They have a little bit of boost down low which I guess is to compensate for them having dynamic drivers and so not as extended as planars. None of that worries me as lots of bass is not so high on my list of vital issues. The mid band to me sounds quite neutral (not so much as the HD800S) but neither is it lean or washed out. The treble sounds like it is a little boosted (again not as much as the HD800S) and I guess you might call them on the bright side of neutral in this case. I like this aspect as it gives them an airy quality more reminiscent of open back headphones. They have good imaging and soundstage for any headphone but especially in a closed back. In this area they are better than the Meze Liric (and also the treble).
Does that help? I mean also bear in mind that these are only my thoughts and depending on your system could sound different to you.
I am a big fan of the HD800S and it has strengths the AP2k does not possess but the HD800S is not suitable to use in my home office (unless no one else is home) or travelling. So for me they are the closest I have found to that overall sound in a closed back format.
I mean the only way to truly know is hearing them myself, someone telling me they best the meze lyrics in the treble (Im getting this pair for their treble only) is a good testimony, and being close to hd800s also a good one, at least for your taste.
Them being a little v-shaped makes me think they are a toned down, more refined and detailed version of the wp900, and comparing them with both the hd800s and adx5000 makes me wonder if I should skip to the big fish and get the adx5000 only instead, having tested the hd800s I know they aren’t my thing.
I know its very hard to explain this but, may I know what exactly you liked more about the ap2000ti compared to the adx/hd800s other than being closed back? The liric comparison was brief but useful.
Yes, absolutely and I strongly suggest you do that instead of taking my thoughts too seriously.
I haven’t heard the WP900 but some folks I know who have them say they are quite V shaped and a “fun” headphone.
The ADX5000 and HD800S are both better to me than the AP2k and if I didn’t need a closed back they would be my choice. In fact the HD800S even over the ADX. This is for my taste/preference.
The AP2k are slightly warmer due to their slight bass lift…possibly, but what I was looking for was a closed back that sounded as close as possible to the HD800S. So in effect there is nothing else I like better, other than their portability.
Having said all that I think the AP2k are great headphones and I like their sound and soundstage and I have not heard anything I prefer in a closed back in this price range, but that may not help you. Please do try them yourself if you can. Then you will know easily if they are good for you or not.
Thanks a lot, audio technica is my favorite brand and I do not prefed open backs, I value closeds the same.
I kind of collect ATs but I dont have any with metallic cups, the more i read about the 2000ti the more I wanted it
Your take is very different from the usual ones, the more opinions I read the better
I actually bought my AP2k from a friend who has had almost every wooden closed back AT headphone I know of and has subsequently sold them all except his WP900. I think he regrets letting the AP2k go!
If you search hard enough there are some reviews of the AP2k on the web
https://www.audiofanatyk.pl/recenzja-sluchawek-audio-technica-ap2000ti/
Review: Audio-Technica ATH-AP2000Ti | These Should Have Been Classified As A Drug
The first is in Polish and the second in Danish but they both can be Google translated
There are other reviews but these 2 are a bit more in depth than most.
Hope these help
Just yesterday I googled translated a real audio review for the first time and it was an amazing review
Thanks im gonna read those, I used to google translate reviews long ago and it sucked, turns out it was the reviews redaction that was bad not the translator; so now I have acces to more useful info.
Wp900 is a 100% love or hate headphone, I have been on both sides (hating and loving it) but after months it settled down as a keeper, its a weird can for sure that won a spot in my heart; maybe something like a th900 PW can replace it, cant be sure eithout listening. Maybe even the ap2000ti could, but for now I havent heard anything alike that can fill that spot.
@mochi you might have done the exact opposite, yes, I also think hes crazy 
Disclaimer: This is not intended to be a review, but rather a rough compilation of my thoughts and preferences.
I recently got the ADX5000 after @M0N recommended them to me and I’ve been struggling to put them down ever since.
Note: I’m listening to them via Soekris 2541 - Violectric V281 which I consider a wonderful pairing for the HP.
While I still have a lot to learn about my ears, I do know for sure that I love sparkly, aggressive treble and an intimate soundstage that wraps around your head.
For me, the ADX5k has the sparkly treble down 100%, in such a way that no other headphone I have (or had) can compare. It’s the one stand-out feature to me, that makes me utterly adore them. They have other features, some great, some good, some utterly bewildering - which made getting to know them a confusing experience and I can certainly see why this is a somewhat specific headphone that is difficult to recommend for general usage.
To continue with my described preferences, as much as I like the treble I don’t consider it to be aggressive. It doesn’t pierce my ears in the way I would prefer, but remains just a touch distant, making the headphone seem rather formal and polite.
Soundstage is intimate, but doesn’t wrap around your head. It remains somewhat realistic, slightly in front of you. One track I like to use for comparison is Freya by Christian Reindl. In the beginning - starting at around 8 seconds in - it’s very clear that sounds slide from right to left (very pleasing 
). But I like the track even more on the Focal Clear with the Little Labs Monotor, where the sound seems to jump, rather than slide - unrealistic, but highly engaging (to me)!
One other stand-out feature of the ADX5k are the voices and instruments that sound incredibly natural and effortless - clear, detailed, precise and with sparkle 
.
Unfortunately, particularly in the beginning, I got the impression that they clashed a lot, particularly with songs that involved many instruments at once which made them sound busy and unfocused. This is not as big of an issue to me now, but I am unsure why - am I just used to it now? Did the aftermarket XLR cable I receive from the seller emphasize that issue? Will test that more in the future.
All in all, I do find myself especially seeking out songs that can be - incredibly roughly - mashed into a genre I call “a singer with their guitar” - not as many instruments, vocals are a strong focus, often acoustic etc. These are songs I listen to a lot anyway, but I find it highly fascinating how my daily playlist adjusts (entirely unconsciously) to the headphones I use. I also recently got the Focal Radiance and the Audeze LCD 2 PF so in-between there are some bass-heavy songs and it’s quite amusing to see.
To add to that: I do think the headphone tends towards a thinner sound and certainly benefits from the added warmth by the Vio amp. I couldn’t listen long on my Monotor as the HP definitely sounded a bit anemic.
I should elaborate what I mean when I say “getting to know them was a bewildering experience”. While there are many songs I love on them, they also make a huge chunk of my library sound actively worse than other hps I own do. They do not offer the same engagement on some songs that I love and at the moment I ascribe that to the clashing instruments (perhaps rephrased “their revealing nature”?) and their tendency towards thinness.
To conclude: I most often see people looking for and praising warm headphones with a wide soundstage. These headphones are not that. From everything I know (which is, tbf, not much) I can very much believe that this is not a headphone that many people would like. Thin sound, equally forward instruments + voices, intimate soundstage, tendency to be polite…
But, still, I love this - mainly because of the treble. And even though they are the first headphone I love that made songs I love sound bad, right now they are my daily driver. To me, there is something so magical about them*, that I would be comfortable having them as my endgame set-up** DESPITE the many ways it does not suit a big chunk of my library and my preferences. They give me the happiness and the certainty that the audio journey is worth it to me and that I’m definitely willing to experience more and upgrade further.
(I would even call this a love letter if I wasn’t dragging them at the same time.)
*mostly the treble
**if I didn’t have more money to spend
I’d love it if other ADX5k owners could add their thoughts! Do you (dis)agree with me on any point? What amp + dac do you like to use and could recommend to me? What cable? Do you use them daily or only when you’re in the mood for certain songs/genres?
Sorry for the non sequitur and I don’t know if this is unintentional, but your handle is a reference to a beautiful game with a beautiful soundtrack. I recommend it if you haven’t heard of it before.
Ah, thank you, I checked it out and it looks adorable! Added it to my wishlist for later 
Some time ago I got the AP2000ti, a headphone I see very few people talk about
For people that like audio technica this pair is a phenomenal closed back, very bright never sibilant, has the classic audio technica vocals (as in r70x, ad2000, w5000, almost every AT)
its forte is the extremely detailed midrange, insanely good vocals and strings. I like it more than my Emu Lawton Eucalyptus and my lent LCD XC bubinga pre rev, its way more comfortable 220grams, seals very easily even with glasses cause decent clamp…
And to me a long time AT fan they sound better in almost every genre, more natural, more well rounded.
The XC might need EQ or else it sucks, but to a lot of people (including me) one of the best closed backs there is. The lawtons are great, sometimes the v-shape goes a bit out of control.
The ap2000ti’s low end has slighty better tone and microdynamics than the XC and Lawton, the macrodynamics are more focused on the XC and my Lawton; soundstage is quite a bit smaller for the ap2000 as well. Staging is very much like the LCD XC and other LCDs where you get a sphere around you with forward midrange and great “in the middle of the band” presentation.
Ap2000ti have my favorite top end ever, very crispy and visceral, while sparkly and vibrant, just a little bit boosted in a tasteful manner.
The high end can get out of control in the hi hats and cymbals, but good mixes dont have this problem, its a sound some may perceive as “metallic” just like a focal clear, maybe even a little bit more but it depends on whose listening.
Shoutouts to AP2000ti, a bit cheaper option with competitive qualities for the 1k+ closed backs, very AT house sound signature and surprisingly detailed in every frequency.
@MacDLaw has been absolutely fantastic and giving me thorough advice on AT headphones. I was really drawn to the beautiful closed back in his set-up. Ultimately, I snatched up the W1000 that was on offer on head-fi. (shipping prices are insane though, what!!!)
He also let me know that some people here own the L5000. I would love to hear about this headphone if anyone is happy to share and maybe compare to other headphones Are they worth it?
L5000 owner I summon you
@don did have one, but I believe sold it. Not sure who else.
I did buuut that was some time ago now and I don’t remember what I was pairing it with. I remember it being bright and intimate and uncomfortable. I don’t think AT is my cup of tea but I also can recognize that it does what it’s going for well.
Is it worth it? I have no idea if it would be for you. Iirc it’s a limited edition headphone and has quite a high price tag used. So personally I don’t think it’s a value proposition but more for a collector or a hardcore AT fanboy.
Its actually the most expensive audio technica there is, and the most recent limited edition they made.
I wouldn’t think they are a value proposition as well, you could even get a new utopia or something like that, I believe your two paragraphs sum it up quite well.
Also their look doesnt scream flagship to me but I am a bit of a hardcore AT fan with bright and intimate preference, still I think I would go for an utopia or d8000 pro.
Thanks for racking your brain for me. Aside from uncomfortable that does sound like my cup of tea 
But I think you’re both right, this is more of a collector choice rather than a value option.
I’ll save up my money for source gear instead.
I’m still excited for learning and hearing about them. Thank you both for your input!
Im very curious, what source gear are you currently lookign at? because that could make of break future potenional headphones/dac/amp synergies by limiting them.
Or maybe is just a though an still dont activeley looking for them
Seriously bro. It’s also one of those things that one wishes they would have learned earlier. I look back at alot of things and I’m like, I did that a disservice.
Also reminds me of something, someone was talking about a small speaker and someone asked him about the bass. He basically said that if course it’s physically incapable of recreating the same deep bass as a big speaker but because the sound is so balanced with the bass, mids and highs you don’t really feel or realize that the bass dosent go as low as other bigger speakers with bigger woofers. I feel the same way with audio now where if you have gear that’s all near the same performance level + sound signature that you love, you will get a overall better/enjoyable experience than you would otherwise. Same for synergy, if the gear complements each other by minimizing their weakness and expanding on the strengths it can be magical!
That is very good advice! I still feel I have limited experience with source gear.
Right now, I’m focusing on the Utopia and am in the process of buying an LTA MZ3. After I have it my plan is to listen to that amp thoroughly with all my headphones and make up my mind how much I like it, what I like and what I’m missing. And hopefully I can then decide on my next amp or dac with the learned knowledge.
I do believe I’ll most likely be getting another amp (or more) on the same level, so if you both (and anyone else) have advice on amps that synergize with the ADX5000, I’d be grateful to hear it.