AD900 vs AD1000?

[Blah72]

Im a very happy owner of a pair of AD900's speakers arent an option for me which is why i use headphones. Im in the endless pursuit of better sound.

I happened to notice the price of both the AD900's and the AD1000 have dropped significantly since i bought mine. The AD1000 now cost the same as i paid for my AD900 a few years back. So i was wondering, are the AD1000's a worth while upgrade from the AD900's. Or would there be no noticeable difference?

I mainly listen to Trance music, and i play a few games. I find the AD900's perform very well for Trance, although i havent realy compared them to anything else

[GotWangi]

Keep your ad900.

I was in your position few weeks ago and bought an AD1000 to replace my dying AD900. The two sound totally different. The ad1000 is slightly clearer, but the bass was pretty much non existent. It also lacks ad900's "vibe" and sparkle. Thank god for the 20 day return policy.

[Marcus]

The AD1000 don't suit trance IMO, they're much better suited to classical/acoustic/jazz really, stick with the AD900.

[Blah72]

ok thanks for the replies.

Could i ask what a recommended upgrade from the AD900 would be? not that the AD900 arent awesome, just my free rudd money has given me the urge to upgrade.

[dingostolemyipod]

ok thanks for the replies.

Could i ask what a recommended upgrade from the AD900 would be? not that the AD900 arent awesome, just my free rudd money has given me the urge to upgrade.

Depends what part of the sound you want to upgrade.

AKG 701s will have greater resolution and soundstage, and jawdropping amounts of detail. These were uncomfortable for me, and I found that i liked the tonal presentation, and overall performance of the AD900s more.

HD600s or HD650s could be considered an upgrade, but people either like them or hate them - i've never heard them myself.

DT880s are another option, theres been a lot written about those recently, one of the headphones i've been meaning to audition so can't really say how they compare. A few others on this forum own both AD900s and DT880s which would say to me that they have different enough presentation of music to warrant owning both.

But if you love the sound of the AD900s, i can say the MSpros would be the logical upgrade imo - better bass extension, and more dynamic overall. A bit more detail, but doesn't overdo it, but with the slightest reduction in soundstage. Fit on the otherhand is completely different, but there completely adjustable and very light, most people can get them to fit comfortably.

Please bear in mind that all the headphones i just mentioned need serious amping - except for the MSpros.

[Blah72]

ok thanks for the replies.

Could i ask what a recommended upgrade from the AD900 would be? not that the AD900 arent awesome, just my free rudd money has given me the urge to upgrade.

Depends what part of the sound you want to upgrade.

AKG 701s will have greater resolution and soundstage, and jawdropping amounts of detail. These were uncomfortable for me, and I found that i liked the tonal presentation, and overall performance of the AD900s more.

HD600s or HD650s could be considered an upgrade, but people either like them or hate them - i've never heard them myself.

DT880s are another option, theres been a lot written about those recently, one of the headphones i've been meaning to audition so can't really say how they compare. A few others on this forum own both AD900s and DT880s which would say to me that they have different enough presentation of music to warrant owning both.

But if you love the sound of the AD900s, i can say the MSpros would be the logical upgrade imo - better bass extension, and more dynamic overall. A bit more detail, but doesn't overdo it, but with the slightest reduction in soundstage. Fit on the otherhand is completely different, but there completely adjustable and very light, most people can get them to fit comfortably.

Please bear in mind that all the headphones i just mentioned need serious amping - except for the MSpros.

yeah i think thats my main problem, the amp. The 701's looked rather nice. I'd never buy the HD600 pr 650 after what sennheiser did to me with my last pair of headphones.
The MSpro are probably slightly to expensive for me atm.

With say the 701's or DT880's, etc what would be a recommended amp for them? I noticed since i last looked here, there are a lot more affordable amps on the site, from $200-400.

[Drubbing]

I've been looking into the 880s too. They need plenty of power. A $400 amp like the arietta will drive them, but as to what is recommended by Marcus to get the best out of them? $1000 Talisman.

So, as I am getting fond of saying - the 880 is probably a very high end phone, with a mid range price, considering what TLC you need to give it (assuming we say low end ~$200, mid ~$600, high ~$1000+)

Others here have the 880, so maybe they'll chip in with what they're running them with.

[Blah72]

I just find it hard to believe that an $1000 amp will make them sound so much better. Like i find it hard to believe a $400 amp will change anything.

I guess its something you really need actually hear for yourself, like if headphonic wasnt on the other side of the country id go in and test some headphones and amps but unfortunately that isnt an option.

I do remember though when i got my first pair of decent headphones, some sennheiser HD270's or 280's i cant remember, i listened to them in the store on some uber massive crazy amp thing and it sounded absoultely incredible. I was kind of sad i couldnt get the same quality off my PC.

[Drubbing]

I just find it hard to believe that an $1000 amp will make them sound so much better. Like i find it hard to believe a $400 amp will change anything.

Well, yes, the realm of infinite subjectivity does come into play at that price. Some of my fellow posters are running theirs off portable amps and reckon they do it well. Mind you, you don't get a lot of change out of $400 for the portability factor.

But. The 880 will need an amp. Not all phones in this price range or even higher do, even though they will benefit from one - but the 880s will need one, they need power to drive them properly. Otherwise look for a phone that doesn't need amping. $400 on an amp will make all the difference to a phone that requires one to run properly.

If you're running off your PC, then amping could only make things worse, as you take a cheap soundcard, with a bad signal, and make it louder. A PC cannot duplicate high quality audio as easily as a CD player/amp pairing. Yes, it can be done, but it's not a simple as just buying expensive phones and plugging them in.

Good quality headphones can only work with the signal they're given. Crap in, crap out, as the owner of this site will say.

[Blah72]

I just find it hard to believe that an $1000 amp will make them sound so much better. Like i find it hard to believe a $400 amp will change anything.

Well, yes, the realm of infinite subjectivity does come into play at that price. Some of my fellow posters are running theirs off portable amps and reckon they do it well. Mind you, you don't get a lot of change out of $400 for the portability factor.

But. The 880 will need an amp. Not all phones in this price range or even higher do, even though they will benefit from one - but the 880s will need one, they need power to drive them properly. Otherwise look for a phone that doesn't need amping. $400 on an amp will make all the difference to a phone that requires one to run properly.

If you're running off your PC, then amping could only make things worse, as you take a cheap soundcard, with a bad signal, and make it louder. A PC cannot duplicate high quality audio as easily as a CD player/amp pairing. Yes, it can be done, but it's not a simple as just buying expensive phones and plugging them in.

Good quality headphones can only work with the signal they're given. Crap in, crap out, as the owner of this site will say.

What does it soundlike if you dont have an amp? like what exactly does the amp do to make it better? will it just sound really dull and flat without one?

Why would amping only make it worse from my PC? I have a decent soundcard, a creative X-fi, surely thats not too bad? surely a cd player is much much worse? Would buying a better soundcard help?

And if PC signal is so bad what is the recommended source? obviously a cd player isnt practical given i have like 100gb easily of music, burning that to disc isnt a good idea.

What does everyone here use to lsiten to music with their headphones+amp ?

[Marcus]

What does it soundlike if you dont have an amp? like what exactly does the amp do to make it better? will it just sound really dull and flat without one?

Without a proper amp the DT880 sounds flat, lifeless, dull and boring.
The AD900 sounds better.
In fact, I'd prefer the AD900 with no amp to the DT880 with a low end amp.

Why would amping only make it worse from my PC?

Only if you have a crappy soundcard.

I have a decent soundcard, a creative X-fi, surely thats not too bad?

Nope.

surely a cd player is much much worse?

That depends on the CD player. A ~$500 CD player will sound pretty good.

Would buying a better soundcard help?

That depends.
DT880 + good amp + better soundcard = $$$
Or, get the MSPro, plug them into your current soundcard and be happy.
If it were me, I'd get the MSPro.

And if PC signal is so bad what is the recommended source?

Onboard sound = bad.
Decent dedicated soundcard = ok.
GOOD high end dedicated soundcard = good.

obviously a cd player isnt practical given i have like 100gb easily of music, burning that to disc isnt a good idea.

So, better soundcard or extrenal DAC, see: $$$

What does everyone here use to lsiten to music with their headphones+amp ?

I use a CD player.

[Drubbing]

What does everyone here use to lsiten to music with their headphones+amp ?

I use the 3move DAC/AMP with my iMac. The 3move DAC bypasses my onboard soundcard.

[dc]

if you don't want to spend $400 on an amp, use the $400 to buy better headphones that are easier to power

if you want to keep your music on your PC then use the digital output of your sound card to a dedicated, external DAC - this will open up a world of options. or just keep using the sound card with easy to drive headphones until you can spend more money.

this is the same setup I use. digital files on PC > sound card's digital output > DAC > headphone amp > headphones

which begs the question, what quality are the music files on your PC? if they're all 128kbps mp3s you may as well stop here =\

[cloughie]

Same here, digital from computer to DAC to headphone amp.

[Blah72]

What does it soundlike if you dont have an amp? like what exactly does the amp do to make it better? will it just sound really dull and flat without one?

Without a proper amp the DT880 sounds flat, lifeless, dull and boring.
The AD900 sounds better.
In fact, I'd prefer the AD900 with no amp to the DT880 with a low end amp.

Why would amping only make it worse from my PC?

Only if you have a crappy soundcard.

I have a decent soundcard, a creative X-fi, surely thats not too bad?

Nope.

surely a cd player is much much worse?

That depends on the CD player. A ~$500 CD player will sound pretty good.

Would buying a better soundcard help?

That depends.
DT880 + good amp + better soundcard = $$$
Or, get the MSPro, plug them into your current soundcard and be happy.
If it were me, I'd get the MSPro.

And if PC signal is so bad what is the recommended source?

Onboard sound = bad.
Decent dedicated soundcard = ok.
GOOD high end dedicated soundcard = good.

obviously a cd player isnt practical given i have like 100gb easily of music, burning that to disc isnt a good idea.

So, better soundcard or extrenal DAC, see: $$$

What does everyone here use to lsiten to music with their headphones+amp ?

I use a CD player.

man this is confusing. Ok so i have a creative x-fi xtreme music soundcard. If i got a better one, whatever that may be, would that improve the sound of my AD900's even? say would it be better to get a $300soundcard or a $300 amp?

I can see your point that the MSPros would be cheaper than DT880+amp.

So what CD player do you actually use? i thought they died out years ago. isnt having huge piles of CD's a pain in the ass?