Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000 Discussion (and Appreciation) Thread! - Page 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra97oR 

The information is just how close the drivers to your ears. AD2000 have softer pads and tighter clamp, while the AD1000PRM have firmer pads and lighter clamp. Hearing a stock AD2000, along with a pad + clamp modded recabled AD2000 and my AD1000PRM. I can say the modded one sounds the same as my PRM while the stock AD2k is bassier and true to reviews.
What is the conclusion? Modding them will give you the same as importing a pair of PRM and mods are reversible!

I once read that they actually have the same drivers and it did seem like there may have been a difference in clamping force. The AD1000PRM from the descriptions actually sounds to me like a true successor to the AD900 (whereas the AD2000 goes off to a completely different direction).

It's nice to know that it would be perhaps possible to get an AD1000PRM in the future if I ever miss my AD2000, and maybe do some pad rolling. Shure 840 pads might be interesting!

I'm liking the AD2000 so far. The only thing is that clamping force is a bit much but hopes it loosens up over time. It sounds great out of my V200 and for something fairly light it has a stronger clamp than I expected. These are very different in the AD700 as it doesn't have that purple color and sound much better. Well it better sound much better at the cost of them. I was afraid the tonality of these and the HD800 would be a bit too similar but I'm happy to say that they are not. I am not used to my ears touching so close to the drivers other than when I had my Magnums but you can't really get much closer than that.

Sound impressions will have to wait as I've gotten too many new toys at once in the HD800 and a week later the D7000 and AD2000 so I need to get accustomed to the sound first.

Listening to Meshuggah's latest album, "Koloss", on the AD2000. Almost over. Then I'm going to re-listen with the W3000ANV. While the speed of the AD2000 is great, I am expecting the bass of the W3000ANV to benefit Meshuggah's 8 string guitars. :D Hopefully without a loss of clarity. But this album doesn't have that many fast tracks anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrster 

I'm liking the AD2000 so far. The only thing is that clamping force is a bit much but hopes it loosens up over time. It sounds great out of my V200 and for something fairly light it has a stronger clamp than I expected. These are very different in the AD700 as it doesn't have that purple color and sound much better. Well it better sound much better at the cost of them. I was afraid the tonality of these and the HD800 would be a bit too similar but I'm happy to say that they are not. I am not used to my ears touching so close to the drivers other than when I had my Magnums but you can't really get much closer than that.

 

Sound impressions will have to wait as I've gotten too many new toys at once in the HD800 and a week later the D7000 and AD2000 so I need to get accustomed to the sound first.

The clamp will definitely loosen, I wish it still clamped hard like when I got them, then again my ears touched the drivers then, which has since gone away..Such odd headphones the Ad series.

So I've spent most of the weekend with the AD2000. It is close to what I hoped it would sound like based on previous experience with AT as well as some reading. My source is a Yulong D100 dac and amp is the Violectric V200 amp.

I'm finding that the AD2000 has a nice coloration. I feel that it will either be a love it or hate it coloration. Some might find the bass a bit on the light side but I find it is adequate enough. It has enough bass but the impact will not be enough for everyone. The midrange is a bit more forward than I'm used to but I'll adjust. So far the strengths of the AD2000 seems to be speed as it is a fast headphone and also the clarity of these. I don't find these on the same technical level as my HD800 but it isn't too far behind.

I only wish that AT would stop having their better stuff limited to mostly Japan so that those outside of it would have an easier way to have access to these phones without going through overseas shipping or forwarding services.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrster 

So I've spent most of the weekend with the AD2000. It is close to what I hoped it would sound like based on previous experience with AT as well as some reading. My source is a Yulong D100 dac and amp is the Violectric V200 amp.

 

I'm finding that the AD2000 has a nice coloration. I feel that it will either be a love it or hate it coloration. Some might find the bass a bit on the light side but I find it is adequate enough. It has enough bass but the impact will not be enough for everyone. The midrange is a bit more forward than I'm used to but I'll adjust. So far the strengths of the AD2000 seems to be speed as it is a fast headphone and also the clarity of these. I don't find these on the same technical level as my HD800 but it isn't too far behind.

 

I only wish that AT would stop having their better stuff limited to mostly Japan so that those outside of it would have an easier way to have access to these phones without going through overseas shipping or forwarding services.

Mmm, while the HD800 is technically better, I prefer the AD2000. I think part of that reason is my GS-1 amp. The HD800 seemed a bit bass light with it. No such issue with the AD2000. The HD800 offers a larger soundstage in both width and depth. And generally better clarity. But the AD2000 is no slouch. It seems faster albeit sometimes less clear. I love it.

I want to try the HD800 again when I have an amp that'll drive its' bass a little better. Or the proper impedance adapter. The HD800 seems to have a large impedance spike in the bass region, and it seems that the GS-1 comes up short in driving that area of the HD800.

I would have to agree about that. Without the proper amp it is easier to like the AD2000 than the HD800. The AD2k definitely is the easier one to drive while the HD800 imo is a bit picky about the amp as it reveals more than the AD2k. I might try the amp on the D100 and see how it fares but with my V200 I don't have any issue with the bass on the HD800. I do find that the AD2000 is a bit punchier on some tracks than the HD800 but they are close in impact without comparing the two.

I *may* get a better dac soon and see how far up these two headphones scale as I only have one dac right now but right now there really is not much to complain about with either for my preferences. Well other than the clamp on the AD2k right now. I hope it loosens sooner than later.

In terms of bass presentation, my LCD-2 > HD800. In terms of everything else, the HD800 trumps all that I have owned so far.

Both headphones aren't as fun as my W1000X

Any users here that would conder themselves to have small heads? I didnt notice it before but the air series have no adjustment at the cups like the ART and most other headphones have.

I share similar feelings towards the W1000X that I had for the AD2000. The old AD2000 was used as my to go JPop/Rock and anime listening headphone. I feel the same way about the W1000X.

Technically, the HD800 is superior to everything that I have owned in terms of clarity. It's a boring headphone compared to the AD2000, D7000, W1000X, or the LCD-2 for the other mentioned headphones are more visceral in their presentation. The LCD-2 Rev 2 with the Q-Audio cable is slowly bringing about the same details that I am hearing from the HD800; although it might not be as clear as the HD800, sound quality is improving with continuing listening sessions.

The HD800 is great with classical, pop, and vocal related music, but I like my other headphones in listening sessions with other genre of music. My neck grew accustomed to the LCD-2's weight and as soon as I sell off all the stock cables/band, I'll let you try it out for yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayleighSilvers 

Any users here that would conder themselves to have small heads? I didnt notice it before but the air series have no adjustment at the cups like the ART and most other headphones have.

There is no adjustment per say but the wings become the adjustment as you put them on. I thought there was adjustment when I first got them until I realized it was the wings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrster 

 

 

There is no adjustment per say but the wings become the adjustment as you put them on. I thought there was adjustment when I first got them until I realized it was the wings.

By adjustment I mean the cups don't swivel. I can just see this being a problem with the lower part of the pad pressing against my head and an air gap forming at the top of the pad, as I have read from a few posts on this forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayleighSilvers 

By adjustment I mean the cups don't swivel. I can just see this being a problem with the lower part of the pad pressing against my head and an air gap forming at the top of the pad, as I have read from a few posts on this forum.

The A700 used to put more pressure below my ears before I rubber band modded them, but I don't think I had an air gap. The AD2000s fit more or less perfectly. I have an average-sized head though.