Either you are confused or I was. I don't like Audio Technicas in general, but I've never heard the L3000s. You may have read me saying that the R10 sucks... and if so, I should probably qualify that. It doesn't *suck*, but I was expecting more given the cost. Even on a SDS-XLR with tubes chosen specifically for the R10 I preferred my K340s. That said, this is all under meet conditions [the first national] so it should be taken with a grain of salt.