Please help me find a woodie!

[hugz]

Hey all..

I'm considering buying a closed woodie headphone [from japan]. My budget is around $850 (100,000yen).

What would you guys recommend me? Unfortunately I've been out of the headphone scene for a while (i mostly just post in DIY, amps and source subforums lately) and a whole bunch of new woodies have come out! I've done as much reading as I can, but unfortunately I'm smack bang in the middle of uni exams at the moment so there's only so much that I can procrastinate

I listen to all types of music... rock, hiphop, jazz, classical, folk, electronic. Mostly rock and hiphop though.

I currently have Alessandro MS2 and Sennheiser HD580 (with hd600 grilles). I currently use a firstwatt f2 speaker amp to power my headphones (5w) but I may get a tube headphone amp in the future. Source is a modded dac-ah but it will probably be an orimod zhaolu soonish.

I want some cans that sound good, but also look good (which is why i'm going for woodies in the first place). My most important requirement is that it should sound quite a bit better (noticably better) than my MS2 and HD580. I'm far too poor to spend lots of money on a third pair of headphones if they dont even beat my other two. For this reason I suspect that, for example, the ath w1000 is out of the game because people seem to compare it to the A900, which should be a league below the hd580/ms2

Thanks very much all. If you need any more info to help guide me, I'd be happy to provide

edit: and sorry to post a "help me chose a headphone" thread. unfortunately i'm out of my depth when it comes to woodies, and exams are keeping me far too occupied to do enough research. also, i figure there are probably a few members here who are passionate about woodies and would be happy to help me out

 

[lmilhan]

How about some ATH-W5000s?


My knowledge of these phones is 'book smart' only, since I never personally heard them. The only thing I know about them is what I have read here at Head-Fi. But what I know for a fact is that:

1) They are woodies.
2) They sure are pretty.
3) They are closed.
4) They come in under your budget.
5) They are from Japan.

I will let the W5000 owners chime in since they are infinitely more qualified than I to offer sonic impressions.

 

[nin3th]

You may want to check out the ath-w1000 or the ath-w5000, both by audio technica.

 

[hugz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmilhan /img/forum/go_quote.gif How about some ATH-W5000s?

The ATH-W5000 has been my main interest, unsurprisingly.

The two things I've been wondering about them is:
1) Are they noticably better than senn hd600 and alessandro ms2?
2) have any of the new woodies (denon, jvc?) surpassed them for the price?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nin3th /img/forum/go_quote.gif You may want to check out the ath-w1000 or the ath-w5000, both by audio technica.

Thanks for the recommendations. I originally wanted the w1000 because they're woodie, sexy, and affordable... but a bit of searching seems to indicate that many people consider them to be only half a step above the ATH-A900, which presumably puts them half a step below the MS2/HD600. While I'd love a woodie, I dont want to spend money on a headphone thats worse than what i already have

 

[skudmunky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugz /img/forum/go_quote.gif The ATH-W5000 has been my main interest, unsurprisingly. The two things I've been wondering about them is: 1) Are they noticably better than senn hd600 and alessandro ms2? 2) have any of the new woodies (denon, jvc?) surpassed them for the price? Thanks for the recommendations. I originally wanted the w1000 because they're woodie, sexy, and affordable... but a bit of searching seems to indicate that many people consider them to be only half a step above the ATH-A900, which presumably puts them half a step below the MS2/HD600. While I'd love a woodie, I dont want to spend money on a headphone thats worse than what i already have

Having heard the W5000, I dream about owning one. I doubt I ever will. It was pretty much everything I've ever wanted in a headphone.

 

[MusicallySilent]

Have you considered a set of headphile darth beyers or another headphile closed headphone... the problem might be getting them overseas to yourself... otherwise check out woodies that you can get from retailers

You could probably get some very nice looking headphile woodie headphones with a nice cable and stand (maybe even a ballenced xlr plug cable for future use)

 

[hugz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicallySilent /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you considered a set of headphile darth beyers or another headphile closed headphone... the problem might be getting them overseas to yourself... otherwise check out woodies that you can get from retailers You could probably get some very nice looking headphile woodie headphones with a nice cable and stand (maybe even a ballenced xlr plug cable for future use)

I live in australia but my folks are going to japan. It seems like a good idea to buy a japanese woodie (AT, denon, jvc) rather than an american one.

I'd rather a factory woodie than an aftermarket one too

 

[Y5220]

Hugz, after looking into the matter for weeks, and relying primarily on Head-Fiers' experiences with woodies, I finally decided I'd probably be happy owning the Denon AH-D5000 and the JVC HP-DX1000. (Sound quality always comes first for me, but comfort is also a deal breaker; and this time I wanted to have the audio jewelry experience.) I haven't been misled: These are marvelous headphones. I've had the JVC for only a few days. And I'll have to live with it some more time to be absolutely sure about how I'd rank these phones. But, right now, the Denon takes my recommendation. It seems overall sonically superior to the JVC -- though not superior on every front. The build quality of the JVC is better. Comfort seems a toss-up at this point. They feel very different on my head, and I like the way both feel. I like the superior isolation I get from the JVC. The JVC cable is a little better and longer (just the right length for my needs). As regards looks, well, that's the easy part for you to decide on your own from pictures (none here; sorry). The Denon is cuter in every regard for my taste -- except for the wood, which is a tie with the JVC's, a nice contrast, both beautiful. But the JVC has a sturdier beauty all its own. Both have excellent bass, and I'd say they best the HD580 in every respect. (I speak from my memory of the HD600, which is supposed to be sonically very similar to the 580.) Skylab reports hearing a slight honkiness in the JVC's midrange -- and that's my own experience exactly. It's something that, at times, seems to contribute to a wider soundstage. It does sound pleasing most of the time when I notice it; not always noticeable. But I won't go any further into this because I need more time with it. In any case, the upshot is: The Denon is my current reference, and it doesn't look like the JVC will sonically match it (falling just slightly behind; not a massacre). If you like tight, controlled bass, I'd say you can't go wrong with either of these. I'm happy with both.

If I find the time for extensive testing, I'll post a review of these phones. (I'd like to compare them to my other faves, the AKG K701 and the Beyer DT990-250. In any case, at this point, I like the two woodies quite a bit better than the others.) Sorry to have to make this so rushed now. Gotta run!

Cheers,

 

[artears]

In the recent Chicago meet I had the chance of listening to W5000s, JVC's and Denons, but I liked W5000s most. I am coming from HD650s and the sound signature of W5000s are very different from them. I am considering of buying Audio Technicas, if and when I will have enough funds to do so. I think Sennheisers and Audio Technicas can complement each other very well. I can see myself preferring one over the other depending on the mood and the type of music I want to listen to. By the way, W5000s (apart from L3000s) are hands down the most comfortable headphones I tried...

 

[Skylab]

I like the Denon D5000's better than the ATH W5000 myself (just to give another viewpoint). I also prefer it over the JVC DX1000 (although I still own and like the DX1000).

 

[jrisles]

Hi There Hugz. I think i met you at a Stereo.net.au gtg a few months ago over Indooroopilly way? I just saw your post. I have just ordered myself a pair of ATH-W5000 cans from Japanprice.com . All up about AU$800.00 delivered to my door with the present favourable exchange rates. That is about a full $AU1000.00 cheaper than what they are being sold for locally!! I still need to get myself a decent amp. Currently using a E-MU 0404 USB. I do have a deposit on a Singlepower amp but will probably spend all this year paying it off. I need something else in the meantime - perhaps a WooAudio 6 tube amp?

Good luck with your decision.

cheers
Jeff

 

[judas391]

Viagra is always a good option

 

[Sherwood]

Having heard both the w5000 and the w1000, i can heartily recommend either. The 1000 sounds somewhat similar to the HD 595, very forward, but looks and feels much nicer. Either way, I'm jealous.

 

[Icarium]

I think out of a so-so amp the D5000 is superior to the W5000s in many areas. Definitely better bass. However, I think with a good, matching amp the w5000s scale muchhhhh better. I think anyone could own a w1000 and a yamamoto ha-02 and be done. Or a Zana Deux and a w5000 and also be done. The d5000 I've heard on the Yamamoto HA-02 (Albeit not for an extended amount of time and twas at the international meet though in the more lowkey high end room), and it sounded muddled. I heard it out of my Rudistor amp and it sounded better, but it just didn't seem to scale as well as the w5000 did for my tastes.

The JVC I have yet to hear but I hear it like the d5000s could be considered baby L3000s... so I imagine its similar. Some people have said its better some people (Like Skylab) say that the d5000 wins. Personally after hearing the d5000 I'd be tempted to choose the JVCs over them, but that would be baseless so don't really listen to me regarding that.

I think the d5000 might be a better all arounder than the w5000 no matter what amps you use. The Yamamoto I have has much improved the bass allowing the w5000s to do hip hop but it probably wont excel at it like the d5000 might. Of course the story might be different with the Zana Deux which improves even further on the bass. Meh.

Imo, weigh not only the merits of the phone but also what gear you are going to get to pair it with.