I’ve had these for about 12 years now. The rare Audio Techinca L3000 leather headphones. Were know to have the best bass at the time and have great rhythm and timing. Seemed to be a love it or hate it kind of headphone.
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If they are anything like mine, they are tough to drive and only really shine with exceptional amplification. They go against the more modern trend of being exceptionally easy to drive.
ATH-W5000
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I’ve never had trouble driving them except with a Meridian Explorer 2. Didn’t have enough of a dynamic sound and not much soundstage. Returned it right away.
I’ve used the matching DHA3000 amp, ifi idsd micro, Chord Hugo and Hugo 2. All had no issues at all.
The L3000 does not sound like any of the wooden ones. It has similar Audio Technica signature but the bass was much better than any of the other AT headphones I’ve heard. They also just came out with a new leather L5000 but reviews are saying they sound different from L3000 and bass not as good.
I didn’t end up going to the recent Cam Jan, so I haven’t gotten to hear them against the latest greatest headphones out there. At the time of got them I thought they were the best rock headphones I’ve heard.
Just read a review of the ATH-W5000 and they don’t seem anything like the L3000. The L3000 is a fun headphone that gets your feet tapping. The bass is deep and powerful and is first thing you notice. Also has a very precise soundstage that isn’t too big but gets you up close to the music. But the highs are not the most sparkly and some could find it muffled compared to other headphones. That’s why some people hated it.
Seems like the W5000 is the exact opposite. Review said bass was lean but had amazing highs. A great reference headphone. Don’t think anyone who heard the L3000 would call it that.
The bass is all there. But it took the THX AAA 789 amp for me to discover it. You have the AT amp, the other amp the W5000 is known to work well with.
Amir reviewed the Benchmark HPA4:
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It’s a much better, healthier past time as well. Since I found Roon I have spent many hours listening to music and wasting precious time on hi-fi when I could have been out in the fresh air with friends stacking up the Km’s on my roadie or MTB. Not saying that listening to music isn’t rewarding but in my eyes a cycling addiction is way better than a hi-fi addiction and Roon forum addiction. 
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But in the combination lies a lot of derived pleasure! 
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Happiness Equation:
(music 
+ Roon 
+ jazz + headphones 
) + bicycling 
= happiness
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I never really liked math so maybe that’s why I’m struggling with the equation a bit – but I see:
jazz <> music
Okay, so the parenthesis are to indicate that headphones and bicycling should not be used together. The music is there because it’s an essential key to happiness and the jazz is there, well because I love jazz. The Roon needs no explanation.
I hope that clears things up.
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I guess I got confused by the differentiation made between music and jazz. 
There is so much differentiation between music and jazz.
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“There is so much differentiation between music and jazz.”
ROFL, my dad would be turning in his grave to hear this.
It’s true though:
Listening to your favourite music = Happiness
Riding bikes = Happiness
But NOT together!
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My dear combo;
Denon AH-D5200 (with Beyerdynamic Connection Cable T1 2ND 1,4 m)
Chord Mojo & Poly
Inside: Burson Play with V6 Vivid Opamp (but this, I’m gonna sell, ’cause I never use it. Like Mojo/Poly more).
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My home office setup:
Meze Empyrean & Audeze LCD-XC Headphones,
connected by a Kimber Kable Axios-HB to…
Chord Hugo TT2 / MScaler fed by a Sonore Signature Rendu SE System Optique (w/optical ethernet). A Nucleus+ provides the music for this system and my whole house. I can also run a line feed off the Hugo TT2 to the Woo Audio WA6-SE (Gen 2) Tube Amp (with the 274B Sophia Mesh Plate Tube) if I want a bit warmer headphone sound and also power KEF LS50W Nocturne speakers off the TT2 / MScaler if I don’t want to listen to headphones.
AC electrical power for everything is filtered through a Shunyata Denali D200/T power conditioner and a HDPlex 200W LPS supplies DC power to the Mscaler.
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Nice Rig and cans Craig…great battlestation.
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Thanks! Definitely not portable…
But I have my A&K SP1000 for that…
Is this your tree house set up? 
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It’s summer and we all love to listen to good music in a hammock, don’t we?
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