Pulled the trigger on a secondhand K500
It was, except for the elastics ofcourse, in good condition.
The AKG K500 is an old model that has been out of production for a long time and succeeded by the K501.
It has an impedance of 120 Ohm, efficiency of 94 dB/mW and a frequency range: 15 to 35,000 Hz but this seems to be given @-10dB cut-off points.
The frequency range @ -3dB is 50Hz to 19kHz.
If you can read this site or find something in comparing graphs:
goldenears.net/board/44587Between 50 Hz and 4kHz it's flat and smooth with a tendency to be sloping upwards from 1kHz to 12khz.
This makes it a very detailed and airy sounding set of cans but because there is no extension in the lowest frequencies it also lacks some serious bass.
In most music there isn't a lot of signal present below 50 Hz and at 35Hz it's only 5dB down compared to the midrange.
Most headphones that are perceived as full-bodied, however, have a small boost of 5dB or so.
Compared to the K500 this adds to the impression that the K500 is bass shy.
It is, but not to the point you really miss much in acoustic music or jazz e.t.c.
Only when you compare it to headphones that are better in the lows it becomes painfully obvious.
The midrange is excellent and detailed/airy and the highs are not exaggerated or sibilant at lower listening levels but because they are slightly elevated opposite the mids makes it sound realistic but a tad leaning towards bright very detailed when driven from a low output resistance source.
The source is rather important for these headphones.
Firstly they are 120 Ohm and not very efficient so they are not driven properly directly out of a portable DAP.
They need a higher voltage than what's supplied by portable equipment to play loud enough for some detailed listening.
They do NOT need a lot of power or a powerful amp, just one that can deliver enough voltage.
That said another aspect of this headphone pops up.
It isn't really designed to play very loud and gets a glare or even shouty at higher levels.
Before one says ! Amp is at fault I can say for certain that this happened with various amps at around the same level. A level where the amps in question do not even come near it's clipping level and other headphones that are connected to the same amp sound loud but still good.
So when drive from a low output resistance amp it is quite bass shy and must not be driven to play loud by punishment of getting shouty and coarser sounding.
This is caused by the sloping frequency characteristic and lack of bass.
Fortunately this headphone improves in these aspects when driven from a high Ohmic source.
In this case also 120 Ohm, similar to it's own impedance but has nothing to do with matching but with voltage division.
On a 120 Ohm source the bass quantity improves a tiny bit and gains 'warmth'.
The biggest differences are found in the highs though.
The headphones mellow out and become more comfortable for longer listening sessions.
The slightly upwards sloping frequency response gets evened out and is more realistic.
The K500 can also play a bit louder now before turning coarser but to do this the amplifier needs to have even more voltage swing capabilities.
Comfort is very good and even the pads on this old headphone are still in good condition.
Only the elastic bands that pull down the headband were not elastic anymore and needed replacement. This is quite easy to do fortunately.
A very good and realistic sounding and comfortable headphone that performs better from an amplifier with a high output resistance (to my ears) but has more 'spunk' on a lower resistance amplifier..
Not very suited to play very loud nor for bass heads.
But on lower listening levels with piano, jazz, basic or acoustic music it is a seriously good sounding headphone.
Not very suited for Rock, Pop and Electronic music for me so hardly a 'universal' headphone that does all well.
It will definitely not beat the better headphones out there, nor was it ever intended to, but performs well in certain aspects with certain music.
These headphones will most likely be most appealing to owners that like:
Audio Technica ATH-AD300/500/700, Grado line-up, Beyerdynamic DT880 fans e.t.c. If they want something that is different and has less comfort issues than AT and Grado range but don't wander off to far from things like airiness, details nor like fat bass.
Pros:
very realistic and natural sound.
Good 'sound-stage' and very open, airy detailed without sibilance.
Very comfortable, light-weight and not 'hot' on the ears.
Nice looks.
Very good for lower listening levels for long periods of time.
Good for acoustic music.
Cable is low in microphonics
Cons:
lacks deep bass / bass extension.
not suited for all music genres.
Can't play very loud and gets coarse sounding.
Needs an amplifier, cannot be driven loud enough from portable equipment.
Glasses make squeaky sounds when rubbing against the pads.
Q701 next on the list...