Customer Reviews

Denon AHD2000 High Performance Over-Ear Headphones

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Denon AH-D2000 is their second best model below the D5000 in this relatively new series of headphones from Denon, which isn't usually the first brand you think of when you mention "best headphones". But I think that is going to change now. This headphone is fantastic. As you may have noted in my other reviews, I'm not a stranger to nice headphones, spending thousands over many years trying different models (my version of my wife collecting shoes). My previous favorite, the AKG K701 (another $300 headphone) was my previous reference quality headphone but this headphone supercedes it. Whereas the AKG sounded more analytical and exacting, this Denon sounds more fluid and dynamic.

This headphone is a sealed design, so it doesn't leak or let in as much sound as open design headphones (which are most common type among the higher quality designs). It is SUPREMELY comfortable due to the well padded earcups and soft headband with a very light clamping pressure. Big-eggheads rejoice! It may feel a bit loose on those with smaller heads though, so you may want to try before you buy.

The sound:
Holy moly. This is the DO-IT-ALL headphone. Bass is deep and punchy, there is no mistaking that the bass is there, but not in a overbearing way. I compared the tonal balance of the bass to my home theater system which is flat (+/-3dB) down to a low bass limit of 23Hz. And these headphones present the bass in an accurate manner down to the lowest frequencies. It beats out the AKG K701 in that respect which always seemed to lack some impact in the bass. The highs are sparkly, clean and present. The crash of the cymbals are present, the sizzle of the high hats are there. As far as tonal balance, these would definitely rank up any of the other headphones short of the multi-thousand dollar sets. To me, this headphones gets the balance better than the Sennheiser HD650, AKG K701, any Grado, Beyerdynamic DT880 or 990, all the other contenders in this price range that are considered the top players. Soundstage (the positioning and sense of space of the sound) is very good too, expansive but with the sense that you are in a mid-sized venue, sitting about mid-way back. It's not as expansive as the AKG K701 in that respect but far better than a lot of other headphones. The mids are still well balanced with the highs and lows and never sounds disjoint. The highs are quite sparkly, but less sparkly and edgy than most Grado headphones, and nice detail without overdoing it. If you have recordings that sound bright, you may find this headphone does nothing to tame those recordings. But on reference audiophile quality recordings, you should find that these headphones are quite revealing. There are other headphones that might be better if you listen primarily to vocals, this headphone does justice to Dido, Diana Krall, the Carpenters very well. It worked well for jazz, trance, electronic, pop, rock, and orchestral music that I've tried. The sound is rich but yet detailed....the old cliche that you will hear things you never heard are applicable....I was literally pulling out my old recordings to hear stuff that I didn't notice in my previous AKG and Sennheiser models. Some people think the bass is a bit too loose and overpresent, but I think this is often a case of the music mastered as such. Heavy bass music such as trance will come across very strong, but this is no different than if you had a very deeply resolving subwoofer in a real speaker system. Compared to many other headphones, this headphone resolves way down to the lowest frequencies, and you are hearing what you can't hear at all with other headphones. The objective graphs show this, there is strong response down to 20Hz.

The only issue I have with the headphone is that the cord has a "TechFlex" type sheath which makes it very stiff, but it does increase its durability. Not a deal breaker in my opinion.

All in all, a solid FIVE star rating, no questions ifs or buts. You might be wondering if the more expensive D5000 at double the price is worth it. If you like the look of the wood cups and a tiny bit of refinement in the sound, and money is no object, you MIGHT want to consider the D5000, but it's a great example of diminishing returns. The D5000 cable isn't as annoyingly unruly as the D2000 cable, and is of higher quality though. If you want the best $300 headphone around, and are even willing to spend more, you should not overlook this choice. It's little brother model, the D1001 also takes top honors so you might want to check that one out if this one is too spendy.

This headphone is really meant for use for a home stereo, and if you use it with an iPod, the volume level is definitely weaker and may lack some punch. So I'd definitely recommend a separate headphone amplifier for that application. But otherwise, I was very happy with the sound of this headphone plugged into anything I could throw at it. If you have a first class system with high quality recordings, this headphone will really let you hear what you put into your system...it's revealing of bad sources, but yet somehow even lower quality MP3 recordings are still enjoyable due to its do-it-all versatility.

Sound quality: 9.5 out of 10
Comfort: 9.5 out of 10 (does get hot as all closed cup headphones do)
Value: 10 out of 10. Can't be beat in its price range
Build quality: 8 out of 10, some people report that the pivot screw comes loose after while....we'll see if this is still an issue. The headphone does look fragile due to the pivots, so I would be afraid to drop these.

These headphones ended my quest for the "one headphone" that I could happily live with for a long long time

Edit: after a couple of years, I ended up selling my D2000. I upgraded to the new D7000 model. You can read my review of that one. As well, I also have a Shure SRH840 which is a better headphone for monitoring because it blocked outside noise better than the Denons

Before buying a set of Denon's I was using one of the higher-end AKG models, which are semi-open back design and sound very nice, but I was having problems with them comfort-wise; although a pretty light fit, some AKG earpieces are not big enough to fit clear around your ears -- they clamp your ears against your head a bit, which was really uncomfortable after a few hours. I'd heard a lot of great things about these, and I decided to pick them up because:

1. Comfort -- Big earpieces which fit all the way around your ears. The pads rest on your head, not your ears. Mine don't even touch my ears. Nice soft, thick letherette. Also the headband is really nice. Barely any pressure at all. One feature that might not work for some users is the shape of the earpads. They are ergonomically shaped very specifically to fit on your head a certain way. Putting these headphones on flipped around from the marked R and L feels pretty strange. They are very comfy and work for me, but you might want to try them on before buying. The way the pads are angled you really can't wear them with the headband in a lot of different positions. Once you get them settled though, wow are they nice.

2. A closed design. Although my AKG's do sound a little more "airy" and more like listening to good speakers in a room, they have quite a bit of bleed, both outside noise bleeding in and inside noise bleeding out. The ADH2000's do have more bleed than some other closed cans I've used, but outside noise reduction is decent.

3. Excellent sound. According to most of the reviews I'd read, these Denon's are among the best of the best closed-design, fullsize headphones. I was not disappointed. These sound ridiculously good. I really can not put them down. Tried with iPod too, definitely need to turn the volume up, but still more than enough volume.

I do have a few small complaints, although they aren't enough to detract from my 5 star rating and excitement about this headphone. The adjustment system isn't that great. It has a nice ratcheting system, all metal which is really nice, but I don't feel like the detents are strong enough. Mine never get loose enough to come off, but I do find that one side likes to ratchet out a notch after a while. Also, as mentioned the cord is REALLY thick and not very flexible when you first get them, although it is nice to see something that won't get cut when run over with a studio chair or the like.

If you are looking for a high quality, comfortable closed headphone, this is it. I don't see mine retiring for a long time.

I have a pair of Shure in ear monitors (SE420s) and I needed something to use at work that did not irriate my ears after a few hours. I also have a pair of Sennheiser HD650s which sound exceptional but their sound leakage makes them somewhat impractical for use at work. I purchased these Denons and have not regretted the purchase whatsoever.

The AHD2000 have excellent clarity, detail, dynamics and are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. The bass response is a just a touch on the bloated side, but the headphones make up for it by accurately reproducing extremely low frequencies, possibly even lower frequencies then my beloved HD650s. The highs are not rolled off like there are with the HD650s or the Shures which can make some music a little fatiguing after awhile but for a lot of people the more accurate treble is a plus.

Another plus with the Denons is they are very efficient with a impedance of 25 ohms and sensitivity of 106 dB/mW so driving them with my Zune connected to the Zune dock at work leaves little to be desired. I have not listened to these extensively with a dedicated headphone amp so there might be a lot I am missing but I am happy with how they sound right now which works fine for now.

Introduction:
Well, this is it. My long and beloved headphone journey has finally come to an end for the time being. I've been through many, and headphone after headphone failed to impress me in some aspect or another. I was beginning to lose hope in finding that "perfect" headphone for me. But then one day, I finally decided to purchase a MKIII. Now, I had to start all over again with trying out headphones -- or so I thought. I remembered two headphones that really stuck out from the rest of the bunch, and I wanted to get them both once more, not only to try them out with my new tube amp, but also compare them both side by side. So I bought the HD650, and a few weeks later, the D2000. Now, it's up to my ears to tell me which one will be my "perfect" headphone, and the one I will keep indefinitely.

Source:
My testing will be consisting of two systems. My first system will be my P1260 CD player hooked into my Little Dot MKIII with Slyvania 6AK5 tubes. The tubes and amp itself have well over 150 hours of burn in time. My second system will be nothing but directly plugging them into my iAudio 7 with a flat EQ and no sound enhancements. My HD650 has around 80 hours of burn in, although my D2000 probably only has around 30 hours, guesstimating low. Both headphones have not been modded in any way, shape, or form, excluding me stretching the HD650's headband for added comfort.

Testing:
I find the only way I can get a truly accurate reading on a headphone is to compare it directly to another, side by side. Thus, I have both the HD650 and the D2000 with me right this second, and I will be doing extensive AB testing on a variety of music, at various volumes. With some songs, I prefer to test only a specific 30 second or so segment, such as a chorus, so I don't get overwhelmed with trying to remember too much information. I then listen to it back and forth, multiple times, until I can tell a what differences set them apart. I also listen to specific segments four or five times in a row with one headphone -- to burn it into my head. Once I switch headphones, it becomes drastically apparent at the differences. When testing music, I also listen for moments I have fatigue, boredom, emotion, involvement, etc. Then, I can directly compare that with the other headphone to see if it has the same results. My testing consists of many songs and segments of songs, played multiple times across many days, to insure I get the best possible reading when judging a headphone.

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Appearance:
Ah, a great aspect of any headphone is its appearance. Whenever I'm not listening to one, I'm looking at it. Yes, I've seen and owned ugly headphones and didn't really mind, but headphones earn extra brownie points when they just look flat out awesome! Because it's always nice when something you buy looks as nice and luxurious as the price tag. Case in point, the D2000. Everything about this headphone just looks and feels absolutely luxurious. It's very well made and uses great materials -- which makes this without a doubt, the most pleasing headphone I have ever laid my eyes on, or held in my hand. It just looks and feels expensive! Definitely something I can leave hanging on display, or be seen with it on my head. Now, let's move on over to the HD650. You look at it, and you think nothing. Is that a bad thing? Of course not. It just doesn't really make any sort of statement in my mind. Some headphones really do look ugly, and your eyes start to water just thinking about looking at them, and others like the D2000, you simply cannot get enough of looking at it. But with the HD650, it's just plain old headphone. Nothing special, it's just a headphone.

Build:
Alright, now since appearance is only skin deep, let's look a little closer and examine how well these things are made. We'll start out with the D2000. Now, I want to get a point across first. Everyone knows about the infamous screw falling out of the D2000, and many users claim it just looks too fragile to last. Well, I'm not going to use these as a substitute football helmet and I will definitely not be using them as a kickball, so I really have nothing to worry about. If these sheer off during my normal, careful use, then I'll be concerned. But I have a feeling that won't be an issue, so I'm not too concerned with their labeled fragility. Looking beyond that, these things are built really well, and I have no concerns whatsoever. Materials are top notch and very solid, and there is nothing I have an issue with. But unfortunately, when I move on to the HD650, issues suddenly become apparent. I remember when I had my first pair, and I was scared to death about how fragile they seemed to be made. I was most likely being a bit too paranoid as I shouldn't worry as long as I was careful. So, with my second pair, I left worry and doubt with the first pair, so it wouldn't interfere with my enjoyment of music. But I still must it to the attention of possible buyers as just a slight warning. First, these things are completely plastic. Yes, Fischer Price plastic. Compared to the very fine and solid materials the D2000 is made up of, this is a quite a disappointment. But I won't judge on material alone, as even if it was constructed of something as insane as bungee cord adjusters and a bumpy headband, I couldn't indicate on its sound based off that alone. But the HD650's plastic has been known to crack, especially around the headband, and boy just the feel of this headphone does not look promising. No worries, just be careful like I am with my 2nd pair, and it will live life well. I hope. (He is where I get flocks of comments from HD650 owners claiming they abuse it to the max without any signs of wear. But hey, we abused our plastic toys when we were young too, and they still work to this day).

Function:
Well, I'm on a roll with the HD650, so let's start out with it this time. Okay, let's take an even closer look at the HD650 and start playing around with its functionality. The thing that is most apparent is how difficult it is to properly adjust the headband. Not only are there no notches or any sort of way to tell how far it's been pulled out, but it's very stiff and won't come out with an easy tug. You won't really know how far each side is pulled out, so you will have to just guess by eyeing it. But once you have it at the perfect position, it's not like your head changes sizes every day, so most likely not that big of a problem. But, if you are showing friends your headphones, it may be a pain in the butt adjusting it for each person. Once again, nothing huge, but needs to be mentioned. The swivel on the HD650 is slightly strange as well, as it doesn't really swivel -- at first. HD650 owners will know that that the headband can turn a bit forward and backward on a "point" that will literally dig into the headband itself, providing a nonfluid and slightly forced rotating. This will also scratch off some of the metal headband paint as well, but don't worry, you cannot really see the scratched off paint. It does loosen up a bit over time though. Overall, for a $400 headphone, they obviously didn't take too much into the design, as it has the absolute worst headband adjustment I have ever used. But hey, who's giving gold stars out to perfect headband adjusters? But also, the overall build quality is probably one of the most disappointing I have seen as well, especially for anything remotely costing this much. If you have the HD650 on order now, and you are panicked by what you just read, try not to be. Just be careful, treat it well, and it should be fine. Alright, now that that is out of the way, I'll explain the D2000. First off, cup swivel is smooth. Enough said. I just hope that single screw that enables the swivel and holds the cup doesn't fall out! But that's not really what I wanted to mention about the D2000's functionality. It's the headband adjustment system that I find truly extraordinary. Not only is it fantastically durable with two metal poles on each side, but they have deep notches in them that make a nice "click" whenever you adjust it to the next notch. This makes it absolutely pain free to adjust the headband, and you rest in peace knowing that it is plenty durable. Knowing this, the D2000 has the best headphone adjustment I have ever come across, and also the most durable. Another great component to a very well build headphone.

Cable:
So let's go ahead and jump to the secondary feature of all headphones, the cable. I'll start out with the D2000 and its incredibly thick, yet stiff cable. Well, it is after all just a cable, so I really don't even mind the worst headphone cables. The D2000 is not in any way bad, in fact, I find it quite nice. Resembling a garden hose, the D2000's cable seems really quite durable. It's covered in a type of cloth and is quite stiff, so it looks and feels pretty touch. It's very moldable due to its stiffness, so kinks or anything of that nature isn't a problem. Now, the HD650's cable is really something else. It has more of a rubber texture and is of very high quality. No stiffness, little memory retention, and feels just right. It's an excellent cable on top of it being detachable! Both of the cables on these headphones are good, with the HD650's being better, but the cable isn't something I really care for, but it's always nice to have a good one. Regardless, both cables pale in comparison to the mighty AD700's cable, which is the absolute best I have ever had. But, a cable is a cable, so even if it's barbed wire, I still just want to listen to my music.

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Initial:
I still remember when I first put the D2000 on my head. Wait, did I put them on my head? Of course I did, but I didn't even notice, especially after a few minutes. Somehow, these now ended up as the absolute most comfortable headphone to first be place on my head -- or in other words, initial comfort. Within no time at all, they literally disappeared from my head -- something I normally wouldn't say about any headphone, even the outstanding AD700. And yes, even the AD700 falls to the D2000's supreme initial comfort. That is really saying something! Moving along to the HD650, I also remember when I first put these on my head as well. Let's just say, I almost couldn't get them off. Luckily, I carry a crowbar on me at all times, and they were safely removed with minimal damage to my head and headphone itself. After removed, I hastily adjusted the metal arms so the clamping force was greatly reduced and tried them on once more. Wow! What a difference! With that, these are really quite comfortable now! In fact, these are definitely now in my Top 5 most comfy headphone list. Not as good as the AD700 or the D2000, but still better than most.

Long Term:
Now here is an aspect that many users overlook when buying or trying a headphone. I've had headphones in the past that felt lovely when first placed on my head, but suddenly turned out to be horrendously uncomfortable after only half an hour. The true test of comfort is how long they can last on your head, just in case you accidentally get sucked into whatever you have them plugged into. That said, the HD650 and the D2000 are actually about tied in this area. Yes, tied. Unfortunately with how good the D2000's initial comfort is, my headbandfobia likes to strike me down after only about a good hour with those on (I have a problem with nearly all headbands). As soon as I adjust them a bit or take a small break, I'm ready once again to wear them for another hour. The HD650's headband on the other hand, is fantastic! It has padding in just the right places and also has that special miracle indent right in the middle. That really does wonders for me. Unfortunately, after about the same amount of time as the D2000's, the ear pads get to me this time, as I can start to feel the ring around my ear where the ear pad rests. No biggie for either headphone, as a little readjustment or a small break will do the trick. But once again, the AD700 will now be the king in another aspect beside the cable -- its unrivaled long term comfort. I believe it was a little over five hours without even touching them, and then I got sick of playing whatever game I was playing. But remember, if you never plan on wearing them all that long in the first place, then you have nothing to worry about. Both are very comfortable within an hour.

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Bass:
Now this is what I'm talking about! Probably my favorite aspect of any good music is the bass. Whether the relentless bass drum, the overemphasized synthesized bass, or the sorrowful cellos, bass is the absolute best way to get goose bumps out of me -- when used wisely. So far, out of all the headphones I've ever owned, I am pretty sure these two do it the best. Good mix of presence and quality. HD650's bass is excellent, and never steps out of line. It's balanced with the rest of the spectrum, and has its proper place within the music. Although known as having more bass than average headphones, the HD650's bass is perfect in a balanced sense. Now with the D2000, the bass sounds deeper and possesses greater authority. To me, I find it simply sounds better. Easily put, the D2000 has superb bass, and in no way do I find it flabby or uncontrolled like some have mentioned. It just sounds completely awesome, especially with songs with a good beat! For some songs, it might be too much, but since I'm on the bass head side of the spectrum, I really do love it with nearly anything. Mind you, I highly dislike the XB500's bass, so it's not like I enjoy the brains shaken out of me. I like the bass to be somewhat balanced, yet impactful -- fitting in with the rest of the music. The D2000 does that best for me. Although the HD650's bass is still good, it's just not as good.

Midrange:
You won't be seeing a white flag from the HD650 anytime soon, especially since we are about to hit it's strong point in sound. When I first wrote this review, I actually left out this section. Why? For me, midrange is fairly easy to glance over unless I really have my listening ears on. Either that, or these two headphones sound identical in the midrange and no comments need to be made. But everyone knows that's not the case. This is the only thing that makes me slightly jealous of the HD650 over the D2000. I almost glanced over the HD650's very lush and smooth midrange when I first listened, but after a closer examination, it became suddenly apparent. The D2000 was hiding something from me. I was having so much fun listening to the sound, I didn't even pay attention to the midrange. When I listened past the "fun", I noticed, "Yes, there definitely is a recession in the midrange compared to the HD650". When listening to some songs, I really don't even notice. But with many songs, I notice that in comparison to the HD650, there is something slightly missing. Or at least, there is too little of something. This only becomes apparent when I switch to the HD650's literally "perfectly" balanced sound, in which everything comes to it's own -- especially the midrange. I listen to the HD650 and hear that the middle has been filled, thus resulting in a more full sound. And yes, the HD650 does sound more full than the D2000 on some songs, while the D2000 feels more full on others. But the D2000 get's it's fullness from it's subterranean bass, while the HD650 uses it's very full and lush midrange. With songs on the soothing side of the spectrum, I will admit the HD650 has more skill in presentation, but the D2000 is no slouch. The presence of midrange alone will label the HD650 as mellow, hypnotizing, and relaxing, and the slight absence will label the D2000 as exciting, energetic, and full of life. Once again, both headphones sound fantastic, and I will admit the D2000 is more versatile with most music, but the HD650 comes to it's own when given the right stuff.

Treble:
I can describe every single frequency of the HD650 with one word: Balanced. So I'll say the same thing here as I did in the previous paragraph. The HD650's treble just doesn't step out of line. It has never once fatigued me, and I have never caught any signs of sibilance with any kind music. But as mentioned a bit before, the HD650's sound is almost too safe. It doesn't take any chances at boosting anything -- which for me is a bad thing, as a balanced headphone doesn't sound as good as you might think. The D2000 though, gets the treble perfect. It uses its bass for a solid foundation, and its treble for a lift with vocals, details, and the sense of life. Compared to the HD650, the D2000 definitely seems brighter, but standalone, it's not incredibly apparent like it was with the Beyers. Luckily, the D2000 is nowhere near the terribly bright treble of the DT990, and even the DT880. With those two headphones, sunglasses are required when listening, as you can actually see the incredible brightness as it breaches your audible sense, and crosses into your visual sense. Hmm, impressive! Anyway, for me, the D2000's treble is preferred, as it gives it the perfect boost in categories mentioned above. And once again, the HD650's treble is perfectly fine, but it's too "safe" for me. The HD650's whole sound is just too "safe" for me. But again, that's not a bad thing.

Balance:
Define the word HD650: Balanced. No, I didn't call it neutral, so don't correct me. The entire spectrum is balanced, and there seriously was never a time I thought a specific part of its sound was overemphasized or fatiguing due to presence. That's pretty impressive, especially since the HD650 is the only headphone I have ever listened to that sounds so incredibly smooth and balanced. That's another reason why I bought a second pair. But with that, it gets its relaxed and slightly boring, and even lifeless sound. But the D2000 gets it perfect, by boosting the bass and treble, which creates a better foundation and solid sound with its bass, and a more detailed and lively presentation with its treble. Perfect. I'm not sure how Denon pulled it off, but it just sounds wonderful. I think I've finally found "my" sound, and I just love it!

Overall Sound:
I knew this section would be tough. Not only was it difficult to pick a favorite from these two fantastic headphones, but it was also difficult to describe the strengths and weaknesses in their sound as well -- as they both just sound great. But simply put, all I'll say is the D2000's sound simply has more energy and life. It has more music interaction, has a more exciting presentation, and has much more life than the HD650. Don't get me wrong, the HD650 has an absolutely fantastic and unique sound, which I found superior to everything I've tried in the past. But it's simply too smooth and relaxed for my tastes. No, really, it's so incredibly smooth and relaxed, that I actually find it quite frightening! Many may prefer this instead of a more lively, energetic, and involved sound like the D2000, and that's perfectly fine -- we all have our preferences, but I will just mention this. If your music collection consists of mostly music with any type of beat or energy, get the D2000 hands down. They are just so much more alive than the HD650 in that regard. And no, I'm not talking about Grado alive -- I think Grado sound is horribly shrill and empty. The D2000's sound has a full, fairly balanced, and extremely solid sound. Yes, that is exactly what the D2000 is: Solid. It just does everything well. Simply the best all-around headphone I've ever bought and is the absolute best for lively music. But with the HD650, comes its extremely laid back sound. This is what I found out to be its biggest weakness regarding sound. It's a double edged sword. With energetic music with good beats and catchy lyrics, the HD650 is simply too boring. I listen to music at the edge of my chair, just wanting to jump out and dance, but the HD650 restricts me from doing so. It holds me back and says "Nope, I'm not giving that final push to you." No matter how close I am to being a part of the music, even when the volume is cranked up, the HD650 just won't let me get in all the way. Due to this, the entire spectrum really does seem to have a "veil" when listening to anything remotely exciting. It feels as if the whole spectrum is slightly blocked, so any sort of resolution cannot be made. With this, you can definitely hear something missing with the sound. But with slow and calming music, it does surprisingly well, as nothing in the spectrum is ever out of line, and it can put you in a sleepy mood. But the big question is, "So I guess the HD650 is better for mellow music, and the D2000 is better for lively music?" Well, yes and no. Just like a similar case with the DT880, I'll take the D2000 for nearly every type of music over the HD650, even though the HD650 does excel with slower, mellower music. But even with that music, I'll still be perfectly fine and enjoy it just as much listening with the D2000 over the HD650. Like I said, the D2000 simply makes anything you throw at it sound great. But, when you start throwing stuff at the D2000 that it's REALLY good at to begin with, like music that makes you want to dance, then you will truly discover music like you never have experienced it before. That I like.

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Conclusion:
It's been a long journey. I've seen many, I've tried many, and I've been disappointed by many. The HD650 and the D2000 were the only two that really had me attached to their sounds and left me thoroughly impressed. I don't care what all the trained professionals say, these two do indeed sound similar, and I love both of their sounds. Forget the open and closed debates, and scrap the endless nonsense terminology thrown out. And most of all, ignore all the people who think they are all that and a bag of chips, that claim they hear everything that a graph has to show. The thing is, these two headphones do both sound similar, and yet both still sound great. The only main differences I can detect is the HD650 is ever so slightly more spacious, much more laid back, and is a little more balanced. How about detail and clarity? They both do really well, but don't expect to hear things that are unable to be heard. Again, both have great detail and clarity, and I won't declare a clear winner. Just note that if it is caught on the recording, you'll hear it on either of these headphones. Although, in a general sense, since the D2000 does have the overall superior sound quality to my ears, I'll have say that the D2000 slightly edges the HD650 in both detail and clarity -- most likely due to its increased treble. So in all, the D2000 nearly gets every sound award as well as getting nearly all the external awards as well. Beyond that, I get the psychological satisfaction in owning a miracle headphone.

Final Thoughts:
Stop now Sennheiser fans. I'm not bashing the HD650 -- In fact, I haven't even begun the reign of terror I'm about to go on about the HD650. No, just kidding. Jokes aside, I'm not against the HD650 like many of you have just perceived, I am simply suggesting to everyone that a cheaper, less glorified headphone takes the cake it the majority of aspects regarding superiority. The HD650 does have a great sound, and it did in fact beat out both of my Beyers. I loved it at one point, and I didn't think I would like anything better in that price range, but I got introduced to something I simply found better. But in no way is the HD650 bad, it just got superseded by the D2000. Denon fans, I now can see and understand why you are fans. The D2000 (and the rest of the series) is absolutely superb! It just does everything great, and not in just music, but also in its basic design and appearance as well. It's just a stellar headphone in all aspects -- one I would be more than happy to keep for years to come due to its incredible price to performance ratio.

Recommendation:
My recommendation? If you are in the market for an excellent reference or all around headphone, I will instantly and without any hesitation, highly recommend the D2000. It simply will make anything you throw at it, sound fantastic! It's built better, it looks better, it sounds better, and it even costs less. Two of those four are indeed facts, while the other two are preference, but still, favor leans for the D2000 any way I slice it. If you already own a nice reference headphone, think about picking up the D2000 or one of its siblings someday -- just to try it out. It's truly an amazing piece of work, and I am elated that I have finally found a headphone that I can stand by, and better yet, simply just enjoy!

The Denon AH-D2000 headphone is basically the same as the $900 list Denon AH-D5000 headphones (clearanced due to a reportedly not much better replacement), with the exception that the Denon AH-D5000 has wooden head cups and a little better cord. This information comes from a professional who has taken the two apart and examined the identical drivers and frames. Many dealers now have the Denon AH-D2000 discounted to $210 (and the Denon AH-D5000 is discounted to $350). This means you can get get the equivalent sound of the $900 list Denon AH-D5000 high end audiphile grade headphones for $210. However, you may want to check to see that the seller is a Denon authorized rep so that you get a factory warranty also.

The Denon headphones sound absolutely wonderful once broken. I have a pair of great sounding Sennheiser HD650s and I like the Denons better. The Denons with their lower impedance can easily be played at loud levels from an iPod.(25 Ohm instead of 300 Ohm with the Senns). The Sennheiser HD650s cannot be played at anything above relaxed background levels and sound a little muted straight from an iPod - be aware though that some of the lower priced Sennheisers are much better that way). The Denons fit somewhat loosly yet are very very comfortably on your head. The Sennheisers feel a little vice like after awhile in comparison. However, if you bend over, the Denon headphones can easily slip off your head. They are for use when stationary. The Sennheisers, although not as comfotable, stay firmly on your head. The posh leather of the Denons feels much better on the skin than the fuzzy velvet of the Sennheisers in my opinion.

The bass from the Denons is wonderfully full, rich, and accurate once they are broken in (plan on 200 hours for this). Not muddy and boomy at all. As they break in the bass tightens up a little, the highs which were a just little forward loose any edge, and the mids open up and move more forward and loose most of the recessed sound. However, you had better like bass. The Sennheisers sounded great in the bass department until I heard the Denons, now the Senns sound inadequate in comparison. When you listen to Diana Krall through the Denons, the sound of the bass is such that you are right there with Ray Brown playing the acoustic bass. You would need speakers with 12" woofers to get this kind of bass.

As far as break in goes, if you wish to break the headphones in quickly, pick some bass heavy material such as Fleetwood Macs Greatest Hits, etc and put the volume level at a comfortably slightly higher than normal setting, and cover them with blanket or pillow if you want, and let them play constantly for 3 to 7 days.

The midrange on the Denons is natural and nicely textured, yet ever so slightly recessed compared to the Senns because of the relatively strong bass. I found the highs on the Denons after break in to be delicate and revealing, almost Angelic, without any harshness. Piano and steel guitar is seductive through the Denons. The highs are the best I have ever heard and are superior to the Sennheisers by my ears.

I have read some say the Sennheiser HD650 headphones are too smooth. Chances are they were referring to the sound heard without a headphone amp which is inadequate at best. Through my lovely Cayin tube headphone amp (or probably almost any headphone amp), the Senns actually sound slightly forward instead to me in the midrange and treble, yet very smooth and nice. Without a headphone amp, they are a little dull and overly smooth and to me, not worth having.

I have compared hearing the Denons with and without a headhone amp. The Denons unlike the Sennheisers, still sound very good straight from the iPod, but allot of the bass and some of the fidelity is reduced from the incredible sound that you hear with a headphone amp.

So, don't hurt your head wondering if the Denon AH-D2000 headphones are worth the $210. Just buy them. You won't even get much better sound at all for $1,000. They are within a hairs difference of nuance at most, of the best headphones available at any price and one of the best deals going anywhere for a pair of ultra professional grade high end audiophile headphones.

There is nothing that can be written about the Denon AH-D2000 that hasn't been written before. The sound that comes from these cans is magnificent. I run them through a Fiio E9 and Fiio E7. Through the E7 they sound great but when pushed with the awesome power of the E9 they sing! Great separation and the sound stage is phenomenal. Best I've ever heard through a set of closed cans. Tight bass and sparkling highs (without being piercing). Recessed midrange but it definitely opened up due to the burn-in they received for the short time I had them (yep, they're being returned...more to follow).

The bad: that freaking screw! It's a well-known issue that the screw that holds the ear cups to the band has a habit of coming out (Google "Denon AH-D2000 screw" and you'll see what I mean). Denon supposedly fixed this problem but I purchased these through Amazon on January 9th, 2010 and received them on January 12th, 2010 (Gotta love Prime shipping) and on January 23rd the screw didn't come undone. The screw broke. It literally fractured when I was removing the headphones.

I contacted Amazon and they are standing up to their reputation as a very customer-service oriented organization and giving me a refund. Kudos to Amazon. I'm not sure if I want to buy another set of these and hope that they last or get a different set of headphones. I loved these for the short time I had them but I don't want to have to constantly replace them due to a faulty screw.

Sounds quality gets an A+! Freaking faulty screw gets an F-. I guess that comes to three stars. It does seriously pain me to have to return these lovely cans due to a $0.02 screw.

I highly recommend the Denon AHD2000 headphones but there are a couple of practical considerations that I discovered when using them. First, I was surprised at how much sound escapes them. They are rated at 10db reduction and in practice that means that at a moderate volume anyone nearby can easily hear what you are listening to. Exterior sounds come in as well. I don't have any experience with "open headphones" so I can't say how much these isolate compared to them but they are not total by any means. The second thing is that although they are very comfortable, they feel a little loose. I would like a tighter fit so that they wouldn't move when I bend down. They are not secure enough for anything but general controlled movement. They are also so large that they will push against whatever you may lean back and rest your head against.

I love the sound and wouldn't trade them easily but the above mentioned items may be important to some buyers.

Additional note: I tried these with my daughter's Ipod Nano and they produced more than acceptable sound volume. With my two channel stereo system they are unbearably loud at full volume.

Let me start off with saying these are great headphones. They produce sound from 20Hz to 20kHz. Most mid to high priced headphones can't do this. The Sennheiser DH490 and Shure 530 I still own do not come close. I seem to diverge radically from everyone else with the rest of this review.

I think the AHD2000 sound lacks warmth. In other words it is lacking in bass. The bass is there for sure. I hear down to at least 20 Hz on organ recordings. I listened for at least 200 hours of various recordings before making this conclusion. I listen to classical, rock, new age and jazz. I listen mostly to classical. I regularly attend classical concerts. Most are Apollo's Fire Cleveland Baroque Orchestra. It is easy to get seats only three rows back from the performers. When comparing Apollo's Fire recordings heard over the head phones to live concerts, the lower registers of the cello and bass are ameliorated. I listen through itunes using an Edirol U-4FX in place of the computer sound card. I use Apple loss less format.

Since the drivers are large enough, I decided to measure the frequency response. A radio Shack sound meter at level C and quick response was placed in against each driver of the AHD2000. Sonar Producer 8 was used to play and monitor output level of the sound sweep. I used the equalizer in itunes to level the frequency response. Hopefully Amazon will allow a picture of the results in the video portion. The lower, mid and upper base is very flat. However, bass needs an overall 6 db increase. There are two peak resonances near 800 Hz and 10000 Hz that cannot be flattened with a ten band equalizer. I tried various sound levels with the same results.

I opened the headphones to see if Denon might have added a crossover to newer headphones since there are so many complaints about high bass level. I could not find any. It would be unusual for a supplier to change a mass produced product. Otherwise, I don't have a clue why everyone hears differently than me. I would certainly like to know why.

The AH D2000 is built well and unlike in others reviews, I like the cord. It does not tangle easily. The heaphone are very comfortable for long periods of time on my narrow head. My ears get much warmer with the Sennheiser DH490. Sennheiser does not make the DH490 any more. However, they have many great similar open air designs. I love the sound and isolation with the Shure 530. The Denon's have the same clarity and transparency as the Shure 530 with much greater extension at the frequency extremes. After listening to the Shure 530 for 6 months of 4 hours a day, my outer ear canal tissue were getting very sore and tender. The Sennheiser DH490 has a great balance of sound. However, there is zero sound isolation. This is not good for use in the office.

I highly recommend the Denon AHD2000 using a mild increase in bass. It only gets four stars strictly because of the ameliorated bass. However, based on most reviews here, Denon probably made a smart design move.

First of all, keep in mind that everyone hears differently so what I like you may not like. Please don't take my opinions as fact but rather another piece of the puzzle. I'll keep this relatively succinct so I won't mention every little detail as I would in a full review. I'm also not going to convolute this review with exciting or flowery language (which is often used to describe audio) to try to accentuate its qualities or compel you to buy this product. I could write a review of how much I like this can but I feel a more objective approach to this subjective hobby would be more helpful to you, as after all, it's your ears and your money, not mine. I will say for the price this is a very good competitor and should be seriously considered though its sound may not be for everyone. If you have any questions about this review feel free to ask.

Build Quality: The build is pretty nice not as good as some other cans I own but nice nonetheless. They feel pretty durable, however, I get the feeling that throwing these around would not be a good idea. The pads are very nice and well made even though they are made of pleather. A pair of J$ leather pads cost roughly the same as a pair of stock Denon pads and have a better feel. Headband isn't bad but could be better padded. I particularly like the slide adjustment on these. The cord on these is a nice cloth, however, it is prone to twisting which can be quite annoying. There is a well noted screw issue where the cup attachment pivots though I have not experienced this phenomenon.

Packaging: The packaging is a little underwhelming compared to several of my other purchases (i.e. Ultrasone Pro 650/750, Beyerdynamic DT990 Premium 250 ohm). All that's included is a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter with a cardboard box. No leather carrying case, extra pads, sample cd, or fancy product pamphlet.

Comfort: Comfort is simply outstanding. Not the most comfortable can I've tried but definitely in the one of the best (where Audio Technica W1000 takes first position). They are pretty big but the weight is well distributed on the headband so they maintain a light feeling. The pads just touch the side of the head exerting hardly any pressure. This loose fit can make them prone to slipping if you tilt your head too much. There is a little heat buildup from the pads but it's far from being uncomfortable.

Isolation/Leakage: If you're looking for a good headphone that will block out all surrounding noise this is not your choice. At my normal listening levels, which is low to mid volume, I can hear others talking around me though I can't pick up on what they are saying. Strangely enough leakage is less of an issue with these. They do leak a little mostly the higher notes but it wasn't enough to bother my roommates.

Portability: These are definitely not portable. They are quite large and cumbersome to transport. This coupled with the isolation/leakage of these cans makes for a very non-portable can.

Modding: Possibly the best thing about these is that they respond tremendously well to modifications. In particular the MarkL mod (for more information search the Head-Fi forums or go to [...]). Also look at J$ leather pads. At the moment, I have MarkL modded D7000 cups installed on my D2000s which in my opinion takes the sound to another level and adds some class as compared to the black D2000 cups.


Sound Quality: This is probably what you're most interested in so without further adieu.....
My current setup is PC>Nuforce uDac>Gilmore Lite. This is important to understand how my impressions were made.

The sound signature is laid back so if you're expecting an aggressive in your face sound look elsewhere.

Bass: The bass is nice and punchy. The bass is not the punchiest I've heard but it's far from being boomy. They have a bit more bass quantity than what I'd consider neutral but I never found it to be overbearing. If you so desire, the bass can be EQ'd to very high levels without distorting. The bass extension is incredible they go very low without dropping off much at all.

NOTE: Without a decent amp/dac the bass is boomy, a little overbearing, and not well defined. If you're playing this through your mp3 player or laptop you won't have a problem getting to high volume. However, its sound quality will not be at its full potential. Still listenable but an amp is highly recommended.

Mids: Not really a whole lot to say about the mids. They are probably the least impressive part of the D2000 sound. The mids are a little recessed but for me it was more of a minor annoyance than anything. A quick EQ can fix the problem fairly easily.

Highs: The highs are a bit elevated but not to the point of sibilance (smooth is a good word for them) in my case. I've found that they more or less represent the sibilance that was recorded into the track as I don't hear any exaggeration with voices.

Soundstage: The soundstage is great for a closed can. It feels natural but maybe a bit smaller than I'd like. With Jazz many recordings give you the impression that you are in a small nightclub with stone walls at a table in the corner.

Imaging/Detail: Imaging and details are pretty good. Again not as good as others in its price range (i.e. DT990) but good nonetheless. They do a pretty good job with FPS gaming and I can hear little things in the music that I couldn't before.

Speed: Speed is a bit hard to pick up on and understand. It's essentially how fast the attack and decay of the notes occurs. It's probably one of the hardest aspects of the sound to quantify. Anyway, here it goes....Speed-wise they tend to be on the slow side of things in regard to speed the notes linger a little longer than they should. It's not terribly noticeable as they aren't exactly lethargic just a little behind.

Fatigue: I can wear these for hours without any listening or comfort related fatigue.

The D2000 are great headphones for just about any musical genre. Frequency response is well balanced with plowing, authoritative bass, clean, smooth midrange (I cannot understand comments to the effect that the D2000 have "no mids"!) and detailed, extended highs. The D2000 have both an adroit quickness and a liquid smoothness, making them quite special to listen to.

While they do benefit extremely well from a good, dedicated headphone amplifier (I'm currently using the Bada PH-12 and Darkvoice 337 to excellent effect), the Denon can sound ridiculously satisfying straight from a Walkman, the 1/8" jack from a mini-component system (JVC C-220C) or A/V receiver (Denon AVR-1905).

The best, most versatile closed headphones I've ever tried, and one of the best headphones, period, that I've ever heard.