Is ATH W5000 worth it?

[johnnylexus]

I believe these cans cost almost $1000 on Audiocubes. I am lusting after them .... are they worth it?

 

[stewtheking]

I've heard these guys a few times now at meets and they are really nice. Alas my funds are prohibitive on this front.

If you can afford them, and you can hear and appreciate the difference, then they're worth it, no?

 

[kin0kin]

if you like the AT house sound then yeah...it's worth every penny (they run about 900shipped on pricejapan.com), they are probably one of the most transparent cans I've ever heard...and very textured mid range...though wierd sounding to me

 

[milkpowder]

Would it be risky for someone who's never tried an AT, but loves Senn, AKG, Grado bought them? Not talking about myself here; I'd never be able to afford them

 

[Patu]

They are totally worth it... in PriceJapan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder Would it be risky for someone who's never tried an AT, but loves Senn, AKG, Grado bought them? Not talking about myself here; I'd never be able to afford them

I've owned them and I love HD650 and RS1/RS2. Can't say that I love K701 that much though.

W5000 has been the best pair of headphones I've owned (at least in some ways). Easily the best job with vocals and maybe in speed and details area also. When I first heard it I almost immediately sold my other headphones (which at the time were HD650, RS2 and SA5000). I was happy with W5000. But then speaker bug bite me and I downgraded my headphone rig. Now I'm back in business with a rig built around HD650 and I'm very happy with this setup.

 

[milkpowder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patu They are totally worth it... in PriceJapan.

To save you from having to do a quote yourself: it will cost $739 (EMS) & $788 (DHL)

 

[Mercuttio]

You'd really need to audition them in your own home with your own rig for a while. They're nice phones but they do some things very oddly and have a very strangely colored timbral tone.

 

[kin0kin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercuttio You'd really need to audition them in your own home with your own rig for a while. They're nice phones but they do some things very oddly and have a very strangely colored timbral tone.

exactly. so to answer milkpowder's question....yes, it is VERY risky...but i took the risk...and eventually sold them

 

[SK138]

I took the risk too. After falling in love with A900LTD AT sound, I lust after more detail and AT transparency. I sold all my Alessandro, Grado, Senn to get a new W5000 and recabled it with Black Dragon. I feel that my journey is coming to an end. To me, there is no can that gets me involved with music I am listening to than W5000. Having said that...I hope I don't listen to R10

It was not that big of a risk because I noticed AT cans don't depreciate in value as much as other production cans. If I did not like it, I could have sold it in few days here.

Ultimately...it's between your ears to judge

 

[JMcMasterJ]

Like others have said, you need to audition them first. I went to several headphone shops in Japan and tried them out with different amps. I didn't really care for them with several amps, but with the HA5000 they were my favorite headphone in the store, including the Omega II combo.

 

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SK138 I sold all my Alessandro, Grado, Senn to get a new W5000 and recabled it with Black Dragon.

Interesting. Do you have any pictures of W5000 with Black Dragon hooked up?

 

[Wmcmanus]

Worth it? With the rubber band mod, yes. Without it, maybe not. I'm only half serious about this, but their "fit" is an issue with me. They tend to lift off of the upper parts of my ears, which is sort of odd considering that I have a large head and I'm usually dealing with the opposite problem (i.e., too much clamping force with most headphones such as the AD2000).

But given a proper fit, they will not disappoint you at all in terms of sonics, and they're first class in every other way as well (in terms of the look, style, quality of construction, and the like).

 

[SK138]

Wayne..funny you mentioned that. During our micro-meet ( http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=202328 ), we noticed that slwiser headband was little smaller than mine...giving it a better fit. Mine was little larger leaving less pressure on top side of the cup. I simply bend the headband and that was fixed

I don't think AT made W5000 for big heads and small heads

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmcmanus Worth it? With the rubber band mod, yes. Without it, maybe not. I'm only half serious about this, but their "fit" is an issue with me. They tend to lift off of the upper parts of my ears, which is sort of odd considering that I have a large head and I'm usually dealing with the opposite problem (i.e., too much clamping force with most headphones such as the AD2000). But given a proper fit, they will not disappoint you at all in terms of sonics, and they're first class in every other way as well (in terms of the look, style, quality of construction, and the like).

 

[SK138]

Drew did a wonderful job. It looks "stock". It has the same stiffness as Zu cable...which I like very much. Sonically...I can not tell much difference...but it looks good

My W5000 was brand new when I sent it to Drew...so it's still burning in.

Not a very good picture...but here you go...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patu Interesting. Do you have any pictures of W5000 with Black Dragon hooked up?

 

[milkpowder]

^^ very nice.

BTW, will Head-Amp still make those Gilmores on request (similar to the Gilmore Reference Amp)?