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Denon AH-D2000 vs B&W P5

post #1 of 16
6/22/10 at 12:33am
Thread Starter 

Had about 30 minutes yesterday listening to Denon AH-D2000 vs B&W P5, and I was surprised how good they sound, powered by an iPod Touch 3G with loseless files of great quality. In my country the 2 headphones cost exactly the same, but I don't recall every listening to audio products that sound so different at the same price range.

 

Denon are more open, wider soundspace and much deeper bass, but I actually like the sound of the B&W, the soundstage is more compact, but I feel at least for pop and rock music that I actually prefer to be a little closer to the music, the Denons bass were at times almost too much, where B&W feels more balances, although it could use a little more bass, just a little. The B&W are also a little darker in the sound than the Denon, but for some music I actually prefer this, all in all I think I will buy the B&W, that they are compact and look great is just an extra plus for me.

 

Any thoughts?

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Denon AHD2000 High Performance Over-Ear Headphones
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Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Headphones
Denon AH-D7000 - Headphones
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post #2 of 16
6/22/10 at 12:55am

I've not heard the P5.  Can't comment on it.

 

The Denon D2000 though.  Not a good match with a portable like an iPod.  They need more amping to sound like they should.  A home amp is best.  Portable amps won't always have enough power or be a proper match to the Denon.  If you're going to be using the iPod with no additional amp I'd suggest something other than the Denon.  Something more friendly to being powered by a portable player.

 

The D2000 also has a recessed midrange.  That can contribute to it sounding more distant than it really should.  I use a software based parametric EQ to boost the midrange.  The D2000 sounds much better to me that way.  Some songs that sound too distant get brought more forward.  The EQ also helps some instrument sounds get a more proper timbre.  But if you're using a portable as a source you won't have access to a proper parametric EQ or a 31 band graphic EQ.  So no go there, and another strike against the Denon.

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post #3 of 16
6/22/10 at 12:58am

you have to consider if your gonna use it for portable or home use?

either way i would recommend the p5

good build good sound great design

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post #4 of 16
6/22/10 at 1:01am

Every P5 thread so far as been a raging success, I can't help but have high expectations of this one

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post #5 of 16
6/22/10 at 1:30am
Thread Starter 

Yeah, I think I will go for the P5, the iPod could also play much louder, the Denon are probably not a good match for the iPod unamped, but it did sound good though...

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post #6 of 16
6/25/10 at 11:10pm

I own and love both the P5's and the D2000's!  They really do have totally different applications though.  The B&W's sound great powered only by an iPod (& imho are really not much improved when being driven by a more powerful amp).  They are also beautifully designed, and very portable.  The Denons, while they do sound good even with an iPod, will absolutely floor you when paired with a headphone amp!  I use the D2000's at home and the P5's everywhere else.

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post #7 of 16
6/26/10 at 12:02am

The noob (:p) is right. The D2-7K Denons are completely unsuitable for portable use. Big, limited isolation, and in the woodies' case, easy to scratch. 

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post #8 of 16
6/26/10 at 12:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhythmdevils View Post

Every P5 thread so far as been a raging success, I can't help but have high expectations of this one


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post #9 of 16
7/13/10 at 1:19am
Thread Starter 

Yeah, the P5 seems right to me, are there any alternatives to them if I wanted closed headphones?

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post #10 of 16
7/13/10 at 2:24am

Beyerdynamic T50p (not enough feedbacks to know it well)

Audio Technica ESW9

Audio Technica ESW10

Audio Technica ES10

Sennheiser HD 25

 

These are the ones I can think of right now. I owned the P5 for two weeks and burnt them around 150 hours. To me you can find better headphones in that price bracket sound-wise, but the P5 will still trump them in build quality and portability convenience.

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post #11 of 16
8/3/10 at 6:05am
Thread Starter 

I had another listen of the B&W P5, after a while it becomes clear that the bass is not good enough for me, it's too reserved, and actually my small Denon in-ear headphones does it better, so I dropped the idea, but the P5 are very nice, no doubt...

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post #12 of 16
8/3/10 at 6:37am

Phiaton MS-400 

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post #13 of 16
8/9/11 at 5:57pm

Dear Alpha10,

 

Finally which headphone you bought? B&W P5 or other good brand? I intend to buy B&W P5 and Denon 2000 too, looking forward on those reviews and answers.

 

 

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post #14 of 16
8/10/11 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 

I got the Denon, in my opinion they sound much better than B&W.

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post #15 of 16
1/5/12 at 12:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alpha10 View Post

I had another listen of the B&W P5, after a while it becomes clear that the bass is not good enough for me, it's too reserved, and actually my small Denon in-ear headphones does it better, so I dropped the idea, but the P5 are very nice, no doubt...



I'm very surprised that the P5 does not have enough bass. In Apple stores, you can demo the P5 and wow, I thought that the bass was extremely well done.  

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Denon AHD2000 High Performance Over-Ear Headphones
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Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Headphones
Denon AH-D7000 - Headphones
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