Audiophiles needed: OHMS? Impedance? M17X R3 Capabilities?

I am no audiophile, but I have seen some hints of there being a few of you here. I am looking into getting my first semi-high end headphones and am looking into a pair of Audio Technica ATH-A700.

Driver Diameter: 53 mm
Magnet: Neodymium
Voice Coil: Copper-clad aluminum wire
Frequency Response: 5 – 35,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power: 500 mW
Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW at 1 kHz
Impedance : 64 ohms

In my research, I have learned some interesting things, for sure, but one thing seems a bit too much for me to currently figure out - OHMs and Impedance. Seems the impedance of these headphones is 2x that of normal headphones. Will the M17X onboard sound be able to handle that sufficiently? Will plugging headphones this nice into the somewhat lacking audio system of this laptop be a waste? Will I absolutely need a headphone amp to truly enjoy these headphones?

FYI, I do not plan on buying an external sound card - the inconvenience of that outweighs my desire for audiophile-quality sound, so if you really think these headphones are a complete waste on this laptop, please tell me. Now, if there is a super-compact, convenient sound card out there that I don't know about, tell me!

If you highly suggest an alternative pair of headphones, also please let me know. I will be using these for gaming, movies, and rock/classical music (No super heavy lows needed, I think). I would say closed ones are needed, as I will be using these in bed while my lady sleeps. Comfort is also a priority.

Side question, aside from the laptop, how would an Ipod/Iphone handle these headphones?

 

Dont get the Audio technicas ad-700's they suck horribly I dont get the hype about them at all. Even after a 100 hour burn in period my HPA'2s are still better than them I own both used the AD 700s with a DAC and it still is no comparison.

 

Thanks for the input on the headphones - my choice is definitely not set in stone yet. Are you able to answer any of the other questions in my post?

Thanks!

 

It should be fine. Worst case scenario you'll just have to turn the volume up a little to compensate.my sennheiser hd598 is 56 ohm or something and the iPhone can drive it no problem without an amp.

 

The integrated audio is decent they can push my HPA'2s and my AD-700's fine, much better with a DAC though I use this NuForce Icon uDAC-2 Came highly recommended for the AD-700's as was a dual entry cable mod with silver plated wire. Don't get me wrong they don't sound horrible, just not what they where hyped up to be.(IMO) My HPA2's are much better at sound positioning and gaming and movie watching(sound awesome for blurays and are decent at music), while the AD700s are strictly my music headphones they shine for classical music. So honestly it's up to you one does better than the other in some areas. If you are looking for a gaming headset with removable mic and you can also use as stereo with a cable that is ten bucks. I really do recommend the HPA2's they are extremely underrated because they are True 5.1.

 

I went with the nuforce udac-2 and the sound is night and day better the the R2 onboard sound. I use it with Bose QC3 headphones. Sound is clear and the DAC has an amp. Its also very compact. Give it a look. A forum member "viciousx usmc" did a review on it here. Search nuforce udac-2 and it should come up. Its worth the investment if you want great sound.

Here is the link to the review. Save you some time

Looking over the review, he actually used the uDAC-2 with the Audio Technica ATH-A700 that your interested in. Sounds like a perfect article for you to read. Glad I could be of help

 

Wow, thanks guys!!! So those HPA2's...how would the sound do for music, namely classical and rock? Would they stand out as impressive to relatively untrained ears? Or would they really only be as good as normal old $20-30 headphones in that respect? The reviews I have been reading on all of these great headphones make me want to hear all of the cool things in recordings I have never heard before - the horn player taking a breath, the sounds of fingers running up strings on a guitar, etc.

If I could just get all of that, plus awesome surround, an amp, and no need for a DAC, all in one package, that would be awesome. The whole soundstage phenomenon - that's something that seems really cool, How would you comment on the soundstage of the HPA2's?

As for similar items to the HPA2's - how are the Razer and Logitech sets?

 

The virtual surround sets are decent especially the megalodons at positioning for gaming. They are stereo headsets and use an algorithm to place sounds where the HPA'2s achieve this through speaker placement. The HPA2's are True 5.1 meaning 4 speakers in each earcup. two 40 MM drivers for the front and rears and a 30 MM speaker for the center plus a dedicated magno resonance coil for the subwoofer they literally shake if you turn the bass up to high, but they can be boomy. The AD700's are awesome for classical because of the ginormous soundstage they have, but not as good for rock with the HPA2's I can hear the fingers sliding on guitars and have noticed other sounds in songs I have listened to 100's of times, but only with FLAC audio files.(due to the lossless format and 5.1) With native 5.1 files the HPA2's SHINE! with stereo they dim slightly. (but speaker fill is somewhat of a fix for it not really special) The soundstage on the HPA2's can be TOO big at times in BC2 for example the I hear helicopters that are off in the distance all the time I know the direction they are coming from but they are just background noise. You hear every detail as long as it is in Native 5.1, but the IDT integrated is not the greatest compared to my asus xonar which my HPA2's shine on in 5.1 and stereo. Also another thing about the AD700's you gotta have sasquatch head going for them to fit you. I "Thought" I had a big head these things where made for a gorilla But they do sound great for Stereo Music jamming out as we speak with them on very clear, Especially with the UDAC-2 definitely is night an day. If you want ill make a complete list of Pro's and cons for you between the two.

 

What rig do you use an Asus Xonar on? Desktop? I thought a sound card was unnecessary when you use a USB headset - for some reason I thought a USB headset completely bypassed your audio system. Am I wrong? Also, I am assuming by your recommendation that the true 5.1 headset is a lot more awesome than the others?

How do you get music in 5.1 sound? Do bands actually record in that format???

Speaker fill - I guess that is a software solution that finds a good way to put stereo signal through all of the HPA2's drivers?

Also, if I were to use a good set of headphones and the UDAC-2, wouldn't that completely bypass the onboard sound? Or is the IDT system still used?

BC2 - did you ever have any issue with it freezing up on you? I have, on 3 different rigs. I am pretty sure it is Punkbuster's fault... And the soundstage being too big...do those helicopters sound inaccurately close or something, or is it just annoying that you can hear too many things at once?

Lastly, would you say a good pair of cans would not serve my purpose well for gaming and movies? I am still enamored by the idea of super nice headphones. What would you suggest in the $100 area if the A700s are so overrated? That UDAC you guys suggested looks quite nice - not too inconvenient to use, it seems.

 

Its got an i7 920 and a 6970 liquid cooling in an Armour + case, sweet rig I'll post pics.

BC2 freezes,CTD's, all that goood stuff is common.

That UDAC is sweet good buy if you have good cans, but the IDT system is technically still used, Although it is "reprocessed" through the DAC .

Speaker fill try's to emulate 5.1 signals to push all the drivers.(it's ok at it.)

FLAC files can be a 5.1 source.

For gaming and movies I always use my HPA2's just because of the clarity and the accuracy. It is a little distracting at first, but you eventually drown them out and only occasionally hear them. I do get really immersed in game.

I just picked up the creative SB x-fi surround pro cuz its a dac and external soundcard which supports 5.1 (out), gonna use it for my HPA2's to see if it makes a difference its coming tomorrow.

Honestly for gaming and movies the HPA2's, for music the AD700's win. Doesn't mean the HPA2's don't do music well....just not as good.

 

Can someone please tell me how to follow this thread - I love it.

 

Gotta say that SB X-Fi 5.1 Pro is not bad and so much clearer and just sounds overall better than the integrated. Almost as good as the UDAC-2 (Almost!) not bad IMO for $60 or less.

 

Will that properly amp headphoones?

 

Sill playing around with it, but sounds good so far much clearer on the bass with the HPA2's. (Not as boomy) Listening to some 5 Finger Death Punch right now sounds pretty good. Also you can use the Emulation for Stereo sources which does do a better job at it than speaker fill, music sounds better on them as well. Going to try a Blu-ray and game for a few here in a bit, will post back results when I finish. The UDAC-2 and this put the onboard to shame! the IDT onboard Sucks so bad! I have had no issue running my AD700's(huge improvement over IDT) or my HPA2's(so Far) off of the X-Fi Pro.

 

So unlike the Udac2 or the hpa2, this completely takes the onboard sound out of the picture?

 

Yes it does.

 

I'm into music recording and production and I've tried a lot of headphones in my studio. But my favourite one is Bose Quiet Comfort with noise cancellation feature. It is very solid and the comfort is just unparalleled. No need of using a amp through this headphones and my iPhone 3GS works pretty good with it as well. The most impressive thing about this headphones is the sound quality..well, it's just TOO good. If you are looking to plug the headphones into the R3 for your gaming and musical needs, I highly suggest you go for a Bose Headphones. Just my .02

 

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Cheers.

 

Well, stopped by Best Buy today and got the Logitech G35's on a whim. So far, pretty underwhelmed. It doesn't seem 2 speakers can do GREAT surround sound - just gimmicky, pseudo-surround. I'll give them a bit more of a chance, but my hopes aren't high for them. Anything I should try to test them out really well?

 

You can do what me and my friend did to test out our headsets (My HPA2's and his Megalodons) one stand still and the other run around him in different directions to see if you can pinpoint his location.

Yah this has been an ongoing feud between me and the friend above His megalodons have there own soundcard built inline and he swears by them, but I don't believe in virtual 5.1 or 7.1 except maybe his megalodons they can position well. They are to quiet for me and they have horrendous noise leakage I can hear what he hears through his headset. Virtual surround can mess up because it uses algorithms to place sounds.

 

My Beyerdynamic DT770s are known to suck power (Unrelated: I have AD700s too and prefer the Beyer's)

The volume and quality of the laptop's sound is more than sufficient, though I have it plugged into a receiver (and headphones out of that) most of the time.

I also had an Asus Xonar in my desktop and find it hard to justify $200 on a sound card, It wasn't worth it IMO.

 

Seems like a good setup - not too mobile though

Just an update on the Logitech G35s for anyone who's curious - tried some games with them and some FLAC audio - pretty impressive. I will keep trying them out.

And FYI, they are only $70 on Newegg right now.

 

An update, and some questions.

I grew pretty fond of the G35, but really wanted to test what else is out there. So, I bought the ATH-A700's and the Ear Force DSS. This device supposedly takes a digital output and converts it to Dolby Digital 7.1 surround. Well, I have it properly hooked up, and there are two lights, one of which will be lit depending on the signal coming into the device: ProLogic iiX and Dolby Digital.

No matter what game I run, the DD light never comes on, and thus, my sound is NOT surround sound. The M17X R3 optical out is capable of Dolby Digital, is it not? Does anyone have any ideas?

Sadly, Google isn't much help, because the DSS is not SUPER popular, especially while in use with an R3...

 

Sorry I have a Atro Mixamp on order for my M17xr3. But yes it is capable of 5.1 sound output from the spdif/optical out on the m17xr3.

Thats the best I can help you with.

 

Well, I just tried a different optical cable - not the crappy thin one that came with the DSS, and now I am getting a DD signal - will test extensively now : )

I will be curious to hear your opinion of the Mixamp when you get it!

Edit: $!@*#*&^#, I spoke too soon. I CAN get Dolby Digital now while running a DVD, but BFBC2 and Fallout NV still fail miserably. Any ideas? Do I need to set the sound in games to DD?

 

Post your opinion of the A700's and the Mixamp

 

Try going to C:\documents\BFBC2 and open the settings.Cfg file with note pad and try actually changing the speaker count from 0 to 6 or 8

 

Yeah, tried that - no luck. Even if the game thinks I should have surround sound, this stupid device doesn't seem to think my laptop can put out surround...

This is pissing me off. Even though the G35's have lesser sound quality, that worked right out of the box.

 

Unrelated: I really gotta say that the SB X-FI 5.1 PRO surprised me as it is frickin' amazing. Anyone interested in getting one should so much capability and compatibility. for 5.1, stereo, and even has optical. Much better sound than the integrated my HPA2's and my AD 700's sound a lot better on it .

 

Hmm did no software came with it? Also does the source have to support Dolby Digital?

 

Will that do what I am trying to get this DSS to do - virtual 7.1 or 5.1 Dolby Digital?

And no, no software with the DSS. And I am not so sure the source has to support DD - I do know the G35 worked really nicely with Fallout NV, Metro 2033, and BFBC2.

Edit: More research - It seems most PC games do not support Dolby surround, as the surround support for PC versions of games is usually based on true 5.1/7.1 setups. I am thinking the G35 set worked so much better on these games because it is USB, and it doesn't follow the same "rules" as the optical out. It can "tell" the computer that it IS a 7.1 setup. When I go to my Windows speaker setup with the G35, it has 7.1 speakers, and tests each one successfully. This is not so with my DSS/Headphones setup.

 

You can have 5.1 emulation through the Creative/THX software(same like the G35's which is built in to the headset) It does it quite well, and it has support for Dolby digital Live(If the source supports it). And the quality of sound on native 5.1 is awesome.

 

For sure I will let you know in about 3 weeks after I have tested. Im pretty excited I have the below on order in my signature, and a pair of ATH-AD900's and the astro mix amp.

 

So you're certain that the soundblaster + my a700s will = a more comfortable, better sounding G35? Like, I will even be able to go into my windows speaker setup and choose 7.1, with a normal set of headphones?

 

I can't tell you for 100% for sure because I have never heard the G35's. So I don't know. As far as the choosing 7.1 you can't because it doesn't support 7.1 and AFAIK it does not play the seperate channels on headset or 2.0/2.1 only on 5.1 devices it does(like my HPA'2s). This is how you control the 5.1 Emulation on stereo sources.

I would say rock the G35's for a while since you say they are decent and later on explore this again just enjoy the laptop and gaming. Don't let this stress you out!