the cd3ks fit the bill but I would say that in order to be in perfect love with the sonys you would have to add

h) has excessive detail

I know that I am going to get flamed for this, I even edited it out of my first post but here goes.
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If you ask me, the highs on the sony cd3k sound similiar to the grado sr80s. (ie can get a little screechy)
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I think that you will love the cd3ks, right now I am like the guy that complains about his great girlfriend by knickpicking the small crap, its true, the flaws are there, but they really pale in comparison to the whole product.

If you read through all the threads it seems like people either love or hate the sonys but in truth I think they are in the middle, great cans, but with flaws like any other sub $$$$$$$$ headphone out there. Just want to let you know that it isn't Jesus or the Devil bringing you these headphones, just sony.

pbirkett, it seems to me that you'll never be completely at rest until you at least try the MDR-CD3000. Personally, I'd look forward to hearing your impressions.

But that said, when you refer to things like "excitement" above, I can't help but instantly think about the use of digital signal and effects processing in your headphone application.

Thanks to modern hardware and software, it really is possible to take recorded sound and bend it, shape it, titillate it. Photoshop for "tunes".

Incidentally, I only mention this subject since at this point you've already acquired some considerable (and valuable) experience with quite a variety of different phones.

Anyhow, best of luck with the MDR-CD3000!

TravelLite

cd3000 doesn't have the same slam as 770. Infact,, there is no one headphone can match the beyer in terms of bass impact.
But cd3000 comes quite close to that. Impactful, thick bass guitars, etc .

TravelLite, I would probably rather make do without signal processing IF I could avoid it, however, you might well be right, it might well be the way forward at the end of the day. I have nothing against EQ's at all for the record though, if it improves a listeners enjoyment of their music, thats got to be a good thing. However, I still have a slight shred of belief that I can crack this nut with headphones.

Guyferd, I dont really think I'd want the 3000's to match the 770's in terms of amount of bass, as on my system theres too much of it. The bass of the 770's simply overwhelms the rest of the sound. It also sounds VERY dark, but also with a very bright top end. Its a strange combination of properties, but ultimately, I dont think the synergy is there with my system.

I think TravelLite has hit the nail on the end. I wont rest till I've heard the 3000's and on balance, if they dont suit me, then I will presumably still get most of my money back, or I will stick with them and make them work.

So I will be going ahead on Friday when I get paid and buying these bad boys. How long can I expect to wait for them to be delivered?

Paul: Well, let's hope the CD3k does the job for you then. I'm very interested, what you'll find out. Raif's mentioning of the Philips HP890 rang a bell, though: If you haven't tried that, yet, it might be a good idea to do so - it's airier and brighter sounding than the K240S, but it's still kinda groovy. Trying one of the better Grados like the SR225 or the RS-2 couldn't harm, either - though these are somewhat pricey in old Europe...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

hey paul..
i belong to this thread, don't i ?
first..you say your system is dark and bassy already. that's a good ground for the sonys, theoretically.
second..my name is adam harzuf, and i just love speakers. there's nothing like dancing in a full moon psy trance party with a mind blowing speaker setup. for me, it's the ideal sonic experience.
i have strarted my way into the headphones hi fi world almost a year ago with the HD600. then DT880, then CD3000 and ER-4.
the sonys are the most non-claustrophobic; they are "exhalling", instead of "inhaling". that's because the midrange is not warm, to squeeze the "air" to you.
you'll feel space, and the basslines will become dry, focused, non sensitive, evil... as they should. put on something liquid like that Shpongle, and see the superb liquidity and depth range..
the sonys are the first to make me fully abandon my mid-fi speaker setup (but a very nice one).
headphones will never give you what speakers can. i started to get pissed of this until i got the sonys.. they are an ultimate compromise for me. but maybe i got used to headphones with time, and it ain't just the sonys.
excitment? ho ho ho... you're in for a treat. i doubt that any other cans that deliver about the same amount of resolution can make it better on the right system.
give them a good run, and give yourself 1 week to know their sound, and psychological benefits from long listening sessions.

Adam Harzuf, you have a lot to answer for sir

But your words are comforting and re-assuring. Needless to say, come Friday, I'll place my order, and hopefully I wont have to wait too long for them. I know exactly what you mean about starting to tire of it, not getting the result I want, and you would not be the first to say that.

I wouldnt say my system was dark though, probably a little on the bright side, but as I generally like it FORWARD then this may not be a bad thing. But even if it is, I have decided to settle on the 3k's already, and if worst comes to worst, I may have to buy a suitable amp for them 3000s, but I hope it doesnt come to that.

However, I'd say the Rotel was a little darker than a Corda, which is by and large what I'd call fairly neutral, so maybe it'll be a good match after all.

Roll on getting these bad boys ! I can hardly wait.

hope you'll enjoy them as much as i do.
my porta corda do them much justice. chances are good for you.

in the last week, in my preparations to leave israel, i had very little time to listen to them..and i miss the feeling of a long, confortable session very much.. at first, when you'll put them, they will feel plasticy. that was weird at first - but after a few days, i find the feeling of those big cups on the head addicting. strangly, i like it better then velour - maybe because i feel it's not too softy touch.. that's my psychology however. but the pads themselfs are soft... ahhhh love it. so much surface of them touching your head.. i feel like a kid that got an advanced toy.
when you listen to them for a few days, try to notice how well do they change the mood - they are very responsive in the passages. only the etys comes close to that - but not even near when it comes to weaked music

try to D/L Slug- Slugfest (one of the best psytrance tracks ever written, IMO..it's tsuyoshi suzuki and another guy..). not the best recording, but you will feel the juice of the sonys so nicely..i bet you'll love it! (and not just with the sonys!).

good night, mate

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The SR325 definitely has b,d,e,f, and g taken care of.

Requirement a, as you well know, is all up to the individual user.

Requirement c is where they might not be your kind of can. Their sound stage is pretty small, but well laid out. The soundstage does not extend well past the boudaries of my head the way it did on the HD590 or occationally on the DT770. But of the three, I think it gives the most pinpoint directional sound, I can tell just where every instrument is coming from, even if it's not way out in space. That's not to say the instruments don't have air around them or good separation, since they do, they're just not really spread out.

BTW The main reason I didn't recommend them to you is because on my system (with a similar soundcard and one of the same amps) the DT770 sounds wat better for trance (more involving, powerful, and "in the club" feeling). I think the CD3000 would be a better next step than the Grado, but if the CD3000 ain't you're ticket, then I guess they would merit a try.

not comfortable and no soundstage?
damn... i'll never get those

Quote:

In answer to the original thread, completely paralytic as I may be (I am having an alcoholic evening), you bet. The CD3K brings an 'other' quality to the sound you listen to, that I can recall even now... several months after the daparture of the CD3K. Even stacked up against the W2002 it was extremely hard to fault. The only thing I could mark against it (apart from the lack of comfort, which we will gloss over on account of me being a hugehead) was the slightly lumpen bass. If you can live with this, then the CD3K is a belter. The only phone which is more entertaining is the RS-1... but you give up a sizeable amount of resolution and soundstage (more than many would compromise, I would think) for it.

it's interesting, in the last chicgo meet no one loved the CD3000. i guess they require a certain type of sound to feed from in order to sound right.. and it wasn't present there. maybe they are much more rig dependant then i thought - i just happen to have the right amp for them.
for example, they don't go well at all with the Emmeline XP-7 (which i'm returning to Ray Samuels), and everybody just loved this amp (me too, just not with the sonys, which are my favourite).
but i believe that every sound product must be heard with a lot of different music types and recordings, and to be examined with comfort, alone. for instance.. i put on some recording that is better on the DT880 when A/B'ing with the sonys, but after half an album i switch back to the sonys.. the psychological response after 10 minutes is much better. that happened to me with a few recordings.
a sound product must be judged in a complete session, not just impression.

i can't wait to listen to them with the MicroZOTL.

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Yes, and in my experience with a bunch of cans the Sony CD3K will fill the bill rather nicely in these areas. If your Rotel is decent you will get all of this right out of the headphone jack. They are truly an amazingly good set of cans to my ears and sounded good with anything powering them. Even my really cheap PCDP sounded really good right out of the headphone jack. I have never encountered the screechy or harsh highs others have reported, but have not tried them in that many systems.

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don't you hate admitting that sometimes?
but it's true...the sound from portables may not be clean and dynamic, but the overall "essance" of the sonys is still there.. and if you like it..you'll enjoy it