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Review: Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000 - Page 5

post #61 of 82
11/13/08 at 12:55pm

Just A Matter Of...

Its just a matter of burn in, and component matching. With the right sources / amps the AD2000s sound great - they have great bass with impact; warm mids; clear, detailed, bright highs - but, not too bright, or strident. Very much like a combo between the RS-1s and "new" version HD580/600/650s - just not quite as rich, or warm, and with more air.
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post #62 of 82
11/27/08 at 4:14pm
After burn-in my pair sounds rather good.. I'm past the new-toy syndrome and am beginning to long for certain elements in the sound..

I'm sure gilmore lite is very transparent, but what i want a little more is that certain punch in the mid-low sectio, fuller sound in general and more bass. I'm receiving a Zero DAC soon, and will try modding it.

Have you tried the AD2000s with your GS Solo Gradofan2? If not, which amp DO you prefer to use with them? Thanks..

-K
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post #63 of 82
11/27/08 at 4:20pm
maybe you should get a good SS amp with tons of current, such as GS-1, or even that misterX dynalo (which is DIY gilmore lite) on the FS forum. I might just pick it up just because.
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post #64 of 82
11/27/08 at 5:13pm
Yes... probably

Still not with you on that transparency thing completely. While the cans have the signature i've always been looking, they need some tweaking to sound truly as I want them to.. I believe it's possible. I just need to combine different characteristics from different sources i've listened them with and voila!

My search continues

Thanks again red.. One shop holds the GS-1 and i already discussed this with the shop owner and he's more than happy to lend it to me. When i get my Zero and Consonance Orfeo, I'll go get it

-K
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post #65 of 82
11/27/08 at 8:16pm

Not Bad...

Quote:
Originally Posted by electropop View Post
After burn-in my pair sounds rather good.. I'm past the new-toy syndrome and am beginning to long for certain elements in the sound..

I'm sure gilmore lite is very transparent, but what i want a little more is that certain punch in the mid-low sectio, fuller sound in general and more bass. I'm receiving a Zero DAC soon, and will try modding it.

Have you tried the AD2000s with your GS Solo Gradofan2? If not, which amp DO you prefer to use with them? Thanks..

-K
The AD2000s aren't bad with the Solo... but... the Solo really excels with the Senns, and other high impedance phones. I'd probably pick the X-Can v8 for the AD2000s over the Solo.

Or... the GS Novo... is reportedly pretty good with low impedance phones, like the AD2000s, Grados, and Denons.

Or... the KICAS Caliente - which is reported to be pretty good with all types of phones.

Or... I suspect they would sound great with the Mapletree Purist HD+ amps, which are reportedly great with Grados.

Of course, they're great with my WA6 SE Maxd.

But... I think they need a warmer sounding amp, than the Headamp line... and one with lots of current output. I'd be tempted to try the KICAS Caliente with them.
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post #66 of 82
11/27/08 at 10:05pm
I think so too! They sound a bit, hmm.. like flesh is missing around the bones?

Ok I'll try lending them both (solo/novo). Kicas Caliente sounds interesting and isn't too expensive. It is mentioned on purity audio's site that you might "pick up minor background hiss with low impedance/high sensitivity phones when music's not playing".

Warm SS sounds always good
Have to try the X-Can V8 too, didn't like it with grados that much, and with the optional PSU it's a tad over my budget.. Will see.

Thanks gradofan2!

-K
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post #67 of 82
11/27/08 at 11:25pm

Well Then...

Quote:
Originally Posted by electropop View Post
I think so too! They sound a bit, hmm.. like flesh is missing around the bones?

Ok I'll try lending them both (solo/novo). Kicas Caliente sounds interesting and isn't too expensive. It is mentioned on purity audio's site that you might "pick up minor background hiss with low impedance/high sensitivity phones when music's not playing".

Warm SS sounds always good
Have to try the X-Can V8 too, didn't like it with grados that much, and with the optional PSU it's a tad over my budget.. Will see.

Thanks gradofan2!

-K
Well then... my suggestion of the Caliente may not be a good one. The AD2000s are 40 ohm phones and they are very sensitive / efficient - so, they might well pick up any noise in the Caliente. I guess I'd confer with Purity Audio and make sure I could return the amp, if it didn't mate well with them.

The Novo could be a good alternative. It's designed to drvie low impedance phones. I'll be demoing one in a weekl, or so. I'll see how it sounds with the AD2000s then.
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post #68 of 82
11/27/08 at 11:48pm
isnt gain on caliente 6? or 8? :S
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post #69 of 82
11/28/08 at 10:03am
Eek.. If the gain's that high it'll be quite sensitive..

If you were to try the Novo with AD2000's and post some impressions, would be terrific!

I'm getting my cdp somewhere by the end of next month, so it'll be awhile..

Caliente, from reviews, sounds awesome! Some have reported small hissing but that won't be too big of a problem. More worried about the gain...

Thanks!

-K
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post #70 of 82
11/28/08 at 5:51pm
Where do you guys go to demo high end headphones like these? I would like to try them with the shanling but I don't know of any stores that even carry high end headphones. People say this amp is slightly warm. I have no other amps so I can't really compare/contrast though. It puts out about 1000mw at 40ohms and works really well with the k701. Maybe it could work well with ad2000's.
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post #71 of 82
11/28/08 at 6:09pm
Maybe, just maybe

I actually just ordered mine blindly, after reading many reviews and comparisons. Many different headphones were used as reference, ones that i've had the opportunity to try. So being pushed by that Redmanalas1-guy over there i decided to just go for it..

I'm not disappointed, though not "WHOA!" either.. They are very close to the sound i'm looking, just needs tweaking..
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post #72 of 82
1/4/09 at 6:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gradofan2 View Post
The AD2000s aren't bad with the Solo... but... the Solo really excels with the Senns, and other high impedance phones. I'd probably pick the X-Can v8 for the AD2000s over the Solo.

Or... the GS Novo... is reportedly pretty good with low impedance phones, like the AD2000s, Grados, and Denons.

Or... the KICAS Caliente - which is reported to be pretty good with all types of phones.

Or... I suspect they would sound great with the Mapletree Purist HD+ amps, which are reportedly great with Grados.

Of course, they're great with my WA6 SE Maxd.

But... I think they need a warmer sounding amp, than the Headamp line... and one with lots of current output. I'd be tempted to try the KICAS Caliente with them.
sorry to hijack this thread.
could you give more in depth comparisons of the ad2000 v hd650, driven by solo?
i have a solo on the way (1-4 wks) i am considering these two phones for it, along with the much cheaper, ad900!
1 further question, are the cables easily upgraded on the ad2000?
many thanks
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post #73 of 82
1/4/09 at 7:49pm
sorry to hijack oldson's hijack with my post.

My AD2000 setup just isn't even remotely similar to what ASR describes in his review. What is wrong with it (my setup):

Foobar2000 -> X-fi(ASIO) -> optical -> Zero dac (OPA-Earth) -> Little Dot MKIII (russian driver tubes) -> AD2000

I do not have any special cables yet, only cheap standard cables.

My setup is very far from the extreme bass that ASR describes, VERY far. The AD2000 show more deep-bass rumble than RS1 and similar to HD600, but the RS1(both versions) and HD600 have more bass punch(kick-bass).
The position of the AD2000 on the head has a very large effect on the sound, but in now way is the bass even close to extreme, pad-mod or not.
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post #74 of 82
1/4/09 at 8:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Henmyr View Post
sorry to hijack oldson's hijack with my post.

My AD2000 setup just isn't even remotely similar to what ASR describes in his review. What is wrong with it (my setup):

Foobar2000 -> X-fi(ASIO) -> optical -> Zero dac (OPA-Earth) -> Little Dot MKIII (russian driver tubes) -> AD2000

I do not have any special cables yet, only cheap standard cables.

My setup is very far from the extreme bass that ASR describes, VERY far. The AD2000 show more deep-bass rumble than RS1 and similar to HD600, but the RS1(both versions) and HD600 have more bass punch(kick-bass).
The position of the AD2000 on the head has a very large effect on the sound, but in now way is the bass even close to extreme, pad-mod or not.
The HD600 nor the RS1 need a lot of current from an amp. They do very well with tube amps that usually deliver voltage easier than current. The AD2000 (like most if not all ATH phones) are phones that prefer LOTS of current. That's why ATH made these special solid state amps for their top of the line phones: HA2002 (for W2002), HA3000 (for L3000) and HA5000 (for W5000).
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post #75 of 82
1/4/09 at 8:19pm
I don't find my AD2k have the extreme bass (I'm using iBasso D3)
The bass have great impact , but no where near the Pro2500 (i would call them extreme bass)
AD2k sure have much less bass than Pro2500 as well but i prefer that way.
I find AD2k bass is just perfect for me
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