Supersize Headphones

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To start off with, I have a massive head. Just over hat size 8, if anyone understands that size reference. I currently have a pair of Audio Technica A900X headphones, and I love the sound, but not the fit. I stretched them on the box for a week and a half, I've been using them for over a month, and the clamping force is still slightly uncomfortable. To add to this, I wear glasses, and the earpads sandwich my ears between the arms of my glasses, causing pain and discomfort. When I wear them situated as comfortably as I can, the tube/wire things that connect the ear-cups touch my head.
 
I need something bigger, or the same size as the A900X, but with an "actual" headband. I would also like a similar sound signature, but given the size requirements, I doubt that I'll find something with that property. Closed is preferred, but I will take open if there isn't anything that fills these requirements and is closed. My budget is $300, which can be bumped up to $350, but no more than that. I greatly appreciate any and all help with this.
 
Forgot to mention that I'm looking for something that will be good for gaming. I don't know the physical sizes and how comfortable the headphones are in MLE guide for large heads, so I thought I would mention it.

 

[Roderick]

AKG K550? Maybe fostex t50rp is also an option... I don't know about new models but some old fostex headphones I had could extend more than anyone would need.

 

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Funny you should mention the K550, because that was the other headphone I was looking at next to the A900X. I just wasn't sure it would be the right size, as it doesn't look like it's adjustable. I'll looked at the Fostex, but I don't know how well it would work with my ModMic, as there doesn't seem to be a perfectly flat surface on the ear cup.
 
I also forgot to mention that I use a ModMic, so if the ear cup design looks the way I think it is, then it won't really work with that.

 

[Roderick]

K550 has adjustable headband. If you don't need a large flat surface, I think that the logo area next to the vents is flat on fostex. If you don't mind modding you could always buy some vintage headphones and use those hinges on your a900x. Many old headphones have large steel headbands.

 

[Music Alchemist]

Hmm. The Philips SHP9500 and beyerdynamic DT 880 are large and comfortable, even with glasses.

 

[Transmaniacon]

+1 to the AKG K55X, they now have an updated version of the K550, the K553 Pro.  I have a pretty big head as well and these fit very well.  The top is adjustable, and the earpads are big and very cushioned.  For example I found the ATH-M50X and Shure 840 uncomfortable due to high clamping force.  Guitar center sells these so you could go give them a try and see how they fit.
 
The Beyedynamic 770/880/990 also are comfortable, but I found them a big heavier than the AKGs and not as comfortable. 

 

[Rhamnetin]

I will have to disagree with the Beyerdynamic DT 880 recommendation.  I don't have a large head and I have to wear the DT 880 Pro 250 Ohm adjusted to its maximum size.  
 
I think the AKG K7xx and K712 Pro should do the trick.  The sound isn't too far off of the A900X (I've owned the A900X, DT 880, and K7xx, and the K712 is very similar to the K7xx) and they have an actual well designed self-adjusting suspension headband with a very large adjustment range.  It's also lighter than both the DT 880 and A900X and has more spacious pads than both.
 
As far as sound goes, the K7xx is much more detailed than the A900X, has better bass extension, has more forward bass (but it's far from bass heavy, the A900X is just rather bass light), has less forward upper mids.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  I will have to disagree with the Beyerdynamic DT 880 recommendation.  I don't have a large head and I have to wear the DT 880 Pro 250 Ohm adjusted to its maximum size.  

 
The one I had was the DT 880 Edition (aka Premium) 600 Ω. Perhaps they are different.

 

[Roderick]

I don't know how much variations there are between dt880 but between different beyer models differences are huge. Dt770 had a strong clamp, dt880 mediocre, dt990 strong, t1 mediocre and t5p is loose. I'm sure there are differences between models and manufacturing runs... But beyers are a hit and miss I'm afraid. If something cheaper and open is not out of the question, Pioneer se-1000 is a big headphone. Not for pointy ears though, but otherwise it is big enough for most large heads I think. Sounds good too... Better than dt990 and allmost on par with dt880 imo.

 

[TheGiantHogweed]

  To start off with, I have a massive head. Just over hat size 8, if anyone understands that size reference. I currently have a pair of Audio Technica A900X headphones, and I love the sound, but not the fit. I stretched them on the box for a week and a half, I've been using them for over a month, and the clamping force is still slightly uncomfortable. To add to this, I wear glasses, and the earpads sandwich my ears between the arms of my glasses, causing pain and discomfort. When I wear them situated as comfortably as I can, the tube/wire things that connect the ear-cups touch my head.
 
I need something bigger, or the same size as the A900X, but with an "actual" headband. I would also like a similar sound signature, but given the size requirements, I doubt that I'll find something with that property. Closed is preferred, but I will take open if there isn't anything that fills these requirements and is closed. My budget is $300, which can be bumped up to $350, but no more than that. I greatly appreciate any and all help with this.
 
Forgot to mention that I'm looking for something that will be good for gaming. I don't know the physical sizes and how comfortable the headphones are in MLE guide for large heads, so I thought I would mention it.

I own the Audio Technica ATH-AD700s and the AKG K550s as people mentioned below. The AD700s are a very similar design to the A900X but just not open. They have the same 3D wings. The AD700s are known for being very well suited for people with large heads. I'm not sure but maybe the A900X clamps harder as it is a closed back. Closed back headphones often have better bass if there is more clamping force so maybe that could be a reason.
 
I find that the K550s clamp a little harder than my AD700s. I have quite a big head but I wouldn't mind if they were a little tighter. Many people say that the K550s don't clamp anywhere near hard enough. Another think I should mention is that I have read in several places, the K550s are not good if you have glasses. Even I find, if the cups aren't firmly against your ear, the bass reduces hugely. Other people have said that when listening to the K550s without glasses, they sound fine, but once they are on, the bass can sound very weak.
The new replacement K553 or K550mkII might be an improvement in fit but I'm still not sure if they would go well if you wear glasses.
 
My AD700s that are a similar design to your A900Xs seem a lot more flexible than the K550s. You can pull the 2 cups much further apart than with the K550 even when the K550s are on size 12. That is without it tugging back and feeling like it is about to break with the K550s though.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  I own the Audio Technica ATH-AD700s and the AKG K550s as people mentioned below. The AD700s are a very similar design to the A900X but just not open. They have the same 3D wings. The AD700s are known for being very well suited for people with large heads. I'm not sure but maybe the A900X clamps harder as it is a closed back. Closed back headphones often have better bass if there is more clamping force so maybe that could be a reason.
 
I find that the K550s clamp a little harder than my AD700s. I have quite a big head but I wouldn't mind if they were a little tighter. Many people say that the K550s don't clamp anywhere near hard enough. Another think I should mention is that I have read in several places, the K550s are not good if you have glasses. Even I find, if the cups aren't firmly against your ear, the bass reduces hugely. Other people have said that when listening to the K550s without glasses, they sound fine, but once they are on, the bass can sound very weak.
The new replacement K553 or K550mkII might be an improvement in fit but I'm still not sure if they would go well if you wear glasses.
 
My AD700s that are a similar design to your A900Xs seem a lot more flexible than the K550s. You can pull the 2 cups much further apart than with the K550 even when the K550s are on size 12. That is without it tugging back and feeling like it is about to break with the K550s though.

 
I can also vouch for the comfort of the AD700, having owned it. That wing design is genius. But without modifications, it lacks bass, so it's harder for me to recommend.

 

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I've owned the AD700 and the AD500X, and I had to EQ some of the bass down on the AD500X, as it was too much for my ears. I should have mentioned that earlier, but my memory is terrible, and I forgot to mention it. I don't know by how much, but that should greatly limit the options available.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  I've owned the AD700 and the AD500X, and I had to EQ some of the bass down on the AD500X, as it was too much for my ears. I should have mentioned that earlier, but my memory is terrible, and I forgot to mention it. I don't know by how much, but that should greatly limit the options available.

 
If it helps, I think the Philips SHP9500 is more comfortable and better-sounding than the AD700. However, I don't know the limit of its headband, since I have a smaller head.

 

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What's the difference between the K 701 and the Q 701 model? 

 

[TheGiantHogweed]

  What's the difference between the K 701 and the Q 701 model? 

I think the Q701 was a limited or special edition. Something like that I think. Available in some quite unusual colours. There is also the K702 and I read the difference between them and the K701 is the depth of the ear pads. I think that on the K702s, the cushions are just that bit deeper.
 
I don't know much about these headphones but I have often been considering the K702 as my next possible pair of open backed headphones. I might be incorrect about some of the details I have given.