Audio-Technica ATH-L3000 " The Legendary Leatherhead "

[ScornDefeat]

I'll be patiently awaiting when you finally cave and list your next L3000

 

[Saberpunch]

Just received a ATH-W11R in the mail, along with a set of Yaxi pads.

Quite excited to give these a try, ATH-W11R and L3000 are the two woodies I've always wanted.

Edit: How often do you guys typically see L3000s pop up for sale these days (not just on here, but anywhere including Ebay)? I think I've seen around two or three a year since 2020.

There is one in Ebay right now, but it is super overpriced at $5.5K and in Japan. The last L3000 I saw sold in headfi classified was a modded and was worth around $4k. The last Yahoo auction was priced better than the other 2 at around 386,100 yen which is probably around $2800 per Google.

Ebay Link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1858101054...customid=fec33654-273d-11ee-8134-636437633039

Within 2 years,

I sold 3 l3000

1 to Number1sixerfan
1 to Goldwerger
1 to Saberpunch

@mulveling you miss ya chance

I have a few more
Don't ask why.
L3000 king over here

Sorry not selling anymore.

Still one of the best purchases I ever made. Got one of the most fun headphone on planet Earth right now and a history lesson on a lot of the old-school gems.

 

[protoss]

@Saberpunch

$5500 for that!! Holy schiit! I check picture 2 and want to sue him for abuse
Picture 2 = $1500

 

[Saberpunch]

Yeah lol. The logo is faded and the leather look pressed in for some reason while covered in spots. Can’t believe he had the guts to price it that high. I guessing the paper worth 90% of the asking price . Yahoo auction really is the way for old school Japanese headphones, but still gotta pay customs and pray for shipping to not mess up.

Also nice W10VTG pic. The W10VTG was my first ATH woodies and what got me invested into trying another ATH woodie. Still keeping me clean and polish to this day

 

[ScornDefeat]

I saw that Ebay listing and just laughed....poor condition, well above-market value, seller with 96% feedback.

My desire for L3000 is strong, but not that crazy!

 

[williamchc]

Don't just concentrating only on the outlook of L3000, I've heard several L3000/G (3 or 4 don't remembered), as well as some R10 & Q010, some got heavy bass and sound muddy. Not sure because of previous usage or S/N or both. If there is an opportunity I would suggest an audition before purchasing it.

 

[goldwerger]

The last L3000 I saw sold in headfi classified was a modded and was worth around $4k.

I had my L3000 modded to detachable 3.5mm ports in cups. Such an upgrade in quality of life (hated the janky fixed stock cable). The ability to plug any high end after-market custom cables at will is liberating

 

[protoss]

@goldwerger
Poor cables... hope you gave it a nice funeral.
It did suck thou lol.
-----------‐-------------------
@williamchc
That's some great experience take you got. I notice the R10 had the biggest difference between models compare to l3000 and qualias thou. I will be cautious with a r10 buy first and very cautious with the qualia for its dead driver durability. The biggest issue with l3000 is the cable and its cable issues.

 

[goldwerger]

I will be cautious with a r10 buy first and very cautious with the qualia for its dead driver durability.

Fortunately my R10 has been working perfectly (so fact, let's hope I haven't jixed it..)

As to the Qualia... almost bought one a few months ago. A stroke of bad/good luck had their driver fail in the seller's hands before the transaction concluded. I'm not going there again..

The biggest issue with l3000 is the cable and its cable issues.

See above... can't recommend enough detachable mod.

 

[protoss]

@ScornDefeat
I'm curious what you think about the W11R? Did you give it a try yet.

 

[mulveling]

Between Purk and myself we heard at least 4 pairs of L3000. Plus a set of spare L3000 drivers in a W2002. There was 1 set of L3000 which sounded different that the rest -- it was richer, and more bass heavy. But it still sounded more like the other L3000, than say a bass-heavy R10 versus a bass-light R10. I never heard a bad sounding L3000. If you rate "bass heaviness" on a scale of 1 to 10, then bass light R10 is a 1, bass heavy R10 is 3, normal L3000 is 7, and that "bass heavy" L3000 was an 8. The bass light R10 is unlistenable to me lol.

The L3000's bass in general is special because it's about as far as you can take it in a headphone while still sounding tuneful and beautiful (almost magical in how it does this). The L3000 drivers in W2002 shell was interesting. It still sounded more like an L3000 overall, and much much better than stock W2002. But definitely a less warm, more neutral tonality versus a normal L3000.

 

[protoss]

@mulveling

Yeah agree.

For me I heard:

7 L3000
15+ R10s maybe more
2 Omegas
4 007mk1
2 HE90
4 He Audio Jade
2 HP1000
2 K1000
2 L5000
1 Qualia
1 HE60

And the rest are once or twice. Not that important compared to the above list.
The Sony R10s are a hit or miss. Mostly a hit. Half of them probably 8 of them sounded identical. 4 of them muddy. Another 3 just sound off. Not sure what it was. or maybe I was distracted with other gear?

I really like the W10vtg bass over the l3000. Maybe it's more colorful

I haven't reviewed or heard the W3000anv !! Schiit, just thinking about it now. Heard the bass is very nice? Damn maybe I know what to try out in the near future.

 

[number1sixerfan]

Between Purk and myself we heard at least 4 pairs of L3000. Plus a set of spare L3000 drivers in a W2002. There was 1 set of L3000 which sounded different that the rest -- it was richer, and more bass heavy. But it still sounded more like the other L3000, than say a bass-heavy R10 versus a bass-light R10. I never heard a bad sounding L3000. If you rate "bass heaviness" on a scale of 1 to 10, then bass light R10 is a 1, bass heavy R10 is 3, normal L3000 is 7, and that "bass heavy" L3000 was an 8. The bass light R10 is unlistenable to me lol.

The L3000's bass in general is special because it's about as far as you can take it in a headphone while still sounding tuneful and beautiful (almost magical in how it does this). The L3000 drivers in W2002 shell was interesting. It still sounded more like an L3000 overall, and much much better than stock W2002. But definitely a less warm, more neutral tonality versus a normal L3000.

Yup, that's been my experience as well. I'm on my third pair of L3000, and they pretty much all sound the same.. with my very first pair (from memory) being just a tad bit darker and boomier/stronger impact with the bass. But very similar across the board. If my current pair ever goes out, I'm going to grab another. They really are that special.

@mulveling

Yeah agree.

For me I heard:

7 L3000
15+ R10s maybe more
2 Omegas
4 007mk1
2 HE90
4 He Audio Jade
2 HP1000
2 K1000
2 L5000
1 Qualia
1 HE60

And the rest are once or twice. Not that important compared to the above list.
The Sony R10s are a hit or miss. Mostly a hit. Half of them probably 8 of them sounded identical. 4 of them muddy. Another 3 just sound off. Not sure what it was. or maybe I was distracted with other gear?

I really like the W10vtg bass over the l3000. Maybe it's more colorful

I haven't reviewed or heard the W3000anv !! Schiit, just thinking about it now. Heard the bass is very nice? Damn maybe I know what to try out in the near future.

What's your take on the W5000? I've owned it a few times. Really loved the clarity and tone, but the fit was so finicky. If it was off just a bit it sounded entirely wonky. Ultimately sold it both times because of that. But it was my first woodie AT. Lot of good memories.

 

[ScornDefeat]

@ScornDefeat
I'm curious what you think about the W11R? Did you give it a try yet.

Just spent a couple of hours with the W11R, stock pads and then Yaxi AD2000 pads.

With stock pads, I found the headphone to have a good overall balance, spacious soundstage (for a closed back), pleasant mids with great vocals. Overall, a natural timbre and enjoyable presentation, although the bass was a bit lacking, particularly sub-bass. The dynamics and attack are not top quality here, but the trade-off is likely worth it for the natural presentation and timbre. The seal from the worn-in pads wasn't very good.

Switching to the Yaxi pads, the seal improved, the bass became much more prominent, overall tonality warmed up a bit, soundstage expanded even more....but the mids lost some of their natural presence and vocal timbre suffered.

I think if there was a way to get the middle-ground combination of the (worn-in) stock pads and the Yaxi pads, this would be a grand slam for me. Still, I'm pleased with these on the Yaxi pads. If I could turn back the clock a decade or two and get a brand-new pair of the stock pads, that might be the ticket.

 

[williamchc]

Well, I am certainly not a bass head. Bass lover seems to love those punchy headphones like PS1000, ED9, DX1000 which are not my cup of tea.

But for those who think as opposite, Q010, HE1, ED10, may suit your taste.