[casper3127]

Recently I bought a refurbished AH-D7000. I noticed that there is no serial number sticker inside the earcups.

The writing on the diaphragm is "FOSTER 481842 CHINA". Here are some photos:
Without Flash
With Flash

Do AH-D7000 and AH-D5000 share the same Biodyna diaphragm?
How can I be sure that I bought a genuine AH-D7000?

Foster was the company that produced the AH-D2000/5000/7000s for Denon until they finally broke their relationship, starting Foster (Fostex) producing their own headphones as well as manufacturing the drivers and complete headsets for other OEMS who used to re-brand them.

It's quite strange that your Denons don't come with that serial #. Have you had by chance a look at the other side of the drivers? I mean, you can disassemble the pads, slightly and carefully rotating them and see if there's the sticker there.

I think you're looking in the wrong position... And if in your photos the driver comes with the Foster trademark, I would assume they're genuine. I've never ever heard of fake units of these mythical headphones.


Regards.

 

[Arjestin]

Have you had by chance a look at the other side of the drivers?

There is no serial number under the earpads, where it should have been. I removed the driver diaphragms from the frame and looked on the other side - nope, not there. There is of course a serial number on the back of the AH-D7000 box, but not on the headphone itself. And that got me a bit concerned.

I've never ever heard of fake units of these mythical headphones.

Many models, such as Fostex TH-600, Massdrop TH-X00, and E-MU Teak use the FOSTER 481842 Biodyna diaphragm, which can be bought here.

Fostex TH-600 sensitivity is 94 dB/mW.
Denon AH-D7000 sensitivity is 108 dB/mW.

AFAIK, AH-D7000 cannot possibly have the same driver as TH-600, with such a difference in sensitivity. I'm afraid someone switched drivers in my AH-D7000s. Can somebody please upload photos of the writing on their AH-D7000 drivers?

 

[Sko0byDoo]

This is mine:



Look like identical. I have the TH900 and it has a different signature to the D7K so they don't use same drivers.

 

[Blueshound24]

This is mine:



Look like identical. I have the TH900 and it has a different signature to the D7K so they don't use same drivers.

How would you describe the differences, pros and cons between the D7k and TH900?

 

[Arjestin]

This is mine:



Look like identical. I have the TH900 and it has a different signature to the D7K so they don't use same drivers.

Thanks. That is a photo of your AH-D7000 driver, right? If so, than it looks like the difference between AH-D7000 and TH-600 driver markings is in the "8HD" opposite to the 481842 number. On the TH-600 driver these markings are "3HS". If another AH-D7000 owner would kindly upload a photo of his driver markings, we could confirm this.

 

[Sko0byDoo]

Yup, that one of the D7K drivers!

How would you describe the differences, pros and cons between the D7k and TH900?

Just did some test tracks on both, was a surprised that the D7K sounds really nice. Tested both on my Gilmore's DynaloMini fed by the Yggdrasil Ana2. The D7K's stock cable had been swapped for a stock HD800's cable (a significant improvement); TH900 is all stock. Both got Lawton's pads on.

Bass: The D7K seems to rumble/decay much later. TH900 (I only have the Mark-1 version) is more precise, attacks and decays are right on. D7K bass seems to extend a bit more but TH900 bass seems too be more textured. Hard to call which is better, I refer D7K for general listening and TH900 for critical listening, say classical musics with all the notes to be precise.

Midrange: TH900 is much better in terms of clarity and less nasal. D7K is notoriously known for the heavy U-shape sound signature. There are certain musical passages (not necessarily vocals) that I can clearly hear thru the TH900 than D7K.

Highs/treble: Surprisingly, since when the HD800 cable was swapped in, the highs opened up nicely. Here, the D7K sounds more open, while the TH900 was more congested and compressed. I give the D7K an edge here.

The signatures for both are quite different, so I kept both. Use D7K for general listening and TH900 for more critical sessions. Though, for critical listening, I would use something else with more clarity and transparency than the TH900 (i.e. Stax SR-009)

 

[Blueshound24]

Yup, that one of the D7K drivers!

How would you describe the differences, pros and cons between the D7k and TH900?

Just did some test tracks on both, was a surprised that the D7K sounds really nice. Tested both on my Gilmore's DynaloMini fed by the Yggdrasil Ana2. The D7K's stock cable had been swapped for a stock HD800's cable (a significant improvement); TH900 is all stock. Both got Lawton's pads on.

Bass: The D7K seems to rumble/decay much later. TH900 (I only have the Mark-1 version) is more precise, attacks and decays are right on. D7K bass seems to extend a bit more but TH900 bass seems too be more textured. Hard to call which is better, I refer D7K for general listening and TH900 for critical listening, say classical musics with all the notes to be precise.

Midrange: TH900 is much better in terms of clarity and less nasal. D7K is notoriously known for the heavy U-shape sound signature. There are certain musical passages (not necessarily vocals) that I can clearly hear thru the TH900 than D7K.

Highs/treble: Surprisingly, since when the HD800 cable was swapped in, the highs opened up nicely. Here, the D7K sounds more open, while the TH900 was more congested and compressed. I give the D7K an edge here.

The signatures for both are quite different, so I kept both. Use D7K for general listening and TH900 for more critical sessions. Though, for critical listening, I would use something else with more clarity and transparency than the TH900 (i.e. Stax SR-009)

Thanks for your impressions!

 

[xevman]

What earpads are the go to if you want more comfort but don't want to alter the sound signature? I tried the lawton pads and they sounded awful on both my d7000 and th x00.

 

[shane55]

What earpads are the go to if you want more comfort but don't want to alter the sound signature? I tried the lawton pads and they sounded awful on both my d7000 and th x00.

I love my Dekoni hybrid's. I can't hear any difference in sound... but they are much more comfortable.

 

[xevman]

Do you have the attenuation discs? (The plastic things that sit inbetween the driver and pad)

 

[shane55]

Do you have the attenuation discs? (The plastic things that sit inbetween the driver and pad)

Um... I think so.

 

[arjubx]

Um... I think so.

You would had to order these separately and manually add them. The Dekoni Elite Hybrids do not come with them by default (at least my did not). Extra $15.

 

[shane55]

You would had to order these separately and manually add them. The Dekoni Elite Hybrids do not come with them by default (at least my did not). Extra $15.

Well... I had plastic discs that I had to fit the pads over. They have the slots for the holding pins on them. If that's not the plastic discs you're talking about... then, no.

 

[arjubx]

Well... I had plastic discs that I had to fit the pads over. They have the slots for the holding pins on them. If that's not the plastic discs you're talking about... then, no.

No these would go between the mounting ring for the pads and the back of the ear pad. The Dekoni ones are clear plastic with a oval cutout.

https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dek...stex-massdrop-x00-th610-and-th900-headphones/

 

[fish3191]

Does anyone have a spare Biss2 (7-3) and Screw (7-4) to connect the headband to the earcup? I would greatly appreciate any info as it seems Denon is out of those specific parts. Thank you!