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Audio Technica ATH W1000x
Price $300 [Used Refurbished from a Head Fier]
Audio Set up
FooBar 2000 -> wasapai-> Odac ->Modded Millet Whiplash/Max Hybrid Tube ->w1000x
I review against my dt 880s out of the Same tube and ofc the same volume.
Build Quality [4/5]
The Wood Housing is beautiful, and the head band is amazingly durable. The padding is lush, and beautiful adding a nice mid forward sound to the headphone. But why plastic hinges I don't get, none they less they are very well constructed. In addition the inside of the headphone is equally as beautiful, A rubber seal helps with isolation as well.
Auditioning Songs
http://www.head-fi.org/t/655851/refrance-play-list
1) Sacrifice Part Three- Hiroki Kikuta
Video Game OST-Balanced Track Many elements combine for an overall balanced and enjoyable sound. Excessive color in a track like this is not always good. and the w1000x has slightly to much color for this track.
Highs- [3/5] recessed, good air and nice energy but they are not forward by any means. There is still a bright nature to the highs. And they are very enjoyable. Though in this high energy track I miss the snap of the highs
Mids [4/5] -very nice, the wood winds have nice body to them. Good lush sound.
Bass [3.5/5]-good weight and body, a sense of tight punch while still having some meat to it. Not as tight or SLAMMING as the dt 880
2) Uromau Dori- Toshio Masuda
Ambient OST- a very mid heavy track with a touch of sparkle and bass. The w1000x does a nice job with this one. The gorgeous delicate mids are maintained center stage. The bright sparkle of the highs falls right behind the mids, and the bass is present and adds the dark ambiance as it should
Highs [4/5]- good air, nice sparkle. The dt 880 being a bright can adds a nice sense of air to the track and mysticism, the warmer more intimate w1000x takes away some of that mystery and give the track an affectionate feel.
Mids [5/5]- very warm and intimate, the mysticism of the highs is taken away and replaced with some loving mids. I see why people call this can a real romantic ;3, very affectionate. Good lush tone to the mids
Bass [5/5]- a little more body than the dt 880, again not as tight but still very balanced. The bass was a little much in track 1, here the extra weight really does the track justice
3) Yellow-Culprate
EDM- a very playful song, the highs and the mids all come together to flesh this track out very nicely. The highs have a great energy to them. I was rather impressed to hear them as prominently as I did, still the bass has body which is again a nice touch, although I miss the tautness of the dt 880s. The song lack a little of the energy the 880s, a more laid back can for sure the w1000x is
Highs [3.5/5]- still very sweet with good air, although the dt 880 was brighter and the highs had a lot more energy and still the same gentle sweet ness. The w1000x has the energy and the gentle nature, but it's really missing the extension of the dt 880, Still smooth highs, good energy.
Mids [4/5]- almost useless in this song, a nice touch to hear them though. As they are enjoyable, this song becomes a little more mystic with the more forward mids, as there is very charming playful mid presence,
Bass [3.5/5]- again there is body but it lacks the tautness of the dt 880, a more laid back bass which takes away from the high energy and fun of this tune
[size=small]4) Lisa Ekdahl- Of My Conceit [/size]
Vocal Jazz- This genre is where the w1000x truly shines. While the Guitar in the background has a clearer sound on the Dt 880s, the main focus here is on Lisa's voice. The W1000x captures her voice masterfully, capturing t the sweet innocent highs in her voice as well as the sexy and seductive mids. The guitars and flute in the background are a nice as well, a light back drop on Lisa's seductive voice in this track. The Dt 880 is more airy, yet it lacks the intimacy of the w1000x .
Highs [4.1/5]- Again the upper most highs in the guitar are not as airy as they could be, yet Lisa's voice it self has a perfect blend of treble air and smoothness. The cymbals and chimes in the background also have just enough sparkle to them!
Mids [5/5] Being a Mid center headphone, once again the mids shine. Lisa voice is perfect, the upper and lower mids are wonderfully captured by the w1000x. While the Dt 880's presentation is nice, it doesn't capture nearly as much emotion as the w1000x does. Lisa's voice has such a seductive quality in this track, and it feels and sounds as if she room with you while listening on the w1000x. Lush and detailed, every breathe she takes is captured as well, adding further to the intimacy of vocals on this headphone!
Bass [3.9/5] The lower notes of the guitar lack the subtle tight impact of the Dt 880. The w1000x does a good job at retaining the details as the artist shifts from deeper notes to higher ones. Yet the bass line is a little recessed against Lisa's voice. Although for the genre, the extra warmth of the bass is preferred over the tactility that the Dt 880 brings.
Sound [4.3/5]
Mids [4.8/5]- Thick and lush, very beautiful. Good detail very rich without a dark tone, the wood adds a nice feel. A heavy and strong vocal track will have a nice punch to it in the vocals.
Highs [4/5]- airy good energy, detail and sound stage maintain the highs nicely, still a mid focused can.
Bass [3.9/5]- there is some serious BODY to the bass, not boom but not entirely tight! Again the bass really reveals the closed nature of the can, there is nice body but it lacks the tightness of an open can.
My w1000x is outfitted with L3000 pads, these increase the comfort as well as the beauty of the headphone. The L3000 pads are from an older series in the ATH Wooden line, and are made from leather, as opposed to the Pleather that is used for the stock w1000x Pads.
The L3000 pads tighten the sound signature better extending the highs and adding a little more punch to the bass and mids.
Next my w1000x has had Purrin Mod performed on it, this entails adding about four 1cm squares of Dynamat inside the wooden house casing. This additional dampening increases the detail and further tightens the the sound as well as adding a little more sound stage and instrument separation!
Modded Sound Review
Sound [4.7/5]
Mids [5/5]- Thick and lush, very beautiful. Good detail very rich without a dark tone, the wood adds a nice feel. A heavy and strong vocal track will have a nice punch to it in the vocals. The modification further tightens the sound, adding incredible detail to the mids as well as a little more push to them. They remain lush yet very tactile as well!
Highs [4.5/5]- airy good energy, detail and the sound stage maintain the highs nicely. The modification brightens the sound a little while increasing the sound stage as well. Giving the highs a little more room to breathe.
Bass [4.4/5]- The L3000 Pads and the mod tighten the bass incredibly well, almost matching the tightness of the open dt 880. Yet being a closed can, the bass remains a good punch to it and exceptional detail. The mod allows the bass to be very flexible. Incredibly tight when needed, and a little looser when the mastering allows for it, and it even has a little of the Dt 880 sub bass slam!
The L3000 pads tighten the sound signature better extending the highs and adding a little more punch to the bass and mids.
Next my w1000x has had Purrin Mod performed on it, this entails adding about four 1cm squares of Dynamat inside the wooden house casing. This additional dampening increases the detail and further tightens the the sound as well as adding a little more sound stage and instrument separation!
Modded Sound Review
Sound [4.7/5]
Mids [5/5]- Thick and lush, very beautiful. Good detail very rich without a dark tone, the wood adds a nice feel. A heavy and strong vocal track will have a nice punch to it in the vocals. The modification further tightens the sound, adding incredible detail to the mids as well as a little more push to them. They remain lush yet very tactile as well!
Highs [4.5/5]- airy good energy, detail and the sound stage maintain the highs nicely. The modification brightens the sound a little while increasing the sound stage as well. Giving the highs a little more room to breathe.
Bass [4.4/5]- The L3000 Pads and the mod tighten the bass incredibly well, almost matching the tightness of the open dt 880. Yet being a closed can, the bass remains a good punch to it and exceptional detail. The mod allows the bass to be very flexible. Incredibly tight when needed, and a little looser when the mastering allows for it, and it even has a little of the Dt 880 sub bass slam!
