What gaming headphones to buy? [Text View] - Page 19

Daekwan

01-26-10, 01:48 PM

The Master (KBI) has spoken..

And his words drift above Daekwan's head like the fog rising from the Lake Minnetoba. He stares at his Bank of America debit card with a harderned look of a predator, and it trembles in fear. The card tucks itself deeper into his wallet hoping its future has not been decided. But it understands change has come upon it, just as President Obama promised a year ago. The card strings to its last particle of hope, maybe its numbers are somehow worn down enough they are no longer legible. Maybe Amazon.com is somehow magically blocked today by his job's interconnection connection.

The gruesome scene only worsens when Daekwan patiently clicks the link http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD595-HD-595-Premier-Headphone/dp/B0001FTVE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264534126&sr=8-1 He cannot help but wonder if the Lord himself has led him to the legendary 595's priced today at $183.95 including shipping. He intensely reviews all 179 different customer product comments, one by one, wondering how can so many people can be this pleased by a simple material good made by the hands of a mere mortal.

He scrutinizes further. Slowly gazing into the horizon of his flatscreen monitor. As he leans back into his chair he closes his eyes and opens his ears to whispering thoughts such as "What will I do with these headphones if I already own Astros", "Should I hurry up and buy them before Michael Gonzo Geezus does first" or "He how he could even post a picture of him wearing the supermodel like 595's on FormulaNerd's Facebook page for ultimate revenge". As Daekwan cautiously reads the last review. Number 179 of 179. His mouse, seemingly pulled by the earths gravity.. wonders down to see 62% of customers purchase the 595 after viewing them on Amazon. He now understands resistance is futile and he must comply. His mind is weak, his soul has melted. All his base are belongs to Sennheiser.

Like an old man clearing snow from his driveway, he uses every ounce of energy to force his mouse upwards and click the button glowing add to shopping cart.

To be continued....

formulanerd

01-26-10, 01:58 PM

dang, $184 is a pretty good price... but it looks like the 595's have the same unimpressive "champagne" finish as the AD700's, not the silver that they appear to have in the "stock" photos

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tT63WsyUL.jpg

ahhh, and they're $249 from amazon.... only some third party sellers (that i've never heard of) have them cheaper than that.... maybe gray market goods?

mikeloxlong

01-26-10, 02:22 PM

still trying to justify the $100 premium. Ignorance is bliss and that $100 can be used else where

guitarlp

01-26-10, 02:38 PM

still trying to justify the $100 premium. Ignorance is blis and that $100 can be used else where

Everyone justifies things differently. I try (when financially possible), to always buy the best within my price range. That way, I'll never (most of the time mind you) second guess my purchase and want something "better" in the future.

You may spend $85 on the AD700's today and be happy with them, but want something better within a couple of months. You'd then be spending $85 + $185 (if you got the HD595's). If you go that route, it's cheaper (as long as the 595's are in your price range) to just buy the 595's today.

I don't think you can go wrong with either headset. The 595 seems to get slightly better reviews... but I really doubt it's worth $100 more for the 595's on that alone. I preferred the looks of the 595's, the sound is supposed to be a little better, and they were within my price range. Because of that, I purchased the 595's. If my budget were $150 or less, I would have gone with the AD700's because I couldn't justify spending an additional $35 for looks and a slight increase in sound quality. But if $180 is in your budget for headphones and you think you may get the upgrade bug after getting the AD700's, just buy the 595's.

My best advice, buy them both from Amazon and see what you like the most. Return the one you no longer want (amazon.com is by far the easiest online store to return things to). I'd recommend having both at the same time so you can do quick A/B tests to hear the differences.

guitarlp

01-26-10, 02:43 PM

Daekwan

01-26-10, 02:46 PM

ferrisg

01-26-10, 02:46 PM

Daekwan

01-26-10, 02:50 PM

Everyone justifies things differently. I try (when financially possible), to always buy the best within my price range. That way, I'll never (most of the time mind you) second guess my purchase and want something "better" in the future.
You may spend $85 on the AD700's today and be happy with them, but want something better within a couple of months. You'd then be spending $85 + $185 (if you got the HD595's). If you go that route, it's cheaper (as long as the 595's are in your price range) to just buy the 595's today.

I don't think you can go wrong with either headset. The 595 seems to get slightly better reviews... but I really doubt it's worth $100 more for the 595's on that alone. I preferred the looks of the 595's, the sound is supposed to be a little better, and they were within my price range. Because of that, I purchased the 595's. If my budget were $150 or less, I would have gone with the AD700's because I couldn't justify spending an additional $35 for looks and a slight increase in sound quality. But if $180 is in your budget for headphones and you think you may get the upgrade bug after getting the AD700's, just buy the 595's.

My best advice, buy them both from Amazon and see what you like the most. Return the one you no longer want (amazon.com is by far the easiest online store to return things to). I'd recommend having both at the same time so you can do quick A/B tests to hear the differences.

Agreed on both parts.

I actually learned something from Kabob about buying. His advice to me was buy once, cry once. And damn if that isnt true. So if I really want something, Id rather save up and go for exactly what I want.. even if that means making sacrifices past, present or future. The quality of the sound and the sexiness of the 595s that make them well worthy of $184 bucks. I highly doubt anybody paying that price for those headphones will walk away dissapointed or 2nd guessing their purchase. Another point would be a $180 isnt alot of money in the A/V world. For me its out a few nights out at the bars/clubs. Considering DC is getting snow this Friday & Saturday, picking up the 595's is a perfect timing for what should be a long weekend of gaming & movies.

As far as judging a headphone on just pure sound reproduction, I have no doubt the AD700's would satisfy most our needs. Finding them for $88 shipped only makes the deal better and if sound is what you are looking for. Dont wait, the 700's sell out fast, are known to be out of stock, and $88 shipped is the best price I've ever seen on them.

guitarlp

01-26-10, 02:50 PM

Yeah that does seem kinda slim shady. I've been reading like crazy and Amazon is a authorized seller, important for warranty concerns. What bothers me is if Amazons 'authorized status' still applies to their partner merchants

Yes. If Amazon.com charged you, then technically you purchased it from them (and not a third party).

guitarlp

01-26-10, 02:54 PM

Agreed on both parts.

I actually learned something from Kabob about buying. His advice to me was buy once, cry once. And damn if that isnt true. For me its the look aka bling factor of the 595s that make them well worthy of $184 bucks.

As far as judging a headphone on pure sound reproduction, I have no doubt the AD700's will satisfy most our needs. Finding them for $88 shipped only makes the deal better.

I was so close to ordering the AD700's last week. But no one had them in stock and a person or two on here said they ordered them back in December and they hadn't shipped. Because of that, I started my search again and settled on the 595's. It seems like 1-2 days passed after I ordered the 595's and now the AD700's are back in stock all over the place. At the end of the day though, I'm happy with my purchase. Based on looks alone, I prefer the 595's. They're sexy enough that I'm happy to display them in my home theater room.

Daekwan

01-26-10, 03:08 PM

Why the 595s over the PC350? In my environment, I'd prefer the isolation of a closed headset, but I'm sure there's something I'm missing. Is it that having the closed design makes talking more difficult, or is it purely for fidelity that you guys are concerned? I'm looking to go from my current AX720 setup to something like the PC350 + Mixamp, and I don't think I could convince myself to buy into something like the 595s and have to jury-rig a mic (or the AD700s and have to figure out something for the mic, for that matter).

For gaming the Astro combo fulfill my every need. I can honestly say it was one of the best purchases I've ever made as far as gaming is concerned. I have used them every single time I've played on my Xbox360 over the course of a year.

The 595's would serve a diff purpose, mostly iPhone and commuting use. I can also see where they would get some use on long flights. In both of those scenarios my in-ear Apple buds sound weak and get overpowered by surrounding noise. Of course I could use my A40 headset without the mic, instead of the spending xtra dough on the 595's.. but combine the sexiness and much better sound of the 595's.. and I think its $184 well spent.

Daekwan

01-26-10, 03:10 PM

Daekwan

01-26-10, 03:13 PM

General Kenobi

01-26-10, 03:20 PM

Agreed on both parts.

I actually learned something from Kabob about buying. His advice to me was buy once, cry once. And damn if that isnt true. So if I really want something, Id rather save up and go for exactly what I want.. even if that means making sacrifices past, present or future. The quality of the sound and the sexiness of the 595s that make them well worthy of $184 bucks. I highly doubt anybody paying that price for those headphones will walk away dissapointed or 2nd guessing their purchase. Another point would be a $180 isnt alot of money in the A/V world. For me its out a few nights out at the bars/clubs. Considering DC is getting snow this Friday & Saturday, picking up the 595's is a perfect timing for what should be a long weekend of gaming & movies.

As far as judging a headphone on just pure sound reproduction, I have no doubt the AD700's would satisfy most our needs. Finding them for $88 shipped only makes the deal better and if sound is what you are looking for. Dont wait, the 700's sell out fast, are known to be out of stock, and $88 shipped is the best price I've ever seen on them.

That right there is the headphone to speaker relativism! Even when you start talking about headphones that are around the $1k mark and amps/dacs that are $1k-$3k the level of fidelity that is had from headphone gear of that caliber would cost thousands more to achieve in a speaker rig.

mikeloxlong

01-26-10, 03:24 PM

thanks for the reply, this is true for everyone on this forum. most of the time, value proposition of a product is what dictates if you buy a product or keep it in the back of your head.

If I were in the market for something geared for true home theater in cans, then I would go look at the HD600 for arguably close to what I would spend on a true surround sound option (budget receiver + speakers). This is for light listening in the office. $88 is pretty dang good especially if falls between the performance of $110 - $180 headphones.

Daekwan

01-26-10, 03:25 PM

ferrisg

01-26-10, 03:29 PM

Kenob..

You are talking to a dude that lives in a 590 sq/ft apt with neighbors below him. I have a Sony 5.1 DD/DTS system with 10" sub sitting in storage that I have NEVER even hooked up in this apt because it would just lead to knocking on the walls.

To have comfortable headphones I can wear all day and night at home, work or traveling.. for the price a decent center channel speaker.. is a blessing lol

Are you planning on using the 595s with your mixamp, or just sticking with the A40s?

General Kenobi

01-26-10, 03:33 PM

Kenob..

You are talking to a dude that lives in a 590 sq/ft apt with neighbors below him. I have a Sony 5.1 DD/DTS system with 10" sub sitting in storage that I have NEVER even hooked up in this apt because it would just lead to knocking on the walls.

To have comfortable headphones I can wear all day and night at home, work or traveling.. for the price a decent center channel speaker.. is a blessing lol

Very much agree and the HD595 is one of my favorite Senns because they sound least like a Senn;) They are the more colored and energetic offering the in Senn line and offer up more foot tapping fun than the other models that IMO show their strengths with classical and big band.

Daekwan

01-26-10, 03:34 PM

Are you planning on using the 595s with your mixamp, or just sticking with the A40s?

For shyts & giggles.. I'll hook them up to the mixamp just see the A/B difference between them and the A40's and report my findings to you guys here. But I already know, unless my KD ratio doubles from 1.0 to 2.0.. or something overwhelmingly impressive like such.. then I'll be sticking with the A40's and their awesome built in mic!!

formulanerd

01-26-10, 03:52 PM

mikeloxlong

01-26-10, 04:02 PM

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/images/smilies/o2smile.gif

coyote_5

01-26-10, 04:04 PM

How dare you all make me question whether I should upgrade my AD700s!!!

I'm already dropping a sh*t load on Ascends...

Stupid HT hobby...

formulanerd

01-26-10, 04:08 PM

personally, if you're not getting some beyers (mmx or dt880/990), some akgs, or etc it wont be a worthwhile upgrade, especially considering your initial investment.... enjoy your speeks and when you need to be quite, slap the headphones on.

some of us primarily game on headphones, others do it because of wife/kids late at night... if you're the latter i wouldnt lose any sleep over it.

Daekwan

01-26-10, 04:18 PM

another thing some people do too.... use the 595's (or whatever) for immersive single player experience and better comfort when you're NOT playing online, and use the a40's for online only...

something to think about.

i built my "rig" before shelling out $$$ on the astros and i was completely happy with it (aside from REALLY wanting just the mixamp) and i would have never bought the astros if i didnt get a great deal on them used.... at first i hated the A40's but after i got used to the "downgrade" i became very happy with them.... it wasnt until i was unpacking some boxes and found the rock band mic adapter that i decided to put the astros aside after a couple hundred hours of use, now i'm not sure i can go back... i may just sell the headset off to someone looking to have a backup since so many people i know have A40 headsets that fail and endure a rather lengthy replacement process.

as far as warranty vs merchant, i'm not sure how that would work with some random amazon marketplace seller.... but if the order is fulfilled by amazon it should be billed and shipped out by amazon, so you might not have any issues.

also, if you're having trouble with prime shipping, you can usually sign up for a free trial and pay maybe $5 for overnight shipping... you just have to cancel the trial before the deadline is up, or before using it after the deadline. (oops, i thought you had a prime code, but it's in fact an offer for a free trial, disregard)

Good advice, I went ahead and ordered. Been on the fence too long and couldnt resist the price on the 595's & free shipping. Signed up for the free trial and sent myself a reminder exactly 88 days from today reminding myself to cancel the prime service.

FWIW you are usually dead on accurate with your reviews and knowledge.. so much so more times that often I find that we own the same items & interested in the same tech gear. Let today be known as the day when the Headphone Treaty of 2010 was signed between FormulaNerd & Daekwan.. and Sennheiser & AudioTechnica vowed to put away their differences for the betterment of all things gaming and audio related.. lol

yellowssm

01-26-10, 04:20 PM

Daekwan

01-26-10, 04:20 PM

How dare you all make me question whether I should upgrade my AD700s!!!

I'm already dropping a sh*t load on Ascends...

Stupid HT hobby...

Thats what you get for reading this thread.. makes you do irrational threads. I hope to see all of you guys online tonite/this weekend kicking azz in COD4/MW2. Lets put these headphones to good use!!

WayTooCrazy

01-26-10, 04:20 PM

.... at first i hated the A40's but after i got used to the "downgrade" i became very happy with them.... it wasnt until i was unpacking some boxes and found the rock band mic adapter that i decided to put the astros aside after a couple hundred hours of use, now i'm not sure i can go back... i may just sell the headset off to someone

How much, I'll bite!

ATB

01-26-10, 04:27 PM

So I went to Guitar Center and listened to a pair of DT880s. Unfortunately my local GC does not carry any other open-back headphones (I was told most studio people prefer closed for the isolation), so I wasn't able to compare directly with many of the other phones that have come up on this forum lately.

I listened to the DT880 (Pro 250ohm version) and the DT770s (pro 250ohm version), switching back and forth to the music that GC is feeding into them (Sting, Peter Gabriel, and similar). The DT770s should be an ok proxy for my MMX300 headset that I game with (MMX300 looks like one of the newer DT770s with a mic). Note the DT770s have a few different varieties, and the one GC carries is the 'pro' version, which looks and sound different than the DT770s that the MMX300 most closely resembles.

DT770 Pro | DT770 | MMX300
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417BNHj%2BeXL._SL160_AA160_.jpg| http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Me3AqYu5L._SL160_AA160_.jpg | http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519LuxChwdL._SL160_AA160_.jpg

Even though the DT770 pros don't look the same as my MMX300s, I figured it was worth doing the comparison as I think the new and old DT770s have a similar sound.

Although I was listening to music, I listened with my gaming ears on. Here are some of my thoughts:

- Comfort - the DT 880s were more comfortable, with noticeably less clamping force. This is an advantage of open-back headphones - there's no need to clamp the phones as tightly in order to provide better isolation as the closed-back design requires. Right away I felt like I wanted to keep the 880s on more so than the 770s. Don't get me wrong, the 770s are very comfortable, and they felt almost exactly like my MMX300s that I've worn for several hours at a time.

- Detail - the DT770s picked up good detail and sounded wonderful. But once I put the DT880s on, the DT770s sounded noticeably muddy, and almost run together. Particularly in the upper midrange (footstep frequency lol), the DT770s were seemingly less 'quick' and seemed to smush together different instruments. The Dt770s were a watercolor painting and the Dt880s were a finely detailed oil painting.

- Soundstage - again I started with the 770s. Nice wide separation of the left and right channels. Then the DT880s and the view widened noticeably. There was clear separation of left and right (in part related to the better detail). For those of you that are photographers...it went from a 50mm lens with the 770s to probably a 30mm wide angle lens with the 880s. Also the 'sphere of sound' seemed larger, or the outside-my-head-ness if you want to call it that. There seems to be a larger volume of space to put sound in these headphone; for me perhaps from the size of a basketball (just outside my head) with the 770s to a beach ball with the Dt880s. I imagined how this might translate on MW2 or H3 and starting drooling.

It's starting to look like my lunch hour might end up costing more than the sandwich I ate....

yellowssm

01-26-10, 04:48 PM

I know its expensive but this mic says and looks like it would work under a set of headphones for gaming.

Thoughts???

http://www.music123.com/Nady-HM-20U-Headset-Microphone-581135-i1433788.Music123

General Kenobi

01-26-10, 04:56 PM

Shin CZ

01-26-10, 09:50 PM

Trying to pull the trigger now, but dont want the free Super Saver shipping. I want the free 2 day prime shipping so they will be here by this weekend, didnt some have a code for free prime shipping (ShinCZ??)

checking fat wallet & slick deals now for the code..

I bought the AD700's from Beachcamera (through Amazon). I would've bought them from Amazon directly, but they were like $10 more, and I could use the $10 for... whatever. :o

Morkeleb

01-26-10, 10:53 PM

sorry for the slight off topic but what microphones are you guys using with wth mixamp / non-gaming specific headphones for the PS3? Ive read some good and bad reviews about the zalman, and the ps3 eye and have been looking at the ps3 headset since ive heard you car use it docked as a mic, and a few other mics like this on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/GTMax-Flexible-Microphone-Laptop-NoteBook/dp/B002W5SJJ0/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-ME-52-Noise-Cancellation-Microphone/dp/B000MYPPPE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I know its kinda ghetto rigged but cant you use a bluetooth headset also and attach it to you shirt or something close by?

TIA

I've been playing Cod4 on the PS3 lately and one thing I've noticed is when voices are set to output through the speakers, so the voice comes through the headphones, that they sound really bad. They sound garbled and tinny. I'm using X41's and on the 360 I can heard people better than I could with the stock headset so I don't think it's the X41s. I'm not sure why this is? I have yet to look into mic options because of this.

Also has anyone set up buttkickers with their headset? I searched the thread and found formulanerd mentioned it but I didn't see if he or anyone got them up and running.

OneNastyNupe

01-27-10, 04:49 AM

If you're ordering the cables from Monopirce, just order some shrink tube while you're at it. It does the same think as the Radio Shack option. That's what I'm doing. I got 100' for under 7 bucks, so I'll have plenty left over for other projects. I ordered it in blue since black was back ordered and I didn't want to pay shipping twice. If you have a hair dryer that runs hot enough, you won't need a heat gun. I've got a friend who has the heat gun. When it is finished, it should look like it came that way.

Maybe if I had found these before the radio shack things, I would have made that move. I still may. That depends on the whole heat gun thing. I dont have one and not really sure how to use one, so that might factor into me deciding against it.

And I hate you guys.. HATE HATE HATE you guys. Because Im really weak right now and thought I was over my lust affair with the 555/595's.. and now I cant stop thinking about them again and am on fat-wallet.com & slick-deals.net right now looking for coupon codes to order them.

I HATEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOU GUYS!!!

For gaming the Astro combo fulfill my every need. I can honestly say it was one of the best purchases I've ever made as far as gaming is concerned. I have used them every single time I've played on my Xbox360 over the course of a year.

The 595's would serve a diff purpose, mostly iPhone and commuting use. I can also see where they would get some use on long flights. In both of those scenarios my in-ear Apple buds sound weak and get overpowered by surrounding noise. Of course I could use my A40 headset without the mic, instead of the spending xtra dough on the 595's.. but combine the sexiness and much better sound of the 595's.. and I think its $184 well spent.

See, and this is why I posed the initial head to head question about these, and I was REALLY close to pulling the trigger on the AD-700's, but now the Senns have to be given some serious consideration and I am leaning towards that way. If these things sound that good and I am going to eventually end up getting them anyway, why cut out the middle man? Now the PC350 mixamp combo would be something that I am going to recommend to my lady friend who is upgrading from some X1's and wanted some Astros after checking mine out.

mikeloxlong

01-27-10, 08:33 AM

Anyone looking for a deal on the HD595 there is a used pair up at headfi (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/fs-sennheiser-hd-595-a-468955/)

Ooooo, that looks interesting enough. I mean $100 premium is a bit much but $130 shipped ($50 premium), more doable.

Daekwan

01-27-10, 08:53 AM

Certain things are absolutely worth the price used.. like say a 3 year old Certified Pre-Owned BMW 650i with extended a 6 year/100,000 mile factory warranty selling for less than half its original sticker price of $92k. Thats almost a $50k savings.

Other things like headphones, which I personally have had 2 different pairs of 'big dollar, big name' headphones fail. I just cant see myself buying used just to $50 bucks. Id much rather save $50 bucks by packing my lunch for a week vs. eating out everday at the office. FWIW.. the 2 headphones that broke on me were: Astro A40's ($199 msrp) - headset had to be completely replaced, sent in for repair and a refurbished pair sent back. Basically there was a short in the cabling where it connected to the headset. Bose QC3 ($349 msrp) - left speaker does not work at all. I can send these in for warranty repair, but actually prefer the bigger ear cup of my QC2's so I've been a bit lazy about it.

Headphones by nature are a high wear item. Because of their portable nature, they are subject to drops and their cabling prone to snags and pulls whenever moved. I would avoid buying them used unless I was really pressed to save the dough.

redfive

01-27-10, 09:03 AM

Welp. I finally got my Ad700's last night. After a month of waiting. Out of the box, I'm pretty happy with them. I haven't been blown away from them really. Yet. They work good for MW2. I went 16/6 in my first match. (Would have been more if a dude wouldn't have stole my chooper gunner crate! ok. different thread!) I'm letting them do some "burn-in" today at the house, and I'll come back to them.

Now I just have to replace my prized earbuds that got lost by my daughter. Yuin pk3. best "audio" 40.00$ I've spent. These may be a good option for gaming as well.

Stryker412

01-27-10, 09:15 AM

I've been playing Cod4 on the PS3 lately and one thing I've noticed is when voices are set to output through the speakers, so the voice comes through the headphones, that they sound really bad. They sound garbled and tinny. I'm using X41's and on the 360 I can heard people better than I could with the stock headset so I don't think it's the X41s. I'm not sure why this is? I have yet to look into mic options because of this.

Also has anyone set up buttkickers with their headset? I searched the thread and found formulanerd mentioned it but I didn't see if he or anyone got them up and running.

I heard on a video review that any content that is 5.1 will sound like that since the headphones really only support 7.1 audio. It's a very odd quirk. Which is why I haven't gotten them yet.

Daekwan

01-27-10, 09:21 AM

Yeah sound output thru speakers when using surround headphones suck. All of them. Trust me I've tried..

KBI

01-27-10, 12:27 PM

formulanerd

01-27-10, 12:38 PM

I've been playing Cod4 on the PS3 lately and one thing I've noticed is when voices are set to output through the speakers, so the voice comes through the headphones, that they sound really bad. They sound garbled and tinny. I'm using X41's and on the 360 I can heard people better than I could with the stock headset so I don't think it's the X41s. I'm not sure why this is? I have yet to look into mic options because of this.

Also has anyone set up buttkickers with their headset? I searched the thread and found formulanerd mentioned it but I didn't see if he or anyone got them up and running.

i havent gotten around to it yet, but i still definitely want to do it, especially now that i finally got rid of my old recliner and got my new chair in the man cave.

Daekwan

01-27-10, 01:32 PM

Morkeleb

01-27-10, 01:42 PM

I heard on a video review that any content that is 5.1 will sound like that since the headphones really only support 7.1 audio. It's a very odd quirk. Which is why I haven't gotten them yet.

The game sounds are great for both PS3 and 360 through the headphones. The problem I'm having is peoples voices sound bad coming through the headset on the PS3. On the 360 the headset works great for chat use.

Yeah sound output thru speakers when using surround headphones suck. All of them. Trust me I've tried..

I can hear game chat better with my headphones vs the stock MS headset while on Live. So are you saying they all suck with the PS3 or on both systems?

i havent gotten around to it yet, but i still definitely want to do it, especially now that i finally got rid of my old recliner and got my new chair in the man cave.

Keep us posted as someone who is enjoying using a headphone setup I would definitely like to take them to the next level if the buttkickers work out.

Stryker412

01-27-10, 01:54 PM

What are your overall impressions of the X41's?

Daekwan

01-27-10, 02:32 PM

I can hear game chat better with my headphones vs the stock MS headset while on Live. So are you saying they all suck with the PS3 or on both systems?

When choosing how to output sound under preferences you can either choose: Output thru Headphones, Output thru Speakers or Both.

If I choose thru speakers or both.. the sound sucks on my Astros and every other Headphone I've tried. You also cannot control the game/chat mix thru the mixamp.

If choose output thru headphones.. it sounds much better and I can control the game/chat mix thru the mixamp.

mikeloxlong

01-27-10, 03:04 PM

Buying used is well worth it.. Quality is quality.. The BOSE QC3 are known to break easy & not function very well.. A few of my used headphones needed a recable.. But they were between 5-60 yrs old, so it's understandable.. But driver wise, & construction wise they were fine..

Agreed, buying used is well worth it for sure.

$50 is another game (Mass Effect 2)
$50 is dinner with the wife at our favorite hole in the wall restaurant in Chinatown
$50 is gas money for 2 weeks!
$50 is whatever you want it to be.

the value of $50 is different for different people.

That being said, I found an old pair of headphones made by Sony. It's just their regular low end consumer stuff so nothing spectacular but for an office pair, this is just fine.

now, I just gotta stop reading AVSForum for a while so that I forget about this upgrade stuff.

nocturnx

01-27-10, 03:44 PM

When choosing how to output sound under preferences you can either choose: Output thru Headphones, Output thru Speakers or Both.

If I choose thru speakers or both.. the sound sucks on my Astros and every other Headphone I've tried. You also cannot control the game/chat mix thru the mixamp.

If choose output thru headphones.. it sounds much better and I can control the game/chat mix thru the mixamp.

Got my A40's last night and played a couple hours of MW2 campaign. I tell you what it's true, ignorance IS bliss because I absolutely love the way they sound. Extremely immersive, I agree they are light on the bass but other than that...perfect.

I haven't used them online yet but do I need to change my chat output settings like Daekwon mentions when using them for chat?

One thing thats kind of weird, and I'm being really picky here, but I have the volume barely on and they are loud to me. If I lower them a tiny bit so that they are barely audible I seem to only hear sound out of the right earphone. If I lower them a tiny bit more they are off. Maybe I just have really sensitive ears...

WayTooCrazy

01-27-10, 03:56 PM

UPS just showed up... unboxing my A40 Mixamp now... WOOT!

General Kenobi

01-27-10, 04:20 PM

UPS just showed up... unboxing my A40 Mixamp now... WOOT!

Enjoy! That is a great piece of gear!

WayTooCrazy

01-27-10, 05:31 PM

Enjoy! That is a great piece of gear!

It is! I had a weird experience with my first game on MW2 where left and right channel were swapped. I then closed down MW2 and went to the Audio Diagnostic game (free version) and it played as normal. So, I turned off the Xbox... pulled the MixAmp and attached it to my Dell desktop with just USB... and it installed drivers immediately. Went into control panel... and lo and behold... I just got my poor man's Mini Stack... (It works well as a USB DAC/Amp).

To test the difference, I used my cheap Sony MDR-V150 on the MixAmp and the sound was clear and robust. I then played the same song via the front panel High Definition Audio connector... and the sound was kinda flat and had less volume to it.

I'm HAPPY so far... after I play some more MW2 and verify that the left and right channels don't get mixed up again. If your on the fence about getting the MixAmp.... get off the fence... get it! I was wondering if I had done the right thing by dumping the AX720 and going for the MixAmp (and losing the Tritton headset)... not anymore, so worth it! PLUS... no STATIC!

Now, start sending me Friend Invites so I can hurt you guys in Free-4-All!

formulanerd

01-27-10, 07:08 PM

hmmm, this dude took some cheap ad500's, some dynamat, and some w5000 drivers and made a damn good set of cans for about $150

formulanerd

01-27-10, 07:27 PM

if this guy would have re-cabled in black with black shrink wrap this would be awesome... still dont really like the color of the 595's though.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9503/hmod2.jpg

formulanerd

01-27-10, 07:33 PM

here he modded some 555's for someone else, in all black....

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1677/fullpichd555.jpg

formulanerd

01-27-10, 07:45 PM

ATB

01-27-10, 07:48 PM

It is! I had a weird experience with my first game on MW2 where left and right channel were swapped. I then closed down MW2 and went to the Audio Diagnostic game (free version) and it played as normal. So, I turned off the Xbox... pulled the MixAmp and attached it to my Dell desktop with just USB... and it installed drivers immediately. Went into control panel... and lo and behold... I just got my poor man's Mini Stack... (It works well as a USB DAC/Amp).

To test the difference, I used my cheap Sony MDR-V150 on the MixAmp and the sound was clear and robust. I then played the same song via the front panel High Definition Audio connector... and the sound was kinda flat and had less volume to it.

I'm HAPPY so far... after I play some more MW2 and verify that the left and right channels don't get mixed up again. If your on the fence about getting the MixAmp.... get off the fence... get it! I was wondering if I had done the right thing by dumping the AX720 and going for the MixAmp (and losing the Tritton headset)... not anymore, so worth it! PLUS... no STATIC!

Now, start sending me Friend Invites so I can hurt you guys in Free-4-All!

I wonder if you just had the A40s on reversed. BTW that Audio Diagnostic's trial version randomly swaps the right and left channel, so could that explain why it seemed ok when you ran that?

p3Orion

01-27-10, 07:52 PM

Found it.. On fat wallet.com.

http://www.**************/forums/hot-deals/979788?highlight_key=y&keyword1=prime

Enjoy fellas! Expires Feb 5th!

I just did this and it worked for me. I'm not a new customer either. Good luck

You don't have to buy the book to get the trial. Also make sure not to be logged in when you first add it to the cart.

* Click the link and add Pride and Prejudice to your cart
* Click the Add to Cart with FREE Two-Day shipping button on the right side of the page
* Click Proceed to checkout button
* Log in with your account (May be unnecessary if you are already logged in)
* Review the trial offer details, then click Start my free trial

To prevent Amazon Prime from renewing after 3 months, do this:

* On Amazon.com click Your Account [Amazon.com] and Log in
* Click Manage Prime Membership link
* Click Do not Upgrade button then click Turn off auto-upgrade button on the popup window.

The link won't work for me. What did you input at fatwallet to find the code?

In a post you stated that you sent yourself a reminder for 88 days from then to cancel. I assume you're waiting until the last day to take advantage of the 2 day free shipping on future orders?

I signed up for this for my first order over a year ago but cancelled the same day since I did not anticipate future orders over the next 3 months.

I wish you could cancel right after signing up and still get the free 3 month trial just to get it over with.

WayTooCrazy

01-27-10, 08:41 PM

I wonder if you just had the A40s on reversed. BTW that Audio Diagnostic's trial version randomly swaps the right and left channel, so could that explain why it seemed ok when you ran that?

No, I'm actually using AKG K240s and not the A40 headset. It seems to work ok everywhere else but in MW2... I'm gonna do some more testing tonight before calling them tomorrow.

Edit: No more testing needed, the damn "Y" Cable is wired incorrectly. I put the MixAmp on the computer and fired up WinAmp... then faded from left to right, and it was reversed. I then pulled the "Y" cable and put the headphone directly into the MixAmp... and it was normal. Grrr, at least it's not the MixAmp.

OneNastyNupe

01-27-10, 09:12 PM

jet black 595 mod.... i could live with this for sure. :D

daekwan, tell me you wouldnt plug this into your mixamp and forget the A40's ever existed.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/158/img7973au.jpg

how much would a mod like this cost? Is he doing it for people? I am considering selling my 720s and if so I will come here first and let you guys know. It will be new in the box if I do choose to do so since I will just take em back and exchange at best buy. I already have the Astro's and I am trying to get rid of the accumulating collection of hardware I have collected since hitting these threads :-) And the stuff that is yet to come. Sigh. lol. I would def love those 595's in black.

General Kenobi

01-27-10, 09:16 PM

mikeloxlong

01-27-10, 10:45 PM

I'd buy those oh-fah-shaw

mikeloxlong

01-27-10, 11:25 PM

ugh.....now I registered at HeadFi as well....this isn't looking good...not at all...

WayTooCrazy

01-27-10, 11:37 PM

mikeloxlong

01-27-10, 11:57 PM

so for the headphone pros - this is a gaming thread but I'm wondering why Grados aren't on this list? Is it the difficulty in modding them or making them work with a mic?

Daekwan

01-28-10, 12:06 AM

Daekwan

01-28-10, 12:08 AM

ugh.....now I registered at HeadFi as well....this isn't looking good...not at all...

You might as well tell your Visa/Mastercard to bend over

mikeloxlong

01-28-10, 12:47 AM

You might as well tell your Visa/Mastercard to bend over

aaand I'm officially in the I HATE YOU ALL camp with Deakwan

I was listening to an old pair of skull candies while on the laptop and while the sound is passable, it's all in my head (it seems) and the comfort just isn't there. It really squeezes my head. I know I know, skull candy isn't hifi but they're headphones and it works ok...

I'm fantasizing about Grados, Senns, Audio Technicas, blah fokken blah. Now I learned about AKGs among other brands. Yikes...

too deep for office headphones...

General Kenobi

01-28-10, 01:03 AM

so for the headphone pros - this is a gaming thread but I'm wondering why Grados aren't on this list? Is it the difficulty in modding them or making them work with a mic?

The only Grados that I can think of that would have a soundstage large enough not to me a joke for games is the GS1000 or PS1000 and both are very pricey.

Grados sound like no other, very energetic and fun if I had to sum it up in a hurry. My Denon D5000 have one of the largest soundstage for a closed back design and IMO are superior or the DT880's for my tastes in music/sound but the DT880's leave them in the dust for gaming and movies as does my Grado HF-2 which sound best of three for music.

te concludes our lesson on why audiophiles end up with so many pairs and we won't even disuss amps, dacs, cables, solid state vs. tube, blah bah blahhhh

OneNastyNupe

01-28-10, 05:32 AM

The only Grados that I can think of that would have a soundstage large enough not to me a joke for games is the GS1000 or PS1000 and both are very pricey.

Grados sound like no other, very energetic and fun if I had to sum it up in a hurry. My Denon D5000 have one of the largest soundstage for a closed back design and IMO are superior or the DT880's for my tastes in music/sound but the DT880's leave them in the dust for gaming and movies as does my Grado HF-2 which sound best of three for music.

te concludes our lesson on why audiophiles end up with so many pairs and we won't even disuss amps, dacs, cables, solid state vs. tube, blah bah blahhhh

Lord...stop bringing up new brands! Have mercy on us why don't you? It is bad enough I want those 595's so bad...Kenob, how would you compare the Senns to a Grado headphone in their range? Also guys, I have a question. A friend of mine is going to buy a gaming headset and is trying to explore his options. He is interested in the PC350s because of all of the glowing reviews they have received. He has not made the decision if he wants the Mixamp yet. My question is, if he doesn't get the mixamp, what will he need to use in order to use it with the xbox360? And are the 350s worth it without the mixamp? If not, he would probably end up going the AX720s...thanks guys

nocturnx

01-28-10, 07:15 AM

Got my A40's last night and played a couple hours of MW2 campaign. I tell you what it's true, ignorance IS bliss because I absolutely love the way they sound. Extremely immersive, I agree they are light on the bass but other than that...perfect.

I haven't used them online yet but do I need to change my chat output settings like Daekwon mentions when using them for chat?

One thing thats kind of weird, and I'm being really picky here, but I have the volume barely on and they are loud to me. If I lower them a tiny bit so that they are barely audible I seem to only hear sound out of the right earphone. If I lower them a tiny bit more they are off. Maybe I just have really sensitive ears...

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this with their mixamp and volume?

WayTooCrazy

01-28-10, 07:31 AM

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this with their mixamp and volume?

I don't have the a40 headset... but on my MixAmp, the volume seems to be ok from off all the way to about 3/4. Then from there to full... it doesn't seem to get any louder.

Sometimes I wish I wasn't broke...
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/sid3w8z/custom_mmx300.png?t=1264687258

ATB

01-28-10, 08:28 AM

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this with their mixamp and volume?
I'm not.

nocturnx

01-28-10, 08:28 AM

I mean I have my volume set almost off and they are loud. If I turned it to 3/4 my ears would probably bleed.

ATB

01-28-10, 08:30 AM

I mean I have my volume set almost off and they are loud. If I turned it to 3/4 my ears would probably bleed.

Sounds like you need to contact Astro - that's not working right.

mikeloxlong

01-28-10, 08:38 AM

formulanerd

01-28-10, 11:03 AM

aren't allessandro's just rebadged grado's basically?

soundstage and comfort, this is exactly why you wont game on grados.

General Kenobi

01-28-10, 11:14 AM

Lord...stop bringing up new brands! Have mercy on us why don't you? It is bad enough I want those 595's so bad...Kenob, how would you compare the Senns to a Grado headphone in their range? Also guys, I have a question. A friend of mine is going to buy a gaming headset and is trying to explore his options. He is interested in the PC350s because of all of the glowing reviews they have received. He has not made the decision if he wants the Mixamp yet. My question is, if he doesn't get the mixamp, what will he need to use in order to use it with the xbox360? And are the 350s worth it without the mixamp? If not, he would probably end up going the AX720s...thanks guys

Depends on what I am using them for. Grados are more fatiguing from a comfort standpoint and a listening standpoint but they also sound better for most music I listen to. They are more of an energetic in your face presentation while Senns typically have a darker more laid back sound best suited for classical, jazz, and big band. The HD595's are probably the least like other Senns in the regard and the closest Senn to sounding like a Grado but still pretty different.

If I was buying something for games an music I would go Beyer, if that is not an option I would look at the HD595 or the 600 if you can afford it. If this is for music only I would go with the Grado SR225, it sounds great without an amp and is a real foot tapping fun headphone.

mikeloxlong - Don't forget about the Dart Beyers (mooohahahahaha)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b212/iamjackspictures/beyers5_large-thumb-450x300.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b212/iamjackspictures/img48.jpg

I found a used pair of DT880's in new condition that I could not pass up. I'm going to put some JMoney Audio leather pads (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/review-jmoney-audio-genuine-leather-earpads-beyer-dt770-880-990-a-424130/) on to replace the stock pads which should bring the bass I want out of these headphones. I've ordered a few parts to make a mic that I will plug straight into my controller so I don't have all the wires with the mixamp to deal with and just have the headphone cable into the mixamp. This is not optimal since I will lose my ability to control chat with the mixamp but I'm content with using the settings on xbox for that and not having mess of wires covering my living room. I had tried the AX720's once again but I just could not live with them... lots of static with the cable to the controller and just too two dimensional sounding after hearing the 880/mixamp combo. Yes, I am a human YoYo:p

mikeloxlong

01-28-10, 11:31 AM

mudda-fokkenprawn..NO, I will just say NO right NOw

Daekwan

01-28-10, 11:55 AM

Sometimes i wish i wasn't broke...
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/sid3w8z/custom_mmx300.png?t=1264687258

stop it!! Stop it right now dammit!!

Daekwan

01-28-10, 12:00 PM

mudda-fokkenprawn..NO, I will just say NO right NOw

Close your eyes Mike!! Dont listen to the voices. The voices are telling you do to bad things!!!!!

Its gonna be 595 time tonite!
Fock it.. Im leaving work as SOON as this package says delivered. Cant wait to hear the 595's!!

ALEXANDRIA, VA, US 01/28/2010 7:24 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY
01/28/2010 7:10 A.M. DESTINATION SCAN
01/28/2010 6:30 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
PHILADELPHIA, PA, US 01/28/2010 3:03 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
PHILADELPHIA, PA, US 01/27/2010 11:30 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
NEWARK, NJ, US 01/27/2010 8:50 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
01/27/2010 5:56 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
LOUISVILLE, KY, US 01/27/2010 3:52 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
01/27/2010 12:19 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
US 01/26/2010 10:46 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Tracking results provided by UPS: 01/28/2010 12:59 P.M. ET

mikeloxlong

01-28-10, 12:17 PM

Close your eyes Mike!! Dont listen to the voices. The voices are telling you do to bad things!!!!!

Its gonna be 595 time tonite!
Fock it.. Im leaving work as SOON as this package says delivered. Cant wait to hear the 595's!!

ALEXANDRIA, VA, US 01/28/2010 7:24 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY
01/28/2010 7:10 A.M. DESTINATION SCAN
01/28/2010 6:30 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
PHILADELPHIA, PA, US 01/28/2010 3:03 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
PHILADELPHIA, PA, US 01/27/2010 11:30 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
NEWARK, NJ, US 01/27/2010 8:50 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
01/27/2010 5:56 P.M. ARRIVAL SCAN
LOUISVILLE, KY, US 01/27/2010 3:52 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
01/27/2010 12:19 P.M. ORIGIN SCAN
US 01/26/2010 10:46 P.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

Tracking results provided by UPS: 01/28/2010 12:59 P.M. ET

aight, once you hear them post them here but don't write shyt that's over hyped. I know you, I've read you for something like 3 fokken years. just be straight up!

appreciate it (as well as others here)

Morkeleb

01-28-10, 12:19 PM

What are your overall impressions of the X41's?

I think they work really well but not perfect and way over priced, IMO. I wanted wireless for many reasons other wise I think I would have chosen differently. They are cheap looking compared to the pictures of other headphones in this thread. I did have a loud buzz sound until I moved the main unit away from my Denon receiver. Now the buzz is so quiet that you only hear it when the game is not outputting sound. I've only played Cod MW1 & 2 with them but they work great for these games. I can get a really good idea of the enemies location with them. Plus the chat on Live works very well. These are the only headphones I've used so keep that in mind.

WayTooCrazy

01-28-10, 12:20 PM

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b212/iamjackspictures/img48.jpg

I'll take some DT-880s with that Wood design... a nice wood stand, and a wood encased headphone amp would give me a woody! :D

What do you think about an inline Mic mute switch?

Daekwan

01-28-10, 05:12 PM

Senn 595 Review

:O)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I've been listening to all music for the past 2 hours on these things and I cant stop!!!!!!

Probably the most impressive shyt is all the shyt in songs I've never heard before. And I can tell you exactly where every instrument is whenever listening to a song by a band. On the rock side of the house I have Nirvana and Guns & Roses greatest hits..

mikeloxlong

01-28-10, 05:27 PM

Hksvr4

01-28-10, 05:35 PM

Im about to pick up some Grado SR60i's. Anyone have any info?

Daekwan

01-28-10, 05:54 PM

mixamp, iPhone, laptop..

Im trying to find a cd so I can hear uncompressed audio

General Kenobi

01-28-10, 06:22 PM

Im about to pick up some Grado SR60i's. Anyone have any info?

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/grado-sr-60i.php

Daekwan

01-28-10, 08:06 PM

I cant believe I dont have a single audio CD, DVD or Bluray disc in my house. WOW.

mikeloxlong

01-28-10, 08:09 PM

I cant believe I dont have a single audio CD, DVD or Bluray disc in my house. WOW.

go to Target, buy one. For the love of god my Blackman. Let's do this!

ATB

01-28-10, 08:13 PM

I cant believe I dont have a single audio CD, DVD or Bluray disc in my house. WOW.

Before you go out and buy one, make sure you have a disc player of some sort too.

General Kenobi

01-28-10, 08:15 PM

I cant believe I dont have a single audio CD, DVD or Bluray disc in my house. WOW.

Do yourself a favor and go grab a copy of Sweeney Todd on blu... then you have real lossless audio and can use the optical out of your PS3 to the mixamp with the HD595's... that should sound pretty kick ass and great music to boot!

WayTooCrazy

01-28-10, 10:12 PM

Damn Astro Gaming! I have been checking all day for their supposed 24hr turn around on support request... NOPE, NADA! I reported my "Y" adapter was not working properly... no replies. I check their website... they're out of the damn "Y" adapters now. SHEET. I'm tempted to just go to the Shack tomorrow and get 2 female 3.5mm connectors.. cut these down and redo the adapter myself.

Daekwan

01-28-10, 11:14 PM

Before you go out and buy one, make sure you have a disc player of some sort too.

That part is well covered.. I have 3 laptops and external USB 2.0 dvd burner, Xbox 360 and PS3. I just dont have anything on disc except games, PC software and blank discs.

All my music & video is on a harddrive :0(

mikeloxlong

01-28-10, 11:58 PM

That part is well covered.. I have 3 laptops and external USB 2.0 dvd burner, Xbox 360 and PS3. I just dont have anything on disc except games, PC software and blank discs.

All my music & video is on a harddrive :0(

tomorrow is friday, the forum is usually bumpin' we look forward to your lengthy review from the time you woke up put these on while you poop to the commute driving them with your ipod, to when you are in the office writing the review. Booyah! Thanks!

OneNastyNupe

01-29-10, 07:40 AM

tomorrow is friday, the forum is usually bumpin' we look forward to your lengthy review from the time you woke up put these on while you poop to the commute driving them with your ipod, to when you are in the office writing the review. Booyah! Thanks!

Yeah I awaiting the review as well....Having a problem with my Astro's...voice seems to come in better on my Ax720s so something is obviously wrong...anyone else have this problem? In game voice is very low.

nocturnx

01-29-10, 07:59 AM

Yeah I awaiting the review as well....Having a problem with my Astro's...voice seems to come in better on my Ax720s so something is obviously wrong...anyone else have this problem? In game voice is very low.

I haven't tried my astros online yet so I can let you know how the chat sounds tonight. I was having a problem with my astros being really loud when barely having the volume on, it seems to be only MW2 though because I tried a couple other games and had the volume at about 1/4 and it was comfortable.

WayTooCrazy

01-29-10, 08:23 AM

Still no response from Astro Gaming... I hope this is not what I can expect in the future... especially since I JUST purchased the MixAmp and the extended warranty (2yr warranty total).

Update: Who needs ASTRO!? I fixed it myself... cost me $13, but O'well... I have an extra plug and a new soldering iron to boot! :D
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/sid3w8z/FriJan29095834EST2010.jpg

Daekwan

01-29-10, 11:51 AM

Ok.. Senn 595 review

Packaging: 3 out of 5. Not as luxurious as the box & materials Astro sent. To be honest the packaging was alot more TurtleBeach. You pretty much get a cardboard box, the headphones, 1/4 to 1/8" adapter and a headphone 'holder' that clamps to any edge (like a table or desk). I do like the idea of the holder because when Im not using my A40's I just fold them flat and lay them on stand by my tv.

Build Quality: 3.5 out of 5. Again unimpressive. Again very TurtleBeachish. I dont know how to explain it but theres no sturdiness to the build. The plastic feels thin and cheap, like if I ever sat on them by mistake they would snap in half. My A40's feel rock solid in comparison. Also since I've a problem with shorts in cabling, I like to have thick and durable cabling.. theres nothing that feels super durable about the cabling on the 595.. its about as average as average gets. The pictures make the 595's look alot more expensive than what they actually feel like. That said, they are very lightweight and very comfortable. I had no problem wearing these for about 3 hours straight yesterday.

Sound: 4.5 out of 5. Finally a winning category and I guess the most important category. Keep in mind this audio review is solely on mp3 and Apple itunes file formats. I purposely started listening to songs I literally could sing the words to without the music because I've heard these songs so many times I would notice the subtle differences. Songs like Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, JayZ albums, Public Enemy's greatest hits. In every recording I picked up new information I had NEVER heard before in the song. This was quite remarkable to hear tracks with people coughing, talking and other background sounds picked up in the studio I never knew was there. For most rap music, the 595's just sounded like a really good stereo. Like the high dollar stereo you'd hear in a Bimmer or Benz.

All of the reviews on the 595 talked about how large the soundstage was and how forward the listening was. I knew I wouldnt get that listening to rap, so I started listening to the rock albums I had. I concentrated on 2 albums, both Greatest Hits, one by Nirvana the other by Guns & Roses. I know the songs on both of those albums extremely well. THIS is where the 595's were most impressive. I could literally tell you where each instrument was when these songs were recorded. Its so accurate in seperating the instruments that you actually forget to listen to the words lol. I had to go back and listen to several songs over and over again and sure enough it sounded like the singer was dead in front of me. Remember that trick you learned in 3rd grade where if you point your finger right above your nose, inbetween your eyes it makes you dizzy. Where right where that finger is pointed THAT is where it feels like the vocals is coming from, and the instruments are completely seperated and off to either left or right side. I cannot imagine how much more accurate this sound would be listening to a CD, I'm going to try and pick up one of these albums on CD today.

Lastly I played the new Battlefield demo using the 595s connected to the Astro mixamp. Again deadly accurate and nothing caught me by surprise. I knew exactly where every one was, every vehicle was.. I purposely did 360 walks around equipment, weapons and other soldiers just to see how the surround sound reacted and it was spot on. Not sure if it gets any better. Probably the biggest mistake I made was not playing COD4 or MW2 with the 595's to see if theres an improvement in accuracy versus the A40's. Which brings me to the next point.

595 vs. A40 Cage Match: The 595's are clearly the winner here. At the top of list in improvements is actual bass. I never knew how much bass was lacking from the A40's.. so much so I can no longer stick by theory that Astro purposely EQ'd the A40's to lack bass so that footsteps and gunfire would be more accurately represented. That theory is wrong ladies. The 595's had better accuracy and real bass. Ignorance is bliss because I didnt know you could have both.. and now I want both. In listening to regular music off my iPhone.. again better bass and better seperation of voice/vocals/instruments with the 595's when compared to the A40s. To sum it up the 595's sound was more complete, very full and still crisp.. the A40's sound was admittingly crisp, but they are severely lacking low end response. In the end the A40's are a gaming headset NOT a audiophile headphone, and neither is capable of dethrowning the other when using them for what they were originally designed to do. The A40's are still the best gaming headset I've used, the 595's are now the best headphone I've ever heard.

Overall opinion: 3.5 out of 5. I know that number is low, so let me explain.. because as it stands that opinion is not high enough for me to keep these $200 headphones. A few things could change that opinion and raise that score to possibly 4.5 out of 5:

1) Im absolutely sure that opinion will improve even more when I can find some uncompressed audio to listen too. The real problem is that it would be for testing only. I like the convienence carrying 20gigs worth on music in mp3 format everywhere I go my iPhone, I literally have access to every album I've ever liked on my hip.. no degree of audio clarity is worth trading for that.. With Bluray discs I only have one device to play it back on (PS3) and Im not going watch a Bluray movie on a 50" tv using headphones. I have to go to my storage garage this weekend, so I'll grab a couple of DVD's out of boxes.. but again typically speaking if Im watching a DVD.. its going to be on a big screen tv, not using headphones. So its like I dont have enough real-world reasons to own/use audiophile-quality Headphones.

2) If the headset felt more durable and sturdy. Thicker cabling or just general build was more impressive. If I didnt know the history of the 595's or had listened to them.. I would expect them to cost $59 or so. They definitely do not look and feel like headphones that have an almost $300 MSRP.

3) Open ear design. I've read plenty of reviews that said these are open ear phones, so sound will leak. That is not an accurate description. My A40's are open and they do not leak, more like SPILL sound like the 595's do. So much sound is spilled from the 595's to the outside.. that it pretty much sounds just like whats going on in the inside minus the bass tracks. I was dissapointed to find this out, because the main reason for me to use headphones is to listen to audio I dont want others around me to hear. You know like when Im at my desk listening to "Fock the Police" by NWA.. when ironically I work for the nations largest law enforcement agency. I also travel alot and would be pretty pissed if I had to sit beside somebody with the 595's on.. because you can hear EVERYTHING.

4) If I had my 595's modified to use the detachable boom mic from the A40's.. and I sold my A40's to help cover the price of the 595s. No real explanation here, just alot of work/effort to have the best sound possible. And most importantly would it have any real effect on my ability to play COD well. That is the only solution that would work.. Im not jerry-rigging another mic to a pair of hifi headphones and electrical taping the cords together. Thats cool for some people, not cool for me. Not to mention I've used other mics and none pick up voice as well as the mic on the A40 headset so that is the mic I will continue to use.

5) If I sold my Bose QC2's. I have the QC3's.. they just need to be repaired but they would still address my 'noise cancellation' needs. The question really remains what are QC2's selling for on Ebay. If I could get $150 shipped for them.. then it would almost be like I traded them for the 595's which is a very acceptable solution. Ebay is blocked from my job, but it would be cool if one of you could check.

So theres my review. Best sounding headphones, but not enough reasons to keep them priced at $200. I have 29 days to decide to keep them or return them to Amazon. What do you guys think I should do?

General Kenobi

01-29-10, 12:05 PM

Value is in the eye of the beholder my friend so if you don't value your new purchase as much as it cost you then send em back. As far as music goes that will be the case with any headphone, the better, more transparent headphone you get the more flaws it will reveal in your source or source material, garbage in garbage out.

I value high-end headphones because I listen while at work and enjoy the benefits very much. I also use them for games and sometimes movies started too late to enjoy my HT.

I would say since you have the time don't rush to decision, take some time with them and decide in a week or two and remember that if they are brand new they will burn-in and sound better as they do.

Daekwan

01-29-10, 12:10 PM

Yeah I want to keep them atleast a week.. maybe 2 weeks. This is the thing though, if I do return these.. Amazon will be selling these new to another customer and I dont want to spoil their new experience if Im not going to keep them.

So until Im sure that I will either keep them or return them.. I'll be using them for testing purposes only. Between now and Sunday.. i'll post another review of how the 595's sound when playing COD4/MW2/DVD/Bluray/CD's.. that will give myself and those interested a much better representation of their true sound and true value.

WayTooCrazy

01-29-10, 12:27 PM

If you have an ipod (not your iphone, but an ipod that your not taking everywhere with you)... Go to this site... Burin-In (http://www.burninwave.com/) and download the pink noise files.

I know some people say that burn-in isn't real, etc... but when I first got my AKGs, they sounded kinda nice, but no where as good as the ones I tried at guitar center... the cushions weren't even as soft. I've been running audio through them constantly since... and I'm about 60hrs in... and I've even run pink noise for awhile... and lo and behold... they do sound better.

So, I'm convinced. Even if it's a placebo effect, if it sounds better to me after awhile... isn't that all that really matters anyway?

nocturnx

01-29-10, 01:00 PM

when ironically I work for the nations largest law enforcement agency.

Daekwan = Vic Mackey

Nice review, your points 1 & 4 are the exact reasons I'll stick with the a40's. So the leap in sound quality going from the a40's to the 595's is huge in games though?

Daekwan

01-29-10, 01:46 PM

Daekwan

01-29-10, 01:56 PM

Daekwan = Vic Mackey

Nice review, your points 1 & 4 are the exact reasons I'll stick with the a40's. So the leap in sound quality going from the a40's to the 595's is huge in games though?

My personal opinion is that the difference in sound quality between the 595's and A40's isnt worth spending an extra $200 and/or jerry-rigging a mic.

Even If I hadnt bought anything.. I'd be looking at $130 for the mixamp, $185 for the 595's, and another $20-50 to mod a mic myself (or have a mic modded) into the 595s to make them a 'real' gaming headset. Thats over $350 compared to the $225 A40/mixamp combo (with coupon).

Not to mention solution isnt as elegant and modular.

IF you were an audiophile, and you listened to lots of music and movies. The 595 plus/mic would be a good fit. If you listened to lots of uncompressed music & movies.. the 595 plus/mic would be a great fit. If you wanted to do the above, and knock a $100 bucks off.. the AD700/mixamp combo would be best bang for the buck fit.

mikeloxlong

01-29-10, 02:47 PM

Deakwan - thanks for the review. I was for sure certain that I was going to get it as well but for the price, I'm glad I held off for a while.

That's the beauty of this forum. A majority of us have the same psychographic tendencies which to a certain extent means that we can trust each others experiences regarding products that are on our radar.

I'm ready to pull the trigger on the AD700. Is there another write up similar to what you did? hehe

BTW, burn in...I'm a bit skeptical on it. Are there graphs out there that prove without a doubt that burn in works? Science trumps hear-say.

KBI

01-29-10, 02:49 PM

General Kenobi

01-29-10, 03:18 PM

If you like them so much, keep them.. I bought mine new for 150 in 06.. I loved them.. Scary that these are considered entry level Audiophile headphones.. 200 isn't all that much for quality sound when you really think about it.. I'm about to blow 600-1000 on a headphone in April.. & spent over 3,000 on headphones since 06.. I just sell the ones I don't want.. I do want a statement type headphone so I'm looking seriously at the T1, or maybe the HD800 if I can save more.. My dream headphone cost around 2,600 on the used market, so I won't be getting them.. I still find my DT48's to be high end, but want a headphone just as good, if not better with less flaws.. & a different sound & presentation.

I hear ya, it's a total disease! Since I joined headfi I can not even count how many pieces of gear I have bought and sold over the years. I went through my Senn phase owning HD590, HD600, HD650 and then Beyer DT770, Grado SR225, PS-1, GS1000, IEM's Shure E4C, E500, Westone UM2, ES2, and now my UE-11's. Then amps and dacs, the list is terrible but I have found my sweet spot when it comes to sound and know exactly what to look for in a review to decide if something will appeal to me. My goto phones are now the UE11, D5000, HF-2 and waiting on the T1 and a used pair of DT880's I picked up this week with some JMoney pads.

For some reason I am more content with my HT than I am with my headphone gear... go figure!

Daekwan

01-29-10, 04:07 PM

mikeloxlong

01-29-10, 04:10 PM

General Kenobi

01-29-10, 04:11 PM

It would piss Amazon off.. but I'd order the AD700's just to compare them to the Senn595's if you guys really wanted. The worst part about returning stuff to Amazon is the trip back to the postoffice.. and thats nothing but 10 mins of my time.

I'm actually very curious how the HD800's sound, could you order those and get back to us? Are the as bass shy and analytical as some claim or are they the revolution in headfi transparency that other claim?:p

Daekwan

01-29-10, 04:12 PM

WayTooCrazy

01-29-10, 04:15 PM

.. My dream headphone cost around 2,600 on the used market, so I won't be getting them.. I still find my DT48's to be high end, but want a headphone just as good, if not better with less flaws.. & a different sound & presentation.

Which headphones are those? The R10? Anyway, where is there a list of headphones and what genre of music they represent most faithfully? Then people like me who like Rock, Classic Rock, alternative... or things like that more could properly choose the headphones that fit our needs, since many stores (brick & mortar I guess), do not take returns on headphones.

Daekwan

01-29-10, 04:16 PM

I'm actually very curious how the HD800's sound, could you order those and get back to us? Are the as bass shy and analytical as some claim or are they the revolution in headfi transparency that other claim?:p

Arent they like a $1000? lol

You know what sad is there isnt a place where you can try these things. There used to be 2 high end AV stores in the DC area but I think they have both closed. Graffiti audio/video on Connecticut Ave in NW DC and Tweeter A/V in Rockville, MD.

There was also Ritz A/V in Beltsville MD. www.ritzav.com

Ritz was so cool back in the day, before I bought my X1 projector from them they let me bring my original Xbox in and play games on their demo model. I'll check around for some more high end stores to see if I can try the HD800s. For the record I think they are the sexiest headphones ever made.

General Kenobi

01-29-10, 04:36 PM

Which headphones are those? The R10? Anyway, where is there a list of headphones and what genre of music they represent most faithfully? Then people like me who like Rock, Classic Rock, alternative... or things like that more could properly choose the headphones that fit our needs, since many stores (brick & mortar I guess), do not take returns on headphones.

Ha, I saw a pair of R10's recently on Headfi for like $6200 and they were gone quick:eek:

Well the old saying used to be Grado for rock/metal and Senns for Classical/Jazz but there are plenty of deviations from that sweeping statement. I like to have the option to listen without annoying people at the office which is why I use my D5000 or UE11 for 90% of my listening. If your budget permits you should consider the D2000, they do about everything well and you don't have to worry about sound leaking as you do with an open design. If that is not an issue for you I'd say the SR225 all the way.

Daekwan - Actually about $1300 but I've also heard people complaining about the cheap feeling plastics on those too so who knows. I'll have a chance to hear some at a headfi meet next month so I'll report back;) Personally I am banking on the T1, from what I have read in reviews I'm 95% certain I will love the sonic character of that headphone and it does not sound like it is as unforgiving with sources as the HD800 or PS1000. Only problem is now I have to find a nice little tube amp to pair with it =(

KBI

01-29-10, 06:46 PM

p3Orion

01-29-10, 06:58 PM

KBI

01-29-10, 06:59 PM

I'm actually very curious how the HD800's sound, could you order those and get back to us? Are the as bass shy and analytical as some claim or are they the revolution in headfi transparency that other claim?:p
Not sure if this is funny or sad, but one of the reasons Erik bought his HD800 was because it had the transparency of his DT48e.. So a headphone released in 1937 is just as transparent as the state of the art HD800 for 1,400. Maybe Beyer engineers had a hand in building stone henge (sp) and the Pyramids too...) Makes no sense to me. Is audio advancement that slow? Yet charge a premium with price fixing.. Come on Sen, I'd run over my grandmother if you set the price to a cool grand.. But 400 more.. Not sure I can do that on my Best Buy income.

KBI

01-29-10, 07:00 PM

Wait, so Amazon sells returned headphones as new, even if they have been opened? Not cool.
Even Best Buy doesn't do that.

mikeloxlong

01-29-10, 11:44 PM

in my cart, I have the AD700 and the HARX900 ready to be bought....maybe I'll just buy both!

WayTooCrazy

01-29-10, 11:53 PM

in my cart, I have the AD700 and the HARX900 ready to be bought....maybe I'll just buy both!

Get them both! The reviews look good on the HARX900... I'd be willing to hard-mod a mic to those headphones over more expensive ones. Still looking for an adequate "mute" switch for my Boom Mic tho... any suggestions?

mikeloxlong

01-30-10, 12:08 AM

that HARX900 is a poor man's A900 (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/audio-technica-ath-a900-review-25577/)? holy crap if that is the case! They said they can clear up the sound by doing some mod (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/jvc-ha-rx900-modifications-picture-tutorial-56k-forget-about-381303/)

For those AD700 owners out there, how is the bass? I mean the bass on the Astros are weak at best, I just want warm full sound ON A BUDGET. this is waaaay too much effort for frakking office headphones!

Ugh!!!!

yellowssm

01-30-10, 02:45 PM

WayTooCrazy

01-30-10, 02:51 PM

I just got my AD700 and mixamp combo and it is awesome for gaming. I dont understand what everyone is talking about with the lack of bass.

I do have one issue though (i am on PS3, dont know if this matters), On the AD700 headphones they are labeled left and right, but the sounds that should be coming out of the left ear are coming out of the right ear and vise versa. What did I do wrong or install wrong? I have it hooked up with a optical and usb so there is no left and right that I could have messed up :confused:

TIA

Put in a support ticket to AstroGaming... same thing happened to me. I fixed mine. They must've got in a shipment of the "Y" adapters that are wired incorrectly. They have one in the mail to me as a replacement.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/sid3w8z/SatJan30160454EST2010.jpg

nozerider

01-30-10, 05:58 PM

Headphone beginner here...

I'm moving into a new place, and it's been several years since I've had a rommate, and I can no longer blast my home theater at all hours. Looking at a quality set of phones under $100 has led me, like many it seems, to the AD700s. However, I've never before owned an open set of headphones, closed has always been my experience.

My question is just how much sound can be heard at normal volume from an outsider's perspective? My room and my housemate's is buffered by my bathroom, but I'm going to be using these alot late at night. I want good quality, but don't want to cause any friction.

yellowssm

01-30-10, 06:12 PM

Put in a support ticket to AstroGaming... same thing happened to me. I fixed mine. They must've got in a shipment of the "Y" adapters that are wired incorrectly. They have one in the mail to me as a replacement.
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/sid3w8z/SatJan30160454EST2010.jpg

Thank you ;)

Headphone beginner here...

I'm moving into a new place, and it's been several years since I've had a rommate, and I can no longer blast my home theater at all hours. Looking at a quality set of phones under $100 has led me, like many it seems, to the AD700s. However, I've never before owned an open set of headphones, closed has always been my experience.

My question is just how much sound can be heard at normal volume from an outsider's perspective? My room and my housemate's is buffered by my bathroom, but I'm going to be using these alot late at night. I want good quality, but don't want to cause any friction.

Its not alot at all. For instance when i hooked up the ad700's to my iphone and was listening to music at the volume turned all the way up the sound that comes out is about the same volume as a person speaking next to you (in a normal conversating voice), thats it.

p3Orion

01-30-10, 09:56 PM

I wouldn't doubt that there was a bad batch of Y-Adapters. I placed an order for the mixamp and Y-Adapter, which was listed as in stock, but only received the mixamp. Received it yesterday, but have to wait til my headphones arrive Feb 8.:( I couldn't get the amazon prime 3 month trial to work so no free 2 day shipping. I'm limited to my ps3 for internet atm and the offer doesn't work with ps3 browser.

podoqob

01-31-10, 08:33 AM

I've been lurking around this thread for about a year now after I had read the first 100 pages three times in order to make an informed purchasing decision. I'd like to thank foe hammer, formulanerd, KBI and everyone else for their wisdom.

Anyway, from what I gathered here and other professional reviews I ended up settling on the AD700s with the MixAmp. It didn't disappoint one bit and I believe they sounded better after about a month from normal use. From what I understand they seem to be one of - if not the - best headphones under $100 with the greatest soundstage. I'm sure there are "better" sounding headphones but without the rivaled imaging in that price range.

It's tax refund time again and I'm leaning heavily towards the K701/702s with possibly an amp, though from the MixAmp specs it should be able to drive those decently. Again, best soundstage compared to others in that price range and just the neutrality I'm looking for, from what I hear.

formulanerd

01-31-10, 11:18 AM

glad i (we) could help!

the AD700's are definitely one of the best "starter" headphones.... and if you decide you want something more expensive later, you're not out a huge amount of money, especially if you want to sell them off to another gaming headphone newbie looking for a good starter set.

some people insist buying something more expensive to save you from buying something else later, personally i know many many people are completely satisfied with the ad700's from the get-go, so i dont see any real reason to jump in feet first on a $200+ set of cans.

podoqob

01-31-10, 12:14 PM

WayTooCrazy

01-31-10, 12:26 PM

Absolutely. Now my growing obsession with headphones and good sound quality have me researching even more. As far as amps goes I'm considering the Sherwood RD-7502 AVR with Dolby Headphone because I've grown tired of switching the optical cables from my 360 and PS3 too often. This receiver can be had for about $200 online. I've also considered buying the Headroom Micro Amp and running the MixAmp 1/8 out into this hoping to hear a difference. Do you or any other member have experience with either of these combinations? If not, which headphone amp options would you recommend? I'm sure you've probably mentioned this before but a 4th reading doesn't really sound ideal.:eek:

This thread got me doing a lot of thinking too. It started me redoing my CD collection and actually using my iPod again. I don't know much about the Sherwood line, but I've been given a suggestion by General Kenobi I believe to go with an iBasso D10 Cobra. I've looked at it longingly... and still thinking about it. Since then tho, I have picked up the Astro MixAmp and something hit me. I have the Optical/USB/Line-In for a DAC/ and the volume ability of a headphone amp. It even comes with Dolby Headphone to boot as well as being able to have it battery powered. WONDERFUL contraption. I think it's excellent for someone getting into a higher level of gaming and using it as their 1st foray into Audio.

podoqob

01-31-10, 12:37 PM

I agree it is a handy little device but the frequency response is only 35 - 20,000 Hz. This looks fine for online gaming but I'd like something with a bit of more pronounced low end for my single player gaming and BD watching. Sure, other headphones may perform better in that end of the spectrum but since signal is tyically only as strong as the weakest link I'm afraid I may be missing what I've never had. That is why I contaced Sherwood for some more revealing specs which aren't listed on their website.

As far as your recommendation goes, thanks. I will definitely look into it!

WayTooCrazy

01-31-10, 12:54 PM

KBI

01-31-10, 01:38 PM

podoqob

01-31-10, 02:01 PM

Yeah, it seems like every google search result I see mentions that either tube amps or Canamps work best with the K701/2s. I'm going to look into those now as well.

My AD700s will still see use with my online gaming plust there's velcro attached to it for my mic so there's no need to get rid of those. As far as single player and movie watching goes, I'm sure the AKGs will fit my needs exactly. I just wish that one of these great headphone amp manufacturers would consider implementing Dolby Headphone without making the unit so expensive. Next year I will probably buy the Beyerdynamic Headzone and use that for my gaming and movies.

One last thing, could you curiously explain why you prefer the AD700s to the K701s?

WayTooCrazy

01-31-10, 02:27 PM

Do you guys think a CMoy or CMoyBB would be a good starter amp to get a "feeling" for it? I kinda would like one now to see what I'm missing (since my MixAmp is only doing 35-20k. I don't really want to go into something like a Headroom TotalAirhead or anything yet. Just poking/prodding around. I will eventually spring for a Dac/Amp Combo (Desk Unit) in the future.

podoqob

01-31-10, 02:37 PM

WayTooCrazy

01-31-10, 02:41 PM

WayTooCrazy:

Looks like our best option is to keep using the MixAmp for gaming and surround sound and find another headphone amp that suits our needs. Maybe I'll kill two birds with one stone when I find out the Sherwood receiver has the nice frequency range with the power to drive good headphones.

Is the Sherwood an AVR? I have a Denon that has headphone surround, but that's attached to my PS3. I have my Xbox at my computer desk (sharing a monitor), and have been sharing the MixAmp between them (Xbox and PC).

podoqob

01-31-10, 02:47 PM

Yes it is.

On your Denon, is that Dolby Headphone it's outputting? If not, then how does their proprietary DSP sound compared to your MixAmp?

WayTooCrazy

01-31-10, 03:02 PM

Yes it is.

On your Denon, is that Dolby Headphone it's outputting? If not, then how does their proprietary DSP sound compared to your MixAmp?

It's a Denon AVR-687 (a few years old). It doesn't have official Dolby Headphone Surround, but it does Virtualize Dolby Digital and DTS (according to the manual). I've only tried it with Turtle Beach X1s and a USB Sound Card for the PS3 (to get the Mic to work). The virtualization is good and believable... but I don't get a chance to really sit down and play with it for any length of time.

The PS3 is our Media Hub in the house. I have about 500 movies on an external HDD, plus 30 or so BD movies.... so getting any time with it has been difficult, this is the reason why I play the Xbox more at the moment.

mikeloxlong

01-31-10, 03:07 PM

Shin CZ

01-31-10, 05:12 PM

Okay guys, here's my ghetto review of the AD700's:

THEY WILL NOT STAY ON MY HEAD.

Bear in mind that I shave my head on the regular, so there's not much for the AD700's to grip to. Still, I HAVE to wear a skull cap in order for the AD700's to stay on my head. I can't bear this. I purchased them from Amazon.com, Beach Camera being the seller. Any suggestion on how I can get a refund? I hate returning items, with this being a special case.

Let me make this straight, the AD700's ROCK. I have never heard something so precise, so clean, and so clear. I felt the bass to be lacking for music though. This is with Mixamp. Without a Mixamp, the sound on these are absolutely miniscule. Unless you have an amp, don't bother. They really are featherweight, and it does give you a feeling that you're not wearing headphones. They are amazing...IF ONLY THEY STAYED ON. I can't even pretend like this isn't an issue. I absolutely CANNOT deal with this problem.

Build quality. I'm not certain on how headphones are supposed to feel, but like Daekwan said with the 595's, I felt the AD700's to be cheap in build quality. They weigh NOTHING compared to the A40's, and the A40's felt a lot sturdier.

This is quite a dilemma.

WayTooCrazy

01-31-10, 05:30 PM

Shin CZ

01-31-10, 05:33 PM

That is unacceptable. I shouldn't have to wear ANYTHING to make them work for me. If I barely tilt my head down, they start sliding off. I'm not a frigging android. This is death for my neck.

formulanerd

01-31-10, 05:47 PM

Shin CZ

01-31-10, 05:50 PM

slide a nice rubber band or a hair tie on the "3d wings" to hold them together, they'll fit like you want them to, i have a rather large head so i have no issues, but i've read people with smaller heads or no hair need to do this little trick on the 3d wings, i've tried it and it works well but they sit too high on my head with the hair tie in place.

give it a try.

I don't understand. Pics? I'm a bit slow today. :(

edit: I tried my gf's hair ties (2 of them), but they tighten just the top end. I need it tighter a lot lower than that.

formulanerd

01-31-10, 06:06 PM

i'm assuming this is what you've tried? if that doesnt work for you then i'm not sure...

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/members/dweaver-albums-pictures-my-phones-picture2899-ad700-elastic-band-headband-mod.jpg

Shin CZ

01-31-10, 06:09 PM

i'm assuming this is what you've tried? if that doesnt work for you then i'm not sure...

Yeah, it's a little better, but not good enough. Just BARELY tilting my head down causes it to slip. Ugh. This is dumb. >__<

formulanerd

01-31-10, 06:11 PM

Yeah, it's a little better, but not good enough. Just BARELY tilting my head down causes it to slip. Ugh. This is dumb. >__<

is the band tight? like are the wings touching? i'm not sure which hair ties you're using but you should be able to get them fairly tight unless you have a narrow head...

this is a little extreme, but if you're otherwise content with them, no harm i guess... the guy said they fit him very well afterwards

http://home.comcast.net/%7Em.gibbs/AT%20700.jpg

Shin CZ

01-31-10, 06:22 PM

I'm afraid to ruin the headphones with a mod like that. o_O

http://i45.tinypic.com/33xk9br.jpg

Had to twist it to get it tighter. I have to try regular rubber bands, which I have none of.

edit: I guess I will have to always wear a skullcap while gaming with these. After the hair ties were to put in place, they fit like a glove. Still, I wish I didn't need any of these things.

Shin CZ

01-31-10, 06:35 PM

I was joking... if you decide to sell tho... let us know.

Nah, I know you were. It's just me being all pissy over this. The sound quality is phenomenal which is why I'm even more upset at the fact that they don't fit me right.

Shin CZ

01-31-10, 06:47 PM

Here's the final touch. Add an extra hair tie (uncrossed)

http://i45.tinypic.com/2pyqlnr.jpg
Verdict: I'm keeping these suckers. The extra tie did the job. I'm gonna buy some new ties/bands, so they don't look all worn out, lol. They still don't fit quite right, but they will do.

Still, the skull cap makes it fit even better so I'll be wearing it every once in awhile when I'm not in 'relax mode' . O__O

formulanerd

01-31-10, 08:27 PM

good to hear.... there has been a huge lash at AT for making all of their headphones not fit the majority of their customers well.

nozerider

01-31-10, 10:40 PM

Thank you ;)

Its not alot at all. For instance when i hooked up the ad700's to my iphone and was listening to music at the volume turned all the way up the sound that comes out is about the same volume as a person speaking next to you (in a normal conversating voice), thats it.

OK, that sounds fine, open won't be a problem.

But just in terms of the phones themselves, how do these stack up against the ATH-M50s? Those are the other set I'm debating against.

WayTooCrazy

01-31-10, 11:07 PM

Yes it is.

On your Denon, is that Dolby Headphone it's outputting? If not, then how does their proprietary DSP sound compared to your MixAmp?

Ok, I brought the MixAmp over to the PS3 and my headphones/Mic that I use on the Xbox to try them out. I played a few rounds with the MixAmp... and it sounded great, but seemed to be almost over-processed with almost a "CONCERT HALL" effect to it. It did help pinpoint well though. I then switched over to the Denon and the PS3 (I have to use a USB soundcard for 3.5mm Audio In to work). With this setup, It didn't seem to have the "Concert Hall" effect, but the accuracy wasn't as clean. Once I played a few more rounds, it was easier to pin point people, but it still wasn't as defined as on the MixAmp.

All in all, it's very do-able to use the Virtual Surround on the receiver instead of the MixAmp, and with the PS3 being able to accept the USB Soundcard for voice input... and using the PS3 software for the voice mixing... it worked great, and I can leave the MixAmp at my computer and just tote my headphones and Mic back and forth.

KBI

01-31-10, 11:24 PM

The main problem I have with DH is the fact that it is very limited.. Silent Cinema, is it's closest competitor, & over all much better in terms of modifying the different SS perimeters to your liking, then saving it.. & Each of the 19 different DSP modes on my receiver are all different. From reading the manual to my 1800 receiver, Yamaha goes to great length to accurately measure real life venues then incorporate the data into their different DSP modes.. You can spent hrs tweaking a sound fields perimeter.. Too bad you can't mix & match, & it would be nearly perfect.. & you can save the modes you modify on the receiver.. & SC supports all the HD/Hi res formats.. DH is limited to 48hz.. But DH does give a better illusion of space & channel separation.. But as I stated, you can personalize each setting to your hearts content with SC, & is compatible with all formats.. Just check the Receiver models.. I think the lowest model that lets you tweak the individual setting would be the 663.. I haven't been following the newer models.. If you can get the Yamaha 1800 for under 600 I would do it.. Headphone section is also very good for a receiver, very low noise floor, & low distortion..& great construction with ample power supply.

KBI

01-31-10, 11:27 PM

OK, that sounds fine, open won't be a problem.

But just in terms of the phones themselves, how do these stack up against the ATH-M50s? Those are the other set I'm debating against.
The M50's are more neutral.. More ample bass.. More aggressive then the delicate bass of the AD700.. Better clarity..

formulanerd

01-31-10, 11:42 PM

ellis197919

02-01-10, 01:14 AM

A few questions: I have an HK AVR 340 which does Dolby Headphone--would there be any reason to get the Mixamp instead? I don't need the portability, I just want the best possible surround for 360 gaming. I plan on getting either the AD700s or the DT880s to pair with this.

Also, is this receiver ample power for the Beyers?

I listen to TONS of music (The Killers, pop/rock mostly), how would these phones go with these?

WayTooCrazy

02-01-10, 08:44 AM

i was considering running my Yammy output into the mixamp and turning DH on the mixamp off, that way i can use silent cinema AND get voice mixing out of the mixamp.... anyone else done anything like this?

I would think that once it comes out of the Yammy (lol), in a timed fashion for the virtual surround, once it enters the MixAmp, it'll end up being straightened out into just normal Stereo again since the MixAmp won't know how to pass on the previous signal. How would you pass it on though? Use the headphone out to RCA and input that into the MixAmp? I'm almost tempted to try it just to see what happens.

tkntz

02-01-10, 09:13 AM

I just got my AD700 and mixamp combo and it is awesome for gaming. I dont understand what everyone is talking about with the lack of bass.

I do have one issue though (i am on PS3, dont know if this matters), On the AD700 headphones they are labeled left and right, but the sounds that should be coming out of the left ear are coming out of the right ear and vise versa. What did I do wrong or install wrong? I have it hooked up with a optical and usb so there is no left and right that I could have messed up :confused:

TIA

I had the same issue at first. Are you using the Y-adapter? I had a faulty one. When I'd plug the phones directly into the MixAmp, left right channels are fine. When I plugged into Y-adapter, the channels were reversed. They promptly sent me a new one that works fine.

Daekwan

02-01-10, 09:38 AM

i was considering running my Yammy output into the mixamp and turning DH on the mixamp off, that way i can use silent cinema AND get voice mixing out of the mixamp.... anyone else done anything like this?

Can you please stop talking about Yammy recievers/amps/SC before I do something stupider!!!

(currently thinking about giving the AD700's a try)

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 10:47 AM

Can you please stop talking about Yammy recievers/amps/SC before I do something stupider!!!

(currently thinking about giving the AD700's a try)

while I am a huge skeptic of burn-in, did you do this yet? that's what I'm planning on doing for the first couple of days for the AD700 and the HA RX900. I got a buyer lined up for either one I don't buy. honestly, I really want to like the JVC because of the added advantage of semi-closed design which is probably better for isolation.

I'm going to hopefully have enough hearing time with them by Friday.

formulanerd

02-01-10, 11:19 AM

I would think that once it comes out of the Yammy (lol), in a timed fashion for the virtual surround, once it enters the MixAmp, it'll end up being straightened out into just normal Stereo again since the MixAmp won't know how to pass on the previous signal. How would you pass it on though? Use the headphone out to RCA and input that into the MixAmp? I'm almost tempted to try it just to see what happens.

i dont think the mixamp will "straighten" it out, the yammy will spit out it's own 2 ch mix, and the mixamp should treat it like any other 2 ch source.... amp it if DH is off, or virtualize it if DH is on, i'd obviously have DH off, and another plus would be having my pc sound going through my headset/mixamp at all times if i wanted it there. (my htpc is connected to the same tv as the xbox), and from my experience, silent cinema is miles ahead of DH when it comes to movies.

Can you please stop talking about Yammy recievers/amps/SC before I do something stupider!!!

(currently thinking about giving the AD700's a try)

haha, so whats the verdict with the 595's? great headphones but maybe not the best bang for the buck? i thought you liked them? didn't you get them for $130? i'd say thats on par with the $80 AD700's, as far as bang for the buck goes.... plus the AD700's are ugly and you cant take them anywhere, and according to shincz, they dont fit either..... i'm trying to help you NOT purchase the ad700 :)

A few questions: I have an HK AVR 340 which does Dolby Headphone--would there be any reason to get the Mixamp instead? I don't need the portability, I just want the best possible surround for 360 gaming. I plan on getting either the AD700s or the DT880s to pair with this.

biggest difference, the mixamp will allow you to mix voice chat, if you play with friends or in a party, you NEED the mixamp. i had an HK that crapped out, and i have my yammy with silent cinema, and i still HAD to get the mixamp for voice chat, some games dont allow you to adjust game master volume so voice chat is completely masked by the soundtrack (i'm looking at you bungie!)

Also, is this receiver ample power for the Beyers?

depends on which ohm model of the DT's you pick up, i'd suggest the lower ohm model (32ohm i believe), most people wouldn't even consider getting the 250ohm version unless they were going to amp them.

"the dt880 250ohm version sound pathetic un-amped. Muddy bloated mid bass, distant mids, tiny metallic highs. I wouldn't ever consider getting a 250ohm headphone without proper amplification"

WayTooCrazy

02-01-10, 11:22 AM

yellowssm

02-01-10, 11:46 AM

I had the same issue at first. Are you using the Y-adapter? I had a faulty one. When I'd plug the phones directly into the MixAmp, left right channels are fine. When I plugged into Y-adapter, the channels were reversed. They promptly sent me a new one that works fine.

I am using the y-adapter I got from them. I didnt try just plugging the headphones straight into the mixamp without the y-adapter, but astro is sending me out a new y-adapter 2 day shipping after I sent them a email. They do have good customer service.

tkntz

02-01-10, 11:48 AM

I am using the y-adapter I got from them. I didnt try just plugging the headphones straight into the mixamp without the y-adapter, but astro is sending me out a new y-adapter 2 day shipping after I sent them a email. They do have good customer service.

It was interesting to hear others have had the same issue. When I spoke with them, they told me they had never heard of that before. Maybe I was the first case?

podoqob

02-01-10, 12:03 PM

Ok, I brought the MixAmp over to the PS3 and my headphones/Mic that I use on the Xbox to try them out. I played a few rounds with the MixAmp...

True. There was quite a bit of reverb sound when I first started using them but after a while I got used to it and don't even notice it any more.

Back to the amps for anyone that wants to venture further into higher quality sound; from further reading and understanding I conjure that headphone amps with the least amount of output impedance are one of the best kind. If it's not listed anywhere in the spec sheet or in the manual then I personally won't bother. Another thing to look for is how the amp will affect the headphone. If you have neutral sounding headphones and you want more bass then you'll want to look for an amp that is perceived as "darker". If you want little to no coloration then you'll want to look for a more neutral amp. Moreover from what I see the less impedance and amp outputs, the more expensive it might be so one has to weigh in budget as well. There's one from Musical Fidelity called the V-Can, this can be had for less than $200 online and has an impedance output of only 5 Ohms. On the other hand, the Gilmore Lite by HeadAmp ouputs less than 1 Ohm and runs for $500 from their site.

I am by no means an expert nor have the years of experience with this stuff like some of the other posters here but maybe this will start some of you on the right path should you like to investigate further and make more sense of my oversimplified paragraph above.

Stryker412

02-01-10, 12:16 PM

Can anyone who owns the X41's comment on the pros and cons you have with them? It looks like they're my only choice for wireless.

Daekwan

02-01-10, 12:33 PM

while I am a huge skeptic of burn-in, did you do this yet? that's what I'm planning on doing for the first couple of days for the AD700 and the HA RX900. I got a buyer lined up for either one I don't buy. honestly, I really want to like the JVC because of the added advantage of semi-closed design which is probably better for isolation.

I'm going to hopefully have enough hearing time with them by Friday.

Nope.. mostly because I plan on returning them sometime this week. Still have to get a DVD/CD/BR disc to test with first..

Nerd.. I paid $184 shipped. So far they are just slightly above average in my opinion for the money spent. Still have to listen to uncompressed audio, but I'd say theres a 80% chance they are going back. I want to try the AD700's tho.. for $88 bucks shipped if they sound pretty much close to the 595's.. I'd keep them.

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 01:28 PM

Nope.. mostly because I plan on returning them sometime this week. Still have to get a DVD/CD/BR disc to test with first..

Nerd.. I paid $184 shipped. So far they are just slightly above average in my opinion for the money spent. Still have to listen to uncompressed audio, but I'd say theres a 80% chance they are going back. I want to try the AD700's tho.. for $88 bucks shipped if they sound pretty much close to the 595's.. I'd keep them.

LOL! Looks like the eternal battle between nerd and kwan over headphones has come to an end...for now

formulanerd

02-01-10, 01:56 PM

True. There was quite a bit of reverb sound when I first started using them but after a while I got used to it and don't even notice it any more.

my sentiments exactly, at first is sounded unnatural, and almost untolerable.... now i dont even notice it at all, it's kinda weird.

Nerd.. I paid $184 shipped. So far they are just slightly above average in my opinion for the money spent. Still have to listen to uncompressed audio, but I'd say theres a 80% chance they are going back. I want to try the AD700's tho.. for $88 bucks shipped if they sound pretty much close to the 595's.. I'd keep them.

my fault, i was thinking of that used set that was for sale... now i remember they weren't $130 from amazon third party sellers.

you're right, at more than double the cost of the AD700, it may be hard to justify for anyone that isnt somewhat an audiophile

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 02:55 PM

sorry to bring this away from a "gaming headphone" thread but I was wondering if any of the pros here can recommend a nice started amp to bolster the sound coming from ripped CDs etc. this is for the office and I was wondering if it would be worth getting an amp just to see what I am missing.

I suppose it will have to be portable and preferably use USB for power so that if I do take them phones and amp home for the weekend, it's all unplug and go.

I was originally planning on using the onboard soundcard of the laptop (Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD) which do the job but now if I want to get the most of of my office work listening, is an amp really necessary?

Daekwan

02-01-10, 03:10 PM

LOL! Looks like the eternal battle between nerd and kwan over headphones has come to an end...for now

you're right, at more than double the cost of the AD700, it may be hard to justify for anyone that isnt somewhat an audiophile

Yeah the war of ages has ended with the signing of the Headphone Treaty of 2010 signed in January. FWIW I've know Nerd for atleast 2 years now.. maybe 3.. and he's never been wrong. He usally makes very knowledgable opinions with facts/numbers/web links to back them up. I'd trust his advice over most people here.

Daekwan

02-01-10, 03:12 PM

formulanerd

02-01-10, 03:15 PM

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 03:15 PM

KBI will answer that question by tomorrow morning.. if not PM him.. he will answer

I figure to post it here...to help stimulate the economy, I see a few people picking up an amp in the future!

It's like buying a nice TV and watching DVD on it vs. enjoying it for all it's glory with Bluray

It's like buying some Maggies and powering them with an RCA receiver

you get the picture!

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 03:40 PM

you should check out the fiio e5, and rip your music at 320k or lossless if possible.

My co-workers ripped them a little less but from now on, when I do get CDs to rip, I'll make sure it's set that high.

I just love how these (http://go.avsforum.com/?aid=5336055023&bid=3136390&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGrado-RA1-Headphone-amplifier%2Fdp%2FB00076VEGG%2Fref%3Dsr_1_20%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s% 3Delectronics%26qid%3D1265059918%26sr%3D1-20)look...sitting on my desk at work
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31bAZTN0ZiL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

but it's just impractical!

and those Fiio E5 is on the top of my list unless someone else can come up with a better product for max of $60

formulanerd

02-01-10, 03:55 PM

and those Fiio E5 is on the top of my list unless someone else can come up with a better product for max of $60

"Fiio, CMoy, PA2V2 - take your pick. These are pretty much your only choices in your set price range. I've tried them. A well designed and built CMoy will give you the most flexibility, especially with a dual gain (see BSG on eBay). PA2V2 good for low impedance cans or IEM. Fiio - well, you get what you pay for.

Now, if you want a long term amp, I suggest bumping the price range from $100-300. You're be in another world, one which you'll never want to leave. If you go this route, I highly suggest a worthy set of cans with the amp to do each other justice."

and, you'll love this:
BSG Vs Fiio E5 (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/fiio-e5-vs-bsg-cmoy-403183/)

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 04:08 PM

Behringer | HA-400 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/373745-REG/Behringer_HA400_HA_400_Headphone_Amplifier.html#specificatio ns)

Rolls | HA43 (http://www.amazon.com/Rolls-Headphone-Amplifier-Stereo-Controls/dp/tech-data/B0010BWLMS/ref=de_a_smtd)

Zalman | ZM-RSA (http://www.provantage.com/zalman-tech-zm-rsa%7E7ZALM001.htm)

are just a few of what I found online...rather cheap but is it worth it over the Fiios?

formulanerd

02-01-10, 04:17 PM

Behringer | HA-400 (http://go.avsforum.com/?aid=5336055023&bid=3136390&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F373745-REG%2FBehringer_HA400_HA_400_Headphone_Amplifier.html%23spec ifications)

"I have one of these, doesn't work much as an amp, don't really notice any significant sound changes. But it does work well if you have multiple headphones as it allows you to quickly switch headphones without plugging/unplugging all the time."

"from the specs, it will be able to drive headphones without distortion if they have an impedance of 100Ohm or more (with 600 Ohm impedance and depending on the sensibility it might struggle). However I would not really recommend it for HPs with low impedance"[/quote]

cant find much on the other two, but i suspect all these amps serve a slightly different purpose than what you're looking for.

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 04:18 PM

cant find much on the other two, but i suspect all these amps serve a slightly different purpose than what you're looking for.

thanks Nerd, I'll be looking at those that you suggested.

formulanerd

02-01-10, 04:23 PM

most people say that amps under 100 are trash and if you're spending more than 100 you might be better off just using that money toward better cans.

take that how you wish.... i know there are favorable reviews for the E5 at it's price point.

the fiio e7 is coming soon and looks pretty slick, maybe you should wait on that.... should be priced around $75 usd

http://www.fiio.com.cn/en/include/editor/UploadFile/2009826164927793.jpg

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 04:28 PM

I understand where you're coming from but also bear in mind that my needs aren't exactly for gaming. I just want my office listening to be $100 better. With either the AD700 or the HARX900 + The E5 package could be a winning combo for a few office workers here.

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 04:32 PM

The fiio e7 is coming soon and looks pretty slick, maybe you should wait on that.... Should be priced around $75 usd

http://www.fiio.com.cn/en/include/editor/uploadfile/2009826164927793.jpg

gawd dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmit!!!!!!!

super sexy

formulanerd

02-01-10, 04:33 PM

true.

the e7 is cool though, usb dac, usb charging, stationary and portable.... usb dac will do wonders for a laptop with a so-so soundcard.

mikeloxlong

02-01-10, 04:41 PM

true.

the e7 is cool though, usb dac, usb charging, stationary and portable.... usb dac will do wonders for a laptop with a so-so soundcard.

that's it, I'm waiting for the E7...

formulanerd

02-01-10, 04:52 PM

KBI

02-01-10, 06:03 PM

True. There was quite a bit of reverb sound when I first started using them but after a while I got used to it and don't even notice it any more.

Back to the amps for anyone that wants to venture further into higher quality sound; from further reading and understanding I conjure that headphone amps with the least amount of output impedance are one of the best kind. If it's not listed anywhere in the spec sheet or in the manual then I personally won't bother. Another thing to look for is how the amp will affect the headphone. If you have neutral sounding headphones and you want more bass then you'll want to look for an amp that is perceived as "darker". If you want little to no coloration then you'll want to look for a more neutral amp. Moreover from what I see the less impedance and amp outputs, the more expensive it might be so one has to weigh in budget as well. There's one from Musical Fidelity called the V-Can, this can be had for less than $200 online and has an impedance output of only 5 Ohms. On the other hand, the Gilmore Lite by HeadAmp ouputs less than 1 Ohm and runs for $500 from their site.

I am by no means an expert nor have the years of experience with this stuff like some of the other posters here but maybe this will start some of you on the right path should you like to investigate further and make more sense of my oversimplified paragraph above.
Actually, really transparent headphones like the DT48/K1000/HD800/HP1/2 are more chameleon like.. & will change according to the amp/source. The DT48 also has a flat & neutral bass, which for headphone listeners can be a downer since the bass impact, weight, depth solely depends on the recording.. So the bass quantity will be inconsistent.. I prefer neutral/transparent headphones.. But many here wouldn't, & are not immerse for gaming/movies.. Just bland.. No wow moments.. Very pedestrian sounding.. Of course, what separates the HP1/2/K1000 from the rest of the extreme transparent pact is that, they are also musical, & can give you that wow feeling..HP1's Palpable bass. The K1000 are a great IE of this.. They are like speakers on your head.. Natural cross feed & will give you a legitimate speaker type imaging.. I was blown away when I auditioned them..

I currently use a neutral/transparent system.. My Gold Point headphone amp. Modded Bel Canto 2 DAC balanced.. & my DT48.. Great detail, clarity, speed, & resolving system, but lacks excitement.. That's why I'm going to purchase a more 'fun' headphone like the D7000/T1/W5000

KBI

02-01-10, 06:12 PM

"Fiio, CMoy, PA2V2 - take your pick. These are pretty much your only choices in your set price range. I've tried them. A well designed and built CMoy will give you the most flexibility, especially with a dual gain (see BSG on eBay). PA2V2 good for low impedance cans or IEM. Fiio - well, you get what you pay for.

Now, if you want a long term amp, I suggest bumping the price range from $100-300. You're be in another world, one which you'll never want to leave. If you go this route, I highly suggest a worthy set of cans with the amp to do each other justice."

and, you'll love this:
BSG Vs Fiio E5 (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/fiio-e5-vs-bsg-cmoy-403183/)

portable amps in the 60.00 & under range act more like volume boosters then actually improving the sound.. The PA2V2 is decent.. I know louder is perceived as better.. But as far as improving the sound.. The improvements were very minimal.. The poster would do much better with a 150.00 portable amp/DAC combo.. IMO, spending under 60.00 & expecting a nice improvement in SQ is in practical, & will lead to disappointment, or even tilt him towards the, amps make no difference crowd.

WayTooCrazy

02-01-10, 07:40 PM

portable amps in the 60.00 & under range act more like volume boosters then actually improving the sound.. The PA2V2 is decent.. I know louder is perceived as better.. But as far as improving the sound.. The improvements were very minimal.. The poster would do much better with a 150.00 portable amp/DAC combo.. IMO, spending under 60.00 & expecting a nice improvement in SQ is in practical, & will lead to disappointment, or even tilt him towards the, amps make no difference crowd.

What do you suggest in the $150 price range that is portable?

ellis197919

02-01-10, 07:43 PM

i dont think the mixamp will "straighten" it out, the yammy will spit out it's own 2 ch mix, and the mixamp should treat it like any other 2 ch source.... amp it if DH is off, or virtualize it if DH is on, i'd obviously have DH off, and another plus would be having my pc sound going through my headset/mixamp at all times if i wanted it there. (my htpc is connected to the same tv as the xbox), and from my experience, silent cinema is miles ahead of DH when it comes to movies.

haha, so whats the verdict with the 595's? great headphones but maybe not the best bang for the buck? i thought you liked them? didn't you get them for $130? i'd say thats on par with the $80 AD700's, as far as bang for the buck goes.... plus the AD700's are ugly and you cant take them anywhere, and according to shincz, they dont fit either..... i'm trying to help you NOT purchase the ad700 :)

biggest difference, the mixamp will allow you to mix voice chat, if you play with friends or in a party, you NEED the mixamp. i had an HK that crapped out, and i have my yammy with silent cinema, and i still HAD to get the mixamp for voice chat, some games dont allow you to adjust game master volume so voice chat is completely masked by the soundtrack (i'm looking at you bungie!)

depends on which ohm model of the DT's you pick up, i'd suggest the lower ohm model (32ohm i believe), most people wouldn't even consider getting the 250ohm version unless they were going to amp them.

"the dt880 250ohm version sound pathetic un-amped. Muddy bloated mid bass, distant mids, tiny metallic highs. I wouldn't ever consider getting a 250ohm headphone without proper amplification"

Thanks for the reply. I guess I was asking if the HK AVR340 5.1 receiver I have has ample power, cause frankly the specs are con fusing when it says 8 ohm and can power a huge audio getup but NOT a pair of headphones? I guess I'm not understanding all that lol.

formulanerd

02-01-10, 08:36 PM

Thanks for the reply. I guess I was asking if the HK AVR340 5.1 receiver I have has ample power, cause frankly the specs are con fusing when it says 8 ohm and can power a huge audio getup but NOT a pair of headphones? I guess I'm not understanding all that lol.

ample power for which? ad700's? sure

beyers? i thought i answered that question.

ohm's law is a crazy one.... look at car audio for instance, you may get 1000w out of your amp at 1 ohm (assuming its stable), 500w at 2ohms, and 250w at 4 ohms..... how much power are you going to get at 250ohms? will the driver sound good? will it be audible?

your HK will most likely drive any headphone you could ever plug into it, but it may not give them the good clean power they need to sound how they should sound.... if you choose a beyer, make sure you choose the lower ohm version.

Celeron

02-01-10, 09:11 PM

WayTooCrazy

02-01-10, 09:39 PM

Got my Mixamp today to use with my Sennheiser PC350. The Y-adaptor is wired incorrectly, left is right, right is left. Ugh. Plug directly into the Mixamp and everything is fine.

I've got an email out to Astro, here's hoping for a quick turnaround.

Saw a thread about this on the MLG Forum too. Sheesh. QC is not what it used to be. They sent me a replacement, I haven't tested it yet, but I'm going to and then put that one away and use the one that I repaired. So now, I have a spare.

Note: If anyone uses the MixAmp on their PC, and want a different icon then the one that Windows is currently using... Get this (http://www.4shared.com/file/213432102/9ea569c3/mixamp-icon.html) one, I made it to replace the generic Digital Device Icon for Windows 7.
...and this is what it looks like...http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv356/sid3w8z/mixamp-icon.jpg

Shin CZ

02-02-10, 05:22 AM

I dunno, I like the color of the AD700's. I'm the odd man out. It's different. In any case, I didn't buy them for their looks. I'd never wear any big ass headphones in public. That's what my beloved KOSS ear buds are for. I love those things.

As far as the AD700's, I'm in LOVE with its sound quality. Gaming has never sounded so good. Too bad they are so damn uncomfortable, but that's just me. I find anything with weight on my head uncomfortable. I have a bad neck. It's a sacrifice I have to make to get such awesome sound quality.

Shin CZ

02-02-10, 05:49 AM

WayTooCrazy

02-02-10, 06:29 AM

Hey guys have you tested these with your headphones?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaJfYRpNpKc&feature=related

My AD700's are rattling my head so much I can't stomach it for too long. Not as in it vibrating, but the bass reproduction is driving my head crazy. I felt like my head was going to asplode. >__<

I tried it with my AKGs... and it was tolerable... but then I realized that since I'm feeding them with my MixAmp... that cuts it off at 35Hz anyway... so, later today I'll try it again with my 2.1 desktop setup (maybe it'll piss the neighbors off... hehe).

Note: I vote for Daekwan sending out friend invites to the XBL people and getting a night for us to get together over there and play some MW2. What say you?

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 06:52 AM

I tried it with my AKGs... and it was tolerable... but then I realized that since I'm feeding them with my MixAmp... that cuts it off at 35Hz anyway... so, later today I'll try it again with my 2.1 desktop setup (maybe it'll piss the neighbors off... hehe).

Note: I vote for Daekwan sending out friend invites to the XBL people and getting a night for us to get together over there and play some MW2. What say you?

you should check out the MW2 thread :)

WayTooCrazy

02-02-10, 09:18 AM

you should check out the MW2 thread :)

Great! My wife already calls me a Forum Whore... now there is another thread that I'm following... WOOT!

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 09:54 AM

there's something inherently satisfying in making a "cheap" item better (1 (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/jvc-ha-rx700-mods-435809/) 2 (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/jvc-ha-rx900-modifications-picture-tutorial-56k-forget-about-381303/))....I'm wondering how to compare the two headphones now.

900 pre burn in
900 post burn in
900 post burn in / post dampening mod
900 post burn in / post dampening mod / felt mod

vs.

AD700 pre burn in
AD700 post burn in

still skeptical about burn in effect

ATB

02-02-10, 11:01 AM

i was considering running my Yammy output into the mixamp and turning DH on the mixamp off, that way i can use silent cinema AND get voice mixing out of the mixamp.... anyone else done anything like this?
Do you plan to connect the Yammy's headphone output to the Mixamp's RCA inputs? (I don't think there is any other way to get silent cinema processed output).

I'm curious how putting the mixamp in the chain would compare to plugging phones directly to the receiver's HP output. One concern is would you experience a problem having two amps in the chain (Yammy amp followed by mixamp amp), but it's certainly worth trying.

Shin CZ

02-02-10, 11:36 AM

What do you guys think of GREAT ear buds? I'm looking for a set that can sound incredible. Thanks to this thread, I'm becoming more and more of an audiophile. :(

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 11:38 AM

just got the AD700 from my receiving department.

first impressions, it's super clear compared to what I have been using (MDR-NC7)

it's comfortable enough, I had to figure out how to wear them though. sitting a bit forward on my head is most stable although the wings are clamping down more than I like which distracts from an otherwise comfortable ear pieces.

now I understand the open design...

the airyness of the sound, it's not confined which was what I noticed against the Sony's.

Of course the bad thing, as with all open cans, is that it's open and it leaks. Well, it doesn't leak. I'll use Deakwan's word, it pours which is sort of annoying since these are supposed to be office headphones.

arg, I'm going to have to wait for the other headphones to see how much different they in terms of sound spillage.

SQ has no contest against the Sony's. More as I spend more time with them but they sound really good.

Daekwan

02-02-10, 12:21 PM

LOL..

1. You have a big azz head.. so its no wonder the wings clamp on ur head just fine without using the rubber band trick

2. Yeah that open design is a motherf.. I left my iPhone ear buds at home today (check my facebook status) but wanted to hear the new Cam'ron mixtape so bad I borrowed some Bose QC2's from a co-worker. Even the volume up halfway and their CLOSED design.. I had a few people looking at me funny in the hall & elevator. Probably because they could hear all the lyrics about bytches, hoes, drugs and guns lol

There is absolutely noway I could use open ear headphones at work.. unless I was listening to Sade'. Which will never happen, because her music makes me sleepy. The whole point of listening to music at work is give me more energy, keep me alert and make the day go by faster.

Edit.. 3. I did a back to back comparison of the QC2's to iPhone earbuds to A40's to Senn595's.. and as you said.. the audiophile headphone (Senn 595) destroys the others. Its amazing how much clear and seperated the voice/instruments are. Almost sounds fake, like the hifi phones are doing some type of music hall digital effect!

tkntz

02-02-10, 12:24 PM

oh, daekwan (or anyone else who recently bought some senn's or audio technicas)

put your headphones on, connect them to your pc, watch this blindfolded

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=22913

I finally listened to this the other day with my $5 cheapo earphones that my workplace issued me. Pretty amazing! Can't wait to try it with some real headphones. Incidentally, this sound technology was designed for hearing aids! Good news for those of us who will lose our hearing as a result of our hobby. We'll still be able to hear directionally with a good set of hearing aids someday...:rolleyes:

Daekwan

02-02-10, 12:28 PM

What do you guys think of GREAT ear buds? I'm looking for a set that can sound incredible. Thanks to this thread, I'm becoming more and more of an audiophile. :(

For the buck.. I've heard the Klipsch S4

http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/klipsch-image-s4-earphones/4505-7877_7-33577358.html

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/03/klipsch-image-s4-impressions/

Klipsch and S4i (if you own an iPhone.. same earbuds with built-in remote buttons and mic).

http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/klipsch-image-s4i-earphones/4505-7877_7-33801629.html

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/klipsch-image-s4i-hands-on-and-impressions/

Both are rated OUTSTANDING by Cnet.. and retail for $79 and $99 respectively. Linkazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-IMAGE-S4i-Noise-Isolating-3-button/dp/B00264GYMG

Daekwan

02-02-10, 12:31 PM

Dammit now I want the S4i's..

I hate my life.

formulanerd

02-02-10, 12:59 PM

lol

i have some shure IEM's, i dont use them every day (obviously) but for travel and or work, or even commuting to work with an itouch or my phone, they ARE my go to headphones.... i dont see how anyone could wear regular cans for that purpose.

personally i wouldn't buy the klipsch, i'd go with shure, etymotic research, ultimate ears, westone, etc.... most of them even have a mic version for iphone (or any other phone) with a volume/answer inline control.

Daekwan

02-02-10, 01:01 PM

Whats the pricing on the Shure's?

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 01:01 PM

I finally listened to this the other day with my $5 cheapo earphones that my workplace issued me. Pretty amazing! Can't wait to try it with some real headphones. Incidentally, this sound technology was designed for hearing aids! Good news for those of us who will lose our hearing as a result of our hobby. We'll still be able to hear directionally with a good set of hearing aids someday...:rolleyes:

I just listened to it Sony vs. AT

HUGE difference due to design. sure positioning is somewhat doable but holy crap the sound from the AD700s is amazing even just using on board sound card. I got the heebee jeebies as the plastic bag was put over my head.

holy shyt!!

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 01:06 PM

oh, daekwan (or anyone else who recently bought some senn's or audio technicas)

put your headphones on, connect them to your pc, watch this blindfolded

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=22913

more here (http://onemansblog.com/2007/05/13/get-your-virtual-haircut-and-other-auditory-illusions/)!

formulanerd

02-02-10, 01:09 PM

more here (http://onemansblog.com/2007/05/13/get-your-virtual-haircut-and-other-auditory-illusions/)!

they're creepy huh!?

you cant tell me that you wouldnt have an advantage in gaming if DH can do anything remotely close to that.

formulanerd

02-02-10, 01:12 PM

Whats the pricing on the Shure's?

i paid around $60 for mine, the E2c's

Edit.. 3. I did a back to back comparison of the QC2's to iPhone earbuds to A40's to Senn595's.. and as you said.. the audiophile headphone (Senn 595) destroys the others. Its amazing how much clear and seperated the voice/instruments are. Almost sounds fake, like the hifi phones are doing some type of music hall digital effect!

you should listen to this clip i found a while back, it was a binaural recording of some classical piece where you were basically sitting in the center of the orchestra, you could pick and choose which instruments you wanted to really hear in your head because you could literally tell where each person was sitting.... i'll try to find a link

What do you guys think of GREAT ear buds? I'm looking for a set that can sound incredible. Thanks to this thread, I'm becoming more and more of an audiophile. :(

whats your budget?

ATB

02-02-10, 01:27 PM

they're creepy huh!?

you cant tell me that you wouldnt have an advantage in gaming if DH can do anything remotely close to that.

If you want to blow DH out of the water, it'll cost you $3k. http://www.smyth-research.com/index.html

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 01:29 PM

they're creepy huh!?

you cant tell me that you wouldnt have an advantage in gaming if DH can do anything remotely close to that.

I cannot imagine how much my k/d will shoot up if I can just cut out air support noise and hone in on foot steps, gun fire etc.

wow!

formulanerd

02-02-10, 01:48 PM

I cannot imagine how much my k/d will shoot up if I can just cut out air support noise and hone in on foot steps, gun fire etc.

wow!

yea, its rough when a harrier is over your head! sitrep pro i guess.

WayTooCrazy

02-02-10, 01:55 PM

they're creepy huh!?

you cant tell me that you wouldnt have an advantage in gaming if DH can do anything remotely close to that.

I stopped by the Dolby site and watched a Demo of their Dolby Axon (http://www.dolby.com/professional/technology/games/index.html)... now that is awesome stuff there... would make COD and a lot of other games much more interesting and easier to detect clues as well. Especially since I can hear people walking around above me, around the corner... halfway around the map. I know where they are and if they're coming to me... but it's just too much at times.

RemoWilliams84

02-02-10, 02:50 PM

I'm looking to spend about $150 total on a gaming headset setup and I am totally confused about what to do. I have a couple of requirements:

1) Needs an integrated mic
2) Needs good directional sound.

I don't really care if they are wireless or have great bass sounds or anything. I also don't care if it is actual 5.1 or just simulated as long as I can tell where the sound is coming from. I was looking at the Astro mixamp, but is there anyway to buy that without the headphones? Or is there a better mixamp to buy?

Any headsets you would recommend that don't require a mixamp to be decent.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: I read a review that said the astro mixamp and Turlte Beach HPX combo is a good way to go. Any input on that?

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 02:58 PM

I stopped by the Dolby site and watched a Demo of their Dolby Axon (http://www.dolby.com/professional/technology/games/index.html)... now that is awesome stuff there... would make COD and a lot of other games much more interesting and easier to detect clues as well. Especially since I can hear people walking around above me, around the corner... halfway around the map. I know where they are and if they're coming to me... but it's just too much at times.

do you have a link for the Demo?

PJ_Rage

02-02-10, 03:18 PM

They say the best bang for the buck IEMs are without question the Head-Direct RE0 (http://head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=38). Don't let the price fool you. They get great reviews and are recommended like crazy at head-fi. I think just 6 months ago they were selling for like $170. If you want a good pair of IEMs, but don't want to shell out for the best of the best (Westone UM3X, Westone 3, UE Triple Fi 10s, Sennheiser IE8, Grado GR8s, etc, and then of course the true best of the best, the various uber expensive customs) these are for you.

formulanerd

02-02-10, 03:27 PM

i completely forgot about the RE0's, i've read lots of great things about them.

WayTooCrazy

02-02-10, 03:29 PM

do you have a link for the Demo?

My bad...
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/experience/demos/dolby-axon.html

coyote_5

02-02-10, 03:49 PM

mikeloxlong

02-02-10, 03:56 PM

My bad...
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/experience/demos/dolby-axon.html

cool, thanks!

look good...i mean sounds good!

WayTooCrazy

02-02-10, 04:46 PM

cool, thanks!

look good...i mean sounds good!

I think all FPS should use something like this, that way... we don't get sensory overload and for RnG guys like me... we don't give away our position too far ahead of time... :D:D

Shin CZ

02-02-10, 06:49 PM

I guess my budget for in ear buds would be <$100, $100 being the max. I'm not convinced that spending much more would be worth it over a set, unless you can prove me wrong. I'm looking for bang for the buck, bass and clarity. One thing I love about in ears are the deep bass. Is it too mch to ask for in ears with a somewhat of a good soundstage separation? I did play Modern Warfare 2 wit my $15 Koss buds and was able to tell from front and back with mixamp.

Thoughts please. There seems to be many more buds to look into compared to good comparable cans like the AD700 and Senn 595's. Buds seem to have more competition against each other.

Shin CZ

02-02-10, 06:54 PM

Edit: I read a review that said the astro mixamp and Turlte Beach HPX combo is a good way to go. Any input on that?

Good luck finding some HPXs. They seem impossible to get now. They are always out of stock, and it looks like they are discontinued.

WayTooCrazy

02-02-10, 07:11 PM

Good luck finding some HPXs. They seem impossible to get now. They are always out of stock, and it looks like they are discontinued.

They said end of last month or beginning of this one, but with them being so scarce... even when they do come in... might not be worth it to get them, being parts would be so scarce for repair.

ATB

02-02-10, 08:04 PM

General Kenobi

02-02-10, 08:27 PM

I've tried IEMs but they just aren't very comfortable to me for extended gaming sessions. I always find myself fiddling with them trying to make sure they are in correctly.

I felt the same way until I went custom, now I put in my UE-11's and they disappear. :p IEM's would be one of my last choices for gaming though. IEM's are great for air travel and portable use but they just don't have the soundstage needed for gaming IMO. In fact I think you would be hard pressed to find something better than the DT880/mixamp combo for under $1000.

I will be testing out the T1's when they come in but it's safe to assume I will not be wasting a high-end $1k headphone on gaming and mic mods!

KBI - If you are able to make it to the Bay Area meet at the end of the month my headfi username is wakeride74 which is probably what will be on my tag, hope to see you there.

PJ_Rage

02-02-10, 10:24 PM

I felt the same way until I went custom, now I put in my UE-11's and they disappear. :p IEM's would be one of my last choices for gaming though. IEM's are great for air travel and portable use but they just don't have the soundstage needed for gaming IMO. In fact I think you would be hard pressed to find something better than the DT880/mixamp combo for under $1000.

I will be testing out the T1's when they come in but it's safe to assume I will not be wasting a high-end $1k headphone on gaming and mic mods!

KBI - If you are able to make it to the Bay Area meet at the end of the month my headfi username is wakeride74 which is probably what will be on my tag, hope to see you there.Would you think some HD600s or even HD650s would be good for gaming (better/as good as the DT880?)? I was eying a pair for a while for home use, and subsequently now gaming use, but haven't been able to pull the trigger yet. Should I change my wishlist to some DT880s if I'll be using them mostly for gaming? Ideally I'd like a set that is great with music AND gaming, of course, but if I had to pick, I'd say music first, gaming second.

corporateworld76

02-02-10, 10:27 PM

They said end of last month or beginning of this one, but with them being so scarce... even when they do come in... might not be worth it to get them, being parts would be so scarce for repair.

Very true, I have been waiting :rolleyes:

General Kenobi

02-02-10, 11:31 PM

Would you think some HD600s or even HD650s would be good for gaming (better/as good as the DT880?)? I was eying a pair for a while for home use, and subsequently now gaming use, but haven't been able to pull the trigger yet. Should I change my wishlist to some DT880s if I'll be using them mostly for gaming? Ideally I'd like a set that is great with music AND gaming, of course, but if I had to pick, I'd say music first, gaming second.

My personal tastes would gravitate towards the 880's over the 650 but I'm not much of a Senn guy. I enjoy them but the 880's will have a larger soundstage and musically, more air between the notes, which I would imagine translates to a bit more air between sounds heard in a game environment. The 650's will have more bass but slightly rolled off top end. I actually prefer the HD600 over the 650 but would take the 880's over either and they are cheaper so win/win!

Shin CZ

02-02-10, 11:57 PM

I've tried IEMs but they just aren't very comfortable to me for extended gaming sessions. I always find myself fiddling with them trying to make sure they are in correctly.

It's the other way around for me. I'm constantly fiddling with my cans whenever I get the chance. With in IEMs, I almost never touch them once I have them on. It's as if I had nothing on. They weigh nothing as well, so it's a big plus. I don't see much use for them for gaming due to the small soundstage, but they IMHO sound better for music. Maybe not as clear as my cans, but the bass and comfort put them above for me.

I haven't had much luck with comfortable cans, but I did borrow my roomie's Philips SHP2500, and they are INCREDIBLY comfortable, though the sound quality doesn't match up to the comfort. I wish my AD700's fit as good as the Philips SHP2500. They have a pretty decent soundstage. They probably would have been fine for my gaming needs. But too late now, I became more of an audiophile so the Philips doesn't suit me anymore.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP2500-37-Headphone-Control/dp/B000G31SRU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265176722&sr=8-1

These are an absolute STEAL for the price. $17 cans with decent soundstage and comfort.

formulanerd

02-03-10, 12:46 AM

RE0's are on the way to my doorstep, but that has nothing to do with gaming :D

Shin CZ

02-03-10, 06:27 AM

RE0's are on the way to my doorstep, but that has nothing to do with gaming :D

So, I'm guessing it's an absolute beast for the price? Hmm... I have been splurging a bit lately, but I think I might get them when my income tax comes in. I just fear my girlfriend will find a way to destroy them like she did with two other Skullcandy IEMs that I had. I'm surprised my KOSS IEMs have lasted this long.

BTW, do they have volume control? It's a MUST for me. One thing I wish the AD700's had.

PJ_Rage

02-03-10, 06:36 AM

From what I hear you won't be disappointed with the RE0s! Let us know what you think when you get them.

Honestly I hear so many good things that it's hard to restrain from buying them at the current price, but I already have a pair of Westone 3s, so I can't see them getting as much use as they deserve.

PJ_Rage

02-03-10, 07:46 AM

My personal tastes would gravitate towards the 880's over the 650 but I'm not much of a Senn guy. I enjoy them but the 880's will have a larger soundstage and musically, more air between the notes, which I would imagine translates to a bit more air between sounds heard in a game environment. The 650's will have more bass but slightly rolled off top end. I actually prefer the HD600 over the 650 but would take the 880's over either and they are cheaper so win/win!I've been doing a lot more reading now, and with tax return season coming up, it may be time to pull the trigger on some new headphones. I'm now looking really heavily at the DT880. Again, with the same purposes - primarily to sound good with music, but will honestly probably be used more often with gaming, assuming I can whip up an acceptable mic setup.

I'm curious of a couple things now... First... how does the mixamp drive the DT880 for you? Good enough? Not good enough? Great? I'm mainly worried because currently with the astro a40 headset, I have to keep the game/chat mix knob at 3 o'clock and sometimes even more toward voice in order to hear my friends the whole match. This cuts down on the max possible overall volume/power output. I'm not worried as much about overall volume with the DT880s as I don't play THAT loud... I'm more hoping that the detail and whatnot that I'm hoping for isn't lost with the mixamp.

Second, I see a lot of people prefer the 600 ohm version over the 250 ohm, so naturally I'm really wanting the 600 ohm version. I'm pretty much guessing that the mixamp can't drive these effectively to save it's life, so I would need another amp... so I'm curious if you've tried your mixamp 3.5mm output to a desktop amp? How does it sound? Does it have any negative effects on the dolby headphone effect or whatever? I remember reading earlier in this post about people who felt that using a desktop amp after the mixamp didn't work very well. It wasn't clear what the problem was though. Since the output of the 3.5mm jack is just a 2 channel audio, I would have thought it would sound the same, only louder (and potentially cleaner/etc).

coyote_5

02-03-10, 09:22 AM

How dare you all make me question whether I should upgrade my AD700s!!!

I'm already dropping a sh*t load on Ascends...

Stupid HT hobby...

personally, if you're not getting some beyers (mmx or dt880/990), some akgs, or etc it wont be a worthwhile upgrade, especially considering your initial investment.... enjoy your speeks and when you need to be quite, slap the headphones on.

some of us primarily game on headphones, others do it because of wife/kids late at night... if you're the latter i wouldnt lose any sleep over it.

I'm getting the itch... I game with my headphones 85% of the time. What is the worthwhile upgrade, the 880s? It seems like most feel the 880s are better for gaming than the 990s, why? Too much bass in the 990s? Are the AKG 601/701 more recommended than the Beyers?

tkntz

02-03-10, 09:25 AM

Second, I see a lot of people prefer the 600 ohm version over the 250 ohm, so naturally I'm really wanting the 600 ohm version. I'm pretty much guessing that the mixamp can't drive these effectively to save it's life, so I would need another amp... so I'm curious if you've tried your mixamp 3.5mm output to a desktop amp? How does it sound? Does it have any negative effects on the dolby headphone effect or whatever?

This relates to a question I have. Does anyone know what the limits of the MixAmp are? I have been wondering if it can power some of the more difficult headphones.

General Kenobi

02-03-10, 11:13 AM

I've been doing a lot more reading now, and with tax return season coming up, it may be time to pull the trigger on some new headphones. I'm now looking really heavily at the DT880. Again, with the same purposes - primarily to sound good with music, but will honestly probably be used more often with gaming, assuming I can whip up an acceptable mic setup.

I'm curious of a couple things now... First... how does the mixamp drive the DT880 for you? Good enough? Not good enough? Great? I'm mainly worried because currently with the astro a40 headset, I have to keep the game/chat mix knob at 3 o'clock and sometimes even more toward voice in order to hear my friends the whole match. This cuts down on the max possible overall volume/power output. I'm not worried as much about overall volume with the DT880s as I don't play THAT loud... I'm more hoping that the detail and whatnot that I'm hoping for isn't lost with the mixamp.

Second, I see a lot of people prefer the 600 ohm version over the 250 ohm, so naturally I'm really wanting the 600 ohm version. I'm pretty much guessing that the mixamp can't drive these effectively to save it's life, so I would need another amp... so I'm curious if you've tried your mixamp 3.5mm output to a desktop amp? How does it sound? Does it have any negative effects on the dolby headphone effect or whatever? I remember reading earlier in this post about people who felt that using a desktop amp after the mixamp didn't work very well. It wasn't clear what the problem was though. Since the output of the 3.5mm jack is just a 2 channel audio, I would have thought it would sound the same, only louder (and potentially cleaner/etc).

I'm not sure what the gain setting on the mixamp is but it could be higher for my tastes as I do tend to listen loud. Gaming was not really an issue although I did have it close to maxed a couple times however, it was a bit low for movies for my tastes but that could vary depending on the source I would imagine?

As far as the 250 vs 600 DT880's I would wager that unless you are planning on purchasing a dedicated desktop amp and spending around $300+ on it you will not benefit from the 600ohm version and the mixamp would probably struggle to drive them sufficiently.

Yes, I did try the mixamp out to my little P-51 Mustang and it sounded like poo. The sound field collapsed and there was distortion, it was really unlistenable. I did not try it without the dolby on so that may have been a factor but nothing was gained from it that is for sure!

formulanerd

02-03-10, 11:37 AM

So, I'm guessing it's an absolute beast for the price? Hmm... I have been splurging a bit lately, but I think I might get them when my income tax comes in. I just fear my girlfriend will find a way to destroy them like she did with two other Skullcandy IEMs that I had. I'm surprised my KOSS IEMs have lasted this long.

BTW, do they have volume control? It's a MUST for me. One thing I wish the AD700's had.

what do you plan on using them with? if it's ipod only a Fiio E1 is a must.... clean line out signal, bass boost and amp, volume control, dirt cheap.

I'm getting the itch... I game with my headphones 85% of the time. What is the worthwhile upgrade, the 880s? It seems like most feel the 880s are better for gaming than the 990s, why? Too much bass in the 990s? Are the AKG 601/701 more recommended than the Beyers?

for gaming the AD700's are great, some say the only "worthwhile" upgrade would be to the 880's.... personally i'd love to have some, but i know they wont be worth it in cost vs performance, theres just no way (IMO) with how the AD700's perform.

personally i'd add the mixamp before i decided to upgrade the cans, especially if you're playing on headphones through a receiver.

PJ_Rage

02-03-10, 11:44 AM

I'm not sure what the gain setting on the mixamp is but it could be higher for my tastes as I do tend to listen loud. Gaming was not really an issue although I did have it close to maxed a couple times however, it was a bit low for movies for my tastes but that could vary depending on the source I would imagine?

As far as the 250 vs 600 DT880's I would wager that unless you are planning on purchasing a dedicated desktop amp and spending around $300+ on it you will not benefit from the 600ohm version and the mixamp would probably struggle to drive them sufficiently.

Yes, I did try the mixamp out to my little P-51 Mustang and it sounded like poo. The sound field collapsed and there was distortion, it was really unlistenable. I did not try it without the dolby on so that may have been a factor but nothing was gained from it that is for sure!I would be most likely looking at the Little Dot MKIII for the DT880/600 initially. It should have enough power, and I've seen a few people using it with them, and in general people seem to feel that this set benefits from tube amps anyway (which subsequently may not be the best amps for gaming due to speed?). The DT880/600 probably aren't the ideal gaming headphones for this reason - that they like tube amps due to their high impedance, but tube amps lack the speed that some people want for gaming, a catch 22. Even still, this seems like the best setup I can afford, and as I mentioned, I would prefer the fullsize headphone setup I buy sound best with music moreso than gaming, and I just hope that it doesn't sound too much worse with gaming. This purchase really isn't FOR gaming... it's more for my first good set of full size headphones, and now that I'm getting back into gaming and just picked up the mixamp, it seems like a better time than ever to buy it, and hopefully put it straight to use for a mix of music/gaming.

Now I'm more worried/curious as to why it sounds like poo when amping the mixamp output as I think I would pretty much *need* to set it up this way if I go with the 600 ohm version. I can't find many threads on the web of people who have tried amping the mixamp output? I've read about a couple people that simply say that they have it hooked up that way, but didn't mention any problems or anything. Did you try various settings of the mixamp volume knob and stuff? I'm really curious why it would sound so bad. I mean, amping an amped signal isn't the ideal way to do things, but I wouldn't think it would be THAT bad or even noticeable for gaming? Would you mind playing around with it a little more if you have some time to see if you can determine anything else about the cause of the problem? I would think you would want the mixamp set at a pretty low (master) volume.

It's definitely a dilemma for me, because now that I've read tons of details between the two, the 250 and 600 ohm versions, my problem is that if I buy the 250 ohm version, while it may work OK straight from the mixamp, and I'm sure I'll be happy with it for a while, I'm always going to wonder what the 600 ohm version would have sounded like with music (and in general), lol. And if I buy the 600 ohm version, I won't be very curious at all what the 250 ohm version sounds like, because I haven't seen any reports that it sounds better in any way than the 600 ohm version. In other words, if I buy the 250 ohm version, I think it will always be in the back of my head that I wish I had bought the 600, but won't ever buy it because I won't be able to justify it over the 250 ohm :p So I'd rather just get the 600 off the bat. If that makes any sense.