Many thanks to markl for lending a pair of his MD5000 DE headphones for the New York Head-Fi meet on December 13. He also was kind enough to let me audition the headphones for an additional month. Thank you very much for your generosity.
Once in a while you make a personal discovery that changes the way you look at the world. That may be a strong a statement when applied to listening to a headphone but these cans definitely opened my eyes to what my true preferences for listening to music are.
Fit and Finish
The Lawton Audio MD5000 DE consists of the Denon AH-D5000 headphone with the original markl Mod, rewired with Jena Labs cable. The Denon headphones are nothing short of gorgeous with their beautiful solid mahogany cups and soft (what I think is genuine) leather pads and headband lining. The mechanism that allows the user to adjust the fit operates easily and smoothly and never slips. Considering the heft of the headphones, they are surprisingly comfortable, partially owing, I’m sure, to the extra padding. The Jena Labs cable and Furutech plug make the headphone look very serious. Quite beefy!
If you are not familiar with the markl mods, there is some extra damping done to the driver and cup. The main purpose is to tighten the bass as these phones rock but so much so that they cause extra vibrations in the cups. The extra damping helps to cure this problem. Also, extra padding is added to the ear pads, angling the drivers more toward the ear and making them more comfortable.
You can read about the markl mods on the Lawton Audio site
Initial Impressions
My initial thoughts about this headphone were that it was a beauty to behold, very comfortable, but was too bass heavy for my liking. However after giving the headphones and my ears some time to get acquainted, my impressions slowly changed.
After some casual listening I decided to be a bit more critical with the headphone and put it through its paces. I tried it out of both the Triad Audio Valvecode prototype tube amp and the Ray Samuels Audio Predator. Unfortunately, I do not currently have a proper home solid state headphone amplifier. While I think The Predator is a fine piece of equipment, it is not on the same level as a multi-thousand dollar home amp. So take that into consideration when reading my impressions. I also compared the headphones to some of the other full sized cans in my stable. Namely, the Sony SA-5000 recabled with Moon Audio Black Dragon cable and Furutech plug, Ultrasone Proline 750, and the Grado HF-1.
Tubes vs. Solid State
Since I’ve been lucky enough to have the Valvecode on an extended loan since the New York Head-Fi meet, that is what I have been doing most of my listening with. I used the Denons for a week straight without listening to any other headphone, so I could get a good feel for the sound. Although I still felt it was tipped toward the bass, my ears definitely became acclimated to the sound and I found it to be musical and non-fatiguing. However, on certain music I still found the bass to be a bit overwhelming. Because I was also sent a few different tubes, it was possible to alter the bass a bit so that the sound was more to my liking.
Besides being a bit bass heavy I found the transients to be somewhat missing. For example, when I listen to drums and percussion, I try to hear the three distinct parts of the sound: the sound of the instrument first being hit, the actual note or sound of the instrument, and the decay. I had trouble hearing the first part of the sound, although the overall dynamic range didn’t seem to be lacking, and I felt the decay was not as long as it should have been with the highs. Soundstage was good with great imaging but the spacing seemed to be very close together. Being a closed can with extra damping this is what I would have expected.
Switching to The Predator had a very distinct effect on the Denons. Transient were now more pronounced, details seemed clearer and the decay was better. However, this came at the expense of a more collapsed soundstage. The sound still seemed to be more tipped to the low end but it was overall more balanced. My conclusion was that these headphones were probably better suited to a solid state amp but if I had more time (and money) to experiment with different tubes I may have been able to create better synergy between the amp and the cans. Still, my preference was for the smoother, more bass heavy sound than for the more detailed upfront presentation.
Comparing Headphones
For my headphone comparison I only used the Valvecode amp and several different tracks ranging from modern R&B/Soul to orchestral. I must say that a direct comparison between cans was an eye opening experience and gave me a greater appreciation for the Denons and has me rethinking my headphone preferences. The headphones used were the SA-5000, Proline 750 and HF-1.
Out of the four the SA-5000 is clearly the most detailed. I am very much trying to like the SA-5000s because the idea of putting a microscope to the music appeals to me on a theoretical level. I am now convinced that these headphones absolutely need tubes to sound their best. Still there was no getting away from the fact that they can be fatiguing and in that respect I would rather listen to the D-5000 for extended periods than the SA-5000.
I have been a fan of Ultrasone headphones for a while now. However, I realized there is Something –I don’t like- About Ultrasones. These closed cans have a better soundstage than they have a right to. The sound seems to encircle the head and really does give a 3-D image. The bass is tight and there is plenty of detail to make me happy. However, there is a scooped out sound to the mids that leave the Prolines sounding hollow. It took comparing the 750s to the Denons for me to realize (admit) this. The D-5000 or at least the MD5000 DE variant has far superior midrange. Vocals, guitars, and especially saxophone all sound smooth and natural.
Of the four headphones the HF-1 may be the most balanced of them all. It is amazing that for the (original) price that these headphones can sound so good. They are detailed and have great dynamic range. My one complaint about the Grados is they have very little soundstage at all. They are a very upfront sounding can. The Denons on the other hand gives you just enough space so that you can relax a bit more when listening.
Conclusion
Although all four cans have their strengths, if I had to pick only one to live with it would have to be MD5000 DE. They are by far and away the most comfortable, which when listening for long periods of time can’t be overlooked. After getting acquainted with the sound, they are certainly detailed enough to reveal the nuances of the music, especially with acoustic jazz and classical. They are not my “perfect” can as I still think they have a touch more bass than I would like and I’m sure there are times when I will still want the hyper-detail and speed of the SA-5000, but the MD5000 DE may be the only headphone that I’ve listened to for an extended period of time that sort of melts away leaving me only with sonic bliss.
Endnotes - Musical Selections
I tried to listen to a variety of music that I was familiar with. While these were not the only recordings I used, the majority of my critical listening was with these albums.
Comfort Woman – Meshell Ndegeocello
Plantation Lullabies – Meshell Ndegeocello
Mozart in Egypt – Various Artists
New York Reunion – McCoy Tyner
Junta – Phish
I picked these albums primarily because I like them and am very familiar with the music. However, I did have specific reasons for choosing what I did.
I used Meshell Ndegeocello because I find that her music to be quite intricate for R&B. She sings in many voices and has a heavy bass. Some of her songs seem to be recorded a bit loud, especially Comfort Woman and I wanted to see if the somewhat poor recording could be improved. Unfortunately, my favorite song, “Andromeda and the Milky Way” still seemed to sound clipped.
Mozart in Egypt is a mix of Mozart and Arabic music. I am very drawn to the instruments, rhythms and vocals of Arabic music and the recordings used large orchestras on certain sections, giving me a taste of both Arabic and classical in the same song.
New York Reunion is a Chesky recording which is always top quality. There is lots of space between the instruments and the piano, drums, bass and sax display a wide dynamic range.
Junta is possibly my favorite rock album. The song Divided Sky goes through several “movements” and is a challenge to reproduce well. It’s also really fun to listen to.
Once in a while you make a personal discovery that changes the way you look at the world. That may be a strong a statement when applied to listening to a headphone but these cans definitely opened my eyes to what my true preferences for listening to music are.
Fit and Finish
The Lawton Audio MD5000 DE consists of the Denon AH-D5000 headphone with the original markl Mod, rewired with Jena Labs cable. The Denon headphones are nothing short of gorgeous with their beautiful solid mahogany cups and soft (what I think is genuine) leather pads and headband lining. The mechanism that allows the user to adjust the fit operates easily and smoothly and never slips. Considering the heft of the headphones, they are surprisingly comfortable, partially owing, I’m sure, to the extra padding. The Jena Labs cable and Furutech plug make the headphone look very serious. Quite beefy!
If you are not familiar with the markl mods, there is some extra damping done to the driver and cup. The main purpose is to tighten the bass as these phones rock but so much so that they cause extra vibrations in the cups. The extra damping helps to cure this problem. Also, extra padding is added to the ear pads, angling the drivers more toward the ear and making them more comfortable.
You can read about the markl mods on the Lawton Audio site
Initial Impressions
My initial thoughts about this headphone were that it was a beauty to behold, very comfortable, but was too bass heavy for my liking. However after giving the headphones and my ears some time to get acquainted, my impressions slowly changed.
After some casual listening I decided to be a bit more critical with the headphone and put it through its paces. I tried it out of both the Triad Audio Valvecode prototype tube amp and the Ray Samuels Audio Predator. Unfortunately, I do not currently have a proper home solid state headphone amplifier. While I think The Predator is a fine piece of equipment, it is not on the same level as a multi-thousand dollar home amp. So take that into consideration when reading my impressions. I also compared the headphones to some of the other full sized cans in my stable. Namely, the Sony SA-5000 recabled with Moon Audio Black Dragon cable and Furutech plug, Ultrasone Proline 750, and the Grado HF-1.
Tubes vs. Solid State
Since I’ve been lucky enough to have the Valvecode on an extended loan since the New York Head-Fi meet, that is what I have been doing most of my listening with. I used the Denons for a week straight without listening to any other headphone, so I could get a good feel for the sound. Although I still felt it was tipped toward the bass, my ears definitely became acclimated to the sound and I found it to be musical and non-fatiguing. However, on certain music I still found the bass to be a bit overwhelming. Because I was also sent a few different tubes, it was possible to alter the bass a bit so that the sound was more to my liking.
Besides being a bit bass heavy I found the transients to be somewhat missing. For example, when I listen to drums and percussion, I try to hear the three distinct parts of the sound: the sound of the instrument first being hit, the actual note or sound of the instrument, and the decay. I had trouble hearing the first part of the sound, although the overall dynamic range didn’t seem to be lacking, and I felt the decay was not as long as it should have been with the highs. Soundstage was good with great imaging but the spacing seemed to be very close together. Being a closed can with extra damping this is what I would have expected.
Switching to The Predator had a very distinct effect on the Denons. Transient were now more pronounced, details seemed clearer and the decay was better. However, this came at the expense of a more collapsed soundstage. The sound still seemed to be more tipped to the low end but it was overall more balanced. My conclusion was that these headphones were probably better suited to a solid state amp but if I had more time (and money) to experiment with different tubes I may have been able to create better synergy between the amp and the cans. Still, my preference was for the smoother, more bass heavy sound than for the more detailed upfront presentation.
Comparing Headphones
For my headphone comparison I only used the Valvecode amp and several different tracks ranging from modern R&B/Soul to orchestral. I must say that a direct comparison between cans was an eye opening experience and gave me a greater appreciation for the Denons and has me rethinking my headphone preferences. The headphones used were the SA-5000, Proline 750 and HF-1.
Out of the four the SA-5000 is clearly the most detailed. I am very much trying to like the SA-5000s because the idea of putting a microscope to the music appeals to me on a theoretical level. I am now convinced that these headphones absolutely need tubes to sound their best. Still there was no getting away from the fact that they can be fatiguing and in that respect I would rather listen to the D-5000 for extended periods than the SA-5000.
I have been a fan of Ultrasone headphones for a while now. However, I realized there is Something –I don’t like- About Ultrasones. These closed cans have a better soundstage than they have a right to. The sound seems to encircle the head and really does give a 3-D image. The bass is tight and there is plenty of detail to make me happy. However, there is a scooped out sound to the mids that leave the Prolines sounding hollow. It took comparing the 750s to the Denons for me to realize (admit) this. The D-5000 or at least the MD5000 DE variant has far superior midrange. Vocals, guitars, and especially saxophone all sound smooth and natural.
Of the four headphones the HF-1 may be the most balanced of them all. It is amazing that for the (original) price that these headphones can sound so good. They are detailed and have great dynamic range. My one complaint about the Grados is they have very little soundstage at all. They are a very upfront sounding can. The Denons on the other hand gives you just enough space so that you can relax a bit more when listening.
Conclusion
Although all four cans have their strengths, if I had to pick only one to live with it would have to be MD5000 DE. They are by far and away the most comfortable, which when listening for long periods of time can’t be overlooked. After getting acquainted with the sound, they are certainly detailed enough to reveal the nuances of the music, especially with acoustic jazz and classical. They are not my “perfect” can as I still think they have a touch more bass than I would like and I’m sure there are times when I will still want the hyper-detail and speed of the SA-5000, but the MD5000 DE may be the only headphone that I’ve listened to for an extended period of time that sort of melts away leaving me only with sonic bliss.
Endnotes - Musical Selections
I tried to listen to a variety of music that I was familiar with. While these were not the only recordings I used, the majority of my critical listening was with these albums.
Comfort Woman – Meshell Ndegeocello
Plantation Lullabies – Meshell Ndegeocello
Mozart in Egypt – Various Artists
New York Reunion – McCoy Tyner
Junta – Phish
I picked these albums primarily because I like them and am very familiar with the music. However, I did have specific reasons for choosing what I did.
I used Meshell Ndegeocello because I find that her music to be quite intricate for R&B. She sings in many voices and has a heavy bass. Some of her songs seem to be recorded a bit loud, especially Comfort Woman and I wanted to see if the somewhat poor recording could be improved. Unfortunately, my favorite song, “Andromeda and the Milky Way” still seemed to sound clipped.
Mozart in Egypt is a mix of Mozart and Arabic music. I am very drawn to the instruments, rhythms and vocals of Arabic music and the recordings used large orchestras on certain sections, giving me a taste of both Arabic and classical in the same song.
New York Reunion is a Chesky recording which is always top quality. There is lots of space between the instruments and the piano, drums, bass and sax display a wide dynamic range.
Junta is possibly my favorite rock album. The song Divided Sky goes through several “movements” and is a challenge to reproduce well. It’s also really fun to listen to.
