I got an AKG K1000 from HeadRoom during their recent sale, and decided to buy them
after reading reviews by Head-Fi members shivohum, sturob, holderlin, and Jan Meier.
Fantastic reviews, absolutely fantastic headphones, and I am grateful for their guidance.
The K1000 blows away my HD600 and Grado 325, and I think that it’ll leave most other
headphones way way back in the dust. The sound of the K1000 is enormously spacious,
transparent, and detailed. It’s really like listening to a live performance, rather than
listening to/through cans. I briefly used Antique Sound Lab.(ASL) AV-8 (The Wave)
tube mini mono block amps to drive these headphones, and the sound seemed great.
These amps cost approx. $100 each. But, aiming for the ultimate, I am now considering
getting ASL’s MGSi15DT or AQ1005DTI integrated amps., but it’s a tough decision
because of cost. Any suggestions? Right now I’m driving the K1000 with a Sony
GX909ES solid state receiver, and the sound is wonderful. Sound got still better when I
installed DiMarzio cables which I just got today. Sorry if I offended anyone (e.g., HD600
and Grado users), but I wanted to spread the word regarding the K1000. I also need
advice regarding suggested amps to drive this headphone.

Mike, I am very offended that you like another headphone better than a headphone I own. Please in the future refrain from saying things that may be interpretted as negative about equipment that I own or am planning to purchase.

Seriously Mike, there are those kind of people among but I don't think you owe 'em an apology.

One thing I keep wondering about is pairing the K1000 with the McCormack Micro Integrated Drive, which is no longer made. Steve McCormack offers an upgraded outboard power supply that bumps the MID up to a full 10 watts/channel. This is tempting for me because I just think there's something cool about having a dedicated headphone amp that can drive both the K1000 and other headphones. Anyway, MIDs go for about $500 on the used market when you find them--they sold for around $800 when they were new. Unfortunately, Nick untimely parted with his K1000 before I had a chance to hook it up to my MID and I don't know how well they're matched first hand, though I've been told good things.

The MID is fast, detailed and smooth so I'd hope it to be a good match. It seems that the K1000 owners aren't particularly fond of the headphone with tube amps. I'm not sure whether this is an actual mismatch or if the K1000 owners just don't tend to care for what people call a "tubey" sound.

Please keep us posted on whatever amp you decide on, Mike.

Thanks for your response and suggestions. I'm really sorry if I offended anyone, but I was very anxious to get the word out about these remarkable headphones, now that their price is in line with that of other commonly used and discussed headphones. Although I will look for used MIDs, I would prefer my amp to be new (i.e., no doubts about performance). I'll try to do some meaningful testing with the Wave 8s, using a Grado RA-1 as "preamp." in order to have volume control. I'm also still struggling with the idea of spending up to $1.8K for a good tube amp., but that's a bit too much $ for now. As for tubey sound, if it means warming the coloration of sound, that may not be all bad. I'll see. Right now I'm using a solid state home theater type of receiver (Sony GX909ES), and the sound is very impressive. We'll see how it compares to the Wave 8s when I get them. In any case, I'd sure appreciate other K1000 users letting me know what amps. they use, and how they feel about the results. By the way, the K1000 sounded a bit metalic when I began with cheap cables between CD and amp. But, as soon as I replaced them with DiMarzio M-Path Interconnects, yesterday, there was a dramatic improvement in sound, and the metalic coloration was gone. Perhaps my imagination, but I don't think so.

I have the same question so I jump into this thread. I have not got the K1000 because it is not much to have without an adequate amp. For some reason I believe that I will like earspeakers more than headphones.
Yesterday I dusted off my tube amp, not used for three years. I also cleaned the tube glasses and all connections. It has too little power for my speakers but thought it might be useful as a headphone amp. Before proceeding to K1000, I wanted to give it a listen. I used my integrated Krell as preamp (it is the reasonably priced 300i). The sonic result was more like a shift to a not so good solid state, although it is a tube power amp. That the bass was weaker was expected but I was surprised by the Krell's better dynamics, resolution and cleaner tone with my small monitor speakers.
The tube amp is a class A triode at 15W with Sovtek EL34 and huge transformers. Changing the tubes probably would remove the harshness I heard. But I am afraid that it would not improve dynamics and detail very much. I could also change the stock power cord to a better one, it is hardwired so I can't test this easily. I am afraid that upgrading the amp is a dead end. Anyone who has an experience of substantial improvements from such upgrades?
Or could the amp work much better with more sensitive speakers or headhphones? (I am not thinking on volume level but quality of the presentation).
Has anyone used a Krell or something similar with K1000?
Is there a swith-box between headhpones and speakers that doesn't degrade audio quality?

Kelly,

I, too, own the MID, and I also own the outboard high-current power supply you mentioned above. With the outboard power supply and the gain set to High, the MID has more than enough juice to drive the K1000's.

Unlike yours (sigh), my MID is actually a Micro "Headphone" Drive, so it doesn't have the binding posts on back. Steve McCormack made me a special little component for about $30 that has binding posts on one side and a headphone jack on the other. I used this to drive the K1000's from the headphone jack with success.

I just purchased a pair of the K-1000's as well; although, mine are still in the mail and have yet to arrive. The only thing I have to pair them with right now is a Parasound 100w amp that I know will be enough power--just don't know if that will be the best amp for it sound wise. I have a PSAudio 5.1 preamp and a Melos SHA-1 (as preamp) that I can try with the amp. I'll try to post how those combinations sound.

I am very interested in trying other amps, though. Someone recently suggested trying the Le Amp monoblocks from Norh at $500 for the pair, as they got a good review on Audio Asylum from a speaker designer. I've also read DRCope's posts about loving his K-1000's with his Bottlhead Paramours--that's a combo I'd love to try, especially since I'd like to dive into the DIY world, but I believe the Paramour's still only pump out 3.5w per side into 8 ohms. Are there any other good tube amp recommendations out there for under $600.00? I suppose the ASL Wave monoblocks are an option, but the reviews with and without the K-1000's have been mixed.

When I read Norh's description it sounds too good to be true all the way. But Le Amp has got a good review, not without reservation, at TNT-Audio (Italy).
http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/norhleamp_e.html

Do you know of any reviews of K1000s with ASL Wave monoblocks? I'd sure like to see one. Thanks for the mention of DRCope's posts about the K1000, I'll look them up. I also appreciate your and Toddathan's reference to the Le Amp monoblocks. I looked them up, and am now considerting them along with ASLs integrated tube amps. BTW, any suggestions regarding preamps. to control the Le Amp monoblocks.... I'm sure that you'll love your K1000. I'm listening to mine right now playing JS Bach's Brandenburgh Concertos. The purity and accuracy of tone of violine, flute and harpsichord are startling. It's like being in the room with them. The sound stage is wide, and each instrument is absolutely resolved. Truly amazing.

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Here is the review of the Le Amps I was referring to:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/gen...es/150534.html

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Seems very promising, and that without optimising components for the K1000. What I can see, this is in comparison to MOH + HD600 with Cardas cable, about the same that I have. I am not far from ordering the K1000, there must be good solutions to the amplifier problem. But I doubt that the $100 each Wave monoblocks are the optimal solution.

From what I've been reading, HeadRoom will have an appropriate amp. for the K1000 in the near future. I may wait for that. In the meantime, I'll toy with the Waves, and use my current receiver.