[viodea]

I'm looking for a decent headphone. It'll be used to listen to classical (piano concerto & orchestra) and Pink Floyd.

Here is my background.
I have a Grado SR-80 already. I like it but not comfortable for listening for more than an hour. This will be used for rock music.
I'm not audiophile by any mean. I'm not going to spend over $1K to get a headphone & amp. The Sennheiser HD595 & AKG K701 & K702 all around $250 which is highest price I want to pay at this moment. I'm planning on getting a low-end headphone amp if necessary for under $150.
I have a NAD receiver & Walfendale speakers (sp?). I don't remember the exact model number. I do enjoy them a lot in a un-treated room.

I've read many reviews for both HD595 and K70x. Seems like HD595 is a safer bet. K70x maybe a little too bright. I do worry about too bright cause listening fatigue. Also, most people suggest HD595 can be used without amp but K70x is nothing special without a good amp.

I would like to get opinion from people who listened to both. What do you prefer and why? What amp is used if any?

thanks

 

[viodea]

btw. I'll be using this at work. The source is either a PC with build-in sound card or a JVC mini CD player. Neither one is consider as decent source. I really don't want to spend another few hundred bucks to get a good source either.

 

[zeromacro]

I highly recommend the ATH-AD900. It seems to fit your needs perfectly. Around $250. It's open headphones with crisp highs which is perfect for classical music. And most importantly, it's one of the easiest cans to drive and doesn't need an amp.

 

[viodea]

I'm afraid it's going to be a little to much on the high-end. My ears get fatigue fast when the high is too overpower like horn twitters.

zeromarco - how do you compare HD555 & ATH-AD900? I know someone have a HD555 that I can try.

 

[viodea]

also, the comfort level with eye glasses on is kinda important too. If I can't wear it for long, I don't have a headphone at all.

 

[tim3320070]

The K701 is more refined than the 595 for sure. Some may say the K701 is less fun but it is a superior headphone in my opinion. Both will leak sound though.

 

[Acix]

K701/2 the best for classical.

 

[viodea]

leak sound is not an issue for me. I use it in my office.

Any one use the K70x with eye glasses on? I want to see how comfortable it is.

Is there an amp for less than $150 that's enough to drive the K701/2? The most I can do is $200.

 

[Sasahara]

I have glasses and they fit fine.

 

[tim3320070]

I had both and they seemed fine with glasses but maybe not all day kind of comfort.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acix /img/forum/go_quote.gif K701/2 the best for classical.

X2 for me!

 

[Redo]

K70x's are dreamy sounding, especially with vocals. If you can nab a good amp, the k70x's are much better headphones. But your question between 595's and 70x's has such a massive gap between the two to really analyze the situation.

 

[viodea]

The price for those 595, 701, and 702 are almost the same, so, I thought there were very close. I didn't realize the different between 595 and 70x is that much.

any good low cost amp for k702?

 

[Cyphir]

Quote:

Originally Posted by viodea /img/forum/go_quote.gif The price for those 595, 701, and 702 are almost the same, so, I thought there were very close. I didn't realize the different between 595 and 70x is that much. any good low cost amp for k702?

The cheapest one that can adequately drive the K701 is the Shanling ph100, which is 250$ new.

 

[brendon]

^^ Not in this day and age ! There are many cheaper Chinese amps that can drive high impedance cans properly.

EDIT - Surprising that the K701 has dropped to the $250 bracket while the HD595 has stayed in this bracket all along !