ATH-A500 Dead-> Nead Upgrade

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Recursion

Weaksauce
Joined
Oct 17, 2009
Messages
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My Audio Technica ATH-A500 headphones died and now I need a replacement. Since Head-fi is practically a dead sterile zone these days, I thought id ask here.

I either want the A50-0's as my base, or to move to something better. I only use these on my pc, which is powered by a audigy 2 zs. I was and still am completely fine with the A500's as my first and last paid lasted me nearly 5 years of abuse. I like the way the A500's sound, but hate the wings.

I play counter strike 2x a year, listen to music and watch tv and music with my headphones,

Should I just get a A700(cheap from Amazon) or should I try a A900. How would Grado or MS1's compare to what I have now?

Thanks.
 
my A700 are coming in today from amazon. i'm coming from AD700 i had to get rid of them people around me couldn;t stand the sound leaking out of them.
I hear on headfi.org that they a700 are basically the same thing as the a900
with the a900 they use alumunium instead of plastic for the enclosures
the a900 are double of the cost of the a700 on amazon.
 
I don't think the A700 and the A900 uses the same drivers. I might be wrong though. I demoed with both cans in Akiba, Japan and found that the A900 was a better. Not worth double the price though. I got a good deal on a pair of A900 so I have those but I usually listen to my AD700 as the A900 gets too stuffy after awhile. If sound leakage is not a major concern IMO the AD700 is a better bet.
 
alot of sound leaks from the AD700. I loved the sound from the AD700 but my women complained she couldn't sleep at night while i was late night gaming. The whole purchase to wearing headphones was so people could not hear me listening to music or gaming on the computer at night. But it was pretty loud. So i had to return them and my only option in that price range was the A700. So i will have them side by side to tell you what the differences are. According to the specs they are the same size drivers and such so i would assume they are the same?
 
Recursion said:
I like the way the A500's sound, but hate the wings.
Click to expand...

The AD700 sound better if open is practical for you. Consider that they will have next to zero isolation in or out - anyone around you will hear a muffled version of what you're hearing, and you will hear anyone around you. But if this isn't a problem and if you have a quiet listening environment, the sound is good.

Then again if you hate the wings, maybe you should steer away from that particular product line.

Recursion said:
How would Grado or MS1's compare to what I have now?
Click to expand...

Grados are a completely different beast. They have a particular distortion signature which can be pleasing for some music for some people, but as a result they are not particularly accurate. They can sound very, very good in the right circumstances. I hate their mounting system more than the AT wings, it feels very insecure, but others love it. I don't think they're particularly appropriate for movies, which may or may not matter significantly to you.
 
I would try something other than the AT, but ive never heard a more well rounded headphone before. Most other brands are give and take, its not so with the AT.
 
I've been using Sony MDR-V6...good sound, good isolation, comfortable, and hangs onto your head well. My A900s are very nice, but sometimes I have to remember to dust them. Good sound, but I don't much like how they sit on your head.
 
i will try my A700 tonight
but coming from the AD700 i love the soft pads they felt very nice
 
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