Just got my ATH-ES7 yesterday. All I can say is... OMG! AWSOME!

My previous canal phones were the SHE9500.

Initial impressions:

I little sakit with my glasses on, but once I removed my glasses, it feels soo comfortable you won't even notice its there after awhile.

I was using the SHE9500 previously, and now upgraded to this. At first, I thought, hmmm, Ok lah, not bad, can here more detail compared to the SHE9500, but now, OMG. I just realized that it depends on the song you listen to. The normal pop/RnB won't do.
The song that made me go OMG was Dorset Perception by Shpongle. When I listened to this, then only did I understand the true capability of these headphones.

Also, I transferred this song to my K750i to see how well it would sound from the phone as a source. This bloody song won't even play on my K750i @ 256kb/s... kena like jammed liddat at times. LOL
Makes a lot of difference when played on my creative MoVu2 and my Laptop when compared to my K750i. This headphones made me realize that my K750i is kinda crappy when it comes to high-end music playback. And to makes things worse, I already modded my K750i with better audio driver files to make it playback music better than a stock K750i.

The separation and sound-stage is these headphones are good. You can hear all the individual instruments, they are not all smashed together like the SHE9500.

The bass on these headphones are awesome. I never thought it was possible to get this kind of bass on headphones. Its definitely stronger than the SHE9500 bass. Almost 2 times stronger. Although is a little muddy, I've read that its evens out after some really long burn in. The bass on this headphones is better than my Edifier X600. The X600 is muddy boomy bass. These headphones have waaay better definition of bass compared to that. The bass is very strong!

The phones are a fingerprint magnet though. But I don't really care. I just try to hold it by the outside as best as I can, if terkena a little and fingerprints show up, I don't mind. But if you're fussy about this, better stay away from these headphones.
Build quality of these headphone is superb, feels very sturdy and solid. Its surprisingly light and small, before I got my hands on it, I tot it would be a little big/heavy.

Guitars, shamisen, mridangam, tablas and flutes sound nice on these headphones. Especially the shamisen, tabla and mridangam.


I'm a techno/dance music fan, haven't had the chance to test it out with these yet.


Did I miss out anything else?

Thank you.


Well, the headphones are still burning in. I hear it gets a lot better after a very long burn in process. So, I'll post my impressions again in a couple of weeks/months time or when I notice a significant difference in sound.


Ps: It took about 7 months before I noticed a significant improvement in the mids on my SHE9500. Yes, it actually took that long. To users of that canal phones, use it that long, and you'll surely agree with me.



This post has been edited by Sony Ericsson: Apr 9 2007, 02:36 PM

If you're refering to the SHE9500, then, no, its not mental burn in, I'm very sure that its not. I don't "feel" it to be better. It has gotten better over time.

I now hear minor stuff that was hardly there and not noticeable last time. I do have good hearing.

But yeah, I guess some people do have mental burn in, I'm not one of 'em though.



Cheers,

Yeah agreed, the AT mids sound nice. I'm loving the AT sound signature right now. That's the reason I got the ES7. And yes, when I first put on the ES7, I was like....um, riiight... I paid soo much for this? LOL

I'm learning to appreciate these phones more and more. The more high quality music I listen to, the more better I feel it is. I gotta refrain from listening to 128/192kb/s mp3s and move up to 320kb/s mp3. Thats where they shine. All the little details. Like I said, I gotta put aside the regular RnB/techno/rap songs that I've been listening to.
I'm now listening to new age and instrumental stuff. Sounds very nice soo far.
Detail is there, but overall its quite bassy, luckily I'm a basshead so I don't mind. This phones have awsome bass. I can see why some people would initally think its too bassy.
I can't wait for it to burn in and the mids/highs to really shine.

And I'm telling you guys, the SHE9500 really has potential(for its price), only thing is it needs months and months of burn in to actually sound great. Belive me. It takes time. Its not mental burn in. I'm VERY sure.
I'm very sensitive to changes in the headphone sound.

Oh, and regarding the ES7, I'm listening to an awsome song now, and I can now say, the money spent for this headphones, it was worth every cent. I don't want to take these off. Ever.


@scottiebabie, mine is cooler than yours!

This post has been edited by Sony Ericsson: Apr 9 2007, 07:24 PM

Why did you dismantle your SHE9500? You should have given it a little more chance ler, you would have been really satisfied.

Thanks for the reminder about not using it too loud. I just tuned it down a notch or two.

What toy are you getting? Some Audio Technicas?

@PcWork, you getting the ATH-SJ5?

@mADmAN, nice. Next year I'll get my hands on a high end Audio Technica for sure.

Now, I'm just testing only. Getting one foot wet only, testing the waters first...
I'm loving it soo far...

Now I know why Audiophiles spend soo much.



Now I'm hooked on it too...

Oh, ES5
Because normally people always compare SJ5 then one step up they mention ES7. Maybe because they both have the same style of over the head. The ES5 on the other hand looks very sporty liddat.

Well, I dunno ler..

Anyway, look at this ATH-EM9D




Now THAT looks cool. Looks like car brakes.

No you didn't say its a step up. I knew you meant one step down by saying "little brother", what I'm saying is that normally based on what I read, people always say that the SJ5 is a step down on ES7, which is why I mistook that you'll get the SJ5 instead of the ES5. The ES5 didn't come to mind when I read what you said.

I hope you understand what I meant? Or did I make you more confused?



LOL



Anyway, yeah those are awesome looking headphones, looks like disc brakes. I wonder how they sound? Those lubang there for venting the bass? The bass will be more cun...

Yeah, the disc brakes ones and the EM7 are drool worthy cans.

What is the god of all headphones? Which Audio Technica Model? W5000?


Anyone try www.gainsaver.com? They seem cheap but I dunno can be trusted or not?


Japan? Yeah, I heard someone who lived there bought the ES7 for only 32 USD !
And yet, WTF, we have Proton here, actually robbing its own Malaysian citizens... WTF!
Sell us cars that have less safety features/cheaper metals compared to the same protons they sell overseas. Morons.

This post has been edited by Sony Ericsson: Apr 11 2007, 11:04 AM

Lucky you. If I were you, I'd go crazy because I'd be spoilt for choice! I'd probably buy every high end Audio Technica model in sight...

HA5000, W5000, L3000, or W2002...

This post has been edited by Sony Ericsson: Apr 11 2007, 01:53 PM

Yeah, I think it won't be that cheap Korea. Since you are going to Japan, you might as well get it there right?

This post has been edited by Sony Ericsson: Apr 11 2007, 02:23 PM

How much did they declare it for and what item did they declare it as?

Hi my fellow AT fans!
Just wanted to let you guys know, if anyone wants to buy spare earpads for their AT headphones, just lemme now. I can probably get spares.

Just let me know the model number of the headphone that you want earpads for and how many pairs you want. I can probably also get other replacement parts besides the earpads too. Just PM me.

Or I can try to get direct from Japan for you if you want.

Someone is buying one through me. You can ask him when once he gets it
I don't think anyone on Lowyat.net owns one yet...

@Tachikoma, woah!
Good catch! If you're an AT fanboy(like me), I think you're really, really gonna enjoy it!
They are the baby brother of the W11jpn.

@sukhoi37, Sieg is correct, I don't think that the AD2000 is gonna be good for classical. For that purpose you might as well get a K701.
Oh and the price you posted, its for a used set right? Click my Sig to see my WTS thread, I'm not gonna mess this AT fanclub thread.

Can't find reviews on head-fi?
Go to Google and type "AD2000+head-fi" and you'll get the reviews.


Here is one just to get you started:

HERE


I wish I had the spare cash to buy an AD2000 for myself, but unfortunately I'm saving for something else....

This post has been edited by Sony Ericsson: Aug 8 2008, 11:30 AM

If you like midrange... then ...

Well, there is always the D2000 or D1000/1001 if the D5000 is not in your budget.

Just pull it out with steady force. Don't be afraid.
Put your finger on the inside of the pad and push outward slightly when you are pulling it out. Pull from one side outwards.





Putting it back on takes some patience the first time you do it though.
Do it a few times and it becomes as simple as A B C.

Yeah, depends on your budget and definition of entry level, if you can stretch your budget a little, the ATH-ES7 is a great choice too.

This post has been edited by Sony Ericsson: Sep 9 2008, 08:14 AM