Searching for special synergy for the HD700 is a basic violation of one of it's supposed strengths. Ease of being driven by just about anything.
Despite the criticism, I went ahead and bought them, just like that (I'm such a rebel sometimes, although a rebel with a special -100 euros offer I must say). Well I couldn't believe my ears. So far, out of my ageing DA11 it's just crap for the price (Anedio U2, Amarra). I, too, don't find them much more detailed than my HD650 if at all, the timbre accuracy sucks big time, the 6000 hz peak is unbearable and despite cleaner I find the bass to sound "paperish" (my apologies for the very non-specific 6moons style expression, I couldn't find any better before having my morning coffee). I'll wait a bit to try it on other sources / amp combination in case of an improbable bad match with the Lavry, or an improbable massive change with burn-in or positioning, but I don't set my hopes very high.
About a 1/2 year ago when we had just finished the mix of the audiophile recording ''Torn" by Carmen Gomes inc.,I took a copy of the mix with me to the RAF high end store here in Amsterdam.They had the HD700 and the HD800 on display.I was curious as to how the mix,done on the Grimm LS 1 speakers,would translate to high end Headphones.I must say that I was impressed!At Sound Liaison we like a a clear placement of the instruments,really trying to make the band almost visual,and with a lot of depth and spaciousness in the sound stage.Of the difference of the two...I found the HD 800 absolutely fantastic for the quiet tunes,i.e.''Love in Vain'' and the version of ''Let´s go get Stoned'' with the beautiful double bass introduction.But the last 2 tunes of the album,the louder tunes,Tom Waits "Train song'' with a slightly distorted slide guitar solo,and the version of B.B.Kings ''the Thrill is Gone ''´with the laid back 2nd line drum groove I really liked the HD 700,maybe even preferring it to the HD800.But if I had to choose, I would go for the HD800.It really gives me the same sense of space and depth that I hear on our High End Grimm speakers,translate the sound we had in mind really well.But maybe If you listen mostly to music with a heavy back beat,the 700 will do a great job.But all in all fantastic Headphones.
