JayG
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2004
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I am still searching for ideal classical music cans, and while I like the 'phones I have for many things, I still feel like I am missing something. I know one pair of headphones can never be perfect for all kinds of classical, and all kinds of recordings, so I guess the most accurate way to phrase my question is: Which of the following do you feel would add the most to my current stable of cans (in my sig)?
As a reference, I am most looking for a natural sound, and I tend to prefer headphones with flatter responses. Instrumental timbre is paramount to me. In general, I prefer open cans, but I am receptive to good closed cans, especially since I don't really have any experience with high-quality closed offerings aside from my PRO900.
ATH-AD2000s
Why I'm interested: By far the flattest response of any A-T offerings according to response curves I've seen. Open. Seem to be mid-centric, which is good compared to the ever-present U-shaped curve of most headphones here. Supposed to have little to no fit problems compared to W5000.
What I'm concerned about: Said to still have some of the typical A-T mids coloration. Treble response seems very uneven according to graphs, making me worry that critical acoustic overtones won't be reproduced properly, further exacerbating any timbre problems caused by mid bumb.
ATH-W5000s
Why I'm interested: Said to be great for acoustic music. Love the beautiful wood, authentic leather pads, nice packaging etc. Interested in owning a high quality closed can
What I'm concerned about: Fit issues. Very unnatural timbre. This seems like a can that nobody can agree on. Some say it's extremely strange sounding and ruins instrument tone, while others say that with a proper fit it nails acoustic music. All frequency response curves I've seen for it aren't even close to neutral, but once again I don't know how much of that has to do with fit.
Grado RS-1s
Why I'm interested: Legendary headphones. Also, I have a love-hate relationship with my GS1000s. I swear they have some kind of magic dust in them, because with some music, and on some recordings, they are simply breathtaking and blow me away. Solo piano, unaccompanied vocal music etc. However, I am very aware that they have an outrageously un-neutral response curve, and in a lot of music, they just sound ridiculous because of the very sucked out mids. The treble energy is just too much, also. But the bass is fantastic, they are crystal clear, and most importantly, they have the ability from time to time to just sound so real despite the skewed response. These phones, with a flat response, would destroy everything else I've heard. This makes me very curious about the RS-1s. I know the response still is pretty far from flat, but the mids aren't nearly as sucked out if graphs and impressions are to be believed, and they could give me a lot of what I'm looking for.
What I'm concerned about: Comfort and loss of soundstage first of all. I'm spoiled that the first Grados I have owned are the GS1000s. But I can live with these concerns if the sound gives me what I want. Soundstage is not a top concern for me because I am never satisfied with headphones in that department anyway. But I would like to know if they share the far-too-piercing highs of the GS1000s, and if the mids are more natural and un-sucked-out. Also, I think people over the years have just totally taken these out of consideration when looking for classical cans, which according to my experience with the GS1000s would be a mistake.
Beyerdynamic DT48E
Why I'm interested: Well, just read the DT48 threads. People have said how incredibly natural and scary-life-like these phones are, especially for anything acoustic, and especially for classical. They have a ruler-flat response through much of the spectrum, and were designed to sound that way. So they would seem to be exactly what I'm looking for. However...
What I'm concerned about: They reportedly are extremely uncomfortable and sound quite claustrophobic. I already don't like the closed-in feeling of my PRO900s, which is worse in that respect than other, larger closed cans I've tried, and I think it has to do with the small size of the cups. The DT48s also have small cups, so I worry that I will have the same problem. Also, many say they don't do as well with larger scale classical, and I already have some phones that I feel excel at chamber music, especially the GS1000s. But most importantly, some say they just don't hear the magic and can't understand how others could find them comparable to headphones like the others in this list. Also, I can't decide which version would be best for me. Consensus seems to be that the 25-Ohm generally sound the best, but with my OTL Woo Audio 2, reason tells me that the 200-Ohm versions would be a better match.
Denon D7000s
Why I'm interested: These seem to be the FOTY here. If you listen to their advocates, they have powerful, yet refined subterranean bass, natural mids, and sweet clear highs. They are also said to be pretty open sounding for a closed can. They look nice, and are said to be very comfortable.
What I'm concerned about: These seem to be the FOTY here. The almost unanimous praise makes me nervous, especially since the few people who have said they don't care for them make it sound like it didn't take long to put them on a decide they were overhyped and suffer from most of the same problems that lower Denons do. The response curve would seem to indicate that they are a little muffled-sounding like the HD650s, with the gently downward sloping response from bass to treble. Also, as much as I love nice bass (highly underrated in classical music as it serves as the harmonic foundation for everything else), I don't want the bass to overpower the rest (a problem the PRO900 has somtimes and not others). Also, I've already got enough problems with sucked-out midrange, so I don't want any more phones with that issue. Build quality also seems sloppy to me. Disappointing in an expensive, flagship phone.
Hopefully I've given you enough information to explain what I like and what I'm looking for. All of my current equipment is listed in my signature. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to provide any information that would help you make a recommendation to me.
Also, I have read pretty much every threat that even tangentially relates to this topic, so don't be concerned that I haven't already searched.
Thanks everyone!
As a reference, I am most looking for a natural sound, and I tend to prefer headphones with flatter responses. Instrumental timbre is paramount to me. In general, I prefer open cans, but I am receptive to good closed cans, especially since I don't really have any experience with high-quality closed offerings aside from my PRO900.
ATH-AD2000s
Why I'm interested: By far the flattest response of any A-T offerings according to response curves I've seen. Open. Seem to be mid-centric, which is good compared to the ever-present U-shaped curve of most headphones here. Supposed to have little to no fit problems compared to W5000.
What I'm concerned about: Said to still have some of the typical A-T mids coloration. Treble response seems very uneven according to graphs, making me worry that critical acoustic overtones won't be reproduced properly, further exacerbating any timbre problems caused by mid bumb.
ATH-W5000s
Why I'm interested: Said to be great for acoustic music. Love the beautiful wood, authentic leather pads, nice packaging etc. Interested in owning a high quality closed can
What I'm concerned about: Fit issues. Very unnatural timbre. This seems like a can that nobody can agree on. Some say it's extremely strange sounding and ruins instrument tone, while others say that with a proper fit it nails acoustic music. All frequency response curves I've seen for it aren't even close to neutral, but once again I don't know how much of that has to do with fit.
Grado RS-1s
Why I'm interested: Legendary headphones. Also, I have a love-hate relationship with my GS1000s. I swear they have some kind of magic dust in them, because with some music, and on some recordings, they are simply breathtaking and blow me away. Solo piano, unaccompanied vocal music etc. However, I am very aware that they have an outrageously un-neutral response curve, and in a lot of music, they just sound ridiculous because of the very sucked out mids. The treble energy is just too much, also. But the bass is fantastic, they are crystal clear, and most importantly, they have the ability from time to time to just sound so real despite the skewed response. These phones, with a flat response, would destroy everything else I've heard. This makes me very curious about the RS-1s. I know the response still is pretty far from flat, but the mids aren't nearly as sucked out if graphs and impressions are to be believed, and they could give me a lot of what I'm looking for.
What I'm concerned about: Comfort and loss of soundstage first of all. I'm spoiled that the first Grados I have owned are the GS1000s. But I can live with these concerns if the sound gives me what I want. Soundstage is not a top concern for me because I am never satisfied with headphones in that department anyway. But I would like to know if they share the far-too-piercing highs of the GS1000s, and if the mids are more natural and un-sucked-out. Also, I think people over the years have just totally taken these out of consideration when looking for classical cans, which according to my experience with the GS1000s would be a mistake.
Beyerdynamic DT48E
Why I'm interested: Well, just read the DT48 threads. People have said how incredibly natural and scary-life-like these phones are, especially for anything acoustic, and especially for classical. They have a ruler-flat response through much of the spectrum, and were designed to sound that way. So they would seem to be exactly what I'm looking for. However...
What I'm concerned about: They reportedly are extremely uncomfortable and sound quite claustrophobic. I already don't like the closed-in feeling of my PRO900s, which is worse in that respect than other, larger closed cans I've tried, and I think it has to do with the small size of the cups. The DT48s also have small cups, so I worry that I will have the same problem. Also, many say they don't do as well with larger scale classical, and I already have some phones that I feel excel at chamber music, especially the GS1000s. But most importantly, some say they just don't hear the magic and can't understand how others could find them comparable to headphones like the others in this list. Also, I can't decide which version would be best for me. Consensus seems to be that the 25-Ohm generally sound the best, but with my OTL Woo Audio 2, reason tells me that the 200-Ohm versions would be a better match.
Denon D7000s
Why I'm interested: These seem to be the FOTY here. If you listen to their advocates, they have powerful, yet refined subterranean bass, natural mids, and sweet clear highs. They are also said to be pretty open sounding for a closed can. They look nice, and are said to be very comfortable.
What I'm concerned about: These seem to be the FOTY here. The almost unanimous praise makes me nervous, especially since the few people who have said they don't care for them make it sound like it didn't take long to put them on a decide they were overhyped and suffer from most of the same problems that lower Denons do. The response curve would seem to indicate that they are a little muffled-sounding like the HD650s, with the gently downward sloping response from bass to treble. Also, as much as I love nice bass (highly underrated in classical music as it serves as the harmonic foundation for everything else), I don't want the bass to overpower the rest (a problem the PRO900 has somtimes and not others). Also, I've already got enough problems with sucked-out midrange, so I don't want any more phones with that issue. Build quality also seems sloppy to me. Disappointing in an expensive, flagship phone.
Hopefully I've given you enough information to explain what I like and what I'm looking for. All of my current equipment is listed in my signature. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to provide any information that would help you make a recommendation to me.
Also, I have read pretty much every threat that even tangentially relates to this topic, so don't be concerned that I haven't already searched.
Thanks everyone!