Audio Technica ATH-ADX5000 Headphone Review - Still Competitive After 7 Years?

[@Taxus-h3w]

Great review! I've been struggling with my ADX5000 for a couple of years without getting them to sound really good, too bright and soulless. Have thought about selling them many times but somehow it never happened. The other night I went through my headphone amps (have too many). Found my 15 year old Beyerdynamic A1 amp which I knew had a unique 100 ohm output impedance and gave it a try. Should fit the ADX5000 well. And I was right, it gave the ADX5000 a new dimension in terms of 3D sound and feel, but the A1 is essentially a rather muddy and colored amp without the transparency of more modern ones. Lifted the lid and looked inside and saw that the opamps could be changed. Had a pair of new Burson V7 Classic Dual at home that I tested and suddenly the ADX5000 sounded really good with this amp. I also changed the ear pads to a pair of Dekoni sheepskins, which increased the bass and tamed the upper midrange further. Can't stop listening to these now, my HE1000v2 which I usually use is sitting untouched at the moment! Perhaps the most satisfying thing is that I can use my old gear in a new way without spending money on new. At least for now…

[@ndgr8claymore]

This is an underrated headphone that's said to be the king of vocals at the 1500-dollar price point, other than the Utopias, Atrium, and Empys. Excellent review ...

[@soulfulfool]

you cant imagine how much hate those cans are against, I'm trying to fight back those morons who hate it but its pointless, you said 100% truth its probably the most underrated cans out there

[@michaeleller7514]

The "play button" for 10k subscribers looks great

[@wavetheorysound]

@@michaeleller7514 my kids made that. I love it.

[@Rob-Davidson]

The fact that he only has 10K subscribers shows you how small the hifi headphone community is. He's the best on the internet, in my opinion.

[@fishbarbeque8540]

@@Rob-Davidson Yes, I second this, hes literaly the ONE I use to make the "Buy" "Don't buy" decision.

[@Rob-Davidson]

Me too. He's not afraid to tell the truth. ​@fishbarbeque8540

[@aceofspades6667]

Love my adx5k but it’s chain dependent. It’s a brighter tuning but still highly enjoyable.

[@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING]

You deserve 1 million subscribers man

[@andreasschwarz4908]

Nice review. I have a couple of AT headphones (AWAS, W1000X, ADG1X) but I mostly use Dekoni pads on them due to the exotic tunings, the pads (leather pads, not sure about velours) raise the bass and make them more musical. I realize that reviewing a HP with a 3rd party pad doesn't make a lot of sense, but maybe I can help others reading here 👍

[@willie9537]

Thanks

[@808lilmac]

I find some people with "particular" tastes also get a ton of mileage from pad rolls, its a bit difficult but fit and comfort can make a world of difference. I like yaxi pads and zmf over dekoni as I find zmf are way more durable and comfortable.

[@andreasschwarz4908]

@@808lilmac haha I gotta admit I bought awas amd w1000x initially because of the wood finish. they already came with these pads in my case, not sure I wouldve kept them in stock form. I sold the OG AD2000 for example.

[@kato2395]

Finally ❤ I have forza audio cable noir (non hybrid) bronze only cable to accompany this baby. The dac I use is Modi Multibit 2 and the amp G111 MK2. Also additional info this is only around $1600 in Asia even back then! The same price range as ZMF Auteur. Very accurate take as usual Brian, a very wonky tuning but for those who love it, you won't find any substitute that sound like it. 👍

[@soulfulfool]

for mine I got Lavricables pure silver wire, very light cable with sparkle of silver ;)

[@kato2395]

@@soulfulfool light cable is certainly a good pick, my Forza cable is heavier than the headphone!

[@soulfulfool]

@@kato2395 Forza got nice cables, got one of them just sitting in the closet just because I dont want to sell it, hoping that one day I will get some headphones to use it with xD

[@KingFiercer_zip]

Have you noticed any sonic differences with the Forza Noir cable compared to the stock one? It's good match in your opinion?

[@kato2395]

@@KingFiercer_zip yeah apparently it made quite a huge difference in my opinion. Whether you will like it or not depends on your taste but it does change the headphone to be much more aggressive in the bass department. But please do note that my cable is not their highest end, the noir hybrid. It is the one below noir hybrid, the full copper one. The highest end one is the noir hybrid is supposed to be a mix of copper and silver, according to the owner it is supposed to be sounding more neutral so it might keep the tonality of the relaxing but bright adx5000, which is think is quite special. But I've got used to the more aggressive mid bass attack ny now that I also enjoy it a lot with the noir cable on.

[@KingFiercer_zip]

Arya Organic - 440 gramms ADX5000 - 270 gramms I really like the comfort of these AT headphones

[@tednicholson9225]

Have you tried to EQ it? The adx platform might be pretty solid if it doesn't have crazy high order distortion profiles.

[@KingFiercer_zip]

​@@tednicholson9225 Never really tried to EQ anything. I actually like them as they are on my system - very revealing and airy, yet not too bright or shrill at all

[@ggdfggdfgdffgfddg34]

Audio Technica AWAS wait!

[@hiltonhosannah769]

Hey WaveTheory, hope you’re doing well. Thanks for doing this review, as I’ve had my eye on this headphone for the last month now and really anticipated your thoughts. I’ve been looking to add a headphone to my collection for use with the Gungnir MB A1/Yggdrasil A2 and my Mjolnir 1, Valhalla 2, and Lyr+, with preference for synergy with the Valhalla above all. I’m between this, the Auteur OG/Classic, the Aeolus, HD800(S), the T1.2 and the LCD-2.2/3. Which of these would you pick, and do you have any other recs? Budget is up to around $1.5K, let’s say. I already have the ZMF Atrium Open, HE-500, Audioquest Nighthawk and Nightowl, and the Blue Ella.

[@wavetheorysound]

@@hiltonhosannah769 depends on the music genres. I'd take Auteur for rock, metal, hip-hop, AND EDM. I'd take 800 S for jazz, classical, or other orchestral genres.

[@soulfulfool]

I have no problems with tonality of ADX5000 its great with tubes, dont like it on solid state

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

That means you DO have a problem with its tonality. You have to change it in order for it to be desirable.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

Audiophile and copium. El em ay oh

[@dragosthule]

@@En_Joshi-Godrez just because one is using tubes, does not mean one is changing the sound. there are many neutral tube amps and tubes out there.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

@@dragosthule harmonic distortion is still FR. Headphones are a minimum phase system. Anything, and I do mean anything, that affects the sound also changes its FR. It would have to effect its tonality in order for it to affect the sound, which it will cause, because of the added harmonic distortion.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

​@dragosthule also what is "does not mean changing the sound" mean? So you're admitting it literally doesn't do anything? If it doesn't change the sound, then it doesn't change the sound. LMAO

[@AlexSmith-lo2mv]

Funny review ) It’s unique, not like typical dynamic sound model with ultimate separate low and sublow, extra detail and magnificent holographic stage (not wide) truly 3d soundstage. Only one condition - valid audio equipments. If meet sibilants - change audio system.

[@bluemonstrosity259]

Will you review the Aune AR5000?

[@yiern8276]

Are those the ATH AWKG i see in the top left 👀

[@andreasschwarz4908]

Looks more like a stabilized ZMF to me, look at the brighter wood section and the ZMF type headband.

[@dragosthule]

yes

[@dragosthule]

@@andreasschwarz4908 its the AT AWKG

[@random-internet-dude]

@@andreasschwarz4908 I can see the cups fooling you but this is indeed an AWKG. ZMF uses a different type of rods (similar to audeze LCD for example) and this doesn't match it at all. New ATH in the house 100% Btw i remember reading in the Canjam's impressions thread (headfi) that these benefited hugely with ZMF Universe hybrid pads. So Brian, if you read this you might want to check those pads if you've a pair laying around. I heard they might even ship with them as alternative pads.

[@wavetheorysound]

@@yiern8276 yup

[@sebanambrus9265]

How does the ADX5000 compare to the HE1000SE? Some people say the ADX5000 offers almost the same level of resolution and detail. I'm torn between which one to buy. I already own the HD800, but I want the best headphone. The HE1000SE is a bit more expensive, around €1600, while the ADX5000 is about €1000 used. Can the ADX5000 achieve top-tier resolution, detail, and performance similar to the HE1000SE or the Utopia? Which one is the better headphone, the ADX5000 or the HE1000SE?

[@soulfulfool]

I think it can but to do so you need to pair it with correct dac/amp combo but that matter I believe is also the case with he1000se I doubt it can reach its peak with lower quality dac/amp

[@Waferwafermagiccracker]

Have you tried electrostats?

[@danielsamson9505]

👌👍

[@IrenESorius]

👍‍‍🌟👍‍‍

[@jcoate4925]

For the algo

[@lextr3110]

I bought them once and they suck!

[@808lilmac]

They are definitively not for most people; but incredible for a few.

[@808lilmac]

Hello wavetheory, I have some feedback I REALLY hope you can see and give another try in the future: The adx5000 are a highly specialized headphones and by bad luck and pairing difficulty, none of the amplifiers you picked really showed what the adx can do. the adx5000 are in my opinion a bit harded to pair than even the th900 and the utopia og, they adx5000 need an amps with excellent (boosted) sub bass and excellent tonal density and control. At 1 point I had 5 amps very different amps (burson gt, lta z10e, cayin n7, ath bha100, upgraded BHC+S) and they sounded all "decent or good" at best; I would have tought the cans were overpriced just like you... But theyre just to specialized, I knew some amps that had great synergy that were on the way, with those amps (+matching dac) these are unbeatable for $2k as open dynamics, even beating the he1000se in the dynamic regards and competing in resolution using similarily priced gear. Cheapest great match would be mass kobo model 475 at $1600, then model 433 at $2500, trafomatic head 2 aroune $3000 and what Ive liked the most; my $3700 pass labs HPA1. Expensive tube amps will do amazing in general but the z10e is specifically a "mid" match as tested by me and 2 friends and we all agreed, as well as on the forum we use (sonus apparatus). Also audio technica wont lower the price, instead they are releasing a version of these headphones built with cheaper materials called adx3000. Thanks wave! Keep up the great work.

[@soulfulfool]

yes it is very source dependant model and as I noticed in the comment section it has got many haters, I own it and like it very much even if I dont have money to buy amps for 5000$ to make them even more, still I know their potential

[@808lilmac]

@@soulfulfool I was just like that at one point and still enjoyed them occasionally but when I finally got my big break with a 3500dac and 3700amp specifically for these and utopia the sound got way beyond what detail I expect possible, in some frequencies beyond he1000se

[@soulfulfool]

@@808lilmac I'm planning to get R2R dac probably holo audio cyan 2, knowing how adx5000 scale with gear Im pretty sure it will be great experience

[@808lilmac]

@@soulfulfool actually id recommend denafrips over anything holo... because ive tried and wavetheory also has reviews on those denafrips. The new cyan 2 is 1200... If you want something new you can get a denafrips ares 12th for $1000 and get the same sound quality If you want to spend a bit more and can buy used look for a pontus 2 for around 1200 or pontus 12th for around 1400 If you can spend more the a brand new ares 15th is $1500 After that when youve got some money to upgrade, any of these are compatible with the denafrips iris DDC ($500 new) and this will upgrade any of the denafrips mentioned above by a fair margin. An ares 12th would be $1k and when you got $500 more (or $350 for used) this would be the cheapest build out of the ones I mentioned from the new with warranty options. It kicks holo cyans ass easy.

[@soulfulfool]

@@808lilmac well Cyan 2 is of course more expensive in EU countries like everything else... I am considering Ares 15th