[mulveling]

Listened a little bit more last night. The L5000 stands out quite a lot, with a very different presentation from all of my other top headphones here: ES-R10, L3000, 009, ES-1a. Very bright, vivid, crisp. Quite surprisingly - even the 009 sounds more mellow overall. Once I got into listening, all of these draw me into music in their own way - it's important to note that quick swaps often don't give the brain time to adjust to a headphone's "listening philosophy". Some headphones require more adjustment time than others. Some headphones (not the ones here) even seem to require a certain frame of mind that doesn't happen every day.

• The ES-R10 are just so damn good, but they can sound dull and boring during your "adjustment time" coming from a more brash sounding headphone. They're anything but dull when you focus on them a while. And they're more than OK for heavy metal - they can even be great.
• The L3000 are just chalk full of charm and magic as always. A lifelong favorite
• The 009 and ES-1a are always both pure technical and musical excellence, but on any given day one of these will do more for me than the other. 009 was it the last couple times, but this time it was the ES-1a.
• It's been a few years, but am I crazy for at all comparing the L5000's bright, vivid sound to the Focal Stellia? The L5000 seems less strident somehow...and I like it better....but the similarity is there. From 3K to 5K is worth it for the build & materials alone.

Ooops, I forgot the (excellent) 007 Mk I again! Need to work those in the rotation.

 

[Pastwa]

I very much liked the L5000 paired with Brainwavz XL hybrid round pads, they maintain the overall tonal balance but introduce extra weight to the sound plus a bit more of acoustic freedom (larger chambers) plus the sound definitelly becomes more muscular. I would avoid fully perforated pads ( vide Dekoni) they make L5k sound lighter and brighter which is not desirable in most systems. Also, with the two stock cables provided the xlr version is to me the more accomplished with L5k, simply more musical.

Really good pairings worth mentoning, L5000 with their own AT-HA5050H (no surprise here) but also were super impressive with the RAAL HSA-1b amplifier.

 

[protoss]

Yaxi earpads. I mention them alot. High quality and fast shipping.
https://www.yaxi.jp/product-gallery/a2000z-ad2000x/
$59


I did not like the stretch of the brainwaz XL. I did try them but the stretch and feeling of it didn't like.

The best pads as of now are the Yaxi and the last remaining W5000 pads for all the woodies.

 

[protoss]

The build of the L5000 is great. Modern and sleek.
But the way the L3000 are built is classy.

 

[tk3]

So precious...both the L5000 & L3000!!! I wish I still own the L3000. I only own the W3000ANV now.

I was wondering what you thought about the two 3000 headphones. Might have asked this before, but I don't remember.
The W3000 and L3000 are incidentally the two headphones I still own. I was trying to sell the W3000 years ago but couldn't find a buyer, so I just have it boxed up here now.
The L3000 is still my favorite headphone but nowadays I don't use my desktop setup that much anymore, because IEMs are just that more convenient (especially in this heat!)

I hadn't bought much audio gear after the W3000 (back in 2011ish) since I was satisfied with what I had, but with the pandemic I decided to treat myself and got a new portable setup in the FiiO M11 Plus and Thieaudio Monarch MKII.

ES-R10

I had to Google this since I'd never heard of those.
Very cool, and the price seems reasonable for what you get. I also like that they're based in Hong Kong.

 

[williamchc]

Really love those cans. L3000G still have a silk like sound even it is already 19 years old ^^

 

[purk]

Really love those cans. L3000G still have a silk like sound even it is already 19 years old ^^

Cable mod? nice!!!

 

[protoss]

Really love those cans. L3000G still have a silk like sound even it is already 19 years old ^^

I want your green. Name the price. I need more.......................................
And don't answer to anyone else. They are fake collectors, protoss said so

 

[williamchc]

Not cable mod, its an a2dc to lemo adapter :-D
Since the cable is for Qualia 010

 

[williamchc]

I want your green. Name the price. I need more.......................................
And don't answer to anyone else. They are fake collectors, protoss said so

 

[protoss]

Hey now, this isn't a competition.

Your gear already rank higher than 99.99% of people here.

 

[purk]

Not cable mod, its an a2dc to lemo adapter :-D
Since the cable is for Qualia 010

I thought that was the L3000. Getting old!

 

[protoss]

@purk
Hey, stop being a boomer
The L5000 takes A2DC connectors. Another trashy connector.
Why cant all companies just agree on 3.5mm connectors. So lame.

 

[purk]

@purk
Hey, stop being a boomer
The L5000 takes A2DC connectors. Another trashy connector.
Why cant all companies just agree on 3.5mm connectors. So lame.

Far from being a boomer but may need a bi-focal soon.

 

[protoss]

Far from being a boomer but may need a bi-focal soon.

The life of a human. So fragile and short, how sad...
Hope we can witness L7000 and L9000 before we leave