Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones
See it at Amazon.com for $460.00Average Customer Rating
(5.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First (5 out of 5)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.
(5 out of 5)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.
(5 out of 5)Fantastic Headphone
I won't give an extensive review here as there are enough accurate reviews out there. What I will do is address three myths that are frequently brought up about these headphones. They may help a purchaser decide if they want to buy these or not.
1. The amp myth. While some people may throw a $400 amp between these headphones and their source, an amp is NOT required. After reading all the comments about how much these headphones required an amp I purchased headphones amps (portable and desktop) and well regarded DACs. I then tested different combinations with my motherboard's (almost 4 years old) built in sound card as the baseline. If you want to pay money for the very subtle (I'm not even sure I could hear them in a blind test) changes feel free. However, these headphones sound fantastic straight out of my computer, a Cowon D2 PMP, and a recent Sony PMP. I even tried them plugged into the headphone out of a 3 year Dell laptop and they were fantastic. All that extra equipment was returned.
2. The "don't use MP3" myth. Perhaps, if you've got a really badly encoded MP3 from a poor original you'll find these headphones reveal all those flaws. Otherwise these headphones sound great with 128kbps MP3s and CDs. Trust me, after buying these headphones I'm practically addicted to them. And yes, I listen to "lowly" MP3s. I admit that my MP3s are encoded at 192 kbps and higher.
3. The "make sure you are up to spending the money to maximize these headphones" myth. Hard core audiophiles will gladly coax you into a $4000 CD player, a dedicated headphone amp, expensive cables, etc. If you want to squeeze that last bit of performance out of your headphones, feel free. It's not required.
Bottom line - these headphones sound fantastic out of my computer's sound card playing mp3's encoded in 1998. They also work really well for almost any genre of music I throw at them. However, with the Cello's vibrating strings, the headphones are just heavenly. Classical, Jazz, Bossa-nova, and instrumental are like a drug.
(5 out of 5)Warm, rich, and immediate sound stage
I recently heard these headphones. They are comfortable. They have 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.
(5 out of 5)AUDIOPHILE ALL THE WAY
Bought these for watching movies with Dolby Headphone Processing on Blu-Ray HD Suround Sound. Better than separate speakers, amazing detail and depth. Bass reproduction undescribable, can't believe Phones can create such tight and low bass reproduction. Dialog is scrisp and clean. The Magnesium composite they use makes them super light, the leather cushions are soft and the pressure is adequate, but not to tight for long wear, this is a must since I watch movies for 2hr or more at a time. The cushions also have extra thickness near the back behind your ear so they get even pressure and stay level with your head. The Mahogany Cans really give the reproduction of tones such richness, it's like strapping some B&W towers to your ears. Every sound and detail is brilliant and clean. I also use these to listen to DVD-Audio. Music in Hi quality, it is like being at the concert, only minus the crowd and interference. Aspecially when using Dolby Headphone Surround DH3 for music. You can close your eyes and feel like the eagles are playing live in your backyard, or your rocking out with Metallica on their black album at your private shop with the perfect acoustics to maximize the sweet riffs of the guitar, or the deep bass of the drums with lead vocals so clear its like your standing front row.
I have some Sennheiser 555's and they sound great as well, not that they are a comparison, but brands do very. Other reviewers have said that the Denons, are comparable and more comfortable than the Grado 1000's. The only complaint I have is the cloth braided cords need to be carfully turned so they don't get a twist in them when you coil and uncoil them. More of a maintenance issue than a problem.
I play these on my Media Center with the Asus Xonar DX2 High Definition 192khz 24bit sound card; which takes 5.1 Surround and converts it to Stereo Dolby Headphone Surround Processing. Using this with Cyberlink PowerDVD 7 ULtra for Blu-Ray and Movies are Amazing!
The 25ohm impedance means they can run well with portable items link Ipods, but I still recommend a Headphone Amp for the best Sound. Gary Hand Makes one called the Pocket Amp 2 or PAV2. It has been featured in Audio Magazines. Do a search for it, very reasonable price and I would'nt want to live without it for true Audiophile sound on these CANS.