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- Oct 11, 2008
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^ Better than pink AD700 reborn.
I know it has been ages since the last post on this thread but I have been wanting to write about what I have thought about the AD700s for quite some time now. Before I got them, I didn't know what proper Hi-Fi sound was like really because I only had very basic Sennheiser HD201s. When I first got the AD700s, I was just amazed by the detail and the feeling of actually being there with the band. But what I didn't know then was how much difference it made by what I plugged them into. I had them plugged into a very basic 2.0 set of Logitech PC speakers because that was the only thing I had with a volume dial. and when I now plug them back into them, they sound just sounds muddy.
I then started listening to music on a Pioneer stereo amplifier's headphone socket and even though the sound was traveling through 10 meters of cable to get to it, I couldn't tell any difference in sound quality compared to just plugging them directly into my computer. I loved the sound of these headphones when they were on direct but there was just one problem: the bass was so lacking! Turning the bass dial up on the amplifier didn't really improve the sound much. It just made them sound a little muddy unless it was a very good recording. I then decided to look into headphone amplifiers and I saw that many people said that the Fiio E11 goes well with the AD700s. It goes better with them than anything else I have ever tried! On bass boost 2 on the E11, you start to hear and feel the bass more and it doesn't mess up the other sounds as much as other EQ devices I have tried. I have also tried the AD700s of the Fiio E10 but I still think they go better with the E11. I have never heard better sounding high frequencies on anything else. Even on more expensive Hi-Fi speakers. They just sound so bright and sharp and I would really miss the treble if I got a pair of headphones with less.
It could just simply be because they are open that their soundstage is so good because a few months ago, I bought the AKG K550 and yes, they have much better bass but they lack that open and spacious soundstage that the AD700s have.
I have had the AD700s for almost 3 years now and they just don't feel like they will stop working any time soon. They sound no different to what they used to and I just hope they will last.
Another thing I love about them is how comfortable they are! I can wear these for simply hours and not really know I have them on. It was very hard to get used to the AKG K550s because I was so used to the 3D wing support of the AD700s which I still really like. I agree with other people though, you do look very silly wearing them!
I just don't know if you can get open back headphones at a similar price that I paid for these and not loose any of their soundstage. I live in the UK and they only cost me £87. I paid £129 for my K550s and they overall, don't sound as good (but then they are closed back).
Yet another thing I like about them is the quality of the cable. It feels like it will never ever break. I don't know why I can't find cables like this on line to use for other things. It it very thick but also much more flexible than I thought it would be.
If anybody who has had these headphones know of a pair that is still being made that is a similar price and has similar sound, I would be interested to know about them.
Yes I agree. I have listened to some modern recordings and some of them even on spotify premium sound a bit harsh and tinny as if they are made for people to listen on their phone or something. Proper recordings do sound superb though. Similar to what you said, I think the bass is very well controlled and each bass note on a good recording sounds very clean and not at all muddy like many other headphones are. I once heard a pair of beats and I thought that they sounded way to bass heavy. The midrange was so messed up just because of the crazy amount of bass. I could not believe the price when I looked them up. They were £167 compared to £87 which I paid for my AD700s.
One of the few things that puts me of listening to these is the amount of sound leakage. I know it is expected to happen on open back headphones but I do think I would listen to these as often as my AKG K550s if it wasn't for their sound leakage. I would have thought that it is because that they are open that they give such an open and airy soundstage which is what I like most about them.