Lilaz Movie Review Blog

Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones Description:

Headphones

• Color: Real wood mahogany
• Brand: Denon
• Model: AHD5000
• Released on: 2007-02-10
• Dimensions: 10.55″ h x 8.90″ w x 4.96″ l, 5.00 pounds

Features

• Reference Audio, over -ear- headphones
• Real Mahogany wood housing. Micro fiber diaphragm
• Acoustic optimizer for life like audio reproduction
• Gold plated aluminum connector. Light wieght magnesium frame structure
• Lightweight magnesium frame

Customer Reviews:

HIGH resolution-extensive burn-in required
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.

Just about perfect
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.

Excellent phones, but…
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.

From the Manufacturer
Denon’s Development Concept

The AH-D5000 and AH-D2000 have been designed for music lovers who want to enjoy a realistic sound in complete peace, while the AH-D1000 provides a high quality sound that can be easily enjoyed outdoors as well as indoors.

Precision Denon Engineering

Sound is conveyed to people’s ears as waves that occur when vibrations from a sounding body cause the air to vibrate. In a normal listening environment, sound waves released from speakers fill the listening space, and the waves that reach people’s ears are reflected or absorbed by objects in the room such as desks, chairs, sofas, the floor, ceiling, or carpet. This is how we, through audio products, enjoy music recorded in a concert hall, live house, or studio. If you wish to enjoy an ambiance as though you were sitting in a concert hall or live house, you would have to raise the volume on the amp to some extent and drive the speakers. However, if your free time to enjoy music occurs late at night, you may not be able to raise the volume. At times like these, you need headphones that let you freely enjoy the music and yet still give you the quality of sound you require. To develop such headphones, we at Denon embarked on a new path where we focused on the acoustic space inside the headphones rather than the listening room.

Wearing headphones is like placing your ears right beside the speakers. The sounding body vibrates the air, but instead of being influenced by surrounding objects, the sound waves go directly into your ears. At first glance, you might imagine hearing a beautifully realistic sound, but there are a few issues that must be addressed first:

The driver unit needs to reproduce both delicate details and powerful sound,

The materials used for the housing need to have superior acoustic properties,

The headband and frame need to feel natural while being worn, and

The cable needs to preserve the purity of electric signals during transmission.

Denon engineers have cleared these challenges step by step through repeated listening tests and adjustments. Musical instruments produce a wide variety of delicate nuances in sound that are most enjoyable to listen to–and now you can produce your own space where you can enjoy them to your heart’s content.

Denon’s Line of Audiophile Headphones

Denon AH-D1000 Microfiber diaphragm–Microfiber diaphragms have 100x the density of cellulose diaphragms, delivering increased transmission rates and more faithful sonic reproduction Acoustic optimizer–Optimum acoustics characteristics are achieved by adjusting the sound pressure balance in front of and behind the diaphragm Oxygen Free Cables–OFC cables of equal length for the L/R channels reduce line distortion and maintain optimum sound quality Includes extension cable–A 1.5-meter cable is provided for use when enjoying music with high-quality sound from a digital audio player carried in a pocket, and an extension cable of 3.5 meters is also provided for when the headphones are used at home
Denon AH-2000 Superior headphone housing–Special resin materials with superior acoustic characteristics have been used for the headphone’s housing to ensure faithful reproduction of the original sound Microfiber diaphragm–Microfiber diaphragms have 100x the density of cellulose diaphragms, delivering increased transmission rates and more faithful sonic reproduction Acoustic optimizer–Optimum acoustics characteristics are achieved by adjusting the sound pressure balance in front of and behind the diaphragm Oxygen-Free Cables–OFC cables enclosed in a cloth mesh jacket reduce line distortion and maintain optimum sound quality Light-weight magnesium frame–This frame lets listeners enjoy maximum comfort during extended listening sessions
Denon AH-D5000 Mahogany wooden housing–Employs housing made of natural mahogany wood with superior acoustic characteristics that are rich with a broad, natural sound Microfiber diaphragm–Microfiber diaphragms have 100x the density of cellulose diaphragms, delivering increased transmission rates and more faithful sonic reproduction Acoustic optimizer–Optimum acoustics characteristics are achieved by adjusting the sound pressure balance in front of and behind the diaphragm 7N Oxygen Free Cables–High-purity 7N (99.99999% pure) OFC cables with a cloth mesh jacket virtually eliminate line distortion and maintain optimum sound quality Light-weight magnesium frame–This frame lets listeners enjoy maximum comfort during extended listening sessions