My Sony CD3000 finally dead, sniff...

[jarnauga]

Hi everybody,

This is my first post and I'm not an english man, so I'm sorry for any inconvenience while reading this one.

I was a proud owner of a fine cans,IMHO. I like it very much

. At the beginnig of 90's my parent bought me a Sony MDR-CD3000. At this time I was a teenager and I listen rock and classical music in my parents' old Sony receiver/turntable. Years later came a crappy Sony CD player and, in 1995 a big Pioneer LD player. I was very happy and don't search anything more. In the year 2002 (or 2003, I don´t remember very well) my elder brother threw the cans to the ground by accident

(bad day for me).

I didn't notice the existence of this forum with tons of useful posts and helpful people.

My cans began to failure, first one speaker, then another. I suppose a problem with an internal wire join or so. But didn't. The elastic (at extremes) headband slowly disintegrated into little blacks "spots" over my head skin and hair (vinyl??? maybe the reason it's my sweat). Well, the grey "fiber" (or plastic??) cups were very dirty and nothing could clean them. For many years (began during a hot summer) many little "bubbles" appeared over the cups, but the sound remainded high quality so I don't have any problem with that. Finally moving the wire didn't work anymore. And the cans remained silent forever. They stay at home almost two years without solution and I threw them to trash several months ago. The case is with me because it's very useful (and big) and was full of memories (my mother died one year ago and, after all, these cans were a present for me by her).

A month ago I bought a Sennheiser HD595 for me and my brother and sister (elder than me, I´m the older one) because I found this forum and began to investigate. And I bought an iPod for her (she graduates...) and a Sennheiser PX100. Thank you people for that very useful information.

But I miss my CD3000 terribly (my elder brother too).

My question: Are there any cans nowadays that can substitute with success this model?

Here I can't hear (at any store) a SA5000, for example (they only sell SA1000 model). There is an AKG K701 and several K601 and K501 in other one. And there is a store which sells the complete sennheiser products. In this place I bought the HD595 and the PX100. But they don't have the big Senns (HD6X0) at this moment.

Both Sennheiser are very good. The big one are accurate, high SQ and that, maybe a little veil with human voices and guitars,IMO (I use them unampled). But the soundstage, the space...All happens inside my head and I liked the "distance" of the sound that my CD3000 provided (I remember that very well). I don't think my older big Sonys are bright and the detail and transparency were enough for me.

Maybe I am in the "bright" side of the sound. And I'm not a basshead for sure

.

So I want, pardon, I need guide from people who listen so many products and knows this kind of problem. I understand that maybe the best solution for a CD3000 substitute is other CD3000

.I want more solutions if it is possible yet.

Thank very much.

 

[Carl]

You threw it away!? *winces*

You do realise someone here would have given you a reasonable amount for what was left and rebuilt it, right?

Well, there's nothing that can be done about the past. As for the present, I think some Stax headphones might suit you're tastes.

 

[jarnauga]

Hi Carl,

I know, I know.

But (sigh)

I didn't notice this forum, and this hobby and people like you. I threw them before I knew anything serious about our hobby and the quality of my stuff. I simply had fun with them and thought a replacement isn't a problem (stupid).

I know the Stax line and products (by advertisements) sice many, many years. When I was young these cans were very expensive for my budget. Now, If I want, I can to save money for that. Sigh

Now I've just learned the lesson.

Thanks.

 

[Disiskurt]

I've read a number of comparisons in my time here to the Audio Technica A900 (only available on a few japanese websites; around $200,) saying that they're quite similar. Haven't heard either personally, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[episiarch]

To my ears neither the A900 nor the SA5000 is a substitute for the CD3000. I have all three.

Not to give a full review here, but I would call the CD3000 approximately perfect across the audio spectrum. It has some closed-can resonances here and there, but overall it's a pretty astonishing headphone.

The SA5000 has the CD3000's highs, but becomes less and less assured as the frequency goes down. The mids are shaky, voices don't sound quite right, and lows are (IMO) downright weak overall (though perhaps strong in spots). (Edit - people with fairly serious tube rigs seem to report more favorable impressions of this headphone. But this is what I hear through a Gilmore Lite that drives everything else I own quite well.)

The A900 has good highs (though by no means up to Sony quality) and strong lows, but the midrange has odd colorations that seem to come and go...I just can't get a grip on what's up with this headphone, but it doesn't sound right to me in the vocal ranges, and there's a very limited range of music I enjoy with it.

The only thing I do own that has the full-range "rightness" of the CD3000 is the Etymotic ER-4S. Its highs still aren't at the same level as the CD3000's, but overall it is, IMO, in nearly the same performance category as the Sony.

Second runner-up would be the AKG K501. Its highs do not extend as high as the Sonys', but they have a similar openness and clarity. The mids are, to my ears, every bit as good as the CD3000's. The lows are weak compared to the CD3000, but they are still very satisfactory to me with the type of music I enjoy.

I'm not familiar with electrostatics or with the higher-end AKG cans, so I can't offer a useful comparison, but they do seem like the right direction for you to make further inquiries.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarnauga I know the Stax line and products (by advertisements) sice many, many years. When I was young these cans were very expensive for my budget. Now, If I want, I can to save money for that. Sigh Now I've just learned the lesson.

Well, they aren't that expensive if you're savvy. A SR-005 system (that's headphone+amp) can be had for say $350, and second hand stuff is even cheaper.

 

[Meyvn]

I vote that you go to some meets/Head-Fier's places and try out other options, then decide. If the MDR-CD3000 is really what you're missing, just put up a want to buy ad on the headphone forums and give it a shot. They go for around $300-350 last I heard (unless you go to eBay, then they're considerably more). Also, you may want to try their 'little brother,' the MDR-CD1700. Supposedly they use the same drivers. Even if they don't, the drivers are still available for sale.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meyvn I vote that you go to some meets/Head-Fier's places and try out other options, then decide. If the MDR-CD3000 is really what you're missing, just put up a want to buy ad on the headphone forums and give it a shot. They go for around $300-350 last I heard (unless you go to eBay, then they're considerably more). Also, you may want to try their 'little brother,' the MDR-CD1700. Supposedly they use the same drivers. Even if they don't, the drivers are still available for sale.

When is the last time you actually saw a CD1700 for sale? Or a CD2000 for that matter? Considering they say the word "Sony" on the side of them, they don't seem very common.

 

[jarnauga]

Thank you, all of you.

Travel isn't an option for me, I have to take care of my family nowadays. But I understand your friendly reply. So I have three options.

1.- Try another CD3000.

2.- Go for, uhmmm, AKG K701. It looks like the cans that place the "rightness" of the K501 sound (middle and treble??) and more bass but with accurate presentation (and the people who use them say their soundstage are wide).

3.- Stax. Until now (thanks Carl) I can't justify a buy like that. I am very curious time ago but I was happy with my cans. Maybe it's time to improve.

Time to save money. Meanwhile the Sennheiser HD595 have to fill my empty

Best.

 

[Meyvn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl When is the last time you actually saw a CD1700 for sale? Or a CD2000 for that matter? Considering they say the word "Sony" on the side of them, they don't seem very common.

I actually had a standing opportunity to buy a CD1700 not long ago.

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarnauga 2.- Go for, uhmmm, AKG K701. It looks like the cans that place the "rightness" of the K501 sound (middle and treble??) and more bass but with accurate presentation (and the people who use them say their soundstage are wide).

The Audio Technica AD2000 might be a better choice than the K701 if you're after that sort of sound, although it is a tad more expensive than the AKG.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Meyvn I actually had a standing opportunity to buy a CD1700 not long ago; it was on here. If you make a post about one, you may find out who it was/if it's still for sale. My guess is, it is. He wasn't actively advertising them.

I'm actually tempted, although somewhat worried that they followed the CD3000 into overpricing lala-land.

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarnauga Hi everybody, But I miss my CD3000 terribly (my elder brother too). My question: Are there any cans nowadays that can substitute with success this model? So I want, pardon, I need guide from people who listen so many products and knows this kind of problem. I understand that maybe the best solution for a CD3000 substitute is other CD3000 .I want more solutions if it is possible yet. Thank very much.

To make the long answer short, IMO, no, there is nothing to substitute them yet...unless another pair, or an R-10....The rest are just completelly different sounds and presentations, that could be to your liking or not, try the Beyer DT880, it is the closest that cross my mind right now, you need a powerful amp for them though...

SA5K is not similar, the bass is completelly different, and they are very analytic headphones, HD650/600 are a different flavor, more laid back, and veiled, K701 is a soft sounding headphone with a lot of leakage, for the ones used to the CD3K that is not an option at all, I did not liked the AT's that I have heard, and that includes the L3000, but you can give them a try...

I think that your safe bet is the DT880...unless you want to spend some time getting used to another presentation, in that case I reco you the Ultrasone, the PRoline2500 is a very good heaphone, I own one, and it sounds very good, but you need time as the soundstage is completelly different....just my two cents, and according to my experience with the CD3K which I have onwed and replaced and owened again, for more than 5 years now...

 

[jarnauga]

Thank you all.

It seems that Audio Technica could fill the gap. Two advices for them.

Yes I notice their price it's over other stuff, but I can buy AKG in a store few kilometres ahead my home (and Sennheiser) but for big AT I have to check Ebay or PriceJapan, for example (and pay import taxes). So I know that in the beginning.

It looks like the AT cans lovers spread across the forum (I don't assume you are but there are many oppinions/reviews about them)

. And I could, in the end, became an addict of their products (but they admit AT cans have a coloured sound that don't fit well for all tastes)

Best.

 

[vapman]

If you can pay for them, you should definately consider a nice Stax system. I can't comment on the Audio-Technicas, though.

 

[jarnauga]

Thank you Sovkiller,

Slowly I began to admit that shared my time for more than ten years (almost fifteen but the last three with damaged speakers) with these cans influenced me a lot.

Maybe it's time to change things. I don't have time (well, more or less) or spirit (or mood) to begin a quest and try out several cans, new or second hand or check every day Ebay or that kind of ways. Firstly you notice I have owned these cans many years so I don't like changes (uh, I mean "surprises" or "new stuff is better"). For this reason I post this thread. I wanted to know if it was easy to find a replacement. I suppose that with enough SQ: accuracy, transparency and soundstage that almost every cans in high price range (dynamic ones) provides I will be happy. And I, the listener, also have to adapt to the sound. Maybe I read (again) some interesting reviews here about all these cans and make my resolution.

Let's leave it there. Thank you all people for your advices.

Best.