Official K-81 DJ thread

[BigD]

Originally Posted by dvallere

Might I just add that piano music sounds stellar on these? As if I'm lying on the piano!

Yes I notice that too. Very strange for piano to sound this good when there's a recessed midrange sympton. Whatever it is I was pleasantly surprised. As for the guitar/drum, these AKGs kick ass. Very electric, live and intimate for rock. No veil what so ever and very forward vocal. Thinking about 3-5 row in theatre.

Quite interesting to find out how much better K181 is over K81...I have to say K81 is the best closed cans I've tried so far under $100.

[coollungman]

It seems that K81 DJ is a really good pair of closed cans. I wonder how does it perform comparing to some other more expensive closed cans like A500/A700/A900. I am planning to buy a pair of closed cans for office use. I currently own K501. While I like them a lot but they leak too much. I have listened to A700 borrowed from my colleague and don't like them much. The bass is strong but not tight. And the mid seems to be too recessed for my taste.

Has anyone owned K81 and any of the A500/A700/A900 together ? I would appreciate if anyone can help me to compare them.

[elrod-tom]

Originally Posted by BigD

I have to say K81 is the best closed cans I've tried so far under $100.

I'll go one better than that - it's the best set of cans I've heard for less than $100...a great value IMHO.

I'll probably use mine mostly at work, and will likely start using my K26P as workout cans. I know that markl thinks that the K81DJ are good workout cans, but I just can't bring myself to wear them while exercising.

[BigD]

Originally Posted by elrod-tom

I'll go one better than that - it's the best set of cans I've heard for less than $100...a great value IMHO.

I'll probably use mine mostly at work, and will likely start using my K26P as workout cans. I know that markl thinks that the K81DJ are good workout cans, but I just can't bring myself to wear them while exercising.

That's a BIG statement. As for a great value, I couldn't agree more. These K81 are far from perfect, but it's nearly impossible to find fons like these at these generous price. Now 200 hours, the fons are settling with minimal honky closed can sound and pronounced vocals.

Me too. These dj fons are mainly for office use. They don't look dorky at all. Actually many people thought these look pretty nice. And I work in a design firm, so I do have approvals from experts in beauty business.

Really love the rubber coat paint on these cans. This attribute would make these a nice work out cans. Very durable and scratch proof and no slippery.

[sionghchan]

Originally Posted by elrod-tom

I'll go one better than that - it's the best set of cans I've heard for less than $100...a great value IMHO.

Oh WOW...that's a HUGE endorsement! This would mean that you are saying that this is even better than the SR60 and the MS1s! Are you sure? Do you need to re-think this?

[bizkid]

Originally Posted by sionghchan

Oh WOW...that's a HUGE endorsement! This would mean that you are saying that this is even better than the SR60 and the MS1s! Are you sure? Do you need to re-think this?

Hi! I'm not the original poster but i recently got the K81 too and i'm very very surprised with them. And this comes from a guy who usually hates closed phones! Most of them including HD25-1 do absolutely nothing for me, but the K81 does many things right. First the soundstage is very enjoyable, it has a little from the ksc75 inhead sound and the px100 relaxed soundstage, the HD25-1 sounded too closed in for my taste. Also the k81 got nice mids, a little recessed but a slight eq helps here, also im sure more burn in will help it (mine got 10 hours). Definately more and better mids than the HD25-1 has. The Bass is a little overdone but it already improved during burnin, ill see how far it can improve with more. The treble is a little on the warm side of neutral with normal listening levels but turning up helps it The HD25-1 treble was a horrible torture and my pair had over 100 hours on it and an OFC cable.

IMO the HD25-1 is overrated here, the reason it exists at its price is because a closed rugged headphone with easily exchangeable parts is demanded by TV or Movie Productions, Industry, Airlines (i even saw Pilots with them) and so on... I dont see any reason why you should buy them for music listening, especially when you look at the price.

The only things it does better than the K81 is:

Tight Bass
Comfort (only with velour pads, stock pads are actually worse than stock k81 ones)
All parts exchangeable

Thats not much if you ask me...

K81 does better (for 100$ less):

soundstage
mids
highs
very coherent sound


When i had the HD25-1 i even prefered to listen with my PX100 over it, now i prefer the K81 easily over the PX100. Its been some time since i heard a SR60 but it beats them easily too i think. Dont forget that in the end it's still a matter of taste and not "better" or "worse"

A small comparison to the PX100:

PX100 sounds muffled and less refined than the K81. When coming back to PX100 from K81, electric guitars and other things in mids sound very veiled. The K81 has some of the grado punch and mids but with an akg touch and a px100 like soundstage for instruments placed outside of the middle.
If that makes any sense

Anyway i like what i hear alot, i think my other sub 100$ cans will definately go, i dont see a reason to keep them.

[okay_player]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Why did purolator have to lose my pair of k81's?!?!! I keep reading all these favourable replies and it's driving me insane... I should have had these cans two weeks ago!!!

/rant

[markl]

Just posting a link to my K81DJ review so it's in this thread, too.

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=168073

[bizkid]

Originally Posted by markl

Just posting a link to my K81DJ review so it's in this thread, too.

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=168073

Hi markl, just like you i got the K81 without big expectations, i needed a closed can to use it rarely and didnt want to pay much since i'm not a friend of closed heapphones. The HD25-1 turned me off big time, it made me stay away from closed headphones until now. Now i got a can which will probably replace all my other sub 100$ phones.

Sure there is better, but the mixture of what the K81 offers is great, especially considering the price. After the KSC-75/35 this seems the next best bargain in headphones to me.


@siongchan, i just listened to a friends ms-1 again today and while its better at rock still, the K81 is clearly the better all-around headphone. And it's great for rock too Much better than the PX100 for example.

[atomic]

Originally Posted by elrod-tom

I'll go one better than that - it's the best set of cans I've heard for less than $100...a great value IMHO.

I'll probably use mine mostly at work, and will likely start using my K26P as workout cans. I know that markl thinks that the K81DJ are good workout cans, but I just can't bring myself to wear them while exercising.

Hey, elrod-tom, I would love to hear some K26P/K81 comparisons if you feel like it. I'm considering the K81 as an upgrade from the K26P, and I'm especially curious about the level of isolation and comfort the K81 offers compared to the K26P, as well as sound quality of course. Thanks!

[goldenratiophi]

I have been constantly researching headphones since December, and today I was really tempted to get the AKG 26P's until I read posts saying how terrible the sound was. I've been considering the SR60's, but they look REALLY ugly and I heard that they are only good for rock; terrible for classical. Plus, I need a little bit of isolation; I had some crap-phones at school today and I could barely hear the music, and I didn't want to make the volume any louder. These may just be the starter headphones for me (plus Amazon has them 5 cents cheaper than the Grados ). I hope to hear more about them.

By the way - How is the soundstage on these?

[jumpinjohn1234]

So are people pretty much stating that the K81 Dj is better than the grado sr60?
If thats the case I might just go with the K81 instead of the sr60s? Any people that might know first hand?

[markl]

I'm automatically biased against Grados, I don't like their house sound; so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Yes, the K81DJ is way way ahead of any Grado!

[BigD]

Originally Posted by jumpinjohn1234

So are people pretty much stating that the K81 Dj is better than the grado sr60?
If thats the case I might just go with the K81 instead of the sr60s? Any people that might know first hand?

I had both headphones for awhile. I have to say par in terms of sound quality. I think SR60 has better bass and mids, but I NEVER like their shrill highs and lack of instructment position. The AKG is better in mid to high band with nice decay feel to it.

Moreover in the fit, finish, material, and comfort area the AKG edges out SR60easy. Plus its portability and closed can nature edges out the Grado again. There you have my quick answer.

[Disiskurt]

Do the K 81's fit around the neck ok? I've already heard that the K 181's don't, but wasn't sure if there's a size difference in the cups. I've been looking for a cheaper alternative to the Senn 25-1's (not incl. 25-SP,) and there's surprisingly little options around here.