 HIGH resolution-extensive burn-in required |
| Review Date: December 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: KDS, |
My perspective is a bit different:
Let me preface this review with a few points that should add to the review's credibility:
1. I am a classical sound engineer primarily, but work exclusively in acoustic genres where audio fidelity and sonic accuracy are paramount.
2. I work in both balance engineering and mastering, where I am often required to perfect the spectral balance (in both dynamic and frequency) of the final mixdown.
3. For over 10 years I have used Bowers and Wilkins loudspeakers in various environments (anechoic and otherwise) in addition to custom EQ'd headphones for my work. B&W is widely believed to manufacture the finest loudspeakers in the world.
4. I regularly attend live classical music concerts, often in ideal seating locations, resulting in a great familiarity of how live music sounds.
I researched a number of headphone options before settling on the Denon AH-D5000. I was curious about the Ultrasone models from Germany, but was wary of a technology that supposedly "corrected" cross feed and phase issues often experienced with headphones. The Denon frequency response curve was generally smooth, and any corrections could be made with a high quality EQ within the DAW.
There are immediately two things that are apparent when you first hear the AH-D5000. They require extensive burn-in. I have been listening to these headphones for approximately 5 days now, attempting to leave as much signal in them overnight as possible. There has been a very apparent change in their sonic character as related to frequency response throughout this period. I can tell you that burn-in is a very real requirement for those of us in the music recording business. Loudspeakers often are very rigid when new, resulting in a limited frequency response and higher than normal distortion-giving you that characteristic "hard", new sound. Headphones present the same challenge, and these Denons require significant burn-in. What appears to be happening over time is a reduction of deviation from a flat frequency response, resulting in a smoother curve as time goes on. I would not be surprised if these phones need at least 300 to 400 hours before they are finally settled.
They are bass heavy, but the curve is very smooth and easily correctable, and again appears to be smoothing out with time.
I knew they were something extraordinary however when I listened to the dynamics. I have never heard dynamic range so clearly represented. More specifically, I have never heard so many poor compression jobs, recordings where the engineers applied too much compression, inconsistently, at both low and high levels. You will actually hear varying degrees of compression used in individual tracks within the mixdown-astounding. You will also be presented with a soundstage that reflects EXACTLY what was happening during the mixdown process. When every recording you audition has easily differentiated characters of depth, compression, spectral balance, and soundstage, you know you have something that exhibits an uncanny level of resolution. I have never heard music so ruthlessly resolved in my life. NO speaker has ever done this for me.
I have to comment on driving these headphones. While for average listening to pop music with little change in dynamic range, you might possibly get by with a mediocre soundcard upgrade, these headphones require real amplification if you want to experience aural nirvana. I have auditioned them with various lower end amplification, and the result is always the same-a hardening of sound during high level transients. This disappears completely with better amping. Additionally, and I have never experienced this before in a headphone, I plainly hear changes in the character of the sound, particularly in soundstage and dynamics, when switching some audio plugins in and out of the mixer that are designed to NOT change the character of the sound. Specifically I'm referring to final stage limiting plugins that are intended to be transparent. Again, to have this so plainly demonstrated is just astonishing, and Denon deserves tremendous credit for this design. I can only guess this is due to the unusually thin transducers used (micro-fiber construction).
These headphones are sending back to mixes I have already done. Suffice it to say that my golden ears have just received a tremendous boost.
Finally, the construction. The mahogany is beautiful, the magnesium finish is of the highest quality, yet the phones are unbelievably light and comfortable.
I HIGHLY recommend the Denon AH-D5000. The listener must be patient with these though, as with regular use it may take up to weeks to get them to settle into their true character.
Some further observations (Sun, 4 Jan 2009 20:55:54):
I have already mentioned the tremendous resolving power of these headphones. I would like to supplement on two points, amplification and general resolving ability.
It has become very apparent that these headphones demand the highest quality amplification. Wide spectrum music with tremendous dynamic range suffers terribly with anything but high quality power. You will immediately notice a "collapsing" soundstage and a reduction in the frequency response at the outer ends of the spectrum, with an earbleed quality pushing heavily around 3000hz. When auditioning, make sure you have clean, sufficient amplification.
I have researched a number a specifications for these headphones that clearly demonstrate their superiority. Particularly interesting are the impulse response graphs (available on the Headroom sight). These are some of the cleanest I have seen, and in comparison to other top end cans, are clearly superior. Headroom is overwhelmingly positive about these headphones, even alluding to the outstanding specs. No doubt these specs support my belief that these may be the most highly resolving headphones I have ever heard.
I'd like to add yet another observation. Tracking using a single mic vs. stereo mic during the mixing process is extremely obvious, particularly in multiple mic environments like those in symphonic recording. The monophonic tracks have a flat, airless, and overly focused quality to them in comparison to tracks that had the benefit of stereo microphones. Clearly this is something that Balance engineers will have to deal with as the mediums improve. Pop music engineers often use all their tracks in stereo, then adjust field and panning as necessary, resulting a very open, natural sound, granted sometimes to exaggeration. Classical engineers should really look into spot micing with pairs or stereo mics to really achieve a natural, open stereo sound. That said, all these characteristics are plainly obvious with these headphones.
For those of you interested, I have been researching and testing multiple EQ curves to get this headphone as spectrally accurate as possible. Please let me know if you would like these specs.
By the way, Denon has just released the ah-d7000, and by just about all accounts, it is substandard to the ah-d5000, yet almost twice the price. The preliminary specs show a more jagged frequency response with less extension on both ends, plus less accurate impulses. Get the ah-d5000 while you can.
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Just about perfect
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| Review Date: January 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Mahlers2nd, |
I ordered these because I was getting tired of wearing my Shure in-ear buds. I ordered them to listen to primarily classical music in an office environment. I already have a set of Grado RS-1s but since those have an open design, they tend to leak more noise ... in AND out.
For the cost of the headphones, the packaging is a little weak. A protective bag for these puppies would be nice. Putting them on -- I would say they are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn -- light years above the Grados. They are designed for a big head, I think because they feel a little loose on my head at the smallest setting (there are 7 variable settings on each side) but since I'm not going to be working out with these on, they are fine and probably add to the comfort level.
The first thing I played was the Bruch Violin Concerto. It sounds phenomenal. I close my eyes and imagine myself listening in a concert hall. The clarity of the sound is amazing -- you can things on the recording that you would miss in a room with other background noise. The bass is warm and solid -- an advantage of the closed head design. The upper ranges are also very well balanced, crisp and clear. In short -- there is no sacrifice anywhere along the spectrum without one range being emphasized over another.
So far, I have only listened to them through my PC and they are outstanding. I can only imagine how great they would be on a real system.
The cord is plenty long so that you can easily move around (stand and pace a bit) while listening. The phones come with an adapter so you can use them in the smaller computer jacks as well as the larger jacks that you find on real stereos.
My ear buds are outstanding for portability (they cost as much as these denons) and the ability to go into your "alone cone". However, prolonged use of the buds can lead to inner ear irritation (yeast infections etc) and get uncomfortable. These are an excellent alternative if you are going to be sitting at your desk for hours on end and want to shut out the rest of the world. The construction appears to be very solid and give the impression that they will last for ever (though you'll probably have to replace the ear pieces when they get skanky).
One note: if you are primarily listening to MP3s, don't bother with this level of headphones. The sampling rate and sound quality of MP3s and other lossy formats just won't have the level of detail to where the difference between an $500 set of cans can offer over a $100.00 set. And in fact, the detail picked up by the more expensive headphones can be quite annoying when it detracts from the music. If you are wanting the true high-end listening experience, rip your music using a lossless format. Sure, it takes more disk space but you'll enjoy your music as it was intended in all its full-bodied glory.
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Excellent phones, but...
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| Review Date: April 6, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Pseudonym, San Francisco |
The Denon AH-5000 headphones impress you right out of the package, but with so many headphone choices avaiable, come might find it hard to justify spending over $400 for a pair. Can it really be that good?
= The dark mahogany ear cups are tight-grained and smooth, and somehow also surprisingly light. The pads are covered in light, faux leather that can get somewhat sticky in warm weather. Ear pressure is quite firm, and uncomfortable only if they aren't seated on your head just right. Unlike open headphones, these offer effective isolation, and have drivers designed to theoretically angle the sound more realistically to your ears,
= The D5000 sound signature favors the bass - not the sexy bass sound of, say, the Sennheiser HD650, but a more luxurious, enveloping sound. They also have a subtle and appealing treble. As a result, these phones are the sonic equivalent of sitting back in a couch. At the same time, the bass is sometimes overwhelming for anyone more accustomed to the lean sound of, say, the popular AKG K701.
= Even though they have hardwood cups, the D5000 isn't resistant to nicks. A coating of carnauba wax is useful, but not an assurance against wear. Wooden headphones do require slightly more care than typical phones.
= These are definitely audiophile, but their closed design and bass presence may not appeal to listeners who favor a more realistic sound. The D5000 aims to achieve a specific effect, and you will need to employ an equalizer if you want something closer to realism. That said, its style is best suited for pop, rock and electronic; the lean sonorities of classical are better served by a K701-style.
Some listeners have gone so far as to mod the phones to bring down the bass. In general, however, it's best to get the D5000 if you know you like their style of delivery. I always recommend that, for high-end phones, it's best to preview the alternatives before purchasing. |
Wonderful Sound - One of the Best At Any Price
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| Review Date: September 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: P. Langenfeld, Tucson Arizona |
The sound from these Denon AH-D5000 headphones is extraordinary (even at their list of $900 instead of the current clearance price of $350 - you may not get a warranty at that price). I didn't like them much at first until I let them break in for about 200 hours. After break in, the recessed midrange came forward and the bass tightened up.
The bass the Denon headphones put out is the equivalent of what you might get out of speakers with 12" woofers. The bass is not overpowering and is accurate. However, you had better be a bass lover. When listening to Diana Krall, it was as if I was right beside Ray Brown playing the acoustic bass with my head just a few feet from the soundhole.
The highs are Angelic. They are detailed, revealing, and open, yet delicate at the same time. They produce some of the best piano and steel string guitar music I have heard.
The midrange is another Denon forte. However, it is slightly recessed due to the relatively powerful bass. Yet, the mids are some of the best I have heard and are very warm, natural, and organic sounding and very well textured. I am a midrange nut, and the mids opened up as the headphones broke in to sound wonderful. In my opinion, if Denon had voiced the mids to play about 4db louder and bass about 3db less, they would have had perhaps the best set of headphones in the world. However, the sound is still great the way it is.
Lawton Audio installs Markyl mods to reduce the perceived bass a little by adding some sound insulation to reduce headset resonance and tighten the bass, thereby letting the mids to relatively stand out a little more. I like the Denons so much the way they are, I wonder if the $140 mod is worth it. I would love to hear detailed reports from others who have done it. If the mods tighten the bass while leaving it intact and move the mids relatively forward, giving me one of the best headphones in the world, I would certainly consider the extra cost!
I prefer the sound I hear from the Denon AH-D5000 over my Sennheiser HD650 headphones which are quit nice also. The Denons mids, treble and bass to me are superior to the Sennheisers for my sonic preferences. The midrange of the Sennheisers through a good headphone amp is a bit more forward and brassy than the Denons, yet still very smooth and nice. Overall, I prefer the sligtly more romantic and relaxed midrange of the Denons.
The Denons 25 Ohm impedance allows it to be played well directly from an iPod, which cannot be done well with the Sennheiser HD650 from an iPod with its 300 ohm impedance (the Senns are great from a headphone amp though). Although the Sennheisers do indeed require a headphone amp to sound good, some of the lesser Sennheiser models with less impedance sound very good from an iPod. Connected directly to an ipod with no headphone amp, the Denons still sound very good, but loose some of the bass and fidelity. However, from an iPod the mids of the Denon headphones do sound nicely more forward as the bass, though still strong, is diminished a bit. You will need a headphone amp to get the best out of either.
The Sennheisers bass sounds sounded good before hearing the Denons rich full bass. Afterward, the Sennheisers bass sounded inadequate in comparison. The Sennheisers have a significantly more forward and sligtly more brassy midrange from a headphone amp than the Denons do, yet still sound smooth. However, the Sennheiser HD650 sounds dull and overly smooth straight from an iPod, and are apparently made to be played only through a headphone amp.
The Denons sit somewhat loosely on the head and are made to be listened to in a stationary position. Although the pads touch the head well enough to seal and leave the listener very comfortable even with extended listening, they can easily fall off the head when bending over. The Sennheisers on the other hand, sit very firm on the head and will not come off. However, the Sennheisers although comforatable at first, start to fatigue a little and feel a little vice like compared the the Dennons which you barely notice are there at all.
The Denon AH-D5000 is the best headset for my listening preferences that I have heard. However, if you are looking for a bargain, the almost identical Denon AH-D2000 may be a better deal - and is now being clearanced at $210 compared to the best clearance price of $350 (instead of the $900 list) for the Denon AH-D5000. They both share the same drivers, and the only difference between the two is that the D5000 has wooden cups for a slightly more organic sound and a better cord. It would be wise to check and see if the seller is authorized by Denon if you want a factory warranty.
Either pair represents some of the best sound that you can buy at any price for professional grade high end audiophile headphones. You will get very little extra paying $1,000 for a pair of headphones.
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Warm, rich, and immediate sound stage
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| Review Date: December 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: L. Topper, |
I recently heard these headphones. They are comfortable. They have faux leather covers and metal fittings. The leather is comfortable on the ears and the actual enclosures seal around the ears completely. I do not believe that any sound leaks outside. They are big enough to cover even the biggest ears. The covers are removable and replaceable. The actual drivers are covered with a grill to prevent any accidental damage to the cones. The metal fittings are very likely to prevent accidental breakage, but then also allow for some flexibility in fitting. They fit snugly, but not so tightly as to make them feel too close. The phones have mahogany end pieces that are quite attactive. The package does not come with a case.
The sound is wonderful. I listened to a number of different selections of music. I listened to some Cuban music emphasising rhythm. The bass was clear and precise with plenty of body. I listened to some CSNY from the Deja Vu album. All instruments sounded very clear with separation. I listened to some Diana Krall. The vocals and instrumentation sounded wonderful.
The headphones were powered by a tube amplifier at an audiofile stereo shop. The headphones may have sounded better on this integrated amplifer called Decco by Peachtree. It is important to note this because the amplifier used both tubes and chips. The amp had a specific headphone amplifier and created a more warm than usual sound with plenty of power to make these headphones sing. Since I originally wrote my review, I have actually purchased a pair of these phones. They do sound wonderful on an Ipod even without a headphone amplifier. I have chosen to put all music into the Ipod on the lossless setting. Like the other reviewer, I think it is overkill to buy such wonderful headphones and lose so much music through the highly condensed signal you get from an mp3 recording. The headphones still sound good, but you could easily get by with the Sony MDR 7506, Audio-Technica ATH AD700, or the Grado SR80 all at around $100.00 on Amazon Marketplace. I compared the phones with Grado 225 and Sennheiser 650. Both the Grado and Sennheiser sounded very good. I was particularly impressed with the Grado, but both paled in warmth compared to these Denon headphones. The Denon was far more comfortable than the Grado which is to be expected. With a headphone amplifier, these headphones will add far greater depth especially in the bass department. While the price is high on these phones, they really are worth the price. The sound and the esthetics are great on these phones. I purchased them for around $480 on Amazon Marketplace. In the local stereo store, the best they could offer was about $625.00. At $480.00, it is worth it. I wish that they came with a case like the Beyerdynamic or the Audio-Technica W5000 which come in at a similar price.
There is one significant negative to these headphones. The cloth covered cable has worn to expose the white cotton like batting under the black cloth cover where the cable joins the plug. I have now owned two pairs of this headphone and this has happened with both. It can easily be fixed and has not affected the play, but at this price, it should not happen.
AT $488.00, THIS IS AN AMAZING PRICE AS THE DOLLAR KEEPS DROPPING AND OTHER SOURCES FOR THIS HEADPHONE HAVE RAISED THEIR PRICES. BUY NOW! AUDIO CUBES WHICH WAS GENERALLY THE CHEAPEST PRICE FOR JAPANESE MADE HEADPHONES RAISED THEIR PRICE TO $599.00 FROM $499.00.
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