upgrade to AD700/AD900 worth it?

[brn80]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adreneline /img/forum/go_quote.gif *snip* it's not that great for rock/metal at all, and some other genres, imo. Great for classical and jazz... But if he doesn't care about bass, and wants it for games, I think the AD700 is the way to go.

x2. I'd get them if you're keeping the HD485 (which from what I've read is very well suited for electronica). But if you're getting rid of it, the ADs might not suit bass-centric electronica stuff like DnB. They do suit some electronica well though because of that 'expansive' soundstage; I loved BT's 'This Binary Universe' on it.

The AD900 series has always been a bit more expensive by about $30-$40 compared to the A900, even 3 years ago when I bought mine. They also leak sound a lot since they are very 'open'; if turned up enough, they can literally be mini-speakers (within the same room).

 

[dweaver]

I found the AD700 to be a huge improvement over SEnn HD555, and even HD595, I also have listened to the phones the OP is uisng and they were a MASSIVE improvment over that model. So I repectfully disagree with your opinion. Also his current phones are open as are the AD models he is asking about so they all leak sound.

Having said all this the OP is also expressing concern now in regards to leaking sound so I stand by my post I have already made in regards to an ATH model and the idea of possibly waiting to get a Shure model when they are released.

 

[Caspr]

no i wont keep my hd485 because at higher volumes in bass heavy songs it starts cracking and whatnot...seems like i had bad luck with this one(read here that some 485's have that problem so i will send it back)

i will get the AD700 because i can always upgrade to the AD900 or buy an amp right?

or get a shure/ultrasone

thanks for all the help you guys helped me a lot

 

[Adreneline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dweaver /img/forum/go_quote.gif For every person who insists that the AD700 is NOT a good choice for these genres or that they are "bass anemic" and that those of us who like their sound are misleading people. Why not stop trying to impose your opinion down everyone ones throat. An OP asked for opinions, so those of us who like the AD700 say so, for those who prefer say a Senn model or a Grado model, or whatever should just say which one you prefer.

Because, they are bass anemic. Whether you think so or not, in comparison to other cans, they are. Maybe your ears adjusted to them and you've made yourself *think* that they aren't.

And if ANYONE is trying to impose opinions down people's throat, its the AD700 fanboys who think they are the godsend headphone that fit everyone's needs. I'm sick of always seeing them recommended for the wrong things, when there are MUCH better cans that do the specific needs/genres. Like I said though, it seems it would fit his needs this time. For rock and metal? No. And I wasn't saying they weren't for rock/metal because of the anemic bass, I mean the lack of bass attack does effect it yes, but sometimes massive soundstage isn't needed and derails from the music.

They are great phones like I said, but they don't do everything right, and people need to stop thinking that. Not saying everyone does.

 

[nullstring]

but... they should be good for someone who specifically said they don't want bass heavy headphones, such as the OP, right?

In any case, I, for one, think that the AD700's flaws lie elsewhere than their bass.
Grainy, Recessed higher mid-range. They bass might lack impact, but it's definitely there, and it's definitely detailed.

I prefer them for rock and acoustic guitar over my D1001's.

 

[Adreneline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nullstring /img/forum/go_quote.gif but... they should be good for someone who specifically said they don't want bass heavy headphones, such as the OP, right?

Yes, I have stated this in both my posts in this thread.

 

[fjrabon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adreneline /img/forum/go_quote.gif Because, they are bass anemic. Whether you think so or not, in comparison to other cans, they are. Maybe your ears adjusted to them and you've made yourself *think* that they aren't. And if ANYONE is trying to impose opinions down people's throat, its the AD700 fanboys who think they are the godsend headphone that fit everyone's needs. I'm sick of always seeing them recommended for the wrong things, when there are MUCH better cans that do the specific needs/genres. Like I said though, it seems it would fit his needs this time. For rock and metal? No. And I wasn't saying they weren't for rock/metal because of the anemic bass, I mean the lack of bass attack does effect it yes, but sometimes massive soundstage isn't needed and derails from the music. They are great phones like I said, but they don't do everything right, and people need to stop thinking that. Not saying everyone does.

It's one thing to say they're bass anemic, which is more or less true, but its quite another to say this makes it bad for rock and metal. If you needed impactful bass for rock and metal, Grados would never get recommended.

The only thing that's truly required to be good with rock and metal is great PRaT. The rest just depends on what you listen for in a rock tune, as to what type of sound signature you're after. Some people love Denons for rock and metal, some people hate them, some people like the AT AD series sound for rock and metal, some hate them as well.

Saying that a certain headphone is good for a certain genre is waaaaaayyyyy overrated on head-fi. 99% of what we talk about here is sound signature, and I think so many people like such a wide variety of sound signatures for the same types of music, that's its often quite pointless to say "headphone x is good for genre y". There are a few non-sound signature related things where you can say a headphone struggles with certain genres. For instance, headphones with a very narrow soundstage are going to struggle with big orchestra classical. Headphones with slow PRaT are going to struggle with metal. But that's far different from saying "you need impactful bass to enjoy rock, the AD's don't have it, stop recommending them." That's making a lot of assumptions that may or may not be true about how they like their music presented.

 

[Adreneline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjrabon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Saying that a certain headphone is good for a certain genre is waaaaaayyyyy overrated on head-fi. 99% of what we talk about here is sound signature, and I think so many people like such a wide variety of sound signatures for the same types of music, that's its often quite pointless to say "headphone x is good for genre y". There are a few non-sound signature related things where you can say a headphone struggles with certain genres. For instance, headphones with a very narrow soundstage are going to struggle with big orchestra classical. Headphones with slow PRaT are going to struggle with metal. But that's far different from saying "you need impactful bass to enjoy rock, the AD's don't have it, stop recommending them." That's making a lot of assumptions that may or may not be true about how they like their music presented.

What I bolded, I completely agree with.

Are my posts not getting through? I specifically said in the post you quoted, that that wasn't my main concern (the bass) for rock. I just said it doesn't help that the impact isn't there - but yes the impact is better in the MS1 I have tested.

"...And I wasn't saying they weren't for rock/metal because of the anemic bass, I mean the lack of bass attack does effect it yes, but sometimes massive soundstage isn't needed and derails from the music."

My main complaint was the sound stage which isn't needed for everything. Sure, if you like it with rock, then all hail to you. But I prefer and I think it sounds better, for a much more upfront presentation (Grado) for rock and metal. I think the huge and somewhat forced sound stage makes the mids suffer and things sound distant when it need not be.

That was all I was trying to get through. There are other options, but I completely agree with the stupid fad of getting headphones per genre. As for AD700 excelling in more classical, jazz music, is because of the distant sound stage. It just wouldn't be my cup of tea for my genres, they wouldn't do them BAD, just not how I would've liked - and my point I was trying to say was that everyone deems them as the best at times, when there are many alternatives.

 

[dweaver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adreneline /img/forum/go_quote.gif Because, they are bass anemic. Whether you think so or not, in comparison to other cans, they are. Maybe your ears adjusted to them and you've made yourself *think* that they aren't. And if ANYONE is trying to impose opinions down people's throat, its the AD700 fanboys who think they are the godsend headphone that fit everyone's needs. I'm sick of always seeing them recommended for the wrong things, when there are MUCH better cans that do the specific needs/genres. Like I said though, it seems it would fit his needs this time. For rock and metal? No. And I wasn't saying they weren't for rock/metal because of the anemic bass, I mean the lack of bass attack does effect it yes, but sometimes massive soundstage isn't needed and derails from the music. They are great phones like I said, but they don't do everything right, and people need to stop thinking that. Not saying everyone does.

I do agree there are some "fanboys" of these phones that will only promote them no matter what. But not everone who recommends them falls in to this category. I try to recommend based on what the OP is asking for. In this case they did not want bass heavy so they sounded like me after I tried/used certain Senn models of phones, thus my recommendation. I also recommend JVC, Philips, Monster TB's in IEM threads, Senns that I have listened to if they sound like they meet a persons requirements.

 

[Busta9iron]

The title of this thread is upgrade to the AD700/900 worth it? Wouldn't that mean OP wants recommendations of these two cans??? If helping someone asking about a specific brand, the specific one he has questions about, makes you a fanboy, then guilty as charged. I think a few of us need to relax, its just a forum, trying to help people out.

 

[K3cT]

I think the deal-breaker for me was the recessed midrange of the AD700. That mistake also taught me a lesson not to take opinions in HF at face-value.