[F155mph]

I want to get either the W1000 or W5000. I want to hear from people who have experience with both if the W5000 is worth the extra $$$$ over the W1000.


Thanks!

 

[BushGuy]

If you do a forum search, you will notice the W5000 doesn't end at the $800 for them alone - you will really, really want/need Audio Technica HA5000 amp ($1100-1300?) for them to do what they can do.

 

[Tuarreg]

I heard the W5k and HA5k is a great combo, but I never heard it, nor have I heard the W1k. However, I am using the W5k with a Raptor and it sounds beautiful. What surprised me the most is how detailed and deep the bass is with this combo.

Tuarreg

 

[Purgatos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F155mph I want to hear from people who have experience with both if the W5000 is worth the extra $$$$ over the W1000.

YES

 

[xenithon]

I got the chance to test both. The W1000 I could not bare - I honestly thought something was wrong with them - thin, tinny, sibilant ad infinitum. I then tried the W5000. I bought it. Nuf said?

And whoever says you HAVE to have a $1300 amp is wrong IMO. I tried it with three amps now - X-Can V3 (good, a little bright with silver interconnects but great with darker copper ICs); a PS Audio GCHA (fantasticly clear, neutral, detailed) and a humble ASL HB1.

The latter is a $250 hybrid tube amp and it is one of the sweetest, most musical combinations I have ever heard. Yes, the W5000 can take expensive amplification in that it scales well; but at the same time it does not need it to mandatorily to perform magically.

 

[NeilPeart]

I find the W1000 to be the worst AT woody ever produced – in fact, I prefer the lower end sealed ATs (A700 and A900) to the W1000 easily. The W5000 is one of the better AT woodies and definitely is worth the extra cost if you enjoy its unique signature (though the W100 – not the W1000 – is a solid alternative but the W5000 is still "better" IMO). Of course there are the classic W11JPNs (my 2nd favorite woody behind the L3000) and other vintage woodies but those are not readily available (nor cheap when found). I’ll take the W5000 over the W1000 any day, though the two are closer in sound signature than the W11JPN and L3000 (which sound the most similar to me); the W5000 really does sound like an improved W2002 to my ears – it’s an excellent headphone and IMO the only one that competes with the W2002 in the sexy-looking arena. The W5000 does fit certain people (like me) a bit strangely so be prepared to play with it to achieve a satisfying fit; in conclusion: the W5000 > W1000 in nearly every regard and it doesn't need the HA5000 to perform well - the SDS-XLR is a fine alternative!

I thought the W5000 sounded excellent with my M-cubed and the Gilmore GS-1, among other amplifiers.

 

[TommySix]

I'm considering getting these along with a Dark Voice 337i, but someone mentioned in my other thread that you need the HA5000 to bring out the detail in the mids.

 

[F155mph]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenithon I got the chance to test both. The W1000 I could not bare - I honestly thought something was wrong with them - thin, tinny, sibilant ad infinitum. I then tried the W5000. I bought it. Nuf said? And whoever says you HAVE to have a $1300 amp is wrong IMO. I tried it with three amps now - X-Can V3 (good, a little bright with silver interconnects but great with darker copper ICs); a PS Audio GCHA (fantasticly clear, neutral, detailed) and a humble ASL HB1. The latter is a $250 hybrid tube amp and it is one of the sweetest, most musical combinations I have ever heard. Yes, the W5000 can take expensive amplification in that it scales well; but at the same time it does not need it to mandatorily to perform magically.

This is good to know. When I get the W5000 I plan to use a nice tube amp with it, whatever that may be. I am still in the search. Should I get the cans first or get the amp first? I got a pair of K701 and K501 (work). I know this is bad, but I must admit that I love the way AT headphone look. I know aesthetic don't mean jack if they sound like crap. Its good to know that the W5000 can deliver.

 

[Purgatos]

I'd say get the cans first.

I enjoyed listening to them from my iPod/BitHead combo, so just because you don't have a great amp doesn't mean you can't immediately enjoy your new purchase.

 

[TommySix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purgatos I'd say get the cans first. I enjoyed listening to them from my iPod/BitHead combo, so just because you don't have a great amp doesn't mean you can't immediately enjoy your new purchase.

Seconded

 

[canyon_john]

Hey guys, just to make things more complicated, check out this thread...http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/w10...51/index3.html

 

[mnemonix]

this thread is 2 years old

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F155mph /img/forum/go_quote.gif I want to get either the W1000 or W5000. I want to hear from people who have experience with both if the W5000 is worth the extra $$$$ over the W1000. Thanks!

Not to me! BTW I prefer the APureSound re-cabled HFI-780 to either of the W1000 or W5000.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnemonix /img/forum/go_quote.gif this thread is 2 years old

did not see that and I posted.

 

[Michael10]

I have considered the W5000 but cannot afford to the wife's disapproval. To be fair I have spent about 8k on stereo equipment in the last couple of months. However, I have read lots of reviews and have read read almost nothing negative about them. I have HD-650's, 595's, ER-4p, and AT A-900. I used to have DT-880's and have another pair ordered. I think the A-900's are very nice. I have read that the W5000 has a different sound than most AT phones but the reviewers were positive about the difference.

So no much in the way of evaluation but did want to point out that Newegg was selling these phones for $669.