These headphones are enjoying a period of popularity. I suspect that it is due to them being discontinued. But be warned... they are not for everyone.
These headphones are by far the most revealing headphone I have listened to. It's unnaturally revealing, and while far from neutral (slight V shaped, but with rolled off bass), the midrange isn't recessed, it's very clear but the mid bass and treble is quite pronounced.
Speed, or perceived speed is the best I have heard in any full sized headphone and I've heard the HD800, T1, K701. They just can't compete.
The detail is amazing, you will hear things you have never heard, even if you listen to revealing cans. To understand the detail, you really need to spend time with the SA5000. When compared with the HD800, it is quite a bit more detailed, but it would not seem so due the the HD800's superior instrument separation, which makes picking the details easier.
The SA5000 is what I would call the ultimate technical headphone, and it may not be very musical, some like to pair it with tube amps to achieve musicality.
The soundstage is not wide, but not small either, I would rate it average for those of you concerned with it.
Onto the cons, the brightness of the treble can be sibilant at times, or just plain fatiguing. The cable is microphonic (the first time I have experienced this on a full sized headphone). And I have read reports of many having build quality issues. I have never had problems with mine. There is also very little sub-bass. Mid-bass is very fine though.
On amping, they are easy to drive and the budget Fiio amps work well, but they deserve something cleaner such as the O2.
They work well for fast musical genres that isn't bass heavy, namely metal and techno.
Oh and they come with the best headphone stand ever.
These headphones are by far the most revealing headphone I have listened to. It's unnaturally revealing, and while far from neutral (slight V shaped, but with rolled off bass), the midrange isn't recessed, it's very clear but the mid bass and treble is quite pronounced.
Speed, or perceived speed is the best I have heard in any full sized headphone and I've heard the HD800, T1, K701. They just can't compete.
The detail is amazing, you will hear things you have never heard, even if you listen to revealing cans. To understand the detail, you really need to spend time with the SA5000. When compared with the HD800, it is quite a bit more detailed, but it would not seem so due the the HD800's superior instrument separation, which makes picking the details easier.
The SA5000 is what I would call the ultimate technical headphone, and it may not be very musical, some like to pair it with tube amps to achieve musicality.
The soundstage is not wide, but not small either, I would rate it average for those of you concerned with it.
Onto the cons, the brightness of the treble can be sibilant at times, or just plain fatiguing. The cable is microphonic (the first time I have experienced this on a full sized headphone). And I have read reports of many having build quality issues. I have never had problems with mine. There is also very little sub-bass. Mid-bass is very fine though.
On amping, they are easy to drive and the budget Fiio amps work well, but they deserve something cleaner such as the O2.
They work well for fast musical genres that isn't bass heavy, namely metal and techno.
Oh and they come with the best headphone stand ever.