[aluren]

Just wondering because I read somewhere that there is some kind of anniversary coming up for Audio-Technica and was wondering if anyone knows whether they will release another limited edition headphone set like the L3000.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aluren Just wondering because I read somewhere that there is some kind of anniversary coming up for Audio-Technica and was wondering if anyone knows whether they will release another limited edition headphone set like the L3000.

Some think they will. Most seem to think it won't be until their 50th anniversary in 2012.

 

[agile_one]

Good question. 2007 will be AT's 45th anniversary. In 2002 the W2002's had "40th Anniversary" engraved on them, so it would not be surprising.

 

[agile_one]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer Some think they will. Most seem to think it won't be until their 50th anniversary in 2012.

Ah, good point - 50 is such a nice round number ...

 

[Carl]

They're releasing a new high-end cartridge for their next anniversary, not a headphone. We're stuck with the W5000 for a while yet.

 

[slwiser]

And for one I am happy to be "stuck" with my W5000 and HA5000.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl They're releasing a new high-end cartridge for their next anniversary, not a headphone. We're stuck with the W5000 for a while yet.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser And for one I am happy to be "stuck" with my W5000 and HA5000.

I knew that would rattle a few feathers.

 

[bizkid]

Yup no headphone this time. I read somewhere here (quite some time ago) that they need more time for R&D and the W5000 is the "best" they can do right now. This came from an AT japan employee at a trade show or something.

 

[lator]

Sounds good if you ask me

 

[purk]

They better come up with something that is better than the L3000 or the R10. I think they has been hard at work on it. Their next offering limited woody might be better than the R10.

Carl,
Quote:

They're releasing a new high-end cartridge for their next anniversary, not a headphone. We're stuck with the W5000 for a while yet.

Look like the L3000 will be at the top for awhile but who knows...they might just released one. The W2002 is for their 40th anniversary, but the L3000 was released just to be to be the limited edition. The new limited woody will be very expensive, probably pushing 3k. Again, just a speculation.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by purk The new limited woody will be very expensive, probably pushing 3k. Again, just a speculation.

The L3000s took what? 2 1/2 years to sell ~550 units? I don't think AT want to repeat that.

In terms of sound signature, hopefully the next one will be of the W11jpn or W10vtg family.

 

[tomjonesrocks]

How do people even buy these limited edition ATs, and woodies, and leather models, etc.?

I had a hard enough time finding A900s. Where are these available?

 

[purk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl The L3000s took what? 2 1/2 years to sell ~550 units? I don't think AT want to repeat that. In terms of sound signature, hopefully the next one will be of the W11jpn or W10vtg family.

They had 3 production runs from 2003 to 2005 (AYT999 probably can chime in here), and all were sold out. It did took them three years, but not b/c no one want to buy them, however, but because of the 3 production runs from 2003 to 2005. After they start to get a good review in headfi, they were sold out fairly quickly. I'm not sure what will they plan to do, but I'm sure that their latest edition will be expensive and have wooden housing. I would love for them to go back to a erizen lacquer finish.

Also, I wish their new limited edition is more in lines with the W2002 and L3000. The W11JPN is a nice sounding unit, I owned them for a year, but their resolution, and extensions were not that impressive. I really hope they don't sound anything like the 10vtg either as the 10vtg didn't benefit much from amplification. The W11JPN can compete with a higher end headphone but the W10VTG is overated in my opinion.

 

[bobeau]

Quote:

Originally Posted by purk It did took them three years, but not b/c no one want to buy them, however, but because of the 3 production runs from 2003 to 2005. After they start to get a good review in headfi, they were sold out fairly quickly.

This isn't quite correct... the 3 production runs were close together -

100: 11/03
100: 12/03
250: 1/04

Not sure about the greens.

This is what I gather from perusing the archives - the very first head-fi review on these phones was pretty negative, and due to the price and difficulty to obtain they were ignored for awhile. Eventually more got a look at these and found them to be a nice phone, but they didn't seem to start selling until the prices in Japan dropped significantly (think I saw a report of one being as cheap as $1200, maybe a display model). Alex picked up several for headfiers on a trip there, including mine that I bought second hand from that batch. The rest were snapped up quickly when PriceJapan started carrying them for about $1550 shipped.

So the last 'new' L3000s had been sitting around for nearly 2 years on some shelf.

 

[purk]

Quote:

This isn't quite correct... the 3 production runs were close together - 100: 11/03 100: 12/03 250: 1/04 Not sure about the greens. This is what I gather from perusing the archives - the very first head-fi review on these phones was pretty negative, and due to the price and difficulty to obtain they were ignored for awhile. Eventually more got a look at these and found them to be a nice phone, but they didn't seem to start selling until the prices in Japan dropped significantly (think I saw a report of one being as cheap as $1200, maybe a display model). Alex picked up several for headfiers on a trip there, including mine that I bought second hand from that batch. The rest were snapped up quickly when PriceJapan started carrying them for about $1550 shipped. So the last 'new' L3000s had been sitting around for nearly 2 years on some shelf.

thanks for the correction.