7-Part Review: Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000

[cotdt]

that's beautiful work, [AK]Zip!

 

[Asr]

Thanks to all 7 participants here who've provided this plethora of helpful reviews! This has turned out to be an amazing source of information, thanks all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by [AK]Zip /img/forum/go_quote.gif Since this is like the history of these headphones from member to member I feel that I should post here as well. These headphones went to me last before they are to return back to Asr. Pictures speak louder then words... http://apuresound.com/images/cables/...2000/cc/02.JPG http://apuresound.com/images/cables/...2000/cc/06.JPG

Oh man that is awesome! I can't stop grinning! Can't wait to get them! 'Twas nearly 4 months ago I sent out a single-ended NIB AD2000, and to get them back balanced is simply an awesome feeling. Thanks for the excellent work Alex, that looks great and I can't wait until my system is balanced again! I won't be able to use them balanced right away but I'm definitely looking forward to hearing how they sound re-cabled at least!

 

[NoPants]

might I ask, how long is that recable? it looks beautiful by the way, you could say it's almost subliminal advertising for my AD2k haha

 

[NoPants]

Quote:

Originally Posted by euclid /img/forum/go_quote.gif i recabled my AD2000 to balanced, the stock cable even though it is 4 wires actually shares its ground wires so it cannot be balanced. i prefer thr AD2K almost across the board to my balanced HD650, but i have modified the fit on the AD2000 to clamp even harder and more parallell to the head, the bass deepens significantly and the mids thicken very slightly with seemingly no sacrifice to the highs. from what i experienced(as well as the W5000) the top section of the pads was putting less pressure on my head than the bo the next meet i can make i will bring them and hopefully the changes will be obvious.

Thanks for a wealth of information all in one post; I followed the phatpad mod as per gregf's instructions...I like that type of fit better because I wear glasses and they definitely start to hurt after a while, I also get a very nice seal which brings out the lower end qualities you speak of. I'm considering getting alex's recable as well actually (even though only single-ended), I was wondering if anyone had any opinions about silver as the wire? I tried making my own thread but maybe this one will get more attention, sorry to attempt a hijack =p

 

[[AK]Zip]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoPants /img/forum/go_quote.gif might I ask, how long is that recable? it looks beautiful by the way, you could say it's almost subliminal advertising for my AD2k haha

The cable is 7ft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoPants /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for a wealth of information all in one post; I followed the phatpad mod as per gregf's instructions...I like that type of fit better because I wear glasses and they definitely start to hurt after a while, I also get a very nice seal which brings out the lower end qualities you speak of. I'm considering getting alex's recable as well actually (even though only single-ended), I was wondering if anyone had any opinions about silver as the wire? I tried making my own thread but maybe this one will get more attention, sorry to attempt a hijack =p

I would stay away from pure silver and pure silver wire for headphones since the wire would be solid strand. The cable would be stiffer and you would be running a high risk of breaks in the not so distant future. As IC's (something you plug in and don't move around) or inside of an amp then it would be perfectly acceptable.

-Alex-

 

[ldj325]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks to all 7 participants here who've provided this plethora of helpful reviews! This has turned out to be an amazing source of information, thanks all! Oh man that is awesome! I can't stop grinning! Can't wait to get them! 'Twas nearly 4 months ago I sent out a single-ended NIB AD2000, and to get them back balanced is simply an awesome feeling. Thanks for the excellent work Alex, that looks great and I can't wait until my system is balanced again! I won't be able to use them balanced right away but I'm definitely looking forward to hearing how they sound re-cabled at least!

The balanced AD2000 look beautiful. Since I have a balanced amp, I would have loved to have heard that variation. IME balancing can add a lot to SQ.

Will you have these, and bring them to the Nor CAl meet? I am trying to work it out so that I come to the meet. If so, I can definately bring my SE & balanced RudiStor NX-33 with me. And I may have taken delivery on my my upgraded Singlepower Supra XLR (but it won't be burned in) that I could bring. Especially that amp has a high bypass filter that was put on specifically to deal with brightness (my biggest issue with the AD2000). I'd love to hear the AD2000 balanced and even more so balanced with some brightness adjusted out.

 

[Asr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldj325 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The balanced AD2000 look beautiful. Since I have a balanced amp, I would have loved to have heard that variation. IME balancing can add a lot to SQ. Will you have these, and bring them to the Nor CAl meet? I am trying to work it out so that I come to the meet. If so, I can definately bring my SE & balanced RudiStor NX-33 with me. And I may have taken delivery on my my upgraded Singlepower Supra XLR (but it won't be burned in) that I could bring. Especially that amp has a high bypass filter that was put on specifically to deal with brightness (my biggest issue with the AD2000). I'd love to hear the AD2000 balanced and even more so balanced with some brightness adjusted out.

Yup, this [AK]Zip-balanced AD2000 is attending the August meet.

 

[NoPants]

have you gotten them back yet? how do they sound?

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks to all 7 participants here who've provided this plethora of helpful reviews! This has turned out to be an amazing source of information, thanks all! Oh man that is awesome! I can't stop grinning! Can't wait to get them! 'Twas nearly 4 months ago I sent out a single-ended NIB AD2000, and to get them back balanced is simply an awesome feeling. Thanks for the excellent work Alex, that looks great and I can't wait until my system is balanced again! I won't be able to use them balanced right away but I'm definitely looking forward to hearing how they sound re-cabled at least!

They look as good as they sound. Both my SA5000/650's have been recabled by Alex..(balanced) & will balance my 340's soon too.. I think the benefit is worth the extra cost 200 plus. Alex is awesome & is my cable guy in regards to balancing headphones. I will balance all my headphones now. I believe 100% in balanced cans/source/amp.. I just need a better balanced amp then my DAC1. The DAC1 sounds very good & it's been called decent in regards to being used as a balanced amp for headphones..

 

[ldj325]

I wanted to do a n update on my impressions of the AD2000 after getting a chance to hear them balanced at the NorCal meet this August.

The balanced version were heard through the Ray Samuels B-52, where as I had heard the single-ended AD 2000 through my Singlepower Extreme Platinum and my RudiStor NX-33. The source at the Nor cal meet was Ray's Meridian. In that set up, the balanced AD2000 wzs much more pleasing, especailly since there was no hint of siblance which was so present for me in my single-ened rigs. The sense of "body" and fullness of the midrange and bass was noticably better and overall a smother sound. It became a much more tolerable and enjoyable listen for me.

Maybe my system is brighter than I think (and I have both vinyl and SACD as sources) or it's my interconnects. Actually what I most suspect is that the recable (using new wire) of the AD2000 and the changes associated with going balanced are what made the difference. Whatever the case, the AD2000 became a very different experience for me. Once again this shows me that system synergy down to the cables makes a big difference. With the brightness tamed (due to new cable, balancing, or whatever), I can gladly endorse the AD2000 as a very fine headphone.

 

[donunus]

Anyone have any comments to these reviews? This is a great thread to bump. I don't understand the brightness issue with the ad2000 as I find them a little rolled off on top and smooth at the lower treble. hmm could the fact that the midbass not having too much bloom be the reason some think they are bright?

 

[iancraig10]

I spoke to a guy from Audio Technica about the lack of availability of the AD2000 in the UK and he said that it was so similar to the AD1000, they decided that they were not going to release it here in the UK.

I have the AD1000 and reading the reviews here is almost describing my AD1000's. I found the treble a bit 'clattery' at first but I think that with time, this has calmed down, although the bass hasn't warmed on the 1000's. Like one of the reviewers said, it's there and goes deep, but not a lot of power.

Is the ad2000 very different to the 1000?

Ian

 

[Wilashort]

Completely agree with you, even before of creating my thread about AD1000 + 7N-OFC cable.... My hypotesis was true....
Quote:

Originally Posted by iancraig10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I spoke to a guy from Audio Technica about the lack of availability of the AD2000 in the UK and he said that it was so similar to the AD1000, they decided that they were not going to release it here in the UK. I have the AD1000 and reading the reviews here is almost describing my AD1000's. I found the treble a bit 'clattery' at first but I think that with time, this has calmed down, although the bass hasn't warmed on the 1000's. Like one of the reviewers said, it's there and goes deep, but not a lot of power. Is the ad2000 very different to the 1000? Ian

 

[Henmyr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilashort /img/forum/go_quote.gif Completely agree with you, even before of creating my thread about AD1000 + 7N-OFC cable.... My hypotesis was true....

Similar but not identical.

The MS2 and RS1 are similar. The were VERY similar to me too at first, but very soon I started to hear the difference.

The HD600 and HD650 are very similar, but I was not very fond of the HD650, but really like the HD600.

The AD1000 and AD2000 might be similar, but to me, it's often the last 5-10% which makes all the difference.

If you do get the AD1000, recable it, and then don't like it, you will keep wondering if you might have liked AD2000.

 

[Wilashort]

But Henmyr, the AD1000 have the same enclosure/drivers than the AD2000. Really the only difference is the cable (it should smooth a little the treble compared with the inferior AD1000 cable, not %100 sure...). Now if i buy it in some months and recabled it with my D5000 cable. Don't you think that the sound quality can overtake/overcome the AD2000; it wouldn't be a better headphone?? (because of a newer generation cable...)
The another 2 examples are headphones completelly diferent [including cable (Senheiser 600 ≠ Senheiser 650, and the dampening should be different too...) and enclosured (in grado it's wood, and in alessandro it's metallic)].
When i get the AD1000 and recable it. I will compare the results with the image that i already have about the AD2000 vs the ended product and i will post them in my thread as an update, hope that it doesn't take much time....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henmyr /img/forum/go_quote.gif Similar but not identical. The MS2 and RS1 are similar. The were VERY similar to me too at first, but very soon I started to hear the difference. The HD600 and HD650 are very similar, but I was not very fond of the HD650, but really like the HD600. The AD1000 and AD2000 might be similar, but to me, it's often the last 5-10% which makes all the difference. If you do get the AD1000, recable it, and then don't like it, you will keep wondering if you might have liked AD2000.