Don't get them, they sound way too similar to my D2000 with D7000 cups and cable using the same pads. It's a sidegrade.
yea that about sums up my feelings as well, the Th X00 price wise is GREAT, stock out of the box they sound really nice, A pad upgrade is about all I think they need, for the money you can spend on a Stock D5k, I'd say the TH X00 is the way to go
Modded DX headphones tend to vary in price, as cheap as like $400 ish an up to around $600 or so, though given the price of a Th X00 an Alpha Pads being around like $450 ish, if you can find a modded DX for around that price... both would be advantageous, though it's a matter of new vs used
welp I got my LA D5k Back, an whoa... the Lawtons pads are a nice shift from the Alpha Pads right out of the same Amp I can say the Lawton pads REALLY balance out my LA D5k an the sound stage... isn't as wide though it's a much more... accurate in terms of left an right, Also the bass has been speed up quite a bit an the top end opened back up, the Lawtons aren't nearly as dark as the Alphas are, also the Lawton Pads have a tad more bass texture than the Alphas do, actually this kinda freaked me out
I noticed a very DEEP Sub bass wobble in The Verdict Part 2, an it freaked me out because it literally sounded like... a plasticy thuding... like my headphone HAD A DRIVER ISSUE, well it was actually a touch of distortion due in part to the some what noisy nature of the PB2s SE out [sound is REALLY GOOD but it's a hair noisy :/] So I re seated the opAmps which helped a little, an then swapped into the Balanced out [an texture ALL THERE noise ALL GONE] so that was good... I almost died
Now the Lawton Pads cost around $100 an some change, vs the Alphas at $60
Putting the total cost of my LA D5k around like $575 ish, an my TH X00 Alpha at like $460
In terms of how they differ well... the LA D5k is... a little rougher on the Top end, though it has a more balanced sound overall an better left right seperation imo, a tad drier if you will
the TH X00 Alpha has a more liquid sound, Sub Bass an mids are little wetter than on the LA D5k, the top end is much sweeter, they both have a nice snap an good sense of air to the highs, but the TH X00 isn't as edgy as the LA D5k can be
still I'll give you guys a be all end all comparison when they are both balanced out, while I did SE vs SE on each headphone, I think the TH X00 will do really well with a balanced out put! My Pb2 an NFB10ES2 have great claritys, left/right seperation an a drier faster sound in balanced mode.
Though I will say, I prefer the some what more liquid sound of the TH X00 for metal, an the Drier sound of the LA D5k for rock
some metal sounds better with the LA D5k an others better on the TH X00 Alpha :/ either way, the Alpha an Lawton Pads are rather different animals
an then with SOME rock the LA D5k is a tad TO dry an recessed in the Mids :/ which was my initial impression of it, the TH X00 has always had better mids than the LA D5k imo, but after having a now second listen I'd have to say sound stage is a little better on the LA D5k due in part to the some what recessed mids