Audio Technica headphone thread, ADX-5000 / AWKT / AWAS / AP2000TI / W5000

Headphones
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Mod is very simple and it was made before buying new headphones. I changed line out 2x AD4075 to 2x LME49860MA. Then I changed 4x Panasonic FC to Nichicon FG - 2x near RCA outputs and 2x near radiators. The reason for upgrade was to improve slightly “velvety” bass (like it was in Topping D70). Result: more solid and structured bass, more weight in sound, and maybe slightly more laid-back highs (but maybe it was before capacitors burned-in, now I don’t even sure).

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I tried JJs gold, E88CC Tesla NOS, Genalex Gold Lion, 2 pairs of new JJs, and in the end, I always went back to stock JJ tubes, they give the most balanced and spacious sound. And these NOS Amperex have a good balance too and they feel better in transients and dynamics.

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What’s the imaging on it like btw? That audio technica is one of those headphones that interests me for sure, and I wonder if buying one would be worth or if it would overlap too much with my 600 and I’d be better off getting something else.

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Hello and welcome to the forum! What a pleasure to have another fan of the ADX5000. They have a special place in my heart and would be my favorite for sure if they were a bit more versatile.

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The HD600 were my first good headphones back in the day. Right now I can only compare with HD660S, that I’ve owned for 4 years already. The HD660S renders images a little closer and with less separation in depth, the images are larger and fuller thanks to their rich lower midrange. The ADX5000 also sounds quite intimate on the main instruments, but the better rendering of bass and trebles, as well as a less pronounced lower mids, allow you to hear better the depth of images and different plans in the sound stage. The HD660S are very balanced headphones, and at first they even seemed more interesting in producing of the lower piano notes and lower male vocals. And their presentation also has its own magic, they sound calmer, but very truthful and timbre correct. But now I prefer ADX5000 with any music, it’s just a more lively and real sound, richer in different nuances, and they turned out to be even more comfortable. So I guess that they will not be an addition to the HD600, but rather a replacement.

Thanks! I’m glad I found this place :slight_smile: I like to have one good cans rather than a collection (sometimes I’m using closed ones as well), and before buying I had strict requirements for weight and comfort, at the same time I wanted to get a TOTL headphones. Audio-Technica were one of the few options, and I’m glad that they suited me well.

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I’m glad you like them so much. I’m rather curious how you selected them. Did you try them beforehand? What other options were you looking at?

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I used to have LCD-2 and HE-6 planars back in a day, used them with Beta22 amplifier and Audio-gd Reference-8 DAC (PCM1704). They were great, but sometimes they seemed to lack something what was in dynamic headphones, like HD600 or T1. They can sound too technically, especially the bass. Because of this, and also because of the almost always heavy weight and high amplification requirements, I didn’t consider planars anymore. For some time now, only headphones lighter than 300 grams are comfortable for me, and the HD660S pleased me with both comfort and versatile sound (I bought them to replace Fostex X00 ebony). Both moderate brightness and good bass were important, as I listened to rock a lot. However, sometimes reading different feedbacks and reviews, there was a desire to try TOTL again, but a dynamic one. Choosing by weight, the Beyerdynamic T1-2 might have been an almost fit, but they still had a rather emphasized peak at 8 kHz, which I immediately noticed in the store. Also the HD800S could be considered as an option, but I tried the original HD800 before and didn’t quite like their too distant and lightweight presentation, like I was sitting in a big room. According to reviews, Focal Clear were very interesting, but alas they are too heavy.

So one day I became interested in the ADX5000 after reading forum member’s reviews, whose opinion I can trust, but then the desire was beaten off by too high price and mixed reviews of other owners. However, the moment came when I saw a good review on reddit from someone with quite similar musical tastes, and at the same time, an offer appeared at a very good price! So I decided that until I myself tried those headphones for a long time at home, I couldn’t make a complete impression. The purchase was blind, but I guess since I studied the reviews for a long time, the purchase turned out to be very successful. Yes, these are not the most linear headphones, but their special tuning is to my liking and can easily cheer me up. Another interesting aspect of these headphones seemed to me that they can be easily listened as a background, but if you wish, you can immerse yourself in the music at any moment.

Now I feel like I can hear the limit of my system, but there is more room to grow if I want to and the headphones can open up even better. In fact, I’m already intrigued by the Cayin HA-3A amp, which has just been released, has a very good Headfonia review. It’s not OTL, so probably not the best choice, but I have similar as in review impressions from my own amplifier, which also used JJ tubes by default.

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To be honest, I think my favorite pairings with the adx5k were transformer coupled tube rather than OTL, I wouldn’t worry about it being OTL, all depends on what you really want out of the amp. The OG Cayin HA300 was an awesome match with the 5K, hopefully the non DHT cayin would be as well

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Tried the ADX5000 on my BHC for the first time today. I don’t tend to gush, but man, do I love these headphones. The hps tend towards the thin side and the BHC fills out some of the sounds. Naturally, the combo is not quite as technical as the V281, but it almost makes me think the ADX5000 could become my favorite all-rounder hp.

(It’s not going to be, though, since I still have all the gripes I’ve had before)

Even more surprisingly, even though the Utopia is superior to them in every way, for the time being, with the amps I have rn, the ADX5000 beats it handily in terms of enjoyment (for me).

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They were my first pair of HiFi headphones. Main advantage is weight, these weigh nothing!
They have some potentially deal-breaking limitations though:

  • No up/down swivel on the earcups, they either sit right on your ears, or don’t.
  • Wing-Headband, either your head works for them or you are SOL. Potential work-arround is to string a long thin hair band round the wings to connect them into one headband
  • Bass is lacking
  • Cable is… boy… I modded mine a few years ago to have a 3.5mm jack in the left cup.

For the price I paid (140€ if memory serves right, has been 9 years), they are good “all day long”-phones.

On the closed to open back scale, this entire series is one step before MySphere or SR-1b.

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Wow

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Im also a big fan of the cheaper winged ath, they really are all day champs and great for glasses users

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Oh yeah. Glasses users delight for sure!

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I’ve had some time with a pair of AWKT with sources being a lotoo paw 6000 and a MZ3 w/Amber4. I’m actually REALLY liking the AWKT. A lot has been said about them on this thread so I wont bother describing them it too much detail. I will say they have a forward engaging organic presentation that kinda reminds of like NPR tiny desk concert or like a coffee shop, an encompassing experience. At least the music that I found most enjoyable on it haha.

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after you get your new set and have some time please do post your thoughts on the ADX5k… it’s def a set at the price point used that looks interesting.

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Have listened for a few days now. Its paired with a Lavricables master. Not gonna repeat much from what has already been said about it lol, but I will just agree with what others have said on here lol. I will say that it is a fantastic value here. Its “intimate” stage is done well and its separation and depth is very great.

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Thanks to @bmn1251 for selling me his set and thanks to @M0N for the shoutout on these on the ’ ish list ’ .

I think these def will be keepers for me and a nice complement to the HD800s. It’s funny some HPs take some time listening to understand what they are actually doing where these it’s just apparent right away. Anything acoustic, live music, bluegrass, symphony, or vocals forward these are pretty much “it” for me.

I’ve tried some harder rock and latin music that are more horns forward and these do get a bit treble spicy but not sibilant. I’ve tried on tubes and SS as well as R2R (Spring KTE) and FPGA (Comet). I’d say thus far I’m ambivalent on tubes vs. SS but highly prefer this set on Comet over Spring. Will post back in a few months after I’ve lived with them for awhile but for me this is a home run thus far :trophy:

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I cannot fathom how good the AWAS are, plus comfort and easy pairings

With my current gear which is id say higher mid fi, the awas sound more alive and musical than the adx5000, specially on the yamamoto ha02.

I Have every can in the title of the thread except the AWKT, which is my next chase.

@M0N and others who have had the adx5000

Whats the budget friendly amp to really make them sing, the bha100 and the soloist plus the comet dont cut it (nor the RNHP or BHC), they need more “life” I dont know how to put it. The AWAS and w5000 have it with my gear, its like more emotional.

Bonus if it also goes well with my future AWKT

I was thinking maybe bryston BHA1 or QSHA, maybe even ferrum stack but im really not sure

I think those might go better than the v281 and LTA mz2

My friend didnt like them very much with the mz3 so im reluctant and its hard to find used

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Makes sense, most of the amps you have def favor driving things more in line with the lower impedance older AT, the adx5k is going to be an outlier in that regard and might not pair that well with the same stuff

I’d pass on the ferrum, the quicksilver is really nice in that price range for something more on the fun and lively side of things.The bryson would be one of my top picks in the solid state range

What about trying to find something like a used ray samuels raptor, really interesting amp that would actually also potentially play well with your other AT. It’s a cleaner leaning otl, but still pretty lively and would be a nice option instead of a mz2 with a kinda similar sound but better synergy with the adx (but worse synergy with the lower impedance at). I would prob prefer the quicksilver, but the price for them on the used market have gotten real low for what they offer

I also think a dragon iha-1 with the lundhal upgrade could be a pretty nice pairing with a bit of a technical level above the rsa with a more traditional presentation, more well rounded, and better for tube rolling

I wonder if you could try and find a cayin ha-6a in that range used, would be a nice pairing imo. If you could find a used ha300 for half off that would be really nice pairing wise but that’s getting far past the price point you’re probably looking to hit

It’s hard to give too many suggestions since I think the headphone really kinda commands that next step up of amps to really shine, a lot of the stuff I’d personally gravitate toward to for it (eddie current studio b, dna stratus, allnic hpa3000gt, pass hpa-1, etc) are just that next price bracket up. Actually you might be able to find a good deal on a pass but that might require a lot of waiting since those tend to hold their value well

I thought the v281 was actually pretty nice, but isn’t going to mesh as well with your lower impedance AT. The mz2 would work well with the lower impedance but not as well with the 5k

I did like it off the mz3, but I thought you really wanted to have a specific dac pairing to pull it off, and I’d rather go for different amps in that price range if you wanted to prioritize an adx5k

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That allnic listing is still available fyi if you don’t mind stretching the budget (you could also probably ask for lower cause I didn’t get it for 4k new lol)…

If you do go through with it, I’d rec replacing those tubes to RCA (or maybe GE) and call it a day

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Im short for the allnic :sweat_smile: this one wasnt meant to be

Thanks m0n very concize answer

Id love to try any of these: allnic, raptor, traf head2, bryston, pass, cayin 300 and QS

Tough they are all different I think any of those could scratch the itch I have with the adx5k, the bryston and the QS would be the more common easier to get, import taxes and shipping are getting way out of hand here so im comfy in this price range

Some of the eddie currents and cayin seem a nightmare to ship overseas

For the lower impedance AT I have the goodies already so im set, just need to improve the adx experience

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Exogal + PASS HPA-1 is a very good combo and worthy of endgame stop relative to cost of the HP’s. All sorts of combo’s of equipment are possible. :man_shrugging::hugs: I’m familiar w this combo playing off a Pi streamer and it’s a solid, easy to live w/ combo. Some decent cables, they don’t have to be super costly, and you have an easy to live w/ chain.

The Exogal is well neutral, has good spacial presentation, it presents detail well and if paired w/ a noise free feed it likes does a damned fine job while also handling just about any signal you feed it.

I have both the AWAS and AWKT and honestly had to spend mucho much $$$$ to get equipment beyond that combo and even then it’s simply a slightly different presentation. Which is pretty cool but hard to justify $30k++ in expenditure for an, “Oh, that sounds cool :thinking:”.

You have a solid grasp on various combinations of really good gear, I’m a fan of the build, quality, sound signature and performance of the Pass HPA-1, especially for its cost, even when brand new. :pinched_fingers: I also still feel the Exogal is a stupidly good value used, providing performance well beyond what they cost nowadays, for as long as they hold up and you can keep one functioning.

@MacDLaw don’t rush, take your time and save up for a single piece beyond what you have and try to stop there. The next level “UP” is so far away ($$$$) and IMO not necessary if you keep to normal HP’s and don’t fall into the trap that are the TOTL beasts which really do require equipment well past their own price points to maximize what they do. Lots of good suggestions presented, mine is one more :hugs:

PS, I have yet to read a single negative comment about the PASS HPA-1 anywhere on the internet. Not one single piece of negative feedback from any user ever. :man_shrugging: Just saying, i assume my own ears and comments are particular to me, but everyone else can’t be wrong too :rofl: Good luck with whatever you choose.

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