[sonic32]

It's understandable there is not much info to be found on these since there will only ever be 500, but those who can help please run down the "signature" of these leathery beasts. In short, how do these compare to other top shelf phones sonically or otherwise?

 

[Wmcmanus]

Here are some sample threads which will provide some interesting reading for you:

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ighlight=l3000
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...highlight=l300
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ighlight=l3000
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ighlight=l3000
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ighlight=l3000
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...ighlight=l3000

In my view the L3000's are wonderful headphones and although I have a hard time at finding fault with them, I'd rate them somewhere behind the Sennheiser HE90 and Sony R10. Yet, they are defintely among the top current production headphones on the market, but a lot depends on what source and amp they are mated with. Enjoy the reading!

 

[gpalmer]

They are some excellent headphones. Right now retailers seem to be heavily discounting them to finish selling them off so you can get them for far less than what I would think they're worth. There seems to be a bit of familiarity required to really appreciate them. They do tend to generate polarized impressions among listeners though. Folks who like Audio-Technica's sound tend to love them, those who don't love the Audio-Technica sound just don't get it and tend to not be very impressed. They are pretty evenly balanced with a bit of emphasis in the upper midrange. The soundstage they generate tends to be smaller than a can like the R-10, but the soundstage is very solid and nicely rendered.

 

[Hirsch]

Unlike many of the other Audio Technica's [size=xx-small](<cough> W2002 <cough>)[/size], the L3000 sounds good with a wide variety of amplifiers. This is good, because you can probably have it sound good with almost anything that's a decent amp, but the hidden downside is that it may be too easy to be satisfied, and not unlock the full potential of the headphone. I'm still building up a bunch of playing hours before going through my amps in depth to see if one stands out with the L3000.

 

[GoRedwings19]

The l3000 is a subtle performer and many people will not like it. Why? Because it doesn't dazzle you like an R-10 can. It shows it qualities when it's needed and even then never to the R-10 levels. It's not in your face detail, instrument seperation all the time. It picks it's moments and then shows you it with the right type of music.

On first listen you wouldn't think it is a particularly pacey headphone. But play Metallica or heavy rock and then it shows it head.

Play Eva cassidy then the pace dissappears and soundstaging and layering become apparent.

If you ever listened to one at a meet it will probably never reveal its subtle but yet satisfying music reproduction.

Hirsch is right about it singing with even modest levels of equipment. You don't really need a super super amp or source and it will sing quite nicely. It's much amp friendlier than the w2002.

The upper mid range emphasis which seems to be an AT woody attribute (wouldn't know about the rest of the AT range) can be countered by a slightly warm amp. Yet this emphasis gives it a very forward sounding presentation. I.e you sit closer to the performance.

The more time you spend with it then it will reward you. Listen to it for 30 mins or 1 hour under meet conditions then it will fail to impress.

When I first got mine and listened to it I thought I made a HUGE mistake as it sounded fine but nothing special. But then I sat down with it and just listened non-stop.

I am not saying people will like it. I am saying give it a chance and make your own decisions. It might be for you or it might not.

But seeming most people get the Wow from an R-10 then the L3000 will be widely dismissed. But from me it won't.

 

[sonic32]

Thanks for all your impressions, so far...