[Andrew_WOT]

Surprised that no one compared it with W5000, seems like details and big realistic soundstage is a strong suit on both, makes a perfect logical choice for head to head comparison.

P.S. Guess liking W5000 in a first place is a must to do any sort of objective judgment.

 

[number1sixerfan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT /img/forum/go_quote.gif Surprised that no one compared it with W5000, seems like details and big realistic soundstage is a strong suit on both, makes a perfect logical choice for head to head comparison. P.S. Guess liking W5000 in a first place is a must to do any sort of objective judgment.

I am a huge fan of the W5000, but I honestly don't think they can hold a candle. I've owned the W5000 three times and know them quite well. There is a sense of realism the W5000 just can't match. They are about on the same technical level though, but the HD800 just sounds effortless.

The W5000 probably has a slight edge in intimacy though since they are more enclosed, but the HD800's bass still excels past the AT's.

I won't ever be able to do a head to head, as I don't plan on buying any other headphone, but as I said I know them quite well.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Was the HD800 more detailed and quicker? Mid range?

 

[number1sixerfan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice /img/forum/go_quote.gif Was the HD800 more detailed and quicker? Mid range?

I would say they are on about the same *technical level*. The W5000 is great with both detail and speed, I'm not sure I've heard much better in those regards. The main difference is that the HD800 is more of a complete and balanced package.

When I owned the W5000, I was consistently "wow'ed" by its detail, speed, imaging, and soundstage. I listened for these aspects everytime I listened to them, simply amazing.

The HD800 has all of this, but it is more enjoyable because it really is the closest thing to the complete package. I don't listen for its strengths, rather I listen to the way it presents the entire spectrum of music.

For me, I think the key is the placement of the music. With every headphone I have owned, something has been slightly off with the placement of the music in comparison to the speakers I have owned. These present the music around you just as speakers do, yet in a "smaller" environment.

 

[moonboy403]

I a/bed my W5000 with the HD800 at Canjam. They are very different. The W5000 is on the bright side and colored while the HD800 is very balance throughout the whole frequency spectrum and isn't colored in anyway. The HD800 has more bass than the W5000 while I thought it's more defined on the W5000. I suspect that the HD800s at Canjam needed more burn in. I also thought the W5000 has more clarity and intimacy while the HD800 sounds smoother and more natural. Soundstage wise, the HD800 is more out of your head and takes on a little more diffused approach while the W5000 is more in your head.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonboy403 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I a/bed my W5000 with the HD800 at Canjam. They are very different. The W5000 is on the bright side and colored while the HD800 is very balance throughout the whole frequency spectrum and isn't colored in anyway. The HD800 has more bass than the W5000 while I thought it's more defined on the W5000. I suspect that the HD800s at Canjam needed more burn in. I also thought the W5000 has more clarity and intimacy while the HD800 sounds smoother and more natural. Soundstage wise, the HD800 is more out of your head and takes on a little more diffused approach while the W5000 is more in your head.

So the W5000 is on the same level in 'technical' aspect?

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by number1sixerfan /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would say they are on about the same *technical level*. The W5000 is great with both detail and speed, I'm not sure I've heard much better in those regards. The main difference is that the HD800 is more of a complete and balanced package. When I owned the W5000, I was consistently "wow'ed" by its detail, speed, imaging, and soundstage. I listened for these aspects everytime I listened to them, simply amazing. The HD800 has all of this, but it is more enjoyable because it really is the closest thing to the complete package. I don't listen for its strengths, rather I listen to the way it presents the entire spectrum of music. For me, I think the key is the placement of the music. With every headphone I have owned, something has been slightly off with the placement of the music in comparison to the speakers I have owned. These present the music around you just as speakers do, yet in a "smaller" environment.

Speed, detail, imaging, sound stage are all stellar? Looks like I will be getting the W5000 or HD800 down the road.

 

[XXII]

I will eventually be able to compare my balanced W5000 when the HD800 is finally released in Hong Kong. No matter what I won't be selling the W5000 though because I need a closed can. Quite frankly, I'm not expecting a huge improvement but I hope to be surprised

 

[moonboy403]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice /img/forum/go_quote.gif So the W5000 is on the same level in 'technical' aspect?

I'll let someone who owns both answer that question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXII /img/forum/go_quote.gif I will eventually be able to compare my balanced W5000 when the HD800 is finally released in Hong Kong. No matter what I won't be selling the W5000 though because I need a closed can. Quite frankly, I'm not expecting a huge improvement but I hope to be surprised

I think they're really good complements as they're so different.

 

[piotr z]

i think it'll be a month atlest before I can compare them - but as moonboy403 said I expect them to be a bit different but both a little on the airy side of the bench ( which I prefer ) - that said not all the records that I listen to are great ( I don't listen to the music coz it's well recorded but simply coz I like it ) and for some surely I WOULDN'T prefer my rig to be neutral coz this would destroy all the magic that curent rig gives me with them - that said - with good rig one can hear that balance of the spectrum and quality differ somethimes alot and coz of that it's somethimes worth to have headphones that are a bit of neutral to compensate for the flaws of records