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Originally Posted by fierce_freak /img/forum/go_quote.gif
For me it's a huge slam dunk over the A900's (haven't heard the HD25-1's). That's just my preference, though (I don't like the A900's due to midrange weirdness).
I'd love to see comparison between the ATH-AD2000's in your sig and the Denons.
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Perhaps I'm just a fan of the A900 presentation, and I have a *long* way to go on truly coming to a conclusion on these phones, but my initial feeling is that A900s actually do handle at least *some* tracks better than the D2000s. That doesn't mean I'm leaning towards the A900--and I could very well be alone in that opinion. The A900s are not as laid back as the D2000 and deliver some things with more energy. The D2000 is more refined and definitely extends deeper than the A900 (though I think the overall bass slam/impact is greater in the A900). Bass is truly remarkable with the D2000 though. On Alice In Chains' "Sludge Factory", for instance, there's a huge deep boom in the track right before the first verse I've never heard before on any other phone. The A900 barely picks it up, but it's *thunderous* with the D2000. Unbelievable. I surely must have heard the track on DT770s and never noticed it.
On the other hand, with searing guitar, I'm tending to favor A900. On U2's "Vertigo", for instance, the first riff (that comes across only in the right channel) on A900 sounds like a chainsaw. Extremely bold and energetic--electrifying. It sounds just fine on D2000, but perhaps a bit too polite by comparison. It more accurately renders the material perhaps, but it's more casual about it. It doesn't seem to shake you as much. I'm not sure a big-bass closed phone is an ideal choice for this type of music regardless, but it's worth a mention for all-around capabilities.
Again, it's early, but I feel like the D2000 is extremely strong, at the very least, with downtempo electronic music. Ulrich Schnauss sounds fantastic with these--flawless. A900 sounds great with this music as well--but I still give a slight edge to D2000 it.
A900 is more up-front than the D2000 though, no doubt about it. The comfort isn't even close. D2000 hands down.
Still have a long way to go trying various things in my catalog evaluating them. At least I've ordered something that's giving A900 a good run. DT150s, DT770s, and K271S got basically run out of the gym at my place going against them (though the K271S primarily because I happened to find them fatiguing). It may be unfair right now also because the A900s have some hours on them and burn-in hasn't even started on the D2000s.
As far as the D2000 vs. AD2000 comparison, I'm possibly the wrong person to ask as I've never heard a phone as good overall as the AD2000--these included. It doesn't have the bass quantity of either of these closed phones or others (which is why I still want another pair), but it's a *phenomenal* headphone that outclasses either A900 or D2000 by a very wide margin overall. I could go into more detail, but that sums it up. That headphone is on a pretty high on a pedestal with me. I can't imagine something outclassing it that I can afford right now (though, admittedly, I've never heard RS1s or RS2s so perhaps I need to reserve judgment until I hear them). Of course, it has the distinct advantage of being open and over $200 more expensive than the D2000. The pads and fit (stock) on the ATH-AD2000 are very strange though so the comfort nod would go to D2000 on that.
I might need to clarify a statement I made above though. The D2000 does indeed sound noticeably better on my MicroDAC > Headfive rig than it does coming straight out of my Ipod. So it does, apparently, scale to some degree. Still would sound quite serviceable on an unamped rig though, was my point. Assume perhaps then it would sound even better with superior DACs/Amps--though I'm a *slight* skeptic on both.
-nice to read your impressions..
