AKG K-550
Jun 30, 2013 22:20:45 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2013 22:20:45 GMT
Right, I've had some serious time with these now.
I purchased them "as new, second hand". They were immaculate on arrival and showed no reaction at all to run in time. Either they just don't need it or the previous owner had done that part already.
I've tried them on most of the equipment I have and they perform at least respectably well on anything amplified. Straight out of a portable device is not good though but, of course, they are not intended for that.
They are easily the best closed type headphones I've had the pleasure of trying. No boxyness, no over blown bass and don't suffer from that at-your-ears-only type presentation.
They have a reasonably even handed response across the frequency range, nothing stands out too much and nothing is lacking either. Unless you happen to be a bass head! If there is deep bass in the music you will hear it, if the bass has been poorly recorded you'll here that.
The obvious comparison is against their own K701. These I now only use the AK-Aclass head'amp, it's the only amp that seems to grab them by the short 'n' curlies and squeeze hard!
Comparing the two on this amp the K701 is obviously more open, carries more detail and has better separation and presents a larger sense of scale. The K550 is more an all-rounder, leaning towards the 701 type of presentation. On the flip side the K550 fairs better on a wider range of amplifiers that the 701 would become fatiguing on.
The only conundrum with these is; they are a closed headphone that you can use in a noisy area or stop creating noise in a quiet one. The isolation both ways is quite good. BUT, if you wear glasses and want to watch/read at the same time your stuffed. The seal is very sensitive on these, the tiniest kink in that armor and the whole sound falls apart, making them sound extremely poor.
Sit back for total involvement or with a tipple, put your specs aside and enjoy.
In conclusion they are a very good headphone, comfort is good as long you sit the headband dead-flat to the top of your head. They are super fussy of positioning on your head for best sound but are worth getting right.
I would like to use them more than I do but the glasses thang is a bit of a pain.
I purchased them "as new, second hand". They were immaculate on arrival and showed no reaction at all to run in time. Either they just don't need it or the previous owner had done that part already.
I've tried them on most of the equipment I have and they perform at least respectably well on anything amplified. Straight out of a portable device is not good though but, of course, they are not intended for that.
They are easily the best closed type headphones I've had the pleasure of trying. No boxyness, no over blown bass and don't suffer from that at-your-ears-only type presentation.
They have a reasonably even handed response across the frequency range, nothing stands out too much and nothing is lacking either. Unless you happen to be a bass head! If there is deep bass in the music you will hear it, if the bass has been poorly recorded you'll here that.
The obvious comparison is against their own K701. These I now only use the AK-Aclass head'amp, it's the only amp that seems to grab them by the short 'n' curlies and squeeze hard!
Comparing the two on this amp the K701 is obviously more open, carries more detail and has better separation and presents a larger sense of scale. The K550 is more an all-rounder, leaning towards the 701 type of presentation. On the flip side the K550 fairs better on a wider range of amplifiers that the 701 would become fatiguing on.
The only conundrum with these is; they are a closed headphone that you can use in a noisy area or stop creating noise in a quiet one. The isolation both ways is quite good. BUT, if you wear glasses and want to watch/read at the same time your stuffed. The seal is very sensitive on these, the tiniest kink in that armor and the whole sound falls apart, making them sound extremely poor.
Sit back for total involvement or with a tipple, put your specs aside and enjoy.
In conclusion they are a very good headphone, comfort is good as long you sit the headband dead-flat to the top of your head. They are super fussy of positioning on your head for best sound but are worth getting right.
I would like to use them more than I do but the glasses thang is a bit of a pain.