Kevin
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2002
- Posts
- 203
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- 3
Since I got these headphones a few weeks ago, a lot of people have asked me to post a review comparing these headphones to each other and also to the other headphones that I own. This has turned out to be a more difficult endeavor than I imagined.
To begin with, the terminology of audiophiles is not in my lexicon. Also, in trying to do this review I have become aware that my 51 year olds ears are not hearing as well as I thought. That said, I will try to compare these headphones with each other. I will post a review comparing them to my other headphones (AKG K1000 & 501, HD600 with cardas cables, Grado RS-1 & 325, Beyer 831 and Etys 4S and 4P) some other time.
I used the Chesky demonstration disk, the Rolling Stones "Beggars Banquet" SCAD, Dianna Krall SACD, Patricia Barber SACD, some interesting CDs my friend Terry Bozzio sent me of him and Billy Sheehan and him with a group of Eastern European musicians and other stuff from Lucinda Williams, David Johansen and Pearl Jam.
I could easily tell the difference between the A100Ti and the W & A 1000, but I could not tell the difference between the W1000 and the A1000. I had my wife put the headphones on my head from behind me. I just could not tell the difference. My wife also could not tell the difference. This is why I think my hearing might not be as good as I thought. There must be some discernable difference between these two phones, but I guessed wrong or couldn't guess at all in picking one from the other.
Let me descibe the sound of the A1000 and W1000. The headphones have a good soundstage. Bass is very present and tight but always in proportion to the music. Songs using a standing bass fiddle sound spectacular. Nice tight lows with excellent tone and attack. Midrange was smooth and beautiful, also in proportion to the rest of the music. Highs were clear and sweet - not bright.
All of the Audio Technicas I have listened to have had a beautiful balanced sound, well rounded and not bright. Like the HD600s all of the musical instruments can be heard clearly - its easy to pick out and follow any instrument. But unlike the Senns, the instruments blend with each other to produce wonderful sound. Much less fatiguing the the HD600. In other words all of the pieces that make up the music are present and can be clearly heard, but the sounds mix well to make the music. Its hard to explain. When I listen to the ATs I feel like I am close to the sources of the music and can relax and enjoy the combined information that makes up the music. If I listen to the Senns after the ATs, I feel like I'm hearing blobs of music throughout the soundstage. The bass is over there the drums are over here, etc., but they each stand seperately. They don't meld together.
The main difference with the A100Ti and the other two is the bass. They bass is present as much as it is with the others but it has different characteristics. The tightness found in the others is not there. The bass is not really boomy, just not as clearly defined as with the other two. The soundstage is also smaller. The mids are highs are not quite as smooth. This is not a bad headphone. I could best describe the difference by saying that the A100Ti are 90% of the headphone the A1000 and W1000 are.
The other difference between the three is their construction. Some have said that the A1000 was much larger than the A100Ti and had bigger earpads. This is not true. All three headphones are the same size, with the same size earcup. The only real differences are the materials used and the joints that pivot to accomodate different head sizes. The A1000 are clearly the winner when I comes moving the earcups in a variety of different configurations, although this may really never matter. The A1000 are different from all of the other ATs I have seen. All three of these cans are extremely comfortable, even during long listening sessions.
The major difference between the three headphones is the materials used. The W1000 are gorgeous! Probably the best looking headphone I have ever seen. Beautiful wood that is nicely finished. The W's really stand out as far as appearance is concerned. The A1000 are nicely constructed from titanium and look much better (in my opnion) than the A100Tis.
All three of these cans are a joy to listen to: nice clear presentation with a large soundstage that can be listened to for hours without fatigue. I believe most people on this board would be very happy with the A1000 or W1000. The extra cost from the A100Ti is worth it.
In the next few weeks I will post a review of these headphones (without the A100Tis which I have sold, but with the W100 I recently purchased) comparing them to other headphones.
I hope this review helps those interested in Audio Technica headphones.
To begin with, the terminology of audiophiles is not in my lexicon. Also, in trying to do this review I have become aware that my 51 year olds ears are not hearing as well as I thought. That said, I will try to compare these headphones with each other. I will post a review comparing them to my other headphones (AKG K1000 & 501, HD600 with cardas cables, Grado RS-1 & 325, Beyer 831 and Etys 4S and 4P) some other time.
I used the Chesky demonstration disk, the Rolling Stones "Beggars Banquet" SCAD, Dianna Krall SACD, Patricia Barber SACD, some interesting CDs my friend Terry Bozzio sent me of him and Billy Sheehan and him with a group of Eastern European musicians and other stuff from Lucinda Williams, David Johansen and Pearl Jam.
I could easily tell the difference between the A100Ti and the W & A 1000, but I could not tell the difference between the W1000 and the A1000. I had my wife put the headphones on my head from behind me. I just could not tell the difference. My wife also could not tell the difference. This is why I think my hearing might not be as good as I thought. There must be some discernable difference between these two phones, but I guessed wrong or couldn't guess at all in picking one from the other.
Let me descibe the sound of the A1000 and W1000. The headphones have a good soundstage. Bass is very present and tight but always in proportion to the music. Songs using a standing bass fiddle sound spectacular. Nice tight lows with excellent tone and attack. Midrange was smooth and beautiful, also in proportion to the rest of the music. Highs were clear and sweet - not bright.
All of the Audio Technicas I have listened to have had a beautiful balanced sound, well rounded and not bright. Like the HD600s all of the musical instruments can be heard clearly - its easy to pick out and follow any instrument. But unlike the Senns, the instruments blend with each other to produce wonderful sound. Much less fatiguing the the HD600. In other words all of the pieces that make up the music are present and can be clearly heard, but the sounds mix well to make the music. Its hard to explain. When I listen to the ATs I feel like I am close to the sources of the music and can relax and enjoy the combined information that makes up the music. If I listen to the Senns after the ATs, I feel like I'm hearing blobs of music throughout the soundstage. The bass is over there the drums are over here, etc., but they each stand seperately. They don't meld together.
The main difference with the A100Ti and the other two is the bass. They bass is present as much as it is with the others but it has different characteristics. The tightness found in the others is not there. The bass is not really boomy, just not as clearly defined as with the other two. The soundstage is also smaller. The mids are highs are not quite as smooth. This is not a bad headphone. I could best describe the difference by saying that the A100Ti are 90% of the headphone the A1000 and W1000 are.
The other difference between the three is their construction. Some have said that the A1000 was much larger than the A100Ti and had bigger earpads. This is not true. All three headphones are the same size, with the same size earcup. The only real differences are the materials used and the joints that pivot to accomodate different head sizes. The A1000 are clearly the winner when I comes moving the earcups in a variety of different configurations, although this may really never matter. The A1000 are different from all of the other ATs I have seen. All three of these cans are extremely comfortable, even during long listening sessions.
The major difference between the three headphones is the materials used. The W1000 are gorgeous! Probably the best looking headphone I have ever seen. Beautiful wood that is nicely finished. The W's really stand out as far as appearance is concerned. The A1000 are nicely constructed from titanium and look much better (in my opnion) than the A100Tis.
All three of these cans are a joy to listen to: nice clear presentation with a large soundstage that can be listened to for hours without fatigue. I believe most people on this board would be very happy with the A1000 or W1000. The extra cost from the A100Ti is worth it.
In the next few weeks I will post a review of these headphones (without the A100Tis which I have sold, but with the W100 I recently purchased) comparing them to other headphones.
I hope this review helps those interested in Audio Technica headphones.