Pros: isolation, highs
Cons: everything else
Coming from Senn PX200, I expected better highs and better bass. I was drawn towards this AKG due to recommendations on this forum.
Well, my experiences are less enthousiatic than those of most others.
Audio quality is 'not bad' at best, but in general there's always a honky bass covering up the rest of the music. A lot of people here praised the bass qualities, but to me, it's not real bass, it's somewhat higher up the frequency scale. It's where it's starting to honk.
Treble is not bad, but a little tinny, even scratchy sometimes.
Midrange is somewhat covered up by the bass, but may be the best part,
Comfort is just bad. Too much clamping force, no soft covering for the headband.
Cord is too long.for home use.
As soon as my wallet approves, I'm going for the new Senn PX200-II. I auditioned them recently alongside K518DJ and the only step back will be isolation. Comfort and sound quality is better than the previous version of PX200 and certainly better than these AKG's.
Streatch them and they become more comfy. Hold the metal band in your hands and streatch it out, pressing on the middle with your thumbs, dont over do it otherwise you may break the headband. After all this tell me what you think. The highs are not tinny at all, bass isnt very boomy, you can also try the blu tak mod. All this is in my AKG K81/518 DJ/LE thread.
You could always follow randomkids advice in stretching the headband out. On the pair I got for my wife, I stretched the headband out over a box with about the same size as a human head. I also bought a spare Sennheiser HD25 headband pad (http://images.junostatic.com/full/IS425399-01-01-BIG.jpg) and glued it to the headband of the K518LE. The result is a much more comfortable headphone, with SQ that is just slightly below that of the three times as expensive HD25...
- tried different EQ's and eventually stuck with reducing bass, which in some way is defeating the purpose of buying them in the first place, but I prefer this to that upper bass rise;
- I've done the stretching and it certainly helped in reducing the pressure on my ears.Problem is, the headband now rests with more force on the top of my head, even though I use the largest setting (maybe my ears are too low?);
- I've removed (and replaced) the foam inlays, which, to me didn't do that much basswise, only raising the 'scratchiness' a little;
- don't get me wrong; I still gave these three stars, because I agree that they are not too shabby for their price. I just wanted to lower the expectations for future buyers a little, so they won't be as disappointed as I was.I think the Sennheiser PX 200II, which are more or less the same price, look less cheap
- I'm familiar with HD25 which to me, sounds a lot more mature with real bass where it's supposed to be. However, to my ears they suffer from the same 'scratchiness' in the upper highs. I wish I could explain this better. When I said tinny, I meant that literally. It's like a tweeter with a aluminum dome in an overly bright speaker. It's as if the diafragm is made of metal (which as far as I know is not the case);
- I'm considering the blutak mod.
I'd definitely describe the HD25 as more balanced than the K518, but with the foams removed the K518 becomes pretty balanced. You can hear that there are mids, for example.
Anyway, my wife is amazed with the sound. But she was coming from iPod buds and some sort of "cute" earbuds that sounded 10 times worse than iPod earbuds...
What I really would like is the sound and comfort of W1000, the portability of PX200, the bass of Beyerdynamic DT880, the air of HD800 and the isolation of these K518DJ. Is that too much to ask?
In my hunt for the ultimate portal headphone, I'm considering buying the ATH-ES10.
If you look at my gear you will see that I already have too many headphones. But it is a sort of addiction. I'm also an earbud collector, and my favorites (so far) are the ATH-CM700TI, which have a very detailed and at the same time laid back sound. And a great soundstage. But as with most earbuds, they do not have much bass...
This is an expensive hobby!
How does the PX200II compare to the AKG K430?
Randomkid, which velour earpads did you use? I am looking for velour earpads for some other headphones.
Im still using my K518 everyday, with the velours. Very good for the price (still havent had funds to upgrade, and these are keepers even if i upgrade)
hope you find the pads. (mine are red, look really good with the all black K518 DJ)
regards