Audio Technica ATH W1000x
Price $300 [Used Refurbished from a Head Fier]
Audio Set up
FooBar 2000 -> wasapai-> Odac ->Modded Millet Whiplash/Max Hybrid Tube ->w1000x
Sadly my ghetto tastic Indeed G3 with Rca Clear Top 12ua7a is a better match, it doesn't have a gain switch but well it's got loads of power. That being said this review was done with a thicker tube so I might have to re do the whole darn thing... seeing as I am using it with my thinner tube now. And best of all, the thin tube w1000x still has more mids than a THICK tubed dt 880, and it has more mids and brighter airy treble and tighter bass thanks to the leaner tube... so *sigh* still the sound sig remains the same, the new tube just adding needed refinements q.q
I review again'st my dt 880s out of the Same tube and ofc the same volume.
Build Quality [3/5]
Crappy, the head band pisses me off, the wings are a pain in the neck, the cheap plastic hinges look tacky
and ofc the Wooden Drivers r amazingly well made and very sexy
But why plastic Hinges I don't get
Auditioning Songs
http://www.head-fi.org/t/655851/refrance-play-list
Impressions (Click to show)
1) Sacrifice Part Three- Hiroki Kikuta
Video Game OST-Balanced Track Many elements combine for an overall balanced and enjoyable sound. Excessive color in a track like this is not always good. and the w1000x has slighty to much color for this track.
Highs- [3/5] recessed, good air and nice energy but they are not forward by any means. There is still a bright nature to the highs. And they are very enjoyable. Though in this high energy track I miss the snap of the highs
Mids [4/5] -very nice, the wood winds have nice body to them. Good lush sound.
Bass [3.5/5]-good weight and body, a sense of tight punch while still having some meat to it. Not as tight or SLAMMIN as the dt 880
2) Uromau Dori- Toshio Masuda
Ambient OST- a very mid heavy track with a touch of sparkle and bass. The w1000x does a nice job with this one. The gorgeous delicate mids are maintained center stage. The bright sparkle of the highs falls right behind the mids, and the bass is present and adds the dark ambiance as it should
Highs [4/5]- good air, nice sparkle. The dt 880 being a bright can adds a nice sense of air to the track and mysticism, the warmer more intimate w1000x takes away some of that mystery and give the track an affectionate feel.
Mids [5/5]- very warm and intimate, the mysticism of the highs is taken away and replaced with some loving mids. I see why people call this can a real romantic ;3, very affectionate. Good lush tone to the mids
Bass [5/5]- a little more body than the dt 880, again not as tight but still very balanced. The bass was a little much in track 1, here the extra weight really does the track justice
3) Yellow-Culprate
EDM- a very playful song, the highs and the mids all come together to flesh this track out very nicely. The highs have a great energy to them. I was rather impressed to hear them as promintly as I did, still the bass has body which is again a nice touch, although I miss the tautness of the dt 880s. The song lack a little of the energy the 880s, a more laid back can for sure the w1000x is
Highs [3.5/5]- still very sweet with good air, although the dt 880 was brighter and the highs had a lot more energy and still the same gentle sweet ness. The w1000x has the energy and the gentle nature, but it's really missing the extension of the dt 880, Still smooth highs, good energy.
Mids [4/5]- almost useless in this song, a nice touch to hear them though. As they are enjoyable, this song becomes a little more mystic with the more forward mids, as there is very charming playful mid preseance,
Bass [3.5/5]- again there is body but it lacks the tautness of the dt 880, a more laid back bass which takes away from the high energy and fun of this tune
Sound [4.3/5]
Mids- Thick and lush, very beautiful. Good detail very rich without a dark tone, the wood adds a nice feel. A heavy and strong vocal track will have a nice punch to it in the vocals. [5/5]
Highs [4/5]- airy good energy, detail and stound stage maintain the highs nicely, still a mid focused can.
Bass [4/5]- there is some serious BODY to the bass, not boom but not entirely tight! Again the bass really reveals the closed nature of the can, there is nice body but it lacks the tightness of an open can.
Edited by Mshenay - 3/18/13 at 8:09pm
