Audio-Technica W/L series hierarchy - Page 2

They do come up in the used market occasionally, and obviously everyone takes exceedingly good care of them because they are absolutely gorgeous headphones. Nobody would want to do harm to them!

Entertaining read!

My preferences align roughly with the model numbers:

1. W5000
2. L3000
3. AD2000
4. W2002

The AD2000 slots in above the W2002 primarily due to its air and superbly enjoyable sound with pop, electronica and female vocals. The L3000 would be No. 1 except for the W5000's air, soundstage and imaging.

Which is quite a bit in terms of the overall sonic picture. So what is left after subtracting this "except for" part? The bass response/robustness nod goes to the L3000, I would presume. Likewise for the incredible sense of PRaT that they portray. What other aspects of the L3000's do you prefer over the W5000 that makes it a tough call for you?

In my case, atthough I've owned each of your top 3 (W5000, L3000 and AD2000) for quite some time, I don't think I've given any of them sufficient time (and certainly never for a concentrated period of time, or in any direct comparison sort of way), to be able to carefully articulate their relative strengths and weaknesses. The thing about the AD2000's that really grab me is their sense of air, but without being overly light and fluffy in any way. They just breathe music so well.

I guess I'm picking your brain a little bit because you seem to have more direct experience with them than I do, and I'd love to do a massive A/B/C listening session one day soon with all of them and then compare notes. In my view, they are all outstanding; I just haven't nailed down the "why" part for any of them that well at this point.

Thanks jjcha for the awesome summary. Would you mind adding your impressions on the W1000's in the style you've done since some of us may not have had the opportunity to check them out?

If this is true it's only because of all that other gear you have!

I think if the L3000 had a larger soundstage and more air I would prefer it over the W5000. Imaging is close, but I feel the W5000's is more precise, more 3D, and better in combination with its larger soundstage.

The L3000 seems to sacrifice air and space for fullness and body. The L3000 makes the music sound robust, with a unique sense of realism and power behind each note. It would be my choice for a newbie who wanted to know how different a headphone can sound from generic earbuds. Listening to it is a more intense experience than the more ethereal-sounding W5000.

I'm more of an airhead than basshead and value airyness, soundstage and imaging more than body, solidity, bass quality and bass impact. I'm also a bit of a detail freak and the W5000 seems more resolving than the L3000. With the W5000's larger soundstage, precise imaging and notes separation and better sense of 3D space and air, it becomes my favorite despite the L3000's amazing bass texture, PRaT and superior sense of weight and body.

I agree the AD2000 has excellent air. It's different than the K701's, for example, which can sometimes seem overly light and fluffy to me. It is more realistic and seems more like the sound is traveling though air and space as opposed to being generated in a sterile vacuum. It sounds exceptional with most pop and electronica music with female vocals such as Goldfrapp and can often be more enjoyable than either the W5000 or L3000.

God talks to me all the time, but I don't tell my friends who I'm talking to anymore because they always give me weird looks and say things. They're just jealous.

Anyways, the AD2000 is the only AT I didn't really like too much. Too much clamping force and too dry and "breathy" sounding for me. The other ATs are golden though.

THIS is great! It should be in the welcome message coupled to the walletthing.

m00h

PS: so viel zum Thema "Team no Sig"...:P

100% agree with this. My girlfriend was so amazed by the L3000 that she asked if we could get a second one for her Before that she was like "why even spent 50$ for headphones?"

I also agree 100% with the rest of your impressions, they exactly mirror mine i had with the mentioned ATs. We seem to share an identical taste in headphones I must say that im really happy that i could get the L3000, its the perfect counterpart for the W5000. Where the W5000 leaves me unsatisfied on some recordings (mostly pop/rock), the L3000 jumps in. On well recorded CDs for example from chesky or stockfish label (and many other better pop productions), it's the W5000 for more airyness and soundstage.

Bump this cool thread...

Thats my beef with the ad2ks too. People like rednamalas1 experienced a big change for the good though when stretching the headband. He told me that my ad2ks went around the world and got to him as the third owner. He compared it with his old ad2ks and it was shouty until he stretched the headband which made both ad2ks sound identical.

A thread that deserves bumping indeed. And an update with newer models from those with the knowledge.

 

Loved that gospel by the way! Just wish you wrote some more about thw W1000 as well.