Audio Technica Lovers - Advise needed

[socrates63]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmopragma I guess you didn't get a decent seal.Most listeners have to mod them in order to get a good seal.It's a design flaw, but quite easy to fix.

Is there a thread with this info on how to fix the seal? Mine feel like as if the the pads need to be rotated 90 degrees.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by socrates63 Is there a thread with this info on how to fix the seal? Mine feel like as if the the pads need to be rotated 90 degrees.

Then just rotate them, there is nothing to stop you. You can rotate them to every position, 360 degrees. I find they work the best for me with the seam in the leather aligned with the cable entry point, but certainly YMMV.

 

[nabwong]

Go to stereo and listen to the AT headphones. Bring your own music. My favorite can is currently the ad2000. I didn't like the w5000. Felt is was hollow in the midrange to midbass area.

Najib

 

[bizkid]

I have both the AD2000 and the W5000, the W5000 sounds more neutral and (alot more) realistic, the AD2000 has a small bass/midbass hump which makes everything sound a little warm/veiled compared to the W5000, but they are still burning in. Overall they sound less refined, less detailed, have smaller more direct soundstage. The AD2000 is more of a "fun" headphone which doesnt need the best source nor amping (but will improve anyway ofcourse with both), the W5000 is more demanding with amping but it sounds ok unamped too. The AD2000 is also less critical with crappy recordings however it doesnt really sound _that_ open compared to the W5000, due to more treble on the W5000 some tracks will even sound more open on the W5000.
Im not sure if i'll keep the AD2000 yet but its soundsignature is a nice change from the W5000.

I'm sure there'll be improved line of AD cans someday, AT can do better open headphones than the AD2000.

 

[Tbln]

Thanks folks for all the feedback.

At least it has given me a better perspective on the various offerings from the range.

I generally prefer open cans although I am not averse to considering a closed one if it sounds good.

Possible contenders at the moment appear to be the AD2000 and the W5000.

Much as I would like to go straight out and audition the cans at the dealer's, I am a firm believer in the magic of burn in and do not want to make a wrong decision based on 'virgin' cans.

That's why I am looking for feedback and experiences from other's who have had actual experience with AT cans.

Keep the thoughts coming!

 

[Vic]

Regarding the fit aof the W5000, to rotate the pads willhelp; try all the different combination until you find one tha t gives a fuller sound.
Then gradually the pads will soften and after a few weeks you will get a great fit anyway, no thin sound or lack of bass anymore

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Regarding the fit aof the W5000, to rotate the pads willhelp; try all the different combination until you find one tha t gives a fuller sound. Then gradually the pads will soften and after a few weeks you will get a great fit anyway, no thin sound or lack of bass anymore

Seconded.
Be carefull with rotating though to prevent the pads from slipping off.Putting them back on is no fun, at least the first time.

The pads themselves are a bit asymmetric and after you've found the right position for you it even gets better over time since the pads do adjust to the shape of your face, kind of pad break-in.
Also owners did experiment with bending the headband, extra padding (symmetrical and asymmetrical) and the rubberband mod by kin0kin.
I'm currently utilizing a little asymmetrical extra padding and sometimes the rubber band, but the latter isn't really necessary anymore and more a slight change of presentation due to the proximity effect.

 

[ellover009]

Love the a900ltd's

 

[Bones13]

Still burning in my new W5000. At first, I was worried I had made a big mistake, as I thought at that time my 650s still had a big edge. Now, at 150-200 hours, I have found out what folks consider to be the "Sennheiser Veil" The W5000 just has an alive sound that is not present in my 650s, though the bass is a long stronger in the 650s that makes some music sound better with. For the jazz vocals, and instrumentals that I prefer right now, the AT sounds the best to me.

I can recommend it with the Raptor with ease. I am burning them is on the Lavry headphone amp, and it sounds good too.

The AT W5000 needs a higher setting on the Raptor than the 650s, which surprized me.

 

[socrates63]

Thanks for the rotating the pad tip. As some have suggested, I aligned the thread marks with the cable -- much better fit than before.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bones13 The AT W5000 needs a higher setting on the Raptor than the 650s, which surprized me.

This is because the W5000 needs more current than the 650, as it is low impedance, and tubes are made to put out high voltage, not high current, so they must be driven harder to put out higher amounts of current.

 

[warubozu]

Haven't had the opportunity to audition AT's AD series so I can't comment on them. The W5000s sounds like a good choice as there have been quite a few positive impressions on them and that they pair up quite well with different amps.