[arch9443]

I'm looking for a good pair of portable full-sized headphones for use mainly at school, and vacations and the like.  but also occasionally for generally going out.  Under most circumstances I would probably be using them from a Fiio E7 from one of my laptops, but from time to time they may be used directly from an iphone.  (Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the Fiio E7 functions as a proper DAC without the USB in?)
 
My current favorite pair of headphones are the AKG K701s.  I bought them so I could compare them to my AD900s, just out of curiosity because the K701s have been calling to me for some reason..., and send them back if I didn't like them enough.  however, now I'm contemplating selling the AD900s and using the money to help fund a pair of proper portable full-sized headphones. 
 
From what I've heard about both, isolation seems pretty decent, but I've heard the shures are more comfortable.  It looks like the shures would be similar to the sound signature that I'm used to with the AD900s/K701s, and the pro 900s would be in a radically different direction. 
 
So opinions on these two cans, and any other that may also work well is appreciated.  I tend to prefer full-sized headphones, because I've never had a supraaural headphone that were even slightly comfortable to me, my ears are very sensitive having pressure directly on them. 

 

[LithoJazoSphere]

Cards on the table, I own the Pro 900, SRH-940, and E7, and have briefly auditioned the K702 (more or less identical to the K701) and AD900.  The Pro 900 is certainly a radical departure from the others.  About the only thing similar is the brightness and large soundstage (though not as large as either of yours).  Compared to them it won't have prominent mids, and instead will have extremely powerful bass.  The Pro 900s are fairly neutral in comfort.  I've been able to wear them nearly all day and it doesn't bother me, but they don't feel as nice as headphones that are actually known for comfort.  A few people find that they can get a little bit hot and have a moderate amount of clamping force. 
 
The SRH-940s are fairly close to the closed equivalent of the AD900 and K701.  Fairly similar overall sound signatures and levels of bass, mids, and treble, though being closed, the soundstage is smaller.  When I was considering a phone for this sort of sound signature and purpose, my other top considerations were the A900 and the K550.  While not having heard those two, my main concern with the A900 was the lack of detail and overall sound quality.  With the K-550, among other items I've heard too many conflicting reports about how portable it is and whether it can be driven properly from a portable device. 
 
The SRH-940 is ok in comfort.  Some people find that the headband can dig in a bit, and I've experienced this as well, but a minor adjustment on your head every once in a awhile takes care of this.  The SRH-940 will drive just fine from a portable source.  The Pro 900 is acceptable from one, but improves noticeably more from amping (even from just the E7) than does the SRH-940.  And yes, the E7 doesn't work as a DAC unless plugged in with a USB cord or in the base of the E9. 

 

[jupitreas]

I bought both the SRH940 and the PRO900 in order to find out with one is better (for me). The result? Shure SRH940.
 
I found that the PRO900 had a few fatal flaws. Chief amongst them:
-bass is overdone
-sound is very harsh even after lots of burn-in
-female vocals are extremely piercing
-s-logic sounds artificial at times and creates weird problems for people with asymmetrical ears (which is extremely common)
 
The SRH940 has a few faults of its own:
-can be uncomfortable
-bass is somewhat unnatural sounding due to a dip in the mid-bass
 
With this said, I found the SRH940 to be far better in overall SQ. The detail is truly second to none below the 1k level. Through bright, the SRH940 is not fatiguing. The bass can be fixed with EQ if needed. 
 
The PRO900 beats the SRH940 in build quality, comfort and if you're a basshead, the bass is also way better than SRH940. The Shure beats the PRO900 in every other category that counts though. Its just a better can, IMO.

 

[extrabigmehdi]

Quote:

My current favorite pair of headphones are the AKG K701s.

If you liked the k701, then according to lot of review the srh940 sounds similar. I've even seen someone open a thread, because he couldn't decide which sound better.
If you decide to go with the srh940, please check my review, I  suggest an interesting mod in the last part.

 

[arch9443]

Based on my main cans I'm definitely not a basshead 

, the reason I've been considering the pro 900s is mainly because I was looking for something a little different. However a lot of my music is made up of female vocals so them being to piercing would be a pretty big problem.  And from the post above it sounds like the srh 940 would work better if I were to use it from my iphone which I'm sure will happen occasionally.  The srh 940 definitely seem like something I would be almost guaranteed to like based on sound signature, where as the pro 900s are more expensive, and may not pan out so well.
 
I appreciate the input, right now I'm kinda leaning towards the srh 940.  I would be interested to know if anyone else has any input on female vocals being piercing on the pro 900s, and how the highs on the pro 900 would compare to the K701 or the AD900.
 
I expect that the bass might be a bit overdone on the pro 900s, especially coming from the likes of the K701.  But that's part of the reason I've been curious about them, I've heard that they can do most genres pretty decently, but I'm not to sure about that.
 
 

 

[jupitreas]

They are harsher than either the K701 or the AD900. Maybe Ultrasone tried to make up for the huge bass... the upped mids and treble is hugely amplified on the PRO900. Kinda like Beyerdynamic does with the DT990. The difference is that the DT990 has a smoother frequency curve and only spikes the treble in specific places (gives them that smooth and sparkly Beyer sound). The PRO900 on the other hand heavy-handedly amplifies everything above about 3khz. There is then a dip at 10khz and then it goes back to amplifying everything. 
 
Quote:

how the highs on the pro 900 would compare to the K701 or the AD900.
 

 

 

[extrabigmehdi]

Unless you listen to techno, drum&bass , on anything relying a lot on bass, there's no reason to get the pro900.
I've seen someone kidding and say he wouldn't listen some harp on the pro900.
Quote:

the reason I've been considering the pro 900s is mainly because I was looking for something a little different

Then you'd have to listen to something different.

I  think that the srh940 are picky with the source, and I'm not sure using them with an iphone is a good idea.
Revealing/crisp/sharp high + emphasis on high , this isn't  forgiving. But their sharpness is more or less obvious depending on the source.
I'm convinced they have more to deliver , once you mod them.
 
 

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,
 
Here's your new headphone.
 
Very best,

 

[extrabigmehdi]

Quote:

They are harsher than either the K701 or the AD900.

Ha  ha, I  remind when I  was suggesting that the srh940 were harsh , at least when compared to my hd595, and everyone was strongly disagreeing.
At the end I  found the consensus "they put emphasis on every transients, and this can be unpleasant". I  changed my mind later (explained in my review).

 

[cyberalpha11]

I bought both the SRH940 and the PRO900 in order to find out with one is better (for me). The result? Shure SRH940.

I found that the PRO900 had a few fatal flaws. Chief amongst them:
-bass is overdone
-sound is very harsh even after lots of burn-in
-female vocals are extremely piercing
-s-logic sounds artificial at times and creates weird problems for people with asymmetrical ears (which is extremely common)

The SRH940 has a few faults of its own:
-can be uncomfortable
-bass is somewhat unnatural sounding due to a dip in the mid-bass

With this said, I found the SRH940 to be far better in overall SQ. The detail is truly second to none below the 1k level. Through bright, the SRH940 is not fatiguing. The bass can be fixed with EQ if needed. 

The PRO900 beats the SRH940 in build quality, comfort and if you're a basshead, the bass is also way better than SRH940. The Shure beats the PRO900 in every other category that counts though. Its just a better can, IMO.

From your listening experience, which one has a wider sounds stage, more detail separation, good mids range and smoother treble?

 

[jupitreas]

PRO900 has more soundstage but it sounds more artificial than the SRH940's.
The SRH940 beats it at detail separation, mids and smoother treble though.

 

[cyberalpha11]

Quote:

PRO900 has more soundstage but it sounds more artificial than the SRH940's.
The SRH940 beats it at detail separation, mids and smoother treble though.

So do you think SRH940 is a better choice when come to a balance sound?
For electronic, pop, dance, trance, new wave, which is a better choice?

 

[jupitreas]

I think the SRH940 is a better sounding headphone, period. It's bass is a bit in the background but it can be EQ'ed to sound very powerful, while still being very clean. The SRH940 is quite uncomfortable for me though, and this is why I no longer own one. If ony the comfort issue was resolved, I'd definitely keep them and use them as my main can.