Audio Need Good Headphones(Siberia V2 Vs HD555 Vs AD700 Vs Grado Sr80i Vs Megadolon)

Jamil

Novice
Hey guys,
Its been a LONG time since i posted on Techenclave. So, First of all How are all of you?

There you have it, enough with the cute talk, business beckons. xP

So, i had the phillips shp2500 for quite some time now, and i broke them at about SIX<6> different places, not that i am abusive, but the build quality really doesnt hold. The ergonomics were pretty nice, but again the build quality spoiled my day.
Now, there is really something i have to mention here-
****1.The volume- The 2500 @ 750 rs really have good sound reproduction. Only if you can hear it. The thing is, i have onboard audio(rlc88+srs) and the volume the 2500's give me is terrible. It is really distracting and annoying while watching movies and listening to music. But during games, it really is ok, the sound has a certain crispness and tight bass. So now you know one of the things i prefer.*****

Continuing with the story, i got sennheiser's HD202's as a gift. They are awesome. Really. The bass is exactly spot on and the volume and density of the sound is really rich. The problem with them is that they are a bit uncomfy. I prefer more ear coverage. So, circumaural is the way to go.
Again i mention, My PC's onboard audio handles them fairly well, atleast i can hear stuff. During games, the volume becomes unbearable, and i have to lower it. But while vids and music, on the pc, i am somewhat left craving for more.

Now comes the major part. I have an E-72 now, which is a really awesome phone. It takes REAL advantage of everything the 202 has to offer. The bass is rich, the mids crisp and the highs ****ic.
I listen to music mainly on the E72, and i prefer it that way. The 2500 fair better on the phone than on the pc, and i really dont care now, since the 202's are the primary.

So here comes the criteria-
1. Music- Mozart-like classical + House.
2. Movies- the whole bunch.
3. Games- it really doesnt matter here, as long as the Music part is handled, this is a piece of cake.

And here is the confusion-
1. I have to Upgrade to more comfortable cans. circumaural is first priority.
2. I dont really have the money for buying an amp. So its gotta perform well (atleast loud enough) on both my PC and my phone.
The pc is avoidable, since i'll prolly be ditching it for a laptop or a PC with a soundcard. The phone is the real priority. I can tell you that it handles the 202's very gracefully.
3. The open/closed thing really doesnt bother me much.

Based on the Thread name, i presented you with the options i shortlisted. I know its a weird list, but it started with the megadolon, which is NOT for anything else except PC. So its out of the question unless there's a workaround.
The sr80's are not circumaural but have nearly the best sound.
The AD700's i have no idea about.
The Hd555 i am not sure if my PC or my future laptop can drive them well enough. Other wise, they are the best option, and i am probably gonna buy these.
The siberia V2, i am confident about, just that they really dont provide that level of comfort and "audiophile-ness".

Please, gods of audio, tell me, How important is it to get an amp?
What do the HD555/AD700's sound like, au naturele??

Pls feel free to correct and suggest me better stuff.

~~~~EDIT-
Just saw the HD558's, and read they are a major improvement over The 555's.
How abt 558 + a fiio e5?
Should be barely affordable?
Also, can anyone tell/suggest me places to buy this stuff?

EDIT-
The HD558'8 really improve over the AD700's and the HD555's. Google it. It has an improved soundstage and what not, but looser bass.

Sr80i is actually quite in the price range, they are available at lynx for 7000-ish. But, they arent circumaural and i have no idea how much power is needed to drive them properly.

I have basically included the siberia and the megadolon coz they are more "consumer" headsets, and not exotic. That means, i will have a better probability of being satisfied by them, as they target a MUCH wider audience. Plus (somewhat a minus too) the megadolon has the fancy maelstrom.

The AD700's are easier to drive? I dont know about that, but a few years back when i was researching DAC's and amps, i found that ppl usually compared their AD700's and they said that non-amp performance was jack.

The last thing is, i really dont have the money to buy a good DAC/amp, i'll be holding off on that purchase for abt an year. I can maybe fit an e5 into my budget, so would it be worth it? will it cause a difference that is noticeable? will it be enough?
 
AD 700 has real good detailing and sound stage is amazing, and better than all other models you specified. Its very light once on ears and ver comfortable, but leaks as much sound as you hear :p. Its and open air dynamic headphone.
Sr80i has amazing level of details compared to other, just above the Ad700, but soundstage wise AD-700 wins. As you are more into classical type music, choose among the AD700/Sr80i only. Forget HD555/558, they need a decent amp to drive them. E5 cant drive them properly. Though an E5 will be a nice investment for AD700. The bass is tight but doesnt have the punch as it fits kinda soft n ears.

Get a cheap yet good sound card like Xonar DG for around 2.5k. It has a decent headphone amp built in and can satisfy AD700 or the Sr80i. Also get an E5 to use with the phone, but its not really necessary as most PMPs can drive AD700 to close to its best.
 
@OP

Dont go for Siberia V2 if you dont play multiplayer fps games most of the time. It has got gr8 positional audio but cannot come even near to HD555/AD700/Grado when it comes to music.

I would recommend HD555/AD700. AD700 is easier to drive than HD555. The soundstage for AD700 is awsome as its open cans. You wont regret if you get any of these two.
 
So, No one's Even considering The 558?

I just asked around, i might be able to fit an e7/ nuforce uDAC into my budget.

How does that change the game?

dOm1naTOr said:
Forget HD555/558, they need a decent amp to drive them.

The "558's", u mean to say, that if amp'ed (with a reasonable e7-ish amp, not the zana deux :D ) they will sound better than the AD700's?

coz the sennheisers are really easily available. I might have to search around for AD and Grados. Any good "audio stuff" sellers in Delhi/NCR?

Also the sr80i's are supraaural, which defies the main reason of my upgrade. Is it THAT good? i can make a sacrifice if its worth it.

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

Bump? i dont even know if this is valid.
 
Tthe Sr80i were my first and they are nothing short of amazing. I still keep them around since there is more of a emotional attachment as they were my saviours for around a year and my only hp before I bought the Denon D5000(another league altogether).

The Grado Sr80i's are a perfect entry level headphone. The detailing, instrument separation, and warm vocals the Sr80i delivers is something even my higher end of the line doesn't. Although you will find more refinement higher up in the line, you will miss the simple rendering of the Sr80i.

The Ad700 are definitely more comfortable but they lack the bass the Sr80i provides. So here's a question to you, in SQ vs Comfort, which one would you choose?

No doubt they are bought superb sounding and comfy, its just that one is slightly better than the other.

Addressing to the Amp issue, Sr80i can be driven straight out of any laptop while the Ad700 would benefit with amping(not that it wouldn't sound good but rather will not perform at its full potential without and I do not mean a Fiio E5 as it is just a volume booster than anything else).

If you are willing to go for a Fiio E7, an Ad700 is a very good option too.
 
The M50's have a fun sound to them. Open backs like the Grado's and the AD700 have a better soundstage and vocals. The M50's have more bass and have a closed back leading to better isolation.
 
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