After trying to swap cables and playing with an assortment of tips I've decided to return mine. I'm pretty sure I received a defective set. The connector on one of mine is pretty loose, and after swapping cables it was still loose, so it's on the IEM side. I also noticed that the threads for...

I was all set to purchase a pair of Grado's but I'm reading they're not the most comfortable set of headphones. I have a few pairs of decent quality over the ear headphones, but they're beginning to hurt my jaw, so I'm in the market for something extremely comfortable, preferably open-backed...

Is the connector supposed to be this loose? The right side is tight, the left swivels very easily.

Well, the S8 is basically a DAP. I can test my Ipad as well I suppose, but at this point I don't see a reason too. I really only use headphones for watching movies. I'll occasionally listen to music, but always through my PC.

I've tested enough devices to conclude it's not the source. Schiit combo, DSS, Focusrite 6i6, Galaxy S8, Laptop, Sounblaster Z. If I need to use anything else at that point it's just not worth it.

I don't find the HD800 too congested, but I don't think it's as open sounding as I like. I love my AKG K712's, and before that I liked the K702's, which aren't even very expensive. I'm getting hiss on my schiit combo, my DSS, and Soundblaster Z when it's at 0 volume. I'm hearing hiss with...

Starting to think maybe I got a defect

Ah, little too expensive for me for just a cable, thanks though. As for the congestion, when I used the foam tips which doesn't create a perfect seal the sound is much better. It has that openness that I like. When I create a seal the bass and mids become muddy. It makes sense that it would.

What cord do you suggest? I'm willing to try that, and try more tips. Personally, I don't think a better seal would help. I have a good seal now and it just sounds more congested. I think I'd prefer a shorter version of the blue foam tips that came with it.

I admit a lack of experience with IEMs and so my expectations may have been bigger than they should have, but I can't help that they're not impressing me as much as I'd hoped. I'm not a fan of the HD650, and if I had to choose I'd take these over them. Even the HD800's don't do it for me...

I come from using mainly full sized headphones, which don't usually have problems with hissing, so I'm used to dead silent headphones and these were very noticeable. The sound to me sounds very high output. That kind of hiss you'd expect if you had your AMP to max volume. There were three...

So far I've tested through a Schiit Modi / Vali combo, a DSS 7.1 headphone amp, a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6, straight to my laptop, straight to my Galaxy S8, and straight to my PCs Sounblaster Z. I do notice that one side of the cables swivel more freely than the other. Can't see how that would...

I don't have different cables to test, but if I'm so far the only one experiencing hissing with the stock cables is it possible that I received a bad set? As for the tips, I tried several others I had laying around, including a doubled flange set, went back to test the ones that came with it...

Yeah, I see what you're saying, and I think that's the same problem I'm having. I rotated them around I can tell they sound amazing, but they won't stay in that position. The tips won't stay in my ears and the rotated position that fits me best doesn't allow the earhooks to hold them in place...

I just received my A5's, having never tried the A4's. I'm hearing a massive amount of hissing. Even with the volume to 0 the hissing is incredibly loud. I switched from DAC to directly into laptop and the hissing is just as loud, albeit it the volume needs to be up until the music is audible...

  Yeah, I figured they'd alter the sound.  I contacted AKG a couple of months ago and I was told $44.44 per cushion plus tax and shipping, which would put it at $100+.  About the same as Fullcompass.  It's pretty insane.  $100 for ear pads.  They're memory foam, but they're not actually ALL...

  Hi, AKG Fanboy, yes, I know they're not the originals.  I had said in my post that I know these are not memory foam, nor original, which is why I called them generic, and which is why I'm curious to know if anyone has purchased them, and how they are. 

Wondering if any of you have experience with the generic cushions/ear pads selling on Ebay for the K712's.   Specifically...

  Way to resurrect a year old thread to post that.  Do you often like telling people what they should and shouldn't like?    I've actually been getting really nice surround sound using a DSS with stereo headphones (K712).

Do you happen to know what needs to be done to the lowly Z?

It's too bad there's no way to increase "distance" with SBX.  Though the surround and sound quality are OKAY after EQ'ing, it's just drilling a hole in my head.  I'd like the audio to surround me, rather than pound me in the head.  I've experience that surround with distance from having played...

  Well, my Modi / Vali combo sits here unused as masterwu predicted, but it's solely because I want surround sound, and for that I'm connected directly to a Soundblaster Z.  The Modi / Vali sound great though.  I upgraded from the Q701 to the K712, but they both sound great through the setup.

  Actually, it came to $2.30.   I'm in California... it was $12 before I clicked on Estimated Shipping, and entered my zip.  

  Nice price!  Thanks for the link.  $2.50 shipping for me makes it even better.   Looks like he's using 100V caps. 

  Ah, gotcha... I was confused.    I'll have to try this with the SBZ, 12uF caps are a bit difficult to find for a decent price.  I doubt I have anything I could salvage them from.