ATH-W2002: Another Owner, Another View

[Audio-Me]

Doh, I hate that half sphere look, hehe. Are there not any closed headphones available that will satisfy me? =\

 

[bootman]

Quote:

Originally posted by joelongwood Well, that poorly-built babe you refer to, has an older sister that is built like the proverbial brick sh%@ house! And her voice is as seductive as they come.

Amen.

 

[MirandaX]

Quote:

Originally posted by Spad The overall sound, the combination of clarity, tonal balance, speed, and the ability to resolve complex textures, rivals and may even exceed, that of the Etymotics.

Spad, could you post a bit more detail about how the W2002's compare to the Etys? (I suspect that if a headphone could combine the Ety's balanced sound with a little bit of visceral bass, it might be perfect...)

 

[JML]

For a seductive voice, download the very short "Invitation" mp3 on John Sunier's binaural site, at http://www.binaural.com/bindemos.html

 

[joelongwood]

Quote:

Originally posted by JML For a seductive voice, download the very short "Invitation" mp3 on John Sunier's binaural site, at http://www.binaural.com/bindemos.html

Whoa!!

 

[M Rael]

Quote:

Originally posted by joelongwood ..has an older sister that is built like the proverbial brick sh%@ house!

Credit where credit is due. Its the highpoint of Grado design and build quality. It must have simply got too expensive to machine, so they discontinued it years and years ago. They feel like they are 'hewn' from a block of aluminum rather than assembled from a bunch of parts. And they murder the 325's I used to have.

 

[joelongwood]

Very nice pic Mark..........you're damned good with that camera! Thanks.

 

[Spad]

Quote:

Originally posted by MirandaX Spad, could you post a bit more detail about how the W2002's compare to the Etys? (I suspect that if a headphone could combine the Ety's balanced sound with a little bit of visceral bass, it might be perfect...)

When I wrote that I really pondered whether or not I was succumbing to the 'new-toy-itus' that seems almost contagious here at times. With slightly more time on the W2002s I'm even more confident of my statement's accuracy.

As the vast majority of Ety owners will affirm, once you learn the ins-and-outs (literally) of Etys they immediately become the standard of comparison for all future headphone encounters.

For me, the "Ety experience" is characterized by two things: the ability to resolve complex textures, and the sensation that there is no intervening technology between the listener and the music.

The value of these attributes varies by one's taste. For example, those who listen primarily to rock experience music differently than someone who prefers classical music as I do. Rock music, even when experienced live, is usually actually heard over speakers and the dynamics often consist simply of "loud" and "much louder."

Conversely, live classical music, is more often a completely acoustic experience where the concert hall, and one's placement within it, plays a significant roll. The dynamic range varies almost as a matter of course from the barely audible to near deafening crescendos.

The aims of these two listener groups when auditioning headphones vary in other ways. This was brought home to me when a rock loving fellow Head-Fier here recently (in effect) said he wanted his headphone system to sound like a fine speaker based system. I found this mildly surprising. This is the last thing I want. I want my phones to, as closely as possible, replicate that live concert experience that I've had in various venues around the world.

In many respects, I believe it's just as important to consider the musical tastes of a reviewer as it is to consider the equipment used in the review. For example, when I write about the W2002s ability to isolate a single instrument, I may mean a single clarinet in the woodwinds section of a hundred piece orchestra. The rock lover, using identical words, may be addressing one of possibly two electric guitars being distinct from the drums in a five piece rock group.

I hope rock or rap lovers won't take this as an affront to their musical tastes. No such offense is intended.

Finally--after that long digression--back to MirandaX' question. As I write this, I'm listening to Mahler's Adagietto from his fifth symphony (Berliner/Abbado/DG), a performance I've heard numerous times over the Etys. It has never sounded more lush, dynamic, or exquisitely beautiful than with the W2002/Corda HA-1.

 

[M Rael]

Quote:

Originally posted by Spad In many respects, I believe it's just as important to consider the musical tastes of a reviewer as it is to consider the equipment used in the review. For example, when I write about the W2002s ability to isolate a single instrument, I may mean a single clarinet in the woodwinds section of a hundred piece orchestra. The rock lover, using identical words, may be addressing one of possibly two electric guitars being distinct from the drums in a five piece rock group.

This point doesnt get made often enough, and its a good one.

 

[MirandaX]

Thanks, Spad! I agree with you about the traits that make up the Ety experience. I'd add to the list a very balanced sound (not dark, not bright; violin solos sound just right, not piercingly bright or irritating). And Mahler's 5th is indeed a gorgeous piece.

Sounds like I will have to try the W100s.

 

[RickG]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Spad
In many respects, I believe it's just as important to consider the musical tastes of a reviewer as it is to consider the equipment used in the review. For example, when I write about the W2002s ability to isolate a single instrument, I may mean a single clarinet in the woodwinds section of a hundred piece orchestra. The rock lover, using identical words, may be addressing one of possibly two electric guitars being distinct from the drums in a five piece rock group.


Cool. With the Stax Omega II's, you can read the guitar and clarinet player's thoughts!....... (they just wanted to finish the damn gig and go home!)

 

[KR...]

Quote:

Credit where credit is due. Its the highpoint of Grado design and build quality. It must have simply got too expensive to machine, so they discontinued it years and years ago.

Those are my darlings you are speaking of

I wonder how the RS-1 compares in built quailty?

 

[joelongwood]

Quote:

I wonder how the RS-1 compares in built quailty?

KR.....the RS-1s seem like little toys in the company of the HP=1000s.....they're not even close to the build quality of their older siblings.

 

[RickG]

Quote:

Originally posted by joelongwood KR.....the RS-1s seem like little toys in the company of the HP=1000s.....they're not even close to the build quality of their older siblings.

Yummy...one of these days....!!! These are the ONLY high-end phones still on my wish list!

 

[kelly]

Is this the latest W2002 thread? I'm #817. It seems that it shipped Friday after all and arrived today--much quicker than expected. I'll post more thoughts on them after I have some time--just reporting a status change.