[SV_huMMer]

A question to those lucky who had a chance to listen to (A/Bing even better) both of these cans. I am looking to get one of the two. Where I live the price difference is more than twice. I wonder whether it's worth it, REALLY.

Or is it the same story as with A700 and A900, where a700 would be almost on par with 1.5 times more expensive A900 (I ended up getting myself A700 after careful A/B session at one local store). Unfortunately, I don't have the same opportunity with AD1000/AD2000, and I'll have to buy online, based on reviews and opinions.

Looking very much forward to your comments and suggestions

 

[ironbut]

I've never heard the ad1000's but,.. I haven't listened to my k701,hd600,dt880 or dt990 very much since I got the ad2000's. BTW, I don't believe that the 2000's drivers are used in any of their other phones.

 

[Aaron Friedman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironbut /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've never heard the ad1000's but,.. I haven't listened to my k701,hd600,dt880 or dt990 very much since I got the ad2000's. BTW, I don't believe that the 2000's drivers are used in any of their other phones.

How is Ad2000 compared to grado gs1000 or grado rs1(2)?

 

[Gil Schwartzman]

i've not heard either, but I recall reading a few times that the AD1000 was not a very good headphone, and that it was defintely advised to just make the jump to the AD2000.

 

[AudioCats]

Have not heard the Ad1000, but during the last Seattle meet I had a chance to try some of the mid-level phones (580/600/650/DT990'05/RS-1/W1000/W5000/AD2000 etc), only the W5000 and AD2000 impressed me to a point that I considered getting. Now that was to MY ears. And the AD2000 was better sounding than the W5000, probably due to I am so used to the open air sound.

A hasty compare that was, but without guess work, the AD2000 was the winner. My guess is the AD1000, being within the same price range as the 600/650/990, wouldn't not perform as well, otherwise they would have taken a big chunk out of the 600/650/990 market.

 

[003]

Or everybody just skipped over them in favor of the AD2000, and they are still a gold mine waiting to be found. In any case the AD2000 is currently the best headphone I have heard next to the K1000 and I have heard the top recommended headphones including the HD650, K701 and SR225.

 

[milkpowder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Or everybody just skipped over them in favour of the AD2000, and they are still a gold mine waiting to be found.

I think this is most likely the case rather than the AD1000 being poor sounding headphones. There is definitely a lack of experience with the AD1000 on this forum.

 

[Asr]

Participant #5 on my Loaner Program #1 (link in sig) owns an AD1000. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to his review.

 

[redrich2000]

I have read opinions that find the AD2000 too clinical and cold and prefer the AD1000 for this reason. If you couldn't tell the difference between the A700 and A900 I'd reckon you'd be more than happy with the AD1000. Even the AD900 is supposed to be an excellent and very underated headphone. I don't mean any disrespect by that, its just that while Head-Fi is fantastic source of info and advice, it can convince you to spend more money than you need to be happy. If I was you I'd get the AD-900 or AD-1000. If in 6 months time your not happy, you can always sell them on the FS forums and try the AD2000.

 

[Gil Schwartzman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 003 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Or everybody just skipped over them in favor of the AD2000, and they are still a gold mine waiting to be found. In any case the AD2000 is currently the best headphone I have heard next to the K1000 and I have heard the top recommended headphones including the HD650, K701 and SR225.

Also possible. I never meant to imply the AD1000 is a bad headphone. We need more opinions on it.

 

[crypt@]

By no mean is AD1000 a bad head phone, it just doesn't shine as well beside AD2000 is all. Much like puting AD2000 up against W5000 (, to my hearing, in comparision W5000 has pin-point sound image and better stage. And there is a different between "air" and sound stage...) or L3000.

A good point by redrich2000 is, if you can't justify the sonic improvment between A700 and A900, I feel you will be quite happy with AD1000 - and in all seriousness, that is most definitely a good thing.

AD1000 has a better handle on the mid than AD900, which BTW is bargin basement in terms of $ to audio bliss, with a punchier bass.

That said, I am one of the few who prefer W5000 than L3000 so do take the above with a _handful_ of salt! :>

P.S. Even though W5000 spells the end of my head phone searching journey, I am still impressed by AD900 whenever I get to hear it.

 

[donunus]

crypt, so you are saying... If money is no object...
w5000
l3000
ad2000
ad1000
ad900
Am I right?

 

[wower]

I probably would have called the AD2000 cold too until I paired it with my yammy. (My Aira was always much happier with other European phones.) I'm very happy with my AD2000. None of the usual audiophile words stick out. It's just extremely musical. Small string quartets or solo cello is airy and lively. Great quality bass is there too but it has to be in the recording in the first place, which I guess makes it a very transparent phone. Compared to Grados its a tossup and depends on the listener, it has a less coloured sound when compared to grados and probably does a lot of technical things right, but people still like Grados because they are fun and musical and rock. The AD2000 puts one further back than the Grados, but I would still say on the stage, and not nearly as far back as senns. Symphonies on the AD2000, IMO, suck.

 

[NoPants]

have to agree that the AD2000 is less than ideal for symphonies, I think it might have something to do with the somewhat compressed soundstage, which is the opposite of what you(at least I did) would expect from a headphone with an open design like the AD2000.

 

[wower]

But the upper registers are really amazing as you would expect from an open design. Piano, Bells, etc., are just startlingly life-like and have real weight and energy. But yes, a "somehwat compressed soundstage" is right. Maybe it's because the drives aren't angled.