Help me pick out headphones

[z0n3]

Scroll down for the short version.
Here is my situation: For a few years now I have been spoiled with 5.1 speakers. Creative Megaworks in the bedroom and Logitechs in the basement. I have used them for music, gaming, and of course movies. The problem is that they are loud and shake the house so I can't use them without disturbing everyone else in the house. Also, I will be going off to school in about a year and lugging a 5.1 setup into a dorm room isn't an option.*I would like a pair of 5.1 headphones but I hear that they are crap. What I need is a pair of cans that can be used with my PC, my TV, and my Xbox and soon to be Xbox 360.
My price range is <$200. These are what I have found based on the FAQ and other forums.
Beyerdynamic Premium DT 990 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002S9038/102-0867415-6936154?v=glance&n=172282&%5Fencoding=UTF8&colid=3JNX1QH837J8M&coliid=I139FY4XPNNCAO&v=glance)
Beyer DT770-PRO-250 Closed (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006NL5SM/ref=wl_it_dp/102-0867415-6936154?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I3PYGCJ1HN9OS7&v=glance&colid=3JNX1QH837J8M)
Audio-Technica ATH-A500 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006VT1U8/102-0867415-6936154?v=glance&n=172282&%5Fencoding=UTF8&colid=3JNX1QH837J8M&coliid=I4IPJQZK8RBR4&v=glance)

The first 2 are at the same price and I would like to know how they compare to each other. The final set was recommended in the Headphone FAQ on the forums and is cheaper than the Beyers. Which one is the best for my purposes (gaming,music,movies)? Will I need an amp for them? I think I should get one but I can not build (lack of experience and lack of general knowledge) and I can't find information on which amp to get for these headphones.

Beyond which headphones I buy I need a way to hook them up to my computer and optical audio outputs from my Xbox. My computer will be using a Creative Audigy2zs Platinum Pro so an optical solution could be used for both the Xbox and PC. I need a way to hook the headphones up to the optical source even if the computer is off(meaning I couldn't just hook the Xbox up to the optical-in on the external box of the Audigy and then connect the headphones to the headphone port).

Short Version
If I haven't scared you away yet please give me your opinion on:
What headphones to get?
How do the ones I picked out compare?
Where to get them?(I prefer to shop at Fry's, BB, CC, Newegg, and Amazon. I will NOT buy from unknown retailers for items that cost this much.)
Should I bother to use an amp?
If so what amp should I get?
How the heck do I use my headphones with an optical signal?

*I realize that there are a few 5.1 headphones out there and that sound quality is poor so I haven't bothered looking at any of them yet. If you could point out a pair that works well and I could use with both my Xbox and PC I would be very pleased.

[Cyrix_2k]

I don't know much about the DT 990's. From the picture, they look like beyer's older model. The new DT 880 (250 Ohm version) is better then the old DT 990. Infact, I have been told the new DT 770 sounds better than the old DT 990 as well. An amp is needed with these.

The DT 770 you linked to is the closed 250 ohm version. It supposedly has great bass and a decent sound stage. However, you will need an amp to fully enjoy these 'phones.

The ATH-A500's are closed headphones and apparently sound pretty good. However, the ATH-A700 is in your price range, so I'd get the A700 if I were you. The response of these 'phones is pretty flat with good bass. The sound stage is supposed to be very good for closed headphones. These do NOT need an amp.

For better help, goto head-fi.org :)

[z0n3]

Thanks for the link. I will look at the A700 also.

[z0n3]

I haven't been able to find the A700s at any of the stores I shop at so unless I can get a link to a major retailer that sells them the A500s look to be my best choice. Opinions on this? Is the step up to the A700 a huge step or small? I still need help finding a way to hook what ever I buy up to an optical signal. I will try to edit my first post to make it easy to read.

[Hey_Its_Cole]

I don't know much about the DT 990's. From the picture, they look like beyer's older model. The new DT 880 (250 Ohm version) is better then the old DT 990. Infact, I have been told the new DT 770 sounds better than the old DT 990 as well. An amp is needed with these.

The DT 770 you linked to is the closed 250 ohm version. It supposedly has great bass and a decent sound stage. However, you will need an amp to fully enjoy these 'phones.

The ATH-A500's are closed headphones and apparently sound pretty good. However, the ATH-A700 is in your price range, so I'd get the A700 if I were you. The response of these 'phones is pretty flat with good bass. The sound stage is supposed to be very good for closed headphones. These do NOT need an amp.

For better help, goto head-fi.org :)

Having owned the beyer 770pro which are 80 ohm not 250, i do not recomned them unless you are getting a amp. I also had the a900s the big brother of the a500s and prefered the sound greatly over the beyers. The A700s from all reviews I have seen have basicly said save your money and get the a500s. I would get eather the a500s or the a900s, you caqn find the a900s used for around $150 in new condition, that is what I sold mine for. The Ax00s do not need a amp and sound great right out of the box.

[Sleepy_Steve]

I myself took my 80w 2.1 system with me to the dorm... plenty of room for it...

The guys nex to me though... they have 1000w systems on each of thier comps...

But because they have such over the top audio, im begining to think i need to get me a realy nice noise canceling head set.

If it were me, take some form of speakers - trust me you will be much happier being able to blast some loudness back at other people. But a good set of headphones will help a great deal too... so i vote TAKE BOTH.

[Cyrix_2k]

Having owned the beyer 770pro which are 80 ohm not 250, i do not recomned them unless you are getting a amp. I also had the a900s the big brother of the a500s and prefered the sound greatly over the beyers. The A700s from all reviews I have seen have basicly said save your money and get the a500s. I would get eather the a500s or the a900s, you caqn find the a900s used for around $150 in new condition, that is what I sold mine for. The Ax00s do not need a amp and sound great right out of the box.
I've never heard anything about the A700's actually. I've heard the A500 is the little brother to the A900 and that's about it.

[z0n3]

If it were me, take some form of speakers - trust me you will be much happier being able to blast some loudness back at other people. But a good set of headphones will help a great deal too... so i vote TAKE BOTH.

I won't have to worry about people blasting anything. The school I am going to is very strict. I may take some small speakers ,but I want to concentrate on the headphones for now.

I have seen places that sell the A900 and the A500 but I can not find any that sell the A700 that I trust. I would like to see some of the reviews that state that the A500 are a better deal.

[Cyrix_2k]

I won't have to worry about people blasting anything. The school I am going to is very strict. I may take some small speakers ,but I want to concentrate on the headphones for now.

I have seen places that sell the A900 and the A500 but I can not find any that sell the A700 that I trust. I would like to see some of the reviews that state that the A500 are a better deal.
Audiocubes.com carries all three. Here's the link for the A700 http://www.audiocubes.com/category/Headphones,+Earphones_Audiophile,+Hifi/product/Audio-Technica_ATH-A700_Art_Headphones.html

[Hey_Its_Cole]

I really should be sleeping but here are some links.

Link 1 (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=135511&highlight=a500+a900+a700)

Link 2 (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=129266&highlight=a500+a900+a700)

Good A700 vs, A900 review (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112028&highlight=a500+a900+a700)

A900 vs. A500 (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108455&highlight=a500+a900+a700)

Last one as there are tons more lol, I could spend all night posting links to threads. (http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=128170&highlight=a700+a500)

Do your own search on head-fi as there is 10+ pages of threads on these phones.

If it was me, I would get the A500s or the A900s, Put a want to buy thread up in the private sale forums on head-fi. You can get A500s for 70ish shipped and I bought my A900s and Sold my A900s for $150 shipped. Hope this helps, I am going to sleep I got class in four hours lol.

[z0n3]

Thanks for the links. I would have responed sooner but a storm killed the internet in my area. Thankfully the tornada was south of me. It hit some mobile homes though. This may just be my observation but it seems that tornados are attracted to trailer parks.

[Cyrix_2k]

Hey_Its_Cole has a good idea... look for used A900's on head-fi. You'll have the nice 'phones and not second guess yourself at a price you can afford. The used headphones will sound better than out-of-the-box headphones anyway and the people at head-fi seem to take very good care of their equipment; there's really no reason NOT to buy used (unless you just like the feeling of opening something for the first time :))

Hey_Its_Cole: nice links. I haven't seen any of those reviews before - but I have seen many [insert headphone hear] vs A900.

[Hey_Its_Cole]

They really are great phones, after selling them, I am thinking about getting some a900ltd, or ad2000s. I miss the ATH sound. It will be those or 650s as I have no tried sens yet.

[z0n3]

Okay I will probably get some A500s. They are better than any headphones I have ever had anyway. Still need some help with the other stuff though. Feel free to chime in about the headphones too.

[z0n3]

Well I placed my order for a new pair of ATH-500s from amazon.

[z0n3]

The cans are supposed to arrive tomorrow! :santa:

[Cyrix_2k]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy them.

[Hey_Its_Cole]

Good choice.

[z0n3]

I've been burning them in with some U2 and Queen. I'm noticing a slight improvement. These cans have way better sound than my old Logitech headset.

[mdameron]

See sig... I <3 mine :D :D :D

a lot :D :D :D

I went from onboard crap with crappy 6 year old labtec 2.1's. The only way to describe it like spending 6 years in hell, and then instaneously being transported to heaven where all your dreams come true and the women are all silent and gorgeous.

[Hey_Its_Cole]

I've been burning them in with some U2 and Queen. I'm noticing a slight improvement. These cans have way better sound than my old Logitech headset.


LOL, people like the logitechs until they hear what real Headphones can do :p. I told you you would like them.

[z0n3]

That's the thing. I have heard sound from awesome sound systems for years(5.1 speaker systems, Sennheiser and Koss cans). I knew how crappy they were. Soon you will see them in the Hardware Distruction thread. The Logitechs shall have the worst eulogy ever. :cool: