Compare the A900 vs. the Sony 3000 unamped

[markychas]

I'm looking for a great headphone that excels in reproducing orchestral music (classical and soundtracks) from my Sony portable. I want to use it un-amped and was wondering if anyone can compare the two.
thanks-

 

[lizzardfire]

I have never tried the A900, but I do own Sony CD3000s. I just wanted to say that driven out of a portable, the sound wasn't great. It was still detailed, but it lost a lot of its impact, in all ranges of sound. It just sounded less lively than the music should have sounded.

Also, if it means anything, these cans are definitely not portable. They will fall off your head if you attempt to do anything strenuous (I almost had them slip off once while *headbanging*)

 

[markychas]

I owned them (Sony 3k's) when I had a larger rig, and loved them.
I did try their cheaper little bro's the 2000's and the Sony drove them well enough.
thanks

 

[warubozu]

I own the CD3Ks and wouldn't recommend using out of your portable unamped. As mentioned earlier the the CD3Ks needs to be amped to sound it's best otherwise it would sound like it lacks punch. Without an amp the CD3Ks also sound less detailed, I wasn't able to hear certain details that I normally would with the cans amped.

 

[EdipisReks]

i think you get about 75% of their sound running the CD3000's unamped. it's ok, but not great.

 

[TWIFOSP]

You know how everything thinks the 3ks are wickedly bright and sound like crap because of it? Yea, that's pretty much true when they aren't amped. It's even true when they aren't properly amped.

No amp + 3ks = you probably won't like them.

 

[Sovkiller]

Well definitelly with an amp the sound is glorious with the CD3000, but I disagree in that the sound is not good unamped, all depends on which portable are you using, to feed it. Out of my D-34 and D-33 the sound is still very good, and it does not lack puch or impact, just that the bass is a little weak, but if you use the bassboost on the first setting, this is completelly different animal, the sound is very loud, and very good.....again an amp make it sound it's best, but this apply to any headphone in the market too, IMO...with the difference that many of them out of the portables sound really crappy....

 

[lindrone]

CD3000 unamped sounds a little on the thin side, and its treble energy can get a little sibilant and out of control sometimes. Generally speaking, when unamped, A900 really gives you an overall more pleasant experience. Meanwhile CD3000 still has a bigger soundstage, the acute detail and everything else that makes CD3000 a different class really doesn't come to full fruition without a good amp.

If the usage is going to be strictly unamped, A900 is really more suitable for that particular situation. If you're planning to get an amp down the road, you can open up much more possibility with CD3000.

 

[markychas]

I'm totally psyched with all the feedback on my thread
Thanks!