REVIEW: Lawton Audio LA7000 (formerly "markl Mods") - modded Denon D7000 - Page 2

That's a tough one. My RS-1 have the APS V3 cable, and I alternate between flats and bowls depending on the music, and the sound changes noticeably with pad changes. I prefer the more level frequency response with flats, but the soundstage of bowls. With bowls on the the RS-1 the mids are not as rich and the highs are sometimes a little too sparkly, while the bass drops off. With the flats the bass perks up, mids get richer, but highs lose their sparkle a little bit, while soundstage suffers the most.

The Denon LA7000 would be closer to a mix of the bowls and flats, but very slightly less open sounding since they are a closed phone. However, unlike with the RS-1, with the LA7000 I don't feel like I am in a dilemma of trying to decide which "pad sound" do I want. And LA7000 soundstage is bigger and not a wall of sound. While the Denon do not have the speed and detail of the RS-1, they have the sound that I would have liked from my HD650 before I sold them. I tend to enjoy the music more with the LA7000 (or HD600), and analyze the music more with the RS-1 (or HD800). That's one of the reasons that I switched to using my HF-2 more than my RS-1.

You could certainly do this in stages. I would probably do the re-cable first, and contrary to my previous postings over the past year, the Jenna Labs cable might just be what is helping to both bring out the recessed mids and extend the treble. Previously I was a big fan of the APS V2 cable that is on my D2000, but I have heard how a JL cable can improve midrange detail and definition in other phones like HD600 and HFI-780.

It's easy to stuff the earpads, but even better you should buy the JMoney Audio leather Denon earpads, which I have and am starting my review on. The comfort is improved and they are already stuffed thicker for you.

Then, if the bass is controlled enough for you with just the cable and pads, then I would get the wood cups to enhance the midrange presence even more. But if the bass is not controlled enough then I would do the internal dampening mods before the upgraded wood cups.

I have a new set of HD414 pads that I never got around to quarter modding.

The LA7000 detail and speed is probably as good as the HD650, and falls just a little below the RS-1 but not by a lot. It's more likely that my RS-1 with APS V3 re-cable lets the edge to the details show through, while the stock cable on RS-1 or HF-2 is smoother but slightly less detailed than one with the APS v3. In terms of refinement I think the LA7000 (burned-in) is right up there.

If you want real detail, switch to stats.

Yes - that is what I thought about the previous MD5000SE, that there was a brightness and aggressiveness to the upper mids and treble with the "cupped hands" sound, although ones ears would adjust to it with time. I felt the same way about Blutarsky's CD3000, and Naamanf's W5000. But I do honestly feel these LA7000 lack that particular coloration and are much more uncolored and transparent than the previous MD5000DE (stock wood cups + all other mods and JL cable). That was the one thing that convinced me to get the wood cups and stuff the ear pads on my APS cabled D2000 instead of buying the MD5000DE.

I meant every word. I was afraid you'd be offended by my comments about liking the R10 or L3000 more.

Regardless, for 1/3 the cost of an R10 I could be happy with the LA7000. In fact, I am going to take photos of some gear and put a few things up for sale so that I can buy these for myself. I just unpacked them and put them back on my head, and you had me at hello...

Well, most places are between $250-400 for a nice Denon recable (depending on cable and options), and another $250 for wood cups, and then several hours to dampen the insides and stuff the ear pads. JMoney pre-stuffed leather pads are over $60 if Markl didn't want to spend the 30-60 minutes doing the earpad work.