Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000X Audiophile Open-air Headphones

Great headphones and at a great price.

Audio technica ath ad2000x

Everything seems to be Ok

Good open-back headphones

(TL;DR at end) After using these headphones for a few weeks, I can say for sure that they are quality products. Even without an amp, they have a very clear and detailed sound. They definitely don't sound muddy like some other headphones that I've tried. The bass isn't exactly the main strength of these headphones, but it still manages to capture the details well and have good depth. Other headphones at this price range, like the Sennheiser HD700, may have more powerful bass if that's what you're looking for. The mids of these headphones are excellent. Vocals sound very clear and, at least for me, just seem to come alive more than many other headphones I've tried. I've also noticed that it can make vocals much easier to hear. While using these headphones, I could ... More(TL;DR at end) After using these headphones for a few weeks, I can say for sure that they are quality products. Even without an amp, they have a very clear and detailed sound. They definitely don't sound muddy like some other headphones that I've tried. The bass isn't exactly the main strength of these headphones, but it still manages to capture the details well and have good depth. Other headphones at this price range, like the Sennheiser HD700, may have more powerful bass if that's what you're looking for. The mids of these headphones are excellent. Vocals sound very clear and, at least for me, just seem to come alive more than many other headphones I've tried. I've also noticed that it can make vocals much easier to hear. While using these headphones, I could easily understand vocals that I had difficulty even distinguishing from other sounds with some other headphones I've tried. The treble extends well for a pair of dynamic headphones. These obviously aren't electrostatic headphones, so they're good for what they are. I don't have any complaints with how well the treble extends and the response. The treble is detailed and manages to make cymbals sound good, which isn't an easy thing to do. They can do all that and are still very easy to listen to. I didn't notice any harshness at all with the treble, so I would say it does well in that regard. Soundstage is good. These headphones would likely fall onto the more intimate side of the spectrum, but by no means is the soundstage small. The soundstage makes me feel like I'm surrounded by the sound, as if I could just reach out and touch it. As more of a side note, watching videos, movies, or whatever else is a pretty enjoyable experience; it really gives me a feeling of immersion that I haven't gotten from my previous headphones. Keep in mind that I don't have a ridiculously huge headphone collection, but it just stood out enough that I thought it was worth a mention. Also, I'm certain that these headphones would sound even better with a good amplifier. The wing system might not be for everyone, but personally they work very well for me so I don't have any complaints. Would I say that the price is completely and without a doubt justified comparing these headphones to, say, the ATH AD-1000x? I'm not entirely sure. Maybe it's true that the sound profile is very similar and the price difference is quite large, but that small difference is really what sold me on getting these instead. Would I say it's a good deal? Maybe not. Would I buy these headphones again? Definitely. PROS: + Very good clarity + Moderate amount of bass + Excellent mids + Vocals sound great + Treble is detailed without being harsh + Easy to drive, even with most phones + Engaging headphones + I like them HMM: +- Intimate, but maybe not the largest soundstage +- Price may not be entirely justified compared to ATH AD1000x +- Unique wing headband maybe not comfortable for everyone +- Not the best headphones if you like a lot of bass +- Some people have complained about the earcups trapping heat, but I haven't had problems. (Although they can be swapped with the ATH AD1000x earcups and that seems to solve the problem) CONS: - Wires seem to be non removable, at least not without disassembly - Metal part of headband seems a bit fragile (really makes me paranoid about bending them)

Good quality, great sound output. Excel...

Good quality, great sound output. Excellent headphones for people with large craniums (every other headphone on the market feels tight and unforgiving.

Not impressed

Absolute head killer, I like light headphones due to my glasses, but there's something about the head grips on these that cause a terrible headache.Personal review here guys, everyone is built different.

PERFECT compliment to the HD600

Among all the dynamics I've heard, the HD600 is my favorite. i would call it's sound a warm take on neutral, with the smoothest treble region I've ever heard. I'm not talking smooth like what Audeze headphones supposedly are - "dark" would be a better term, IMO, for the LCD headphones I've heard; they are just too rolled off in the highs for my tastes. No; the HD600 is well extended, but it's treble is without too many dips/peaks so it sounds coherent and as a result sounds smooth/fatigue free. I was looking for a good compliment with a similarly smooth sounding top end but with more noticeable detail retrieval and better imaging with a livelier sound. The DT1990 pro came close, but ultimately the treble was a bit too fatiguing/grainy for my tastes despite them not ... MoreAmong all the dynamics I've heard, the HD600 is my favorite. i would call it's sound a warm take on neutral, with the smoothest treble region I've ever heard. I'm not talking smooth like what Audeze headphones supposedly are - "dark" would be a better term, IMO, for the LCD headphones I've heard; they are just too rolled off in the highs for my tastes. No; the HD600 is well extended, but it's treble is without too many dips/peaks so it sounds coherent and as a result sounds smooth/fatigue free. I was looking for a good compliment with a similarly smooth sounding top end but with more noticeable detail retrieval and better imaging with a livelier sound. The DT1990 pro came close, but ultimately the treble was a bit too fatiguing/grainy for my tastes despite them not nearly being as bright as some reviews made them out to be. They really were very close to neutral, I would call them a brighter take on neutral as apposed to the HD600's warmer take on it. Fast forward to the AD2000X... I had read reviews/seen videos about them and thought they would be pretty damn close to what I was looking for... and I was right! In fact, they fit the earlier description of my ideal compliment to the HD600 to a T. From my listening, i would say that there are two main differences between the soundof the two: 1. The soundstage on the AD2000x is a bit narrower IMO, but imaging is taken up a notch. Combined with the livelier treble region, this makes the placements of sounds from instruments in orchestral music more defined. 2. More apparent detail retrieval on the AD200x. Like when I compared it to the DT 1990 pro, their is a noticeable drop in the amount of "effort" the HD600 puts into fine detail retrieval. The reason I put it this way is because those fine details are still there on the HD600, but it's thicker sounding midrange kind of makes those details harder to immediately notice (even more so with the less defined/sharp imaging on the 600) than on the 2000x, which kind of push those finer details into broad daylight; albeit in a non-fatiguing way. The DT1990 pro did something similar, but the peak(s) it had in the treble region vs the relatively linear one on the HD600 made the sound more fatiguing. Peaks in the treble region - from what I understand from my own experience with headphones - create a "grain" in the sound, especially with female vocals and cymbals. The 2000X doesn't sound like it has any extreme peaks in it's treble (note: I haven't seen a frequency response graph on the 2000x so take this with a grain of salt). The result is that the 2000x presents details in an "effortless' way, as in without sounding strenuous or fatiguing. Overall, I really like the sound of the 2000x. It provides a god contrast to listening with the HD600 without veering too far off from the sound I like. I listen to mostly orchestral music and some works with female vocals (think of the "Nier Automata" ost or the "Akame Ga Kill" ost and you'll have a pretty good idea of what I like to listen to); with the HD600 the sound is laid back and smooth/relaxed without me feeling like I'm missing anything in terms of detail. With the 2000x though; listening to them really gives instruments, especially sharp drums and cymbals, that extra definition to them without sounding much more fatiguing than the 600. Instrument separation is "that" much better too - all in all it makes for more engaging "hifi" listening experience, but with a similarly relaxed sound as well. Do note that I'm listening to these two headphones on a fairly expensive amp/dac though: the burson conductor virtuoso. Also, they are also very comfy by the way! Lastly, build quality is pretty interesting: the metal finish and lightweight character of the headphones give them this delicate but sturdy feel; kind of like how a model airplane of metal feels in your hands haha.

awesome

great sound, very comfortable