidA]

   
And what DAC are you using with the HD800 + Crack?

Teac UD-301 or Bifrost, tubes in Crack are TS 5998 and Telefunken 12AU7

 

[chowmein83]

  Does anyone use the HD 700 for gaming? I currently use the HD 598 and I like it a lot, but 700 always seems to get rave reviews for its comfort, which is a very important factor for me

 
If you like the HD598 for gaming, the HD700 is even better. Mainly because 1) the HD700 is more resolving and 2) the soundstage on the HD700 is even better. To me, it's even bigger in terms of width (slightly) and depth (by a good amount). Also, the imaging on the HD700 is really, really good. Combine all of these, and you get a really immersive gaming experience where you'll be able to pinpoint sounds with ease (both where the sounds are due to the great imaging and how close they are to you due to the really good layering of the HD700).
 
The treble spikes that people always talk about in the HD700 are not an issue for gaming, only for music (and even then only some types of music). The HD700 also has enough bass to make movies and games sound good.
 

  I apologize if this has already been asked/answered but would a FiiO E17 be enough to power the HD 700's? I've read yes

 
Just tried the pairing with my E17 and HD700. It's enough to power the HD700's decently in terms of dynamics (bass, explosive dynamic range passages, etc.) and in general not sounding underpowered (graininess in the mids and treble). Basically, it'll sound relatively good out of the E17 (but not sound its best - but I think you know that

).
 
Hope this helps!

 

[Gfresh404]

  I've used my HD-598 and HD-700 for playing computer games (Test Drive, Tomb Raider, Call of duty, Crysis, Metro: 2033, last light) and they were both pretty good, the HD-700 will give a wider sound stage and has better details but as @Rob80b stated you will need a amp that will pair well and a good DAC might also be helpful.  I used Bifrost DAC and Project Ember AMP with the HD-700 using the optical connection out of my computer.

 
Hmm.. I do a lot of console gaming with an Astro Wireless Mixamp. I wonder if that would be enough to power the 700's. 

 

[Gfresh404]

Very helpful, thanks - can you comment on comfort? Are they a lot more comfortable than the 598's?

 

[DavidA]

   
Hmm.. I do a lot of console gaming with an Astro Wireless Mixamp. I wonder if that would be enough to power the 700's. 

The info I found on the Astro site has the Mixamp Pro @70mw at 32 ohms, this is on the low side so I don't think it would drive the HD-700 very well but unless you try you'll never know how good or bad it is.  I don't know if you could use the output and pass it to a separate amp but this would be like double amping so not really recommend.
 

  Very helpful, thanks - can you comment on comfort? Are they a lot more comfortable than the 598's?

As for comfort, I think its better than the HD-598, much cooler and less clamping force.

 

[chowmein83]

  Very helpful, thanks - can you comment on comfort? Are they a lot more comfortable than the 598's?

I pretty much agree with @DavidA above - they clamp less and they are cooler. I think they're cooler because of the material of the earpads which are different from the HD598 and because there is more area between your ears and the rest of the housing in the HD700 than with the HD598.
 
From what I've experienced, I don't think there is a headphone more comfortable than the HD700.

 

[xSwifty]

   
Well the 800's are 300 ohm and from what I've read the O2 works best with 150 ohm headphones.
 
Isn't it well regarded that to get the best from 800's you need to spend a lot on an amp/dac anyway?

I have read many people rave about the HD800's with that amp/dac combo, which I can't wrap my head around. Then practically everyone will tell you, that you need to spend a hefty amount of money on a great source and amp for the 800's. With the classic saying being 'feed them crap, they sound like crap.' So I don't understand why some people like that specific combination. 

 

[xSwifty]

  I have found the HD-800's are very picky with amps, originally used my Lyr2 and Project Ember and it didn't sound good, finally built a BH Crack and what a difference.  The HD-700 being lower impedance (150 Ohms iirc) is okay on the BH Crack but IMO sounds better on the Ember.

The HD800's sound amazing on the crack? And the 700's sounded okay? Isn't the crack highly recommend for 600,650 and the 700's with the 800 being the one that it shouldn't push too well, but is capable of doing. I would love to build a crack and buy a pair of HD800's in the future. 

 

[aznever]

Hows the sound of the HD 700/800 compared with the EL-8 open-back?

 

[3083joe]

Miss anyone tried wa6 with 700s? Pair as well as 650s?

 

[DavidA]

  The HD800's sound amazing on the crack? And the 700's sounded okay? Isn't the crack highly recommend for 600,650 and the 700's with the 800 being the one that it shouldn't push too well, but is capable of doing. I would love to build a crack and buy a pair of HD800's in the future. 

I think the reason the HD-700 does not do as well on the Crack is because of its lower impedance, (150 ohm vs 300 for HD-800/HD-650 or 250 for DT-990).  For me the HD-800 wasn't very good with my Lyr2 and Ember, I was going to sell the HD-800 until I built the Crack, only had to change the stock tubes (TS-5998 and Telefunken 12AU7) and that was the difference.  With the HD-700 I have the Ember output impedance set in the middle setting (35 ohm) and this gives me the best sound IMO.
Hope that answers your question, if you need anything else just ask,

and have a great weekend

 

[DavidA]

  Hows the sound of the HD 700/800 compared with the EL-8 open-back?

Depends on what you kind of sound signature you are looking for:
 
HD-700, good sound stage, not to amp picky, can be bright for some genre of music, bass is just right IMO, mids a little recessed, highs are extended and clear, best all around of the three.  I listen mostly to classic rock, jazz, some pop and watching movies with HD-700.
 
HD-800, best sound stage of the three, very amp picky, can be bass lite, very resolving, can be too analytical, not good with sub standard recordings, best technically of the three.  Best for classical, well mastered jazz, non-bass heavy pop and new age.
 
EL8 open, fairly good sound stage, nice balance to tonal range, bass is solid, mids can be to forward for some, highs are ok, can be sibilant with some genre of music, very easy to amp.  Best for R&B, techno/EDM, rock, pop.
 
For me it depends on what type of music I want to listen to.

 

[xSwifty]

  I apologize if this has already been asked/answered but would a FiiO E17 be enough to power the HD 700's? I've read yes

No they would not be enough for the hd700's. However, if you plan on buying a higher end source and amp in the future, then they could suffice. If the e17 would be your end all, then highly recommend you don't buy it. 

 

[xSwifty]

  I think the reason the HD-700 does not do as well on the Crack is because of its lower impedance, (150 ohm vs 300 for HD-800/HD-650 or 250 for DT-990).  For me the HD-800 wasn't very good with my Lyr2 and Ember, I was going to sell the HD-800 until I built the Crack, only had to change the stock tubes (TS-5998 and Telefunken 12AU7) and that was the difference.  With the HD-700 I have the Ember output impedance set in the middle setting (35 ohm) and this gives me the best sound IMO.
Hope that answers your question, if you need anything else just ask,

and have a great weekend

Thanks for the answer David. You have a Ember and a Crack, wow very nice. Do you prefer the Crack for HD800's over the ember? I am craving a pair of HD800's and want to give myself a excuse to add a Crack to my setup