[opiumden34]

Right now I have some Sennheiser HD 570, which I'm sure is universally agreed as being garbage. They are breaking, so it does not matter anyway.

I'll be using them for a mix of mmo gaming, rock, and various types of electronic music material. Except for rap.

I'd say my budget right now is $200, but...If you guys say for $300 I can get something wayyyy better, then I think i can swing that.

After searching for a bit, I'm thinking about AT a900, and Beyer dt770. The thing with the 770 is, I never know which versions are being discussed. The year, and the impedance. I also do not own an amp, and if I were to get one, I have no idea what to get. I'd rather not get one now, and save that for an upgrade down the line.

Any advice or suggestions would be most appreciated!

 

[feh1325]

what's your source?

 

[Giudecca]

I have the 770s in an 80 ohm version, great for my mmo (eve) and I also enjoy then with my electronic (Crystal Method, Oakenfold, Sasha, Digweed). An amp would help them, but you can get away with out one.

 

[opiumden34]

I'm sorry, I forgot to list my current set-up

It will be with my x-fi sound card which goes to some klipsch 2.1 speakers. I can either have the headphones go from the card or from the jack on the speakers.
You mentioned the 770, are they the old kind or the 05? What exactly is the point in different ohm ratings? Do they sound differently?

 

[grndslm]

Supposedly higher impedance cans sound better if given enough power. . . some even believe the 32ohm can sounds better when amplified.

Do not get more than 80ohms if you don't have an amp. Get the 32 or 80 ohm version, enjoy the sound, buy an amp later that can power a Darth Beyer, enjoy the sound, upgrade to Darth Beyer, enjoy the sound...

 

[grndslm]

Also consider ATH-AD700 or AD900. . . the open versions of the Audio-Technica cans. They're supposed to be the hotness in open cans, which usually sound nicer than closed cans.

 

[opiumden34]

ok guys, I just went to local guitar center and got me some dt 770 pro 80's.
I'm sorry, but What? The vocalist sounds like he's singing to me from outside the window, or in another room. Are these known for recessed mids? I have them plugged into the back of my x-fi sound card. I realize they are not burned in, but man, I think i liked my supposedly inferior hd 570's better.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by opiumden34 /img/forum/go_quote.gif ok guys, I just went to local guitar center and got me some dt 770 pro 80's. I'm sorry, but What? The vocalist sounds like he's singing to me from outside the window, or in another room. Are these known for recessed mids? I have them plugged into the back of my x-fi sound card. I realize they are not burned in, but man, I think i liked my supposedly inferior hd 570's better.

This sounds like the 770/80's are/were underpowered. Despite their relatively low 80-Ohm inpedance, they require an amp in order to not sound nasal and distant.

 

[EsthetiX]

i think the 770/pro 80's shine with electronic/house/trance/progressive/downtempo etc... and gaming. Not really music that relies on vocals.

 

[Hardwired]

Quote:

Originally Posted by opiumden34 /img/forum/go_quote.gif ok guys, I just went to local guitar center and got me some dt 770 pro 80's. I'm sorry, but What? The vocalist sounds like he's singing to me from outside the window, or in another room. Are these known for recessed mids? I have them plugged into the back of my x-fi sound card. I realize they are not burned in, but man, I think i liked my supposedly inferior hd 570's better.

You hear what I hear in the 770s. I started with the 570s and they sound tons better than the 770s.

If you can spend $300 or slightly less, the Denon D2000s are what you're looking for. Great sound across the board with mids you can stand to listen to, great bass, and mellow highs. If you can catch a pair used in the FS forum, the Senn HD650s would be a bit cheaper and sound more like your 570s but better. I like the D2000s better than the 650s but lots of people swear by the 650s.

 

[opiumden34]

Well, I already purchased the beyers. I was looking for closed, and I believe the Senn 650's are open. Perhaps I'll look into an amp. Any ideas for a $100 or less amp?

 

[Hardwired]

Quote:

Originally Posted by opiumden34 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, I already purchased the beyers. I was looking for closed, and I believe the Senn 650's are open. Perhaps I'll look into an amp. Any ideas for a $100 or less amp?

Sell them.

Enough people like the 770s that you won't have a problem selling them, and then buy some you like better. That's what Head-Fi is all about. Doesn't have to be now, just keep it in mind for later once you have the 50 posts required for selling in the For Sale forums.

Welcome and sorry about your wallet.

 

[opiumden34]

It's just that they do sound...I'm not familiar with audiophile terminology. Tinny, distant, even the guitar in metal seems smeared and messy. The source file is flac, so it's not a compression issue. Maybe I need to complete the burn-in? Maybe I should look into an amp before selling them?
As for the bass that I've read about, I can say it's there, and adequate. Not all that impressive. The creative/sennheiser IEM canalphones that I use sound way better than this, but perhaps that is comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Hardwired]

The DT700s pretty much define recessed mids. I think they sound like the vocals are coming from the bottom of a coffee can. No amount of burn-in will cure that but just the right amp might help. I gave up on them quick and moved on but maybe someone else can tell you what kind of amp might help.

The DT770 bass is all about quantity, not quality, the mids are recessed, and the highs are shrill and brittle. Not sure what amp can fix all that. I know tube amps let you choose tubes to get the sound you want, but you'll spend more than $100 on the amp and just the right tubes.

I came to the conclusion that headphones are the easiest part of a rig to change. Once you like the headphone sound, then you get other parts to make it sound even better or you like what you hear and stop there.

 

[opiumden34]

Thank you for all the help, I appreciate it. I guess it's back to the beginning again for me. The dt 770 isn't all that comfy anyway, too much clamping pressure.