Custom One Pro with new Velour Pads

I wish I could help more, but sound is so subjective. I hate to get caught up in the audiophile nitpicking of things. I listen to what sounds good to me. There are a few objective statements like the stage being wider on 598s, or there being more bass on Q701s, but overall listening experience is a tough thing to convey. I like the sound of the COPs better than the 7XX despite the closet feeling, but the 7XX are soooo much more comfortable that I end up using them most of the day. Honestly, I prefer the sound of the HE500s(and my previous HE400s) to everything else I have, but they're so heavy that I can't tolerate them for more than an hour or two(perhaps a little more depending on the blood level in my alcohol stream). Between the COPs and 7XX(Q701 with different pads) the cops have better bass, better baritone male vocals(Sam Smith is fantastic, he has a hint of tenor but is mostly bari), and the highs are laid back. The 7XX have rock solid midbass(tom toms have great attack), most strings sound fantastic(including bass guitar, great twang), mid to high voices are fantastic(tenor and up), and there's a sparkle to many songs. Negatives for the COPs are the closed in soung stage(please let me out of the closet!), little bit sloppy bass depending on port setting, and my dumbo ears touch the the cans just a bit. Negatives for the 7XX are lacking deep bass, can be a bit too bright on some songs, and not quite as wide as the 598s.

With pricing thrown out I'd put them 598s, 7XX, COPs. With the prices I paid I put them COPs($70), 598s($100),,,,7XX($200). As I mentioned, the subjectivity makes it a hard choice, but hands down for gaming even at $150 the 598s are my fav. The wide sound stage and good, but not overbearing, highs give me the most confidence.

I play a bit of everything, BF4, CSGO, and anything else that drunken me decides to buy(started playing elite dangerous a few days ago). My gaming rig is an overclocked 2600k with GTX980 and RoG Swift Monitor.

pardon the overuse of parens, drunken me likes them a lot.

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