Any recent reviews of the Audio-Technica A900X? - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalVeauX 

Heya,

 

My review is coming soon, it's just not quite ready yet...I highly recommend it at this point for someone who wants a "do it all" closed headphone that isn't a Denon. The vocals on this thing are superb. And I think the A900X replaces the SRH940 in every way.

 

Very best,

This is great news MalVeauX, I find your reviews thorough, thoughtful, and articulately composed. Maybe you'll answer this in the oncoming review, and forgive me if my question drives the thread off topic, but I wonder how this will compare to a Denon D5000. Would you consider the A900x supplemental, comparative, or not worth acquiring for someone like me who has a Denon?

Cheers,

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeachesNCream 

This is great news MalVeauX, I find your reviews thorough, thoughtful, and articulately composed. Maybe you'll answer this in the oncoming review, and forgive me if my question drives the thread off topic, but I wonder how this will compare to a Denon D5000. Would you consider the A900x supplemental, comparative, or not worth acquiring for someone like me who has a Denon?

 

Cheers,

 

I have both the D5K and A900X, they're similar, yet different. But you have to consider the Denon costs nearly twice what the A900X costs. You can get the A900X for $250ish on Amazon/ebay. The Denon D5K used goes for close to $400~450 ish. The D5K is much more comfortable, it feels like wearing something luxurious. The sub-bass extension is better, deeper, more controlled and presented in a better fashion. The D5K has a touch more sparkle in the treble. Both have excellent mids and I like them both for female vocals nearly equally, maybe a touch of an edge to the A900X for female vocals specifically though. The A900X has more mid-bass hump in comparison to iself with sub-bass, the D5K does not, it's pretty linear, with just a little more emphasis in general on it's bass frequencies making it warmer in general. The A900X can sound a tad boomy because of that (having more apparent mid-bass than sub-bass), but it still lands good tones and has an impact that is good; the Denon takes the impact and depth through. Sound stage actually goes to the Denon by a fair bit in terms of separation and sound scapes, the A900X is great at separation and is articulate, but it sounds a little closer than the Denon to your source. If I had to choose between one or the other, I would take the Denon D5K each time. But I won't say it's leagues better, very little in mid-fi and hi-fi really is that much better. But it was better enough, especially in comfort and sub-bass, to win me over easily. The A900X however is still an incredible value in a closed headphone specifically as it's not a "V" response headphone so much, but more like something linear with a touch more of bass that doesn't hurt the mids--very akin to Denon's approach, with audiophile bass lovers in mind, and not just a bassy headphone with spiked treble. They're comparative, not supplemental. I wouldn't get both if you wanted to have one headphone. And I would separate them simply by budget. If you can afford the D5K, get it. If you cannot, the A900X is a great way to go for close to half the cost.

Very best,

Thank you very much for that information. You are right, I suppose it isn't truly a fair comparison. Perhaps a comparison between the A900x and the D2000 would be more fair. (I had been thinking of the recent deals on the d5000 where one could get it for ~$375 used at the time of the post) Either way, I can't wait for your review.

Cheers,

Hey Marty!!

I was wondering when you were coming up with your review!!! ;-)

And agreed on everything!

The BIGGEST gripe I had was with comfort and it seems it will probably lower your overall "rating" on your review also! :-p

By any chance did you try any other pads?

I saw some 1000x pads on eBay but they were almost $100... that would put them in the same league (price-wise) to the Denons...

Thanks.

P.S. For the guys looking for reviews, if you are bored take a look at my mini review on the signature.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gelocks 

By any chance did you try any other pads?

I saw some 1000x pads on eBay but they were almost $100... that would put them in the same league (price-wise) to the Denons...

If the description on Audiocubes is to be believed, the A900x comes with the pads from the A1000x.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gelocks 

Hey Marty!!

 

I was wondering when you were coming up with your review!!! ;-)

 

And agreed on everything!

The BIGGEST gripe I had was with comfort and it seems it will probably lower your overall "rating" on your review also! :-p

 

By any chance did you try any other pads?

I saw some 1000x pads on eBay but they were almost $100... that would put them in the same league (price-wise) to the Denons...

 

Thanks.

 

 

P.S. For the guys looking for reviews, if you are bored take a look at my mini review on the signature.

Heya,

I ended up not doing a pad swap. Things that would fit were ultimately quite pricey and took it to the cost level of something that wasn't worth while. I still think some of the Denon or equivalent (J$?) pleathers would be a potential substitute but ultimately didn't go that far with them.

Very best,

Quote:

Originally Posted by manveru 

 

If the description on Audiocubes is to be believed, the A900x comes with the pads from the A1000x.

I meant the ATs W1000X... (leather... pics --> http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/audiotechnica3/1.html )

But I believe that the A1000X is also a DIFFERENT pad... (and probably less stiff...)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalVeauX 

Heya,

 

I ended up not doing a pad swap. Things that would fit were ultimately quite pricey and took it to the cost level of something that wasn't worth while. I still think some of the Denon or equivalent (J$?) pleathers would be a potential substitute but ultimately didn't go that far with them.

 

Very best,

 

I guess I would probably try next their W1000X and see if I like them... (they are supposed to be

bassier but still have the lovely mids...) But they will probably have to wait as I want to try the Shure 1840s... :-p

Thanks.!
 

Hey Malveaux, if you have tried the a900 would you mentioning improvements/lack of that the 900x has over the old one. I'm sitting on the fence with this one, waiting to grab it as soon as a decent review comes out. The a900 £130 from digigood via amazon, and the a900x is only available from ebay at £170. I can get the A700x from a local authorised deal for £160 but it seems pointless given the price difference is so small. 

Also is there any way to tighten the clamp of the headphones or make the wings more resistive? I have a small head and the a700x I tried in the shop kept slipping. I'd hate it if I couldn't buy a headphone I really wanted because of the stupid fit. Also one more thing. If there is an air gap between the bottom of the earpads and my face (i.e earpads too big) would this affect the bass? I've tried it with my panasonics and the bass doesn't really change when I physically press it against my head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayleighSilvers 

Hey Malveaux, if you have tried the a900 would you mentioning improvements/lack of that the 900x has over the old one. I'm sitting on the fence with this one, waiting to grab it as soon as a decent review comes out. The a900 £130 from digigood via amazon, and the a900x is only available from ebay at £170. I can get the A700x from a local authorised deal for £160 but it seems pointless given the price difference is so small. 

 

Also is there any way to tighten the clamp of the headphones or make the wings more resistive? I have a small head and the a700x I tried in the shop kept slipping. I'd hate it if I couldn't buy a headphone I really wanted because of the stupid fit. Also one more thing. If there is an air gap between the bottom of the earpads and my face (i.e earpads too big) would this affect the bass? I've tried it with my panasonics and the bass doesn't really change when I physically press it against my head.

Heya,

I don't have the A900 on hand, but from memory, I think the A900X has more mid-bass. Otherwise, sounds pretty close, if not virtually the same. Same great mids, same great treble. I think the main difference is the bass & comfort. I think the A900X has more mid-bass and less comfort. The A900 has a touch less mid-bass and more comfort.

Tightening the headphones requires that you bend the bars. It works to an extent. But if your head is really tiny, well, not much more will help since it doesn't use a headband, and they basically float.

If there's a gap, yes, there's less seal and it will primarily affect the sub-bass and lower bass tones first, but the extent will depend on the size of the gap. A small gap will not make a big difference. But a huge gap will.

Very best,

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalVeauX 

Heya,

 

I don't have the A900 on hand, but from memory, I think the A900X has more mid-bass. Otherwise, sounds pretty close, if not virtually the same. Same great mids, same great treble. I think the main difference is the bass & comfort. I think the A900X has more mid-bass and less comfort. The A900 has a touch less mid-bass and more comfort.

 

Tightening the headphones requires that you bend the bars. It works to an extent. But if your head is really tiny, well, not much more will help since it doesn't use a headband, and they basically float.

 

If there's a gap, yes, there's less seal and it will primarily affect the sub-bass and lower bass tones first, but the extent will depend on the size of the gap. A small gap will not make a big difference. But a huge gap will.

 

Very best,

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Yeah I was going to mention bending the bars but I don't know how easy they are to bend or how fragile they are. I had the same air gap problem with the D2000 as well. Do these headphones have good enough PRaT and timbre to work with rock? 

I think I might go for the old a900 and get something like an e11 so I can boost the bass if needed. Should sound the same right? Plus the A900's are made of plastic (I think) so should be less prone to slipping. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayleighSilvers 

Thanks for the quick reply. Yeah I was going to mention bending the bars but I don't know how easy they are to bend or how fragile they are. I had the same air gap problem with the D2000 as well. Do these headphones have good enough PRaT and timbre to work with rock? 

 

I think I might go for the old a900 and get something like an e11 so I can boost the bass if needed. Should sound the same right? Plus the A900's are made of plastic (I think) so should be less prone to slipping. 

 

The A900 with E11 would probably provide enough bass to be good (EQ set to 2). They are plenty good for rock. If distribution is a big deal, I would just keep it simple. And again, comfort matters.

Very best,
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayleighSilvers 

 

Also is there any way to tighten the clamp of the headphones or make the wings more resistive? I have a small head and the a700x I tried in the shop kept slipping. I'd hate it if I couldn't buy a headphone I really wanted because of the stupid fit. Also one more thing. If there is an air gap between the bottom of the earpads and my face (i.e earpads too big) would this affect the bass? I've tried it with my panasonics and the bass doesn't really change when I physically press it against my head.

There was a method people used with the AD700 and it involved

a rubber band...  Check it out here...

http://www.head-fi.org/t/505053/audio-technica-ath-ad700-fit-and-comfort-mod

Since the design is similar, I think it would work...
 

I used to do the rubber band thing with the A700. It works very well.

That elastic band mod seems quite an obvious one but I'm concerned that it would put too much pressure on the wings and cause them to break. Been reading a lot of very mixed reviews of the a900. Some say the mids are really recessed and distant, others say they are too forward. I mean seriously wtf? I know sound is subjective but there has to be some common ground to what we should be hearing. It's like me pointing to a blue sky and saying "I think it's pink".