[peteham]

Anyone have experience with these two headphones. I have the W1000s, and can't seem to find enjoyment out of them (the lack of bass is killing me), and I stupidly sold my A700s. I know the differences between the A700s and the W1000s. Who knows the difference between the A900s and the W1000s? Or, for that matter, the AD900s and the W1000s (beyond the obvious open vs. closed)? Much thanks.

 

[WittyzTH]

Maybe you can try the Fitz mod with W1000. I guess with would work.

 

[Agnostic]

The A900 has more bass and is warmer sounding and less neutral than the W1000. Overall the A900 is similar to the A700 but it is noticeably faster and more detailed.

The AD900 is very airy and has a very big soundstage but no bass to speak of. It's a great can for classical but imo not suitable for any other genres.

 

[TMM]

AD900 has a fair bit of bass after a lengthy burn in.

 

[nickchen]

The A900 has more bass, provides more fun and has less coloured mids than the W1000. Problem are its slight mids recession and its modest detailing abilities though - compared to the W1000, the A900 is only midfi IMO. I wouldn't recommend such a downgrade.

Maybe the Denon D2000 would work here - the best "basshead" audiophile fon I crossed until now.

 

[M3NTAL]

if you have a chance, try the W1000 with tubes. My little dot MKIVSE really helped them out. Smoothed everything out a bit and added some weight to the bottom end. But you are right, they are lacking in low lows. They are a great compliment to the Sennheiser HD-6x0 or Denon AH-Dx000

 

[peteham]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3NTAL /img/forum/go_quote.gif if you have a chance, try the W1000 with tubes. My little dot MKIVSE really helped them out. Smoothed everything out a bit and added some weight to the bottom end. But you are right, they are lacking in low lows. They are a great compliment to the Sennheiser HD-6x0 or Denon AH-Dx000

That's one of the reasons I've been keeping them - they compliment my Senns and Denons. Any truth to the idea that the W1000s don't like tube amps like the Darkvoice 336 or the LD Mark III, because of their low impedance?

 

[P_1]

Try to get a pair of A900ti's while you still can, from what people have said it sounds like they fit the bill for what you want.

 

[big-ban]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteham /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyone have experience with these two headphones. I have the W1000s, and can't seem to find enjoyment out of them (the lack of bass is killing me), and I stupidly sold my A700s. I know the differences between the A700s and the W1000s. Who knows the difference between the A900s and the W1000s? Or, for that matter, the AD900s and the W1000s (beyond the obvious open vs. closed)? Much thanks.

Before blowing any more money on anything, may I suggest a simple and reversible mod that'll take you a max of five minutes?
I've done this to my W1000 too and I've mentioned it a few times here on head-fi: it's as simple as grabbing some cotton wool pads (you know, those for removing makeup - it's sometimes useful to have women around

), splitting them in half, making a roll of each half an stuffing those rolls under the top and front side of the pads. Don't worry about damaging anything, AT cans are built tough and they don't take any damage from this. It's also easily reversible.
If done right, this should give you a nice bass boost, making its presentation thoroughly more enjoyable. A buddy of mine also tried this and preferred the modded W1000 to the D2000 by far. He said he wouldn't have liked the W1000 all that much without the mod.

 

[onvn]

I have the AD1000 and W1000 but I don't know how the AD900 compares with the AD1000 and therefore the W1000 also.

From my experience, the W1000 is far more enjoyable to listen to when jazz, classical or the more acoustic music is to your taste than the AD1000. The AD1000 is a lot more dynamic-sounding meaning it doesn't sound so natural to me. Electric sounds suit it more.. and it has more bass which is also makes it more suitable for rock, R'n'B, etc. But then again I'd choose my MS-2i any day over the AD1000. The tonality is so much better and it sounds much fuller. The AD1000's advantage over the MS-2i is only the soundstage part because as most grados are, the soundstage is near non-existent. The W1000 has a much more natural sound to it and there is nothing more I can say. So perhaps you would want to consider the MS-2i for more bass.

From what I've read the AD900 is very similar to the AD1000 and also the AD700. The AD900 does what the AD700 do but better and the same with the AD1000 over the AD900.

I have absolutely no experience with other closed AT cans other than the W1000 and W5000.

 

[NiKO]

ONVN, you stated that the W1000 are better than the AD900 as regards acoustic music, but did you use an amp in this case? What about for a use without amp, which of both headphones is better for such a music then?
I'll be in Singapore soon and plan to buy either of them. I don't want to buy any amp so I'm wondering what is best. And I mainly listen to classical and jazz, from a computer/mp3 player.

 

[Bengt77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by P_1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Try to get a pair of A900ti's while you still can, from what people have said it sounds like they fit the bill for what you want.

+1

I have both the AD900 and the A900Ti and the latter is the better headphone at nearly all times, hands down. Only when it comes to vocal presentation (which is mids-specific) and soundstage, the AD900 wins. While I've never owned nor heard the W1000, the A900Ti's is a great, great sounding headphone. It's bass is certainly more detailed, deeper and more textured (albeit a bit slower) than what you get in the AD900, which can indeed sound somewhat bass-light (but really isn't, by the way; it's just really fast). Even it's highs are better than those of the AD900.

 

[Bengt77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by onvn /img/forum/go_quote.gif From what I've read the AD900 is very similar to the AD1000 and also the AD700. The AD900 does what the AD700 do but better and the same with the AD1000 over the AD900.

From what I've read over the years here on Head-Fi, most people consider the AD1000 to be an overly bright and bass-light version of the AD900, which is, in turn, a more refined, slightly bass-heavier and overall more enjoyable version of the AD700. Of the three I've only heard the AD900, so don't take my word for it.

EDIT: I found some interesting threads that might be helpful:

• A comparison between AD700 / AD900 / AD1000 / AD2000
• ATH-AD900 vs ATH-AD1000 vs ATH-AD2000
• ATH-A900Ti vs A900LTD vs W1000 - A Comparison

 

[daniele_g]

I'm very interested in the initial question posted by peteham (i.e. comparison between W1000 and A900, not AD900), but that's just because I do appreciate my W1000 so much that I want something similar but cheaper to use at work.

I guess ATH's are very sensitive to the amp: don't know about Darkvoice and LD, but e.g. I don't like W1000 that much with XCanV2 (hybrid, I know; but I guess it's a matter of impedance), whilst they sing neatly better -not dramatically, but neatly- from the socket of my not-so-hi-end CDP ! :-O
I think soon or later I'll go for a SS amp for them (I heard them at their best with a Rudistor: collecting money, I'll reach it in ten years or so...).


ciao
daniele

 

[Aruna]

W1000 are dry & lack of bass, you may need tube amps. or get W5000 instead if you have no amp or have solid-state amp.
A900 have more bass. but mids need some weight. and it may sounds dark compared to W1000.
A900Ti have good amount & detail of bass. Also good mids & treble. Everything sounds more music than w1000 but w1000 may be a bit better in soundstage.
AD models sounds very difference from closed model in midrange (I like A & W model more) . if you need bass, may be AD2000.

If you need more amount of bass, try Denon D2000/5000.