[Zuerst]

So far it seems the Earmax Pro/AE/SE and the PPX Slam are good fits for W5000. Is there any other amps that I should consider around the $500~$1500 range?

Thanks.

 

[ayt999]

AT-HA5000 perhaps?

 

[Vic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuerst So far it seems the Earmax Pro/AE/SE and the PPX Slam are good fits for W5000. Is there any other amps that I should consider around the $500~$1500 range? Thanks.

I am very interested in this, as I have the same problem.

I found the W5000 to be the best cans I have ever tried if used unamped out of my iriver H140 with FLAC. I am now using them either out of the speaker jack of the Lavry Blak or with a Xin Supermini; in both case I have not found a major improvement (the Sensaphonics do improve a lot with both amps).

I really like the W5000 and their great isolation as I use them mainly at work; the only relative con is the tendency to be a bit thin, maybe in part due to the non perfect fit in my head. Both amps mentioned above do nothing to reduce the thin sound, actually the Lavry by increasing resolution and the speed make the sound even slightly thinner.
I have the feeling that a good valve amp would be the perfect choice for them and I am thinking of going for a MPX Slam to use out of the Lavry Black.

I would like to hear other peope experiences

 

[Afrikane]

I too am of the opinion that the W5000 is best served with a valve amp. I use mine with an EAR HP4 with excellent results but it is not in the target price range. I have a Mapletree Ear++III ($715.00) on the way to me, I am hoping it will provide excellent synergy with the W5000.

 

[Oski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic I have the feeling that a good valve amp would be the perfect choice for them and I am thinking of going for a MPX Slam to use out of the Lavry Black. I would like to hear other peope experiences

I really like the EarMax Pro with my W5000. It's a very full and rich sounding amp that really gives flesh to the thinness of the W5000. In addition, the EMP has some bass emphasis that also helps fill out the bottom end of the W5000. Here's a thread on the pairing:

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=158824

 

[sacd lover]

I think the W5000 likes tubes best too. But the GS-1 sounds very good with the 5000's ..... for those who dont want to go with tubes.

 

[mulveling]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayt999 AT-HA5000 perhaps?

Seconded. The w2002 sounds its cleanest with the ha2002. I can only guess the w5000/ha5000 pairing is similar. The ha2002 has a high build quality with high quality internal components. Expect the same from the ha5000 - AT isn't pulling a Grado RA-1 here. If anyone, AT knows how to match their headphones to an amp.

It's about time we got some solid ha5000 impressions on this forum

It's under $1500. Go for it!

Other than the ha5000, an amp with bass boost and/or a head clamp feature would be necessary for my enjoyment of the w5000

 

[some1x]

Against conventional wisdom, I am going for a Dynamight + W5000/K1000

 

[Vic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling Seconded. The w2002 sounds its cleanest with the ha2002. I can only guess the w5000/ha5000 pairing is similar. The ha2002 has a high build quality with high quality internal components. Expect the same from the ha5000 - AT isn't pulling a Grado RA-1 here. If anyone, AT knows how to match their headphones to an amp. It's about time we got some solid ha5000 impressions on this forum It's under $1500. Go for it! Other than the ha5000, an amp with bass boost and/or a head clamp feature would be necessary for my enjoyment of the w5000

I agree with you about the difficult fit of the W5000 making the bass decrease and the sound getting a little thin. But still if you really need a closed can (as is my case) I really think that nothing plays in the same league; I think the W5000, in spite of the problems stated above, is miles better than any other closed can I have listened to (I don't know about the Sony 3000, never tried).

I am sure the HA5000 could sound great with the W5000 and I am a bit tempted, but still is a bit risky and I think I prefer to go with a MPX which seems more of an all arounder to me. If the MPX with the right tube rolling could just give a bit of "body" to the W5000, then I could have a system made in heaven, and whath is more without sound leaking out

 

[raisin]

(gratuitous fan-boy alert)

The RSA Raptor is an excellent pairing with the L3000's, so I would expect it to work well with the 5k's also.







(reccomendation fostered by love, not hate)

 

[ayt999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisin The RSA Raptor is an excellent pairing with the L3000's, so I would expect it to work well with the 5k's also.

making a recommendation based on L3000 matching would make sense if the W5000 was a lot like the L3000, but IMO those two are pretty different headphones. basing it on the W2002 and ones like that in the ATH-W series would better, again IMO.

but then it's a tube amp so tuberolling should change the sound to something more synergistic if not at first, thus the recommendation isn't too bad....

 

[Zuerst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Both amps mentioned above do nothing to reduce the thin sound, actually the Lavry by increasing resolution and the speed make the sound even slightly thinner. I have the feeling that a good valve amp would be the perfect choice for them and I am thinking of going for a MPX Slam to use out of the Lavry Black.

So you heard the W5000 with the EarMax Pro(or AE) and the PPX slam and it still sounds thin? People with EarMax Pro/AE and PPX slam seems to suggest that they fill out the void and gives the W5000 more body? Seems contradicting?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrikane I too am of the opinion that the W5000 is best served with a valve amp. I use mine with an EAR HP4 with excellent results but it is not in the target price range. I have a Mapletree Ear++III ($715.00) on the way to me, I am hoping it will provide excellent synergy with the W5000.

I know there is solid state and tube, but what's a valve amp? Some example of good valve amps?

The $500~$1500 range is a general range, don't mind stretching the budget a little bit to around the $2500 plus or minus a couple hundred if it is right. (well I suppose that is kinda of big difference...)

Please keep us updated on the Mapletree Ear++III.

BTW how much is the EAR HP4 ($3000~$4000ish?) and where can I get it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulveling Seconded. The w2002 sounds its cleanest with the ha2002. I can only guess the w5000/ha5000 pairing is similar.

I'm considering the HA5000 but since AT specifically designed it for the W5000 I wonder how it'll do with other cans, especially the higher impedanced ones since most ATs are low impedance cans.

How does you HA2002 drive other headphones? (ayt999 also mentioned that the HA5000 is pretty much the HA2002 is a different casing).

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuerst I know there is solid state and tube, but what's a valve amp? Some example of good valve amps?

valves:tubes::cans:headphones

 

[NeilPeart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer valves:tubes::cans:headphones

Someone scored an 800 on the verbal!

 

[Afrikane]

Hi Zuerst. As far as I know both Todd and Headroom can get you the EAR HP4. I recall reading somewhere that the price went up this year, to what I have no idea. They used to go for around $3800.00.