Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 5, 2008 15:26:51 GMT
Well, we have all seen a lot of comments regarding personal preference for the HD600 over Sennheiser's HD650s & I've seen some reviews exalting the superiority of the RS-1's over Grado's latest flagships, the GS1000. Now I find that there's a group of people preferring AKG K501's over K701's. www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/akg-k501-k701-worthy-upgrade-220758/Maybe the latest isn't always the greatest?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 5, 2008 15:40:57 GMT
They just don't have the designers these days Nigel! K-701 probably designed by a 17 year old on a computer (joking) I have yet to hear them but really do love the K-501 myself.
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Post by dc on Feb 6, 2008 2:31:42 GMT
I have both the K701 and the K501. Overall the K701 is the better sounding can, w/ better bass and overall presentation. However the mids in the K501 are fantastic and since I paid half as much for my K501 as I did for the K701 they are a major bargain. Yeah in possession of both myself and both great cans, however my noggin is pretty large and the stock K501 pads don't sit right on my head Try the K701 pads on the K501, WoW! Much better in comfort (for me) and IMO brings the sound to another level, IMHO on par if not better than the K701
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 7, 2008 0:03:54 GMT
You rate the K501 as a decent match with the Green Solo if I remember correctly?
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leo
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Post by leo on Feb 7, 2008 0:15:28 GMT
K701's sound fine here, I'd imagine they'd sound nasty if your source was not up to the job Listening to a pair of AT A900's too
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 7, 2008 0:27:00 GMT
You rate the K501 as a decent match with the Green Solo if I remember correctly? K-501 + Solo + Headphone Nirvana...... I have always maintained this stance and stick by it.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 9, 2008 19:57:28 GMT
I bought a second hand pair of AKG K501's the other day to try with my Green Solo.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 9, 2008 20:21:20 GMT
I bought a second hand pair of AKG K501's the other day to try with my Green Solo. and?..........................
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 9, 2008 23:50:12 GMT
Ok. I've been after the AKG K501 for a couple of weeks now after reading such posts as the following. Asr (Headphoneus Supremus) wrote, "Looks like we both thought the same thing - the first thought thing I did upon hearing the K501 was checking to make sure it was the K501 and not my SR225. It really is a lot like a Grado, only not as forward and sharp. Who would've guessed AKG could make a rock can?" PinkFloyd wrote, "K-501 + Solo + Headphone Nirvana...... I have always maintained this stance and stick by it." Mrarroyo wrote, "With the Green Solo I found the AKG K501 and the ATH-W1000 to have great synergy and sound fantastic. Next would be the AKG K701, Equation Eartools RP21, and perhaps a wood Grado." Now, these guys I have respect for. They have heard a lot of headphones & when they pass opinion, I tend to listen. I love the Grado SR-225's with the Green Solo, fab combination that makes real music. The only problem, after a listening session, say a couple of hours, my ears start to ring. Over the last five years, listening exclusively to headphones, I've probably damaged my hearing anyway. I realize that but when your ears start ringing, even lasting a few hours after finishing listening to music, you gotta be careful. So I decided to check out the K501's. I won a pair on ebay for £60. The guy listed them as mint condition, only been used once. The bad points, no original box, no 6.3mm jack plug, it has the standard 3.5mm so I have to plug it into an adaptor, & the pads stink of cigarette smoke. Apart from that, they really don't look like they've ever been used. Looking at available information, I have an older pair, the bass lite version. Some initial thoughts, & this is without any breaking in period. Incidentally, I burnt my Grado SR-225's in for 1000 hrs. over a seven week period! Better than those K340's. Where did the bass player go to? Crap chord, looks like the cable on my PMX-100's. Very neutral sounding, more neutral then my HD650's? Not as much fun as the warm, rich & vibrant Grado's. Sinatra doesn't seem to swing. Huge soundstage width but flat, lacking depth. Oh no! It has those elastic bands, the same type the AKG K340 had, the one's that always stretch & you can never get the correct replacements for. Comfortable, easily more comfortable than the Grado's. On a par with the Senns but the cushion pads don't feel as nice as the Senn's velour on the old noggin'. How on earth do you get inside the headphone to see the cable connections? Wonder if Mike can rewire this? Vocals sound amazing. Piano sounds very realistic, as do cymbals but the rest of the drum kit belongs to Grado. Very transparent, doesn't impose as much of a sonic signature as the other two headphones, or maybe it does but I haven't sussed it as yet. Surprisingly, more difficult to drive than the Senns. At last the Solo's volume control is getting some use. Have to be careful I don't listen too loud to over compensate for a lack of bass power. I then tried the Grado bowl tape mod, half bowl appeared to sound best, subjectively deeper, punchier bass now. Frank is swinging again. This is all starting to sound very good................. And with threads appearing like this one today, www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/straight-dope-k501-vs-k701-comparison-294601/You better all get your K501's pretty damn quick.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 10, 2008 12:29:13 GMT
A present for Nigel Click to view full size.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 10, 2008 12:31:25 GMT
Simple...... peel off the K-501 stickers to reveal the screw 22 as shown in the exploded diagram.... Karl Peschel at AKG will send you new stickers FOC if you ask him nicely though you should be able to re use the existing stickers if you're careful when removing them. Mike.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 10, 2008 12:48:05 GMT
Cheers Mike. I've had a look, it won't be easy removing the sticker without damaging it. I'll leave it for now.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 10, 2008 13:35:50 GMT
Cheers Mike. I've had a look, it won't be easy removing the sticker without damaging it. I'll leave it for now. Hairdryer mate. Warm the label and peel it off, it will come off no bother at all (it's actually quite a thick label) park the labels on a piece of polythene or greasproof paper to stop the sticky side getting dust on it. It's really not a hard job mate. I have a couple of K-501 labels kicking about I will look them out. Best bet is: "Dear Karl, My 5 year old son picked the labels off my K-501 and I am wondering where I can source two new labels? Nigel" "Dear Nigel, Sorry to hear about this two new labels are in the post for you. Karl"
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 10, 2008 13:52:05 GMT
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leo
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Post by leo on Feb 10, 2008 14:17:56 GMT
Cheers Mike. I've had a look, it won't be easy removing the sticker without damaging it. I'll leave it for now. Hairdryer mate. Warm the label and peel it off, it will come off no bother at all (it's actually quite a thick label) park the labels on a piece of polythene or greasproof paper to stop the sticky side getting dust on it. It's really not a hard job mate. I have a couple of K-501 labels kicking about I will look them out. Best bet is: "Dear Karl, My 5 year old son picked the labels off my K-501 and I am wondering where I can source two new labels? Nigel" "Dear Nigel, Sorry to hear about this two new labels are in the post for you. Karl" Crafty bugger seems like my K701's have circular grills over the cable connections, I might whip em off and have a look
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FauDrei
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Post by FauDrei on Feb 11, 2008 11:59:43 GMT
Any tip on how to "dismantle" a K701? I do know how to "unscrew" the pads, but more than that...
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Post by joelongwood on Feb 12, 2008 12:04:32 GMT
I watched this video, up to the point when the guy stated that "circumaural" meant that the sound from the headphones went "all around your head." In fact, the term "circumaural" means "around the ear," and has nothing to do with the sound, but with the way the pad encircles your ear. It's obvious this guy wouldn't have a hard time finding a job at Best Buy.......he'd fit right in.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 12, 2008 19:57:12 GMT
I replaced the cable on the K501's with Van Damme cable, already attached to a 6.3mm Neutrik plug. It certainly sounded different, to my ears unfortunately for the worse. Perceived/Imagined differences were, fuller, darker sound with marginally more bass. Soundstage depth increased, soundstage width decreased. Left speaker seemed more prominent than the right. In the end I replaced with the old cable.
Whilst replacing the old cable I dropped a tiny ball of solder in the driver housing. I could hear the ball moving around but it just wouldn't come out of the aperture. I had to take the whole thing completely apart to get it out! If you look at Mike's schematic diagram it was stuck between part 7 & 8. I managed it but my hands are sweating just thinking about it. So, the whole exercise was completely pointless in the end. Renewed respect for those DIY guys though. (Pink/leo/Rick/Sandy/dc etc.)
I've ordered some spare parts,
Two new cushions - £12.42 Two new rubber loops - £3.26 Two K501 faceplate stickers - £1.46 One AKG screw on 6.3mm adapter - £1.86
I don't need the pads & loops but I thought I'd try & get some anyway. (I bet they come back with loops out of stock).
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 12, 2008 20:10:17 GMT
Oh bollocks Nigel, sounds like you've been having fun mate! When it gets to the stage your hands are sweating you know something isn't going quite as planned When blobs of solder disappear into the depths of a headphone enclosure then things are definitely not going to plan ;D Glad you managed to get in and out without totally destroying them Nigel.... I'll never forget the time when the screwdriver ripped the Senn HD-25 diaphragm, whoops! that was deffo not a sensible move on my part considering screwdrivers are attracted to magnets ;D
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2008 21:59:23 GMT
Rather like having a screwdriver slip when screwing in an expensive woofer, and the screwdriver blade going through the butyl rubber surround.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2008 23:49:35 GMT
Yes, is there a way to get at the K-701's cord?
John
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Post by dc on Feb 13, 2008 1:52:32 GMT
fuller, darker sound with marginally more bass. Interesting, that's exactly what I thought about the van damme interconnects when placed in my system. And it wasn't just by a small amount too.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 14, 2008 19:28:14 GMT
joe,
In your signature it says,
Speakers that "jump out at you" are usually lacking in the long run. Give me speakers that are neutral to the point of being boring. Almost boring. That's where the gold is.
Now, although this is a view I wouldn't necessary subscribe to, I was wondering if you would apply this way of thinking with regard to headphones as well.
Cheers.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 14, 2008 20:20:55 GMT
joe, In your signature it says, Speakers that "jump out at you" are usually lacking in the long run. Give me speakers that are neutral to the point of being boring. Almost boring. That's where the gold is. Now, although this is a view I wouldn't necessary subscribe to, I was wondering if you would apply this way of thinking with regard to headphones as well. Cheers. I totally agree with that statement, I spent way too many years back and forth to Tottenham Court Road, London always coming home with the speakers that instantly jumped out and grabbed me by the balls in the dem room. I was never satisfied when I got them home as, after a while, they began to shout at me instead of sing at me. It was quite by chance I came home with a pair of monitor audio MA14 gold one day.... the guy in the shop refused to refund me on a pair of JBL coffins and insisted I either take a credit note or choose something else. I didn't like the sound of the MA14 in the shop at all, they sounded plain boring to my young ears and looked even more boring. My mate Steve was with me and he said "give them a go I like the sound of them" so I did...... home on the bus with them and installed them into position. Jesus these things were fantastic compared to the speakers that grabbed you by the balls.... I actually managed to live with them for about 3 years (a record!) and loved them to bits. I think what Joe is probably saying is don't be quick to buy the gear that jumps out at you.... fine in the short listen but when you get them home expect them to shout at you like a nagging woman.... buy in haste repent at leisure and not all that grabs you in the balls will make love to your ears.
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Feb 26, 2008 12:00:19 GMT
Talking about the AKG cable, from the Stefan AudioArt web page,
< The Stock Cable Shortcomings: The AKG stock wiring design sends the right channel through the two plastic coated solid steel headband wires and then uses high gauge chassis wires to complete the path to the + and - driver posts. This degrades the right (and left) channel signal path and forces the right channel signal to travel about 22" further. As for the AKG stock cable itself, the high gauge wire and the thick rubber/plastic dielectric decreases the bass response, flattens the sound-stage and veils the audio spectrum. >
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