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driving it home
Posted by SonarTech from Washington on 2012-09-06Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: No
Pros: outstanding sound quality
Cons: week screw - design flaw
i also agree with everyone, the sound quality is outstanding! comfort is equally outstanding!
i just wanted to harp on that design flaw a bit. here's my story: i work on a submarine as a Sonarman. if you've ever seen "down periscope" im the guy with the headphones listening to wales and ships. i rely on sound quality to tell me what is going on. there are 5 of us using headphones 24/7. im the one in charge of procuring the right set of headphones for our use. i choose these and was let down by the design flaw. i bought 5 of them and none of them survived 3 months at sea of 24/7 use. they all broke because of that proprietary screw. we use them 6 hrs at a time before turning them over to the next guy. comfort was never an issue.
our supply system does not allow us to take advantage of the warranty and we wouldn't bother with another disappointing replacement anyway. so we discarded them at our own discretion...i kept one. i drilled out the small hole to a slightly larger diameter and used a larger screw and bolt. they hold up fine now and i use them all the time. (even at work)
as much as i love these, i cannot recommend them as they are.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?
A Good Fit
Posted by Matt from Indiana on 2012-07-19Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Very comfortable, Quality construction, Very enjoyable sound
Cons: Not very portable, Need something more than an iPod to drive Properly
I'm relatively new to the high end side to headphones. It started with a pair of Bose AE2's and I used my friends Audio-Technica ath-m50's up until I got my hands on these.
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Pros: I decided it was time to get a pair of headphones that could REALLY play when I got my laptop. Lets just say I am very Pleased. The fit and feel on my head is nice enough that I am easily able to spend a whole day listening to them and not really notice. The sound is also much more present on these (most noticeably in the bass department) than anything my Bose could present resulting in a fun experience for the listener, especially when the volume is turned up. They really do have a different play style than other headphones I've used (different good). These headphones appear to say to me, "come, sit down, plug me in and turn up the toons. We're going to have a good evening in."
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Cons: As comfortable as the are (and they are) if you travel a lot or plan to, look else where. The cord on these cans is a love hate relationship, the no snag/limited tangle line is wonderful but it is longer than you may think. In addition, the construction of them is sound (metal frame with higher quality plastics and leather wrappings) but what you see in the picture is what you get. They are large and there's nothing that can really be done for it. As for the sound, I strongly advise having some sort of amp/dac/player/anything. These headphones sound nice when only driven by something like an iPod but not the $300 nice that they are. To get your money's worth out of them (much like all headphones) you NEED a stronger output. I found that my laptop does a wonderful job, but I went out of my way to get a laptop that had a higher quality audio output. Finally my last "complaint"; the isolation is almost token. it has some, more than any open back, but its not quite as much as I expected.
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Final notes: If you are an avid movie buff, you should be very satisfied because these headphones deliver a movie theater quality audio performance. It should also go without saying but you cant skimp on the recording quality of the tracks you play with these. Poor audio quality songs will sound poor, even if you weren't able to notice it on other speaker systems or headphones.
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tl:dr: Highly recommend for a fun loving listener or a movie fan. The pros easily outweigh the cons.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Incredible
Posted by silentsonification from Phoenix, AZ on 2012-01-27Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Extremely Comfortable, amazing bass response, "open like sound",
Cons: What cons??
Just got my D2000 in today and I could not pry them from my ears all day. I had no idea a closed headphone could sound so clear and crisp even when I compare them to my AKG K702 and Beyerdynamic DT 990's. In addition to this clarity, you get the best bass response in headphones under 500 dollars. Too all those idiots out there who say the bass is too much for them they invented this thing called the equalizer and you can reduce the bass of any headphone, how bout that... In my opinion I love the bass its a nice change from my 2 open back headphones which have hardly any, especially K702. I bought these cans specifically for the bass due to my love for trance. My AKG's and Beyer's are still taking care of acoustics (not that D2000 cant handle acoustics, I just need to find some way to use my open backs) Play around with the equalizer with these headphones until you get it where you want it. These headphones will not disappoint!!!
15 out of 21 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Superb purchase and not just for the money!
Posted by Music Amateur headphone tech nut. from Toronto Canada on 2011-12-20Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Excellent sound on a wide range of music
Cons: Your ears might sweat a bit in the summer, come winter and they keep your ears warm !
As the product review states; excellent clarity, very decent bass, high and mids are great!, For those considering the AH-D5000, they are not better headphones, the 5000's just have more bass if you like your bass heavy, other than that there is no pleasurable difference - my opinion, fair it to say I do have musical ears, was taught the piano, guitar, and have a huge assortment of music. BEST description possible, I will akin them to a car; Porsche is a fantastic vehicle due to it's design, there are many cars quicker and more powerful than a Porsche but none handle as well as a porsche. These Denon 2000 are an amazing product, it's one of those products where you simple can not go wrong and will be pleasantly surprised. Remember, these Denons are great with all types of music!
Can not wait to buy another pair.
12 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Highly Over Rated
Posted by copernicus from Denver on 2011-12-08Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: No
Pros: Excellent construction, comfortable
Cons: hallow midrange, abrasive highs, not a natural sound
I bought these headphones after reading numerous rave reviews of how wonderful these headphones sound, some reviews even suggested these are more exciting headphones than HD650s and other more expensive headphones. Headphone.com even rates these as a top 10 - all make it sound like a pretty good reason to buy.
On first listen I was hugely disappointed in my purchase. I bought these as an upgrade to my Grado SR 60s and after several hours of A/B testing I much preferred my significantly cheaper Grados. I listened to all types of music with and without a headphone amp - in all cases I was hugely disappointed.
Yes the highs are more detailed, yes there is more low end extension but the mid range sounds way off - almost like you are listening to your music with your head in a bucket. Then there is the higher frequencies which are so bright that the phones are often harsh and hard on the ears. I found myself in a constant battle - the lows and mids made me want to turn the music up but every time i did I quickly had to turn it down because the highs were so harsh...
When you first pick these headphones up they are very impressive, great build quality, very comfortable, nice fit and finish, but once I started listening to music the honeymoon was over - while the build quality and comfort are excellent and worthy of the price, to me they are way over priced for their sound quality.
I ended up returning my D2000s and bought some HD650s and I am very happy. I am now left scratching my head as to what all the hype is about.
If you really are looking for mid-fi audiophile quality phones look at a different headphone.
44 out of 61 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Too Much Fun
Posted by jimmyjames from Raleighwood on 2011-07-27Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Da Bass
Cons: little uncomfy at times
These cans are just in a word, FUN! A little muddy, a little boomy to start but after just 25hrs the sound starts to settle down and the bass is to die for. Listening to music that has well recorded kick drum, acoustic bass or funky electric bass puts a big ole grin on my face. These cans take toe tappin and head bobbin to a new level. Is the bass exaggerated, probably. Are these cans fun to listen to, definitely!
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Ah, so this is how my music should sound!
Posted by Recca526 from Sydney, Australia on 2011-07-21Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: awesome sound, comfortable, quality construction
Cons: pricey
I dont understand all of the audiophile terms so I wont try and rabbit on about soundstage and timbral clarity etc, but...
I upgraded from Senns HD280Pro which I thought were terrific (after 3 years figured I deserve something new),but these phones have added something special to the sounds. I can hear backing vocals, bass and instruments (like subtle feathering of the cymbal)in my usual playlist that I didn't notice before. Its not like I had to keep swapping phones to make sure I wasn't imagining it - it was right there saying 'hello' everytime. Both phones use Headroom microstack so I know the difference is the phones not the source
Are these great phones? - hell yeah! Are they better than the HD280s? - yep again. But are they 3.5x better? I don't think so. But they are 3.5x the price, and I cant help but wonder if I would've been just as happy paying $150 or $200.
That said, audiophiles who have more refined ears than mine may think they are 5x better than my Senns So,if you have a chance to listen to phones across the different price points, do that before you buy.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Great Purchase, never looked back
Posted by 00Ginji on 2011-07-17Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, amazing sound and sturdy construction
Cons: kinda plain looking (just my thoughts lol)
I'm not going to go on about how awesome these cans are, the other reviewers have done a much better job of that then I could. Just gonna say that compared to the Pioneer HDJ 500's I had, these just destroy em, really not much of a contest lol.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Did you?
The Best for Under $900
Posted by NA Blur from Bozeman, MT on 2011-05-15Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great Sound, Awesome Construction, Fun
Cons: Hard to improve upon, not made in USA, Imaging
I have been looking for a headphone that mates well with my Grace m903 which tends to sound a tad bright. My HD-650's just did not cut it. I tried a pile of expensive headphones and the only one that I thought sounded amazing was a pair of LCD-2's. Being outside of my price range I searched for something as close to that sound as possible. After listening to many headphones I settled on the AH-D2000 for two main reasons:
1.) An employee at headroom has two pairs of them. One for work and one for home.
2.) The AH-D2000 sounded closest to the LCD-2 vs any other headphone.
Once I received them and plugged them into my m903 I realized what a synergy they created.
Build: Amazing, light, and high-quality ear pads
Bass: One of the best bass ranges I have heard period. Better than HD-650, HD-800, ATH-M50, as well as T5 and T1.
Mids: Excellent and well balanced. Nothing was missing or out of place
Highs: Not bright at all and the cymbals as well as bells are amazing
Cord: As Dave Rat noticed when he received his pair: "one of the best headphone cords I have ever seen" and I certainly agree. The cord is braided and thick enough to survive wear and tear, but not too thick to hinder its manipulation and placement.
Impedance: 25 Ohm so every amp out there can drive them whether it is a constant current or constant voltage amp. The AH-D2000 has a very flat impedance vs frequency so no region of the audible spectrum is dampened. This is the primary problem with the HD-650.
Sensitivity: 106dB which allows you to listen at moderate levels and not feel as though you have to turn up your amp just to get the sound you want.
After extensive testing against many other headphones I found a weakness for the AH-D2000. The imaging while listening to Binaural recordings is not impressive and frankly is lacking. There is a damping of the depth of field in comparison to say the Grado SR-80i. In fact, I could not hear the difference between 320 kbps and 128 kbps with the AH-D2000. I could hear the difference with a pair of DT990's though.
32 out of 35 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Excellent closed back headphones
Posted by BW from Bozeman, MT on 2011-03-21Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great sound, sturdy
Cons: Cable is a little bulky
I love these headphones! I usually hook them up to a Portable Micro Amp plugged into my laptop, or into a Motu Traveler connected to my desktop PC. I play mostly acoustic music, but there's some rock, jazz, blues, and folk thrown in too. Most everything is in FLAC format.
These cans have great bass response, and an open sound I didn't expect from closed phones. I also have a pair of Sennheiser HD595s - I chose them over the HD600s because I thought they had a little more air and a more "up front" presentation when listening to acoustic music. The AH-D2000s aren't quite as open, but they're close. And they have much better bass.
The AH-D2000s are heavier than HD595s, but they're almost as comfortable to wear for long periods. They look great and have a nice solid feel. I haven't had any problem with the swivels. The cable is pretty bulky, but you could probably roll over it with the office chair several times without buggering it up.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Great sound with a killer design flaw.
Posted by dwnwrdishvnwrd from PHX, AZ on 2011-01-27Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Awesome sound
Cons: That pesky screw!!
There is nothing that can be said about these that hasn't been said before. They sound awesome and I'll let others tell that story in much more detail than I could. I have come to talk about the screw. A $0.02 screw has ruined these headphones.
The earcups are hooked to the headband by a little swingarm and that swingarm is held in place by a screw. That screw has a habit of falling out and/or breaking. Well, mine broke when I was removing my headphones. Needless to say I'm getting a refund on them. I had them for all of two weeks before they broke. It hurts me to have to send them back to get a refund due to a tiny piece of metal but it has to be done. I'm getting heartburn just thinking about it.
I can recommend them but keep in mind that they may break just when you have fallen totally in love with them.
20 out of 28 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Great Cans!
Posted by SecondCityFirst from Chicago, IL on 2010-05-31Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, Good Bass, Easy to Drive
Cons:
These are some great closed cans, especially once amped and given some time to burn-in. They have remarkable soundstage for a closed headphone and deliver some great bass from powerful drivers.
I would suggest that if buying these headphones, one looks into the famous "Markl Mod" for them. At the very least stuff the earpads. It immediately makes a world of difference by moving the drivers out and to the front of your ears, improving soundstage dramatically.
Any way you slice it, though, these cans are a great buy if you're looking for an extremely accurate, closed-type headphone. The only thing I miss is the wood cups from its big brothers, the D5000 and D7000.
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Great closed cans
Posted by Morgs from Perth, Western Australia on 2010-05-26Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, great quality
Cons: Pretty big
Just bought a set of these and love them. I'm no audiophile and have been using a set of BOSE triports for years now. I remember the smile i got on my face when i put on the triports and listened to my tunes after using earbuds for years. The triports finally died and i was looking for another set that would give me enough of a difference over the triports to give me that same smile. These delivered... Thats not to say that anything else at the same price wouldnt but from what i tried these are great. I dont think im ever likely to afford a set that will give me that same smile ontop of these Denons so i reckon they're great value. Just be thankful you dont live in Aus where the RRP is $649
From the triehard audiophile in me;
i would say the bass extension is nice although not really that tight (waiting for an amplifier to come in the mail which will probably improve that) they have great soundstage for closed headphones although they do leak a bit which kind of defeats the purpose. I would recommend you can drive them from ipod/computer but they dont go to incredibly high volumes and they sound ALOT better from an amp.
I'm giving them 4 out of 5 for sound quality simply because ive tried expensive cans that do sound better but i think for the price they are 5/5
Can only give the durability a 4/5 because they seem sturdy but i havent tried them for long enough to go any futher
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Great headphone, not the best value.
Posted by solidsnake from Toronto, ON on 2010-05-12Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
SOURCE: Cambridge Audio Azur 640a
One of my first full sized headphones. I'm pretty happy with them but I feel like a lot of the price is in the materials which don't seem to benefit me at all.
Sound Quality:
-Soundstage is the most expansive you can get in a closed headphone. Even better with JMoney Pads.
-Treble is very detailed, just short of piercing, definitely tolerable.
-Mids are somewhat recessed but only noticeable in rock/heavy metal (it sounds dull) but this can easily be fixed with EQ.
-Bass is the best I've heard in terms of quality and depth, but I would like a bit more quantity.
-Sounds incredible with electro house.
Comfort:
-Leather pads make me sweat
-Very little clamping force = very comfortable but poor isolation and a lot of sound leakage.
-Cable is too long for portable use (3 meters)
Look & Feel:
-Heavy (350g)
-Cable is very prone to tangling.
-Sliding mechanism feels very sturdy and makes a satisfying 'click' when adjusting.
-Clean, understated look
Durability:
-Great materials used
-Poor design (cups rotate on strange cantilever design which has been known to break in the past)
-Thick cable
Other:
-Can go without amp
-Great for gaming
19 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Extremely Enjoyable - great purchase
Posted by fezco from Monrovia, CA on 2010-03-30Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: The most solid bass ever. Great value.
Cons: Sounds a little 'close.' Slightly uncomforable after an hour or so...
I don't normally write reviews, but these headphones deserve one. I currently own Beyer DT880s, Grado 325s,UE SuperFi 5 pros, and now these Denons. I went looking for a pair of closed headphones since my environment has been getting noisier: (Kid, TV, noisy kitchen next to living room... you know what I mean). I thought there was going to be some sacrifice for going to a closed design, but these really surprised me. These sound fantastic! As stated in other reviews, they do have a tremendous amount of bass, but not too boomy. They have a fantastic level of detail and would be well suited everyday listening. They bring stage in real close and aren't as airy/three-dimensional as the DT880s or the Grado 325s. They sound a little warm and colorful in comparison to the DT880s but not overly so. They are very easy to drive and I mostly skip using my headphone amp and jack straight into my DAC. Even though I have a somewhat skinny head, after about an hour I feel my jaw mucles getting squeezed a bit... so not a perfect 5/5 on comfort (but waaaay more comfortable than the Grados). They don't isolate as much as my UE SuperFi 5E pros, but they deliver way more bass, tonal balance and detail. My listening enjoyement has skyrocketed around my house since purchasing these. Thanks for HeadRoom for recommending them.
Ariston DR40->Sumiko BPS EVO III->Music Reference RM5-IV->Antique Sound Labs MG HEAD->Denon AH-D2000s.
Also Squeezebox->LavryDA10->Denon AH-D2000s.
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Near perfect
Posted by MGrewe from Minneapolis, MN on 2010-02-15Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Strong and deep bass, wide soundstage, good detail
Cons: Lacks midrange, bass can sometimes get in the way of music
I purchased these through HeadRoom's B-Stock 9 months ago and for what I paid, I couldn't be happier. These were my first and only expensive headphones and they changed the way I listen to music.
I would like to say that the issues I am going to write about are small and they do not discredit the awesomeness of these headphones.
Initially, I loved the strong bass presence, being a bass player myself it is only natural. But after a while it became somewhat of a nuisance. When I started noticing that the bass was in fact very strong, I realized that the midrange felt like it was coming from too far away. This was really noticeable when I listened to my Dave Matthews CD. His vocals seemed to sit behind all the instruments. The instruments also felt like they were blending together a tad.
I then purchased the JMoney earpads from HeadRoom and was blown away by the differences they made. The vocals didn't feel like they were too far away and the bass became less of an interference. Also, the soundstage became more speaker like, an impressive feat for a closed can.
I also upgraded amps and again was blown away by the sound that these cans can produce.
If you are planning on using the D-2000 out of your ipod or computer, I would say look elsewhere. But if you spend the money on these you should also power them with a good quality amp and upgrade to the JMoney earpads http://www.headphone.com/accessories/headphone-parts/jmoney-v2-denon-earpads-for-d2000d5000d7000-pair.php.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Look no further
Posted by jchandler3 from Ashland, OH on 2010-02-08Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Incredible sound, comfy, great value, easy to drive
Cons: nada
These were my upgrade from the Sennheiser HD595 at the time. Since then, I've owned the AKG 702, Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro, Westone 3, AT M50, and a top-notch Polk loudspeaker system. These Denons blow them all away. The bass is strong, tight, and accurate. The mids are nicely rendered, though maybe a little recessed. The highs are smooth and easy on the ears. Very refined. The sound staging is absolutely terrific. At 25ohms, they're easy to drive, they look subtle and sexy, and they are THE MOST comfortable headphones I've ever put on. Incredible headphones. BUY! BUY! BUY!
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Did you?
AH-D5000 with plastic earcups and a different cable!
Posted by PScal from Little Rock, AR on 2010-02-07Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Amazing sound, very comfortable, easy to drive, great value
Cons: Made in China
Wow, these cans rock. I was really surprised what these did un-amped, then I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I amped them with a dedicated headphone amplifier. The bass is just ridiculous. I didn't know that headphones could have that much bass! I'm not talking about bose bass (1 frequency of 'OH YEAH', 19,999 frequencies of 'oh, no'), these are great on the entire spectrum. They are very detailed, much more so than my Sennheiser HD555. And talk about comfy! Overall, I describe the listening experience with these headphones as "fun". Whether I am in the mood for some 'audiophile grade' music with details of fingers brushing guitar strings, or if I'd rather go back in time and listen to my obnoxious high school techno CD collection, they are up for the task. Watch out for low bitrate MP3s though... you will notice their shortcomings with these phones. If you want a pair of headphones to mod, these are a great pick. You can transform them into D5000s (much more expensive) by changing the cups and the cord. What a deal!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Favorite Headphones!
Posted by crunkle from durham nc on 2010-01-30Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: No Compromise, Natural, Accurate Sound. Well-built and comfortable
Cons: Earpads and headband, while high-quality and comfortable, are faux-leather.
These are my favorite headphones. Extended listening sessions are non-fatiguing, sound great powered by just about anything (but even better with a decent amp), comfortable, sturdy, and unlike most headphones I've tried in this price-range they don't have any weird quirks or obvious deficiencies- they are truly useful, always listenable, clean and clear from top to bottom, and great all-around headphones that you can actually afford. Only Con: Earpads and headband, while high-quality and comfortable, are faux-leather. If they were genuine leather I would probably never remove them from my head.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Love'em
Posted by Rocket Richard from San Diego, CA on 2010-01-21Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, very good sound, excellent build quality
Cons:
These don't demand much power, so they actually work fine on the Headroom Total Bithead. One day I will upgrade my amp, because these headphones would of course benefit.
I bought these because I was looking to upgrade from GRADO SR60s. I heard them first at an audio meet, and liked them a lot, along with the Sennheiser HD650. The Sennheiser is lousy on the Total Bithead since it lacks enough power for them. When I first got them I was surprised by how strong the bass was and wondered about the balance. However, the bass was tight and clear, not muddy in the slightest, so I kept listening. I eventually realized that everything I had been listening to beforehand was "bass deprived", that is, the strength of the bass present in live performance was not being conveyed by the equipment I had been using. The Denons allowed me to hear what had been missing. I am now addicted to them. It's like having a really good subwoofer in your headphones. It's correct, not overboosted at all like so many of the disgusting cheap headphones I had tried early on in my search for better equipment. Mids and highs are great, spatialization and real presence are convincing. They just sound authoritative. I briefly listened to the higher-priced D5000s but actually preferred the sound of these. Go figure. Looking forward to one day purchasing a better amp for them and hearing them then. But they sound great now.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Extremely satisfying headphone
Posted by A HeadRoom Fan on 2010-01-21Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
I have tried all three of the Denon line of closed headphones, although I heard the AH-D5000 only for a brief time, so I cannot really claim to be authoritative on that one. However, I would say that the AH-D2000 is the pick of the Denon line. First, it is obviously the cheapest of the three. Second, it has none of the high-end luxury touches of the upper models, so it is not as "delicate." That is not to say that these are not nice-looking and luxurious headphones -- they are -- it's just that they do not come in a silk-lined box and demand to be treated with kid gloves and worshipped as the pinnacle of closed headphone glory. With the sound being only slightly less satisfying than the others, these are the ones I have. Yes, the AH-D7000 sounds "better." The highs and lows of the AH-D2000 are less refined, the bass has less impact, etc., but the AH-D2000 is almost as good to my ears, and for the price and other features noted above, wins out for me. I also note that the headphone has a slightly more forward and energetic presentation than the AH-D7000, and so therefore is in some ways superior to the AH-D7000 for rock. So while the latter is currently being given the John the Baptist treatment from those who want to have one of the most expensive headphones on the block to lord over us more economical types, the AH-D2000 is the one for me.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Excellent Closed Cans for the Price
Posted by John from Ann Arbor, MI on 2010-01-18Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, good sound, outstanding imaging
Cons: Bass a bit overemphasized, treble a bit hot
Bottom line: these are some of the best reference closed headphones you can buy for the money. The build quality of these headphones is very good -- the headband seems durable, and the metal adjusters ratchet with a satisfyingly solid click. The ear cups and pads also seem equally solid. The cable is shrouded in a durable nylon sheath, and the strain reliefs are decent. Overall, these headphones give an impression of solidarity and should last a lifetime if properly cared for.
In addition, I find the AH-D2000s to be very comfortable. They have a very light clamping pressure and very soft ear pads, making them seem lighter than they actually are. However, this additional comfort comes at the cost of sound isolation -- these don't isolate as much outside noise as some other closed headphones I've sampled, such as the Ultrasone HFi 780s. My only slight complaint is that the beefy, two-sided cable is a bit heavy and unwieldy, but I think this is a small price to pay for superior durability.
The sound quality of these headphones is also quite good. The bass is strong and well-extended, reaching lows that few other headphones can. However, I find that the deeper bass is a bit overemphasized, resulting in a bottom-heavy sound. It seems that Denon tried to balance this out by making the treble a bit hotter than normal. Having said that, the mid-bass is tight and accurate, and the middle frequencies are presented in a natural way that complements male and female vocalists equally well. The treble is also very clear and precise, despite it being a bit emphasized. Overall, the sound quality of these 'phones is quite good.
The major strength of these headphones is the imaging and soundstage. The imaging of the AH-D line of Denon headphones is better than any other closed headphones I have had the pleasure of listening to. The soundstage is remarkably spacious for a pair of sealed cans, and individual musical instruments are localized on the soundstage exactly where they should be. They still aren't quite as good as some of the high-end open headphones, but they're actually not too far off, in my opinion.
Despite the low impedance and relatively high sensitivity specs of the AH-D2000s, I find that these headphones don't sound very good when driving them with a portable audio player, such as an iPod. You can get them loud enough, but I feel that the sound begins to fall apart, with the bass becoming muddy and the mids and treble losing clarity. In short, if you plan to use these for portable music, I highly recommend getting an amplifier.
Overall, the Denon AH-D2000s are excellent sealed headphones for the price. I highly recommend these to anyone looking for a good, somewhat inexpensive pair of sealed reference cans.
16 out of 16 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Amazing
Posted by jcbryan349 from Stillwater, Ok on 2010-01-16Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Build, comfort, sound
Cons: They don't give you super powers
Amazing closed headphones that deliver stunning sound and feel great.
5 out of 6 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Smooth but detailed sound
Posted by Brahms Fanatic from Maryland, USA on 2010-01-15Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, good sound, efficient
Cons: Thick cord is somewhat awkward
I purchased these headphones mainly for listening to classical music. One objection I have to most classical recordings is excess brightness, or emphasis of high frequencies. I chose these headphones because Headroom testing and reviews indicated that they have extended frequency response, with no loss of response at low frequencies.
I have been very happy with the result. These headphones give very detailed and responsive high end, while providing a very smooth but generous low end response. With the cross-feed feature of Headroom headphone amplifiers they are almost as satisfying as listening to a good pair of loudspeakers. Definitely recommended.
The only awkward feature of this set is the rather thick, stiff cable, which can be a bit of a nuisance and affects the comfort of the headphones somewhat.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Did you?
wonderful cans/great service from Headroom
Posted by Operalover on 2010-01-15Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros:
Cons:
REcommended by Headroom. Good advice. Great cans
10 out of 11 people found this review unhelpful. Did you?
Unique and Cost-Effective
Posted by Sid from NY on 2010-01-15Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Great sound, tons of bass, efficient, SEALED, good price, great construction
Cons: Clunky/awkward cord, bulky (though most full-size headphones are)
I was looking to upgrade my old Sennheiser 555s and move into the mid-range audiophile space- and this cans delivered.
The Denon's are an oddity in that they sound excellent, but are sealed. This appealed to me because although I love open headphones, I have encountered many situations where they're not ideal. Practically useless on airplanes or in noisy areas, and in quiet parts of songs, all the background noise around you comes on in. Or sometimes you just don't want the sound to come out. And IEM's just aren't for everyone-- I find them to be somewhat uncomfortable.
The Denons are a fantastic sounding set of cans at a great price, especially considering that they are sealed. Certainly, there are open headphones that will sound much better near this price point, but if ambient noise is an issue at all, you'll be much better off with these.
When I first got the headphones, I was a bit disappointed, as they didn't at first seem to be much a jump in quality over my old 555s. Just be patient though- the burn in period was a bit long, at least for me. After a few weeks, the AH-D2000s just opened up. The bass response is truly remarkable (perhaps even slightly excessive on some types of music), but not overpowering or murky. The highs are well-done and never piercing.
One weakness might be quiet types of subdued singer-songwriter types of music. These headphones thrive on booming, thunderous music of colossal scale, and deeply layered, complex orchestrations. That's not to say that it sounds bad, but they truly shine on the grandiose.
Also- these headphones are efficient enough that they can easily be powered by something such as an ipod (though unless you have lossless audio on there, it will be far from ideal, as with any high end headphone. The volume will be more than adequate, however)
Get these if you need a great sounding sealed headphone and are on a moderate budget, particularly if you don't care for in-ear monitors.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
I am extreamly satesfied with them. For the cost you can't do better.
Posted by Glen from Aspen CO on 2010-01-11Posted on DENON AH-D2000
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Front stage sound. I use for live rock. great value.
Cons: The fit is for a large head, Ear pads are veru comfortable.
I wanted a pair on headphones that did not break the bank but had a good sound. The staff at Headroom sent me to the Dennon AH D2000 and it was a great match for what I was looking for. I use them with the Ultra Desk AMP and a i pod. I keep it all at my bed side. I use the Dennon AH D2000 for Rock & Roll or live music. It puts me up front and close. The only draw back is the fit if you have a small head. They can be a little loose. The ear pads are very comfortable for long use. Could be a little hot if used in hot weather as they are leather. They are built well and the cable is top notch quality.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Did you?
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