The Portable BASS kings..The Pioneer HDJ500 vs AKG 518 LE vs The first look at the new AT WS55... - Page 2

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Originally Posted by Armaegis 

I only heard the HDJ500 very briefly, and to my ear is sounded boomier and less defined than the 2000. I still think the lows could be a tad crisper, but they trade some of that crispness for a warmer resonant tone. The 2000 also had cleaner mids. I would expect some improvement though considering the price difference (though admittedly price is not necessarily an indicator of quality). Looking at the Headroom graphs, they seem to measure fairly similarly.

 

Don't you sell headphones? Just get one and chalk it up as a business expense. Get a DT1350 while you're at it

 

I think you pretty much summed up the differences in the cans.. More refined is what I am reading about the higher end cans...At my shop believe it or not I am the only one that enjoys

mid-hi fi headphones.. I sell more of the cheaper stuff that sound good.. The JVCs and the like.. I do order higher end phones for people that come up with the cash but I make the bulk

of my income selling cell phones.. I do get to listen to my cans more than most people do however as I am the boss. I usually have my cans on at all times at work actually. I am a people

person and I love finding good phones for your average non audiophile for cheap.. I know this community is all about high end cans and how they sound but to me.. If I can find a great sounding mid fi/ budget can I am just as happy if not more so.. My reviews are going to be based on many cans I deem worthy that are more accessible to your average music lover. .

That being said I am a big fan of the Pioneer sound and wanted to share the base Dj can with the community..Many overlook Dj cans but many ask for their qualities..Isolating, better build, better bass..And don't think about getting DJ cans. This is the most portable out of the Pioneer line while staying true to the sounds so I immediately grabbed one.. I honestly think these will be very popular.. Those DT1350s look monster.. Would love to try those actually..

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonb 

so the ATH-WS55 have more bass quantity than the m50's?

Upon more head to head comparions. The more forward sounding WS55 makes it seem like the bass is more it does have more punch but the M50 has more dynamics on the bass. Bit stronger sub bass an extension.. But this does not take away from the fun sounding WS55. . .The more and more I listen to my tracks with heavy bass lines the more I am blown away by the the Bass these cans produce.. I have been let down by many a Audio Technica product up until now..The AD700 would be the opposite of the WS55. No bass. The Pro700Mk2s. too much bass therefor congested sounding..The M50 is the best of these so far but for what it is..It is a bit over rated.,  But this can represents the most fun I have heard from an AT to date for me and it took a portable can to do it.. Amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshhyeahh 

I want to demo the WS55s now. They sound like they make great portable headphones.

I am telling you I use a small Sony walkman mp3 with this with no amp, none needed, Bass boosted and I walk around with FAT bass in my head just smiling.. That is all I can say.. It is definitely my favorite portable at the moment...Let me know how you like yours if you get one.. Burn in is key.. They literally seem to get better and better as I use em.

You like bass heavy music, I can't recommend a better portable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danneq 

Did you test the K518LE without the extra foam inserts in the ear cups? With the extra foams inserted, they sound muffled and not very good. When you have pulled the foam inserts out, mids and highs seem to come to life and bass becomes a bit reduced.

 

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD25 1:II and my wife a pair of K518LE. The HD25 does sound better, but not 3 times better (which is how much more they cost compared to the K518LE). So overall, I would say that K518 are a find if you can get them for around $50...

 

I had a chance to listen to ATH WS70 when I lived in Japan during 2010. It must have been the old model. It was far too bassy for me and I prefered my ATH ES7, which is more detailed and balanced. I'll have to try the new WS55 when I go to Japan in October. Have Audio Technica released a new version of the WS70 as well?

I have been burning the K518LE non stop since my post. On the update I did post how I was kind of harsh on em. They are a good bang for buck portable. Great even for what I payed $43.. They sound so much better eQed.. Again if I didn't have the other 2 on this read I think I would have given the sound score a 7.  I am one of those guys that like to post stuff based on what the manufacturer gives me. With that being said I am interested in your suggestion of taking out the extra foam insert. Though I don't know if that will help the sound stage which is what makes the sound on em a bit thin.

They do sound a lot better now I got more burn time on em and some boosted eQ. As for the WS70s... I truly believe these WS55s wouldn't exist if those took off like they should have.. I initially ordered a WS50 from an Amazon 3rd party vender and got the earphone equivalent instead.. I have no idea how they could not just see the pic on the order form and realize it was a headphone instead of the earphone.. Long story short.. They ended up canceling my order on me.. It was actually a blessing because a month or so later and I read about these newer versions the WS55.. I haven't seen anything online about an update to the WS70..If they do I will be one of the first to buy it as I am a big fan of this WS55.

What is perhaps the coolest thing about this WS55. On vocals, instruments, Jazz, RnB., not so heavy bass music.. You can't tell there is all this powerful bass in the same cans..The Bass level adjusts to your music.  Then once you get something with a strong bass line.. BOOM! It is like a totally different can you have on.. It is just awesome that way.. I think I am enamored by it because I have not yet had a BASS heavy can that does this quite like the WS55... If you gave this can to a person that only listen to vocals they would have no idea how much powerful bass is in these cans... No idea. That is very cool in my book...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ne12o 

Nice Review!

I see your review knocks on the K518DJ... I currently own the K518DJ (had it for 2~3 years). Is the WS55 worth the upgrade for me at 86$ or is it not worth 86$ of upgrades? How does the clamp of the WS55 compare to the K518DJ? I'm really wondering the confort level, because I can't wear the K518 for over an hour without it hurting myhead a lot.  Just on a quick note, the WS55 is also a SupraAural or CircumAural headphone?

 

Thanks for the information.

 

Thanks, They are just a bit bigger and the pads cushier take a good look at the pic with all 3 phones and you will see the size.. Supraural very decent isolation.. Absolutely worth the money..When I did the review the clamp was more noticeable but since then it has just molded right onto my mid sized head..They are Very comfy and I wear them for hours on end with no issue. They are  a definitive upgrade on the K518.. Wait till you hear the bass lines on this can.. You will wonder how a smaller portable can sound like it does..See and what is even more shocking is how the highs and mids are very clear and defined...

Like I mentioned before I think I was a bit harsh on the K518LE because once you have the big bold sounds of the other 2 and then you go to the K518LE. It was just lacking in every way for me.. So with out a doubt in my mind you would dig the WS55. Especially if you are into Bass heavy music.. Then you eQ the WS55..I find myself smiling all the time when I hear the bass lines on the can.. People look at me at my shop like I am a retard.. But I don't care.. I like my personal sub woofers in my portable cans.. Technical marvels..Portables just don't get much better imo. I am waiting for the next headfier to chime in on this one.. These are gonna get popular. I have no doubt in my mind..
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danneq 

Quote:

Done.. I have no idea why they even threw these in there. Why?? These sound so much better without these pads in there. It was like an after thought. The highs finally have some presence and I think the over all sound is more detailed to boot. WOW call me impressed... Why did they even throw these pads in there??  They certainly don't make it sound better.. Will change my review.. They sound like a completely different can all together. .Can someone write to AKG and tell them to stop smoking that pipe??!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danneq 

I agree that it is very strange that AKG puts the foams in there. When you remove them, the K518 becomes a contender.

 

Anyway, I have to make a mental note to remember to try the ATH WS55 and WS70 out when I go to Japan in October. Also I will try out the ATH ES10 again and dream... 40.000 yen is a bit too much to pay right now I will have to dream for a while longer...

I changed my review accordingly. Removing the foam helps them fill out on what was a thin sounding can. However it did not change the sound stage in any way. . Which is what this can truly needs. ..But you are right I can now be happy they sound so much better in every way. Thanks for pointing that out for me. Try out the WS55 when you get a chance..

I can only imagine how good that ATH ES10 sounds. They look **** sexy!!.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VariableScope 

Thanks for your excellent review. I myself have been searching for a good portable headphone that doesn't break the bank and happened on the WS55 and ES55. I'm leaning towards the more bass-heavy WS55. I think the Red one looks awesome. The red cord should look sort of like Monster Beats (they're ok sounding but way overpriced IMO). That said, have you compared the WS55 to the WS55i? Is it possible the mic and button assembly could impact the audio performance in some way?

I don't think so.. I just had another headfier that bought one of the WS55i. .He plans on using it with his iphone..The only thing the i will do for you is the integrated mic and music controls. I have never heard that feature actually making the sounds different if they do than that would make some people very angry if you think about it...I think that guy will chime in here soon after he burns his new WS55i in with his impressions of em. He was impressed I will tell you that much.. I listen to mine every day..If you have an iphone or an ipod...I know it cost a bit more to have a mic and controls on your chord but I am willing to bet you these cans will be hard to top on one.. I say go for it if you want some phone controls..With your sub woofer bass.