Audio Technica ATH-AD700

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Open air doesn't always have better sound. The music is just reproduced differently.

The AD700 have great soundstage and is awesome in games, I got them and I like them a lot, music, gaming its great

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Both open and closed are good, it comes down to preference.

If your computer is loud, then buy the close. If not buy the open and remember loud noise(high volume) is bad for your ears. I will be buying these next month in the closed variant since I've got 5 delta fans and a Lamptron Fan-atic fan controller(only has 3 speed: off, 50% still very loud, and 100% extra super loud since I can hear them from 1st floor to my room at the 2nd floor with door shut ) .

It's hard to say, every headphone is different no matter if it is open or closed. As far as the AT line you mentioned, I've read many many times that the AD700's have superiour sound quality and soundstage, but have a little less bass than the A700. Since they're open they also don't have much isolation.

I see the two compared way too much as equals. They may have similar names, but they are entirely different headphones. For AD700 v. A700 it really isn't only preference, the AD700 are simply on a higher level. I've read lots of amazing things about the AD700, but the A700 are usually considered 'OK'. (I'm not bashing A700 owners, I'm just stating that the AD700 are generally regarded as very good for the price)

What kind of music do you listen to?

If it is only for gaming, if isolation is not important, and if sound leakage won't bother you, I'd recommend the AD700.

(All of this is from what I've read)

TBH, personally I find isolation very important. There are plenty of ppl around so I don't like to disturb them or to be disturbed by them. I also like being able to use them in the car and have enough road noise blocked out, and being able to crank my 4890's fan up to 60% in games (its about 3-4ft away from my head) and not be bothered too much. That is why I bought closed backs. Closed backs were just more convenient for me, and they fit my situation better. If I had bought them to be used in my room by myself I would have gotten open backs. It really depends on your situation.

not entirely true.
between A700 and AD700, i agree that it isn't about preference, but it's not all that different.

what makes it so different came from the type of isolation used on A700, beside providing you with sound isolation, it also gives you resonance.
that is why they sound different.
not to count in the kind of setup you are accustomed to, listening to your setup for a long time will make your ears adapting to it, thus making the other setups on the same level seems a bit off.
and they both perform better on slightly different uses/types of music

but by general characteristic itself, they are both on the same page/level.
depends on what kind of usage you need them for.
even for music, AD700 is not always better than A700.

if you can't compare them directly, the best way to decide which is better for you is to ask ppl with the similar kind of interest in music and other usage.
trust me on this, i've played with ATH for quite a while.

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Your friend is wrong.

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QFT. USB just has its own drivers and software instead of running through mobo sound or a sound card I believe (correct me if I am wrong). So it is possible to get better sound through USB than mobo sound if you have a crappy motherboard, but I recommend getting a decent sound card to go with the headphones as you will most likely (I did) notice the difference. Do not worry about not being able to hear positions with these headphones, it does it very well. I have the closed variant and I love them. I am thinking of getting the open air because I do find them claustrophobic at times. I do not regret getting the closed ones at all. Great headphones.