After 3-and-a-half years of searching, I was right the first time. - Page 2

What amp do you recommend for the Ath-Ad2000 Curra? I've been searching for a while. Preferably a cheap suggestion if possible.

Ad2000's are pretty amazing all around. I can't think of a single thing they do wrong.

 

How much do you want to spend? I may know of great amp for them. Oh forget it, I noted you wanted something affordable.

Edited by purrin - 9/25/11 at 2:50pm

I know that Craig uses them. Every time I've been at his place, or at a meet where he's there, I see the AD2000s (and on occasion the RS-1s.) So I guess it wouldn't be surprising if I said the AD2000s sounded great on the BA. If I had extra cash, I'd get them as part of a intended collection (of no more than 4-5 dynamics); but I'm trying to be more disciplined with purchases now, especially now that my kids are old enough where I can restart my speaker building projects again.

 

The AD2000s are fast, detailed, very mid-centric phones. They sound totally different from the modded W1000X, which as you know are sort of a "closed Grado" with better bass extension. I believe both you and Anax have had the UERM for a while, so that probably gives you a good frame of reference for something that sounds balanced. This is where I'm going: Anax plugged the AD2000 into the BA, and after 5 seconds, sort of ripped them off his head with a "WTF" expression on this face. You had to be there!

 

Anyways, "wierd" sounding is apt description of the AD2000's tonal balance, yet I still very much appreciate what it does well. I think it's more a matter of sitting down and getting to know them - adjusting to their FR.

 

Now that I think of it, the AD2000s are easy to drive too, so that even rolling a couple of op-amps with a quality CMOY or CHA-47 could yield some interesting results.

Edited by purrin - 9/25/11 at 5:25pm

I would suggest a fast SS amp. I'm using mine with the DACport and they don't do anything wrong (to my ears).

 

 

Dynalo or Headamp GS-1 if you are going to go that route.

I had the AD1000, and I didn't like it, too lean...wondering if the AD2000 is different. Has anyone had the two side side and can help me in this matter?

Nice write-up. My experience was a little backwards from yours, but with the same result. I love the sound of the AD2000 and have had them as my primary headphones for a few years now. I was in Tokyo in April last year and went to Yodobashi camera for a look. I listened to everything they had in store over several evenings. Some very nice choices, but I still come back to the AD2000 - a headphone that I'm always happy to hear.

Actually I fell in love with these too.  They had the Grado like forward midrange.  But when I wanted to rock out, they just didn't have the midbass punch that the Grados have.  While I preferred the AD2000 for pure vocals, in the end I decided to stick with the RS1.  Now I'm seeking to Magnum the 325is.  Maybe they will have the strength of both Grado RS1 and AD2000.

 

 

I can relate to the fact that some headphones just seem to do "it" for you, whatever "it" happens to be. For me it is the K1000. Not the AKG mind you, but the highly overlooked Kenwood KH-K1000. Skylab enjoyed it but didn't seem to love it.... but somehow I keep going back to it. It doesn't do a lot of things that my other headphones can do, yet I really enjoy it, and I can't exactly explain why. 

 

Also, AD2000 added to my list of "try someday" headphones. Thanks a lot Amos, the list was too big already!

I have to agree, too. My first good pair of headphones was the HD-650. I could have bought a better amp and been happy with them.

My journey took me a bit further, but I wonder if I could have checked out with the HD-650 and been happy with it.