[RVD]

The Sony CD3000 seems to be either loved by people who have listened to it or hated by people who have listened to it. So I am curious to see people’s opinions on the phone that have owned or listened to the CD3000. Now I know what your thinking, just do a search, but I thought it would be nice to just have one thread with everybody’s opinion on the CD3000, good or bad, without any of the arguments over it.

This is the criterion I figured would be the most important:

1.Owned or Auditioned (If auditioned approximately how long auditioned, if you remember)

2.System Used: amp, source, cables, etc.

3.Headphone History: Just list the headphones you have owned (past and present). You can just put see profile if they are listed in there.

4.Likes: List what you liked about the sound of the headphone, like soundstage, detail, etc. Or write a few sentences about the sound. Also build quality and comfort can be commented on too.

5.Dislikes: Same as above just list what you don’t like.

6.Headphones you prefer to the CD3000 that you have owned or auditioned: Just list what headphones you prefer to them, if any. If you absolutely despise the CD3000’s try and limit the headphones to your top 5 or so.

Also if you feel like it you can list why you prefer another headphone to the CD3000.

You don’t have to match all the criteria just try and fill it out as much as possible. Also if there is anything else you would like to add just do so. Also try and be descriptive as possible, without writing a novel, in your likes or dislikes. Don’t just say I really like them or they suck balls.

Also if you disagree or agree with somebody’s opinion please don’t post about it, as I would like to try and keep this as civil as possible and with very little discussion. After a good amount of opinions are posted I could start like a CD3000/Opinion Thread discussion in another thread so that everybody can agree or disagree with people’s opinions. That would depend on how many responses are posted.

Anyways here is mine:

1.Owned/Audition: Auditioned- 1 week
2.System: Modded Sony 333ES/Melos Maestro/VD Signature IC’s and PC’s
3.Headphone History: See profile.
4.Likes: Palpable midrange, great bass and detail, with a nice wide soundstage. Not really bright in my setup. Comfort is also top notch
5.Dislikes: Some type of harshness that comes across on vocals in the upper mids that I do not like. Also I wish the build quality was a little better, too much plastic.
6.Headphones Preferred: The Sennheiser HD600’s are about the only headphones, barring the Omega II, Orpheus, and R10, which I have not listened to, that I think I will end up preferring to the CD3000. I have not ab’ed yet so I can’t say for sure.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

1. Owned for just over 3 months.

2. Arcam CD23, RKV Mk II w/ Impedancer, Nite IC and PCs.

3. Grado HP-1, Senn 600 w/ Equinox & stock, Koss KSC35s, Sony V6 & EX70LP.

4. Comfort and build quality are top notch. The soundstage is absolutely huge and beats almost anything else available. Detail is great but some do better. Bass is deep and tight. It reproduces almost every instrument extremely well. And makes me just tap my feet and enjoy the music more than any other set of cans I've owned or heard to date.

5. Microphonic cable. I hate this, and will one day fix it, somehow. I also wish that the cable had a separate ground for each channel also instead of having a common ground.

6. Out of all the headphones I've heard I like these the best. That's not to say there aren't better cans out there for certain things, but in an overall sense of what's available for the price, nothing does as much as good in my opinion. While they may not be for everyone, they are incredibly good and difficult to beat at what they do.

 

[Hirsch]

Owned: over a year

Amps used: lost count. Berning ZOTL, Melos SHA-1, Grado RA-1, EAR HP4, are some of the highlights. Creek CD52, Sony NS500V, and Rotel 955AX w/ ART DI/O are main sources.

Cables go from MIT MI-330, Outlaw PCA, Homegrown Silver Lace, DH Labs BL-1, Virtual Dynamics Nite, Radio Shack Gold.

Headphone history: Most of the top dynamic cans, with the exception of Beyer for no particular reason except timing.

Likes: Staging, Freq response, comfort, dynamics, tonality "PRAT", nice build quality. Can be driven by just about anything with an output (doesn't need amp to work, just to sound its best)

Dislikes: can sound bright with some amps, cables, and perhaps sources. Microphonic cable is a nuisance, but I don't usually go around banging on the cable.

Heaphones I prefer is a moving target. If I want the ultimate in resolution: the R10. If I want smooth and seductive: HD-600. If I want open image: K-1000. If I want neutral tonal response: HP-1. If I want to stick something painful in my ear: ER-4S. If I need lightweight and/or open: RS-1. If I want deep bass: nothing beats CD3K (that I own).

Note: at any particular time, with a particular amp, any of the headphones above may be the one that works best in that situation. There are times when the CD3000 is the best headphone for what I want. There are other times when I prefer a different headphone.

It was not all that long ago that I and a couple of other people were about the only people posting that these were good headphones. I must admit that I'm really happy that enough other people like them that CD3000 bashing has become more difficult. Like any other headphones, there are systems in which they will sound great, and systems in which they won't. Even when they do sound great, there are people who will like the sound and people who won't. But at least there are enough people that like them that they are taken seriously, as IMO they should be. They are good enough so that a high-end headphone system can be built around them alone.

 

[vwap]

1.Owned/Audition: Owned for two months.
2.System: Philips DVD963SA --> Crappy IC's --> Headroom Cosmic --> CD3000s.
3.Headphone History: HD600/Cardas, HD580, Etymotic ER-4S, Grado SR-60
4.Likes: Wide soundstage, great mids and highs. Bass was fairly good. Not bright at all on my system. Very comfortable.
5.Dislikes: Build quality sucked. Too flimsy, although it was thick plastic, although that may have contributed to the comfort. Flew off head too much.

. In terms of sound quality, I didn't find much to gripe about. I didn't even have much to gripe about regarding the cable...

6.Headphones Preferred: If I could get myself a pair of Eric's Sennhesier HE90 headphones and convert them for an amazing amp.. (Or even the Stax amp they were plugged into when I heard them..) I'd take it any day.[/B][/QUOTE]

 

[markl]

You can check my profile for headphone/amp history.

Here's how I rank all the cans I've owned/auditioned:

1. Sony R10
2. ATH-W2002
3. Sony CD3K
4. Senn HD600
5. Senn HD580
6. Ety ER4S
7. Sony V6
8. Grado RS-1

The gap between the W2002 and the the CD3K is very narrow. I never had them side by side for head to head comparison, but I'm guessing I would give a *slight* edge to the W2002. If cost were an issue, I'd choose the CD3K.

The gap between the CD3000 and the rest is very large. I liked the CD3K a lot more than the HD600.

Mark

 

[Spad]

1. Owned for about ten months.

2. System: Amps: Sugden Headmaster, Corda HA-1, A-1000, KW-META42-Serpac H-65-9V, Pioneer SE-XB1 Dolby Headphone System, Xin SuperMini v2, JMT CHA-47 Altoids. Sources: Sony: C555ES, D-550ES, D-EJ1000, D-35, D3; iPods 5 & 20GB; Sony MD MZ-R50; Micro Seiki DD 50/MA-505 TA; RioVolt, others.

3. Currently owned headphones: ATH-W2002; AKG: K-1000, K-501; Beyerdynamic DT-880, DT-990; Ety 4P/S; Senn: HD600, HD580, RS-80, RS-60; Sony: CD3000, D66-LS "Eggos," E888, EX-70, A44; Koss: KSC-35, PortaPros, others.

4. Likes: Detail, comfort, soundstage, imaging, versatility, value and build quality (particularly the lack of plastic cups and the quality of the cable).

5. Dislikes: I'd like them to be smaller, but smaller cups would compromise their soundstaging. I'd also like a more secure fit, but that would compromise their comfort.

6. Preferred headphones: Overall, there is no headphone that I prefer to the CD3Ks. There are particular aspects of other models that I prefer such as the speaker-like presentation of the K1000 and the beauty of the W2002. But when considered in toto, the CD3000 is my favorite by a fair margin.

A further word about versatility: I've used these 'phones with an unusual array of equipment running the gamut from a lowly 5mw per channel PCDP headphone output to, most recently, a Pioneer Dolby Headphone system. The results have been excellent in every case. They're almost as easily driven as the cheapest earbuds, yet their performance rivals all but the very best headphones in the world.

 

[RVD]

I know there must be more people out there that would like to comment on the CD3000's.

Also please remember if your opinion is negative towards the CD3000 you are more then welcome to post.

 

[bangraman]

Only a couple of hours listening so far on a possibly not burned in phone (but I find most Japanese phones require very little burn in compared to others) so I can't really comment yet.


Like it so far. I expected a uber-CD1700 and this is almost exactly what I'm getting. I've been a/bing the W2002 and I would generally agree with markl. The CD3K's do have more bloat and less resolution to the bass (which may improve with more burn in, I don't know) which may or may not disagree with you.
They're fairly forgiving (unlike the W1000, although I think these will still win in the really well recorded classical music listening) and are relaxed. The soundstage is not as amazing as I've been lead to believe at first listen, that's not to say it's not excellent, but once again this needs more investigation. The W1000 does match or exceed it, although the W2002 might not. Comfort is a bit better than the W1000, but with much less effort. With the CD3K, you just put them on and that's it, whereas with the W1000, involved bending (like the Gratos) and rotating of the earpads is required to get a nice fit. Cosmetic wise, it's butt ugly and huge, compared to either W's. The case is less protective but less generic than the W2002, so it's a nicer touch.


But on the basis of relative to cost when you consider the W2002 against the CD3000, yes absolutely no question, the CD3K's take it. The comparison between the CD3K and W1000 is more interesting. I suspect the CD3K might find more favour with people generally but the W1K's have their strong points too, and not just in looks. It makes me even more curious how sharp a drop the "improvement v cost" curve is for the R10. I might just transport them over from Japan to have a listen with my current kit... But I don't want to be disappointed and be biased against them in the future...arrrrgh the decisions

 

[elnero]

You have a pair of R10's sitting in Japan??? And your worried about transporting them to England because you don't want to be disappointed with them in the future??? While in a sense I see your point but I have to say you have waaaaaaaaay more willpower than I could ever dream of having.

 

[bangraman]

There's that, and also there is the rather obvious reason that I would want to go back and fetch them myself, lest anything happen to them in transit...


Anyway, back on topic.
Hmmm. More listening hours later... The W1K's soundstage is definitely the equal of the CD3K. The bigger bass of the CD3K is also starting to put me off a bit, I expected this characteristic to be toned down a bit on the CD3K since they were 'higher-fi' than the CD1700 but it seems to intrude on the general music experience at this experience level. Both the W1K and the W2002 do the whole bass thing with better finesse to me at this stage of listening. Comfort wise, the CD3K's are applying pressure to the top of my head instead of the sides which could get annoying after a while, or maybe I'll get used to it.
Phrases like 'putting me off' is however relative. All three are really great phones and my gripes are minor. I'll throw in the A1000 later (not literally... we may end up with another "pivot problem"

).


I think in terms of sound the W1000's are very complementary to either the CD3K or the W2002. You could quite easily justify having the W1K's with either phone (No, I should rephrase that, a hardcore Head-Fi member could quite easily justify it

). The W2002 and the CD3K in terms of overall sound character compete much more closely. At this point in time I'd prefer the W2002 but it's pretty close.

 

[markl]

bangraman, what amp and source are you using?

 

[bangraman]

Nothing that impressive. Using CDP-X3000 CDP, trying the DNM/Eichmann cables and a seriously rebuilt WAD amp.

 

[Geek]

1. Owned/auditioned: Auditioned for a period of about two weeks, for perhaps an hour or so per day during that time. I was kindly loaned the pair from HeadRoom to do the audition.

2. System: Sony DVP-NS500V; Sony portable with sonically decent line-out; headroom AirHead amplifier.

3. Headphone history: DT250-80, DT770-250, HD-600.

4. Likes: Very immediate, upfront sound; bottom end extends deeply without upper bass bloat like DT770s; very comfortable, extremely detailed treble as well as midrange.

5. Dislikes: Sound was so "upfront" that it was unrealistic on my setup, slightly "bright" highs, "brittle" sound (possibly attributed to equipment), bass was not natural and lacked midbass, slight deficiency of vocal lower midrange. Extremely dry sound. Did not preserve natural instrument timbre.

6. Headphones preferred: I think the HD600 sounds more natural, is less fatiguing, and overall is better than the CD3000. I honestly need more time and experience with better equipment; as neither headphone is in the proper environment on my setup. The amplifier is all right but needs to be upgraded; I need cable upgrades for the HD600; I need interconnects for the source and could really use a nice redbook player some time in the $2000+ range.

These opinions may change at a later date pending upgrades and further analysis.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[dougli]

1. Have owned the CD3K for about 3 weeks.
2. System is NAD C541i -Dynamic Design-> MSB Nelson Link III DAC -Outlaw-> Analoguer-> Outlaw-> Corda Blue (microZOTL arriving any day)
3. Own/have owned K501, DT831, DT770, DT931, ER-4S, Pioneer Monitor 10R, HD600, W100, W1000, A1000. Have heard many others, but not with my equipment.
4. Rather than restate what's been said previously, I agree with those likes.
5. No dislikes. They're not perfect, but nothing about them turns me off.
6. No other headphones preferred.

At this point, for the first time in quite a while, I'm not planning to get any other cans. These Sonys are the closest thing to the ideal sound that I've been searching for that I've found so far. Maybe Stax one day, when curiosity gets the better of me. And I realize that 3 weeks of use does not make a good long-term use report, but, oh well.

As regarding my use of the Analoguer, removing it from my setup does not change my opinion of the CD3K. Its effects have always improved each headphone, but has not not turned them into different creatures.

The CD3K is often criticized for being overly bright, and that was indeed my criticism of it after listening at the WOH tour. With my system it is not bright, but realistic. A while back I began paying more attention to the sounds that I hear, day in and day out, and I realized that many of the sounds of life could be characterized as bright. So life was bright, and my definition of bright changed to only encompass unlifelike highs. The Sony will let everything through on CD recordings with emphasized treble (not uncommon), so that can become an unpleasant side effect that's not unique to them alone. Overall these cans offer me the best set of compromises that I've come across so far.

 

[markl]

The Sony CD3000 is sort of a reverse trend here. Usually it starts with a flurry of positive posts, a wave of purchases, and inevitable disappointment. Many people bashed the CD3000s for ages, but slowly but surely more and more people found out about them and tried them out. Seems a lot of people like them. I'm glad it's now "safe" to like these cans.

Mark