Don't quite know how this happened. I wasn't able to order my AKG 501s from HeadRoom before 12 their time (Mountain) on Friday, so my order didn't ship out until yesterday evening (5:03 their time, 7:03 EST). I ordered them standard shipping.

Well, according to FedEx tracking, they left Memphis, Tennessee at 4:23 AM this morning (I'm assuming CST) and arrived at Atlanta 6:19 AM (EST). They hit the truck for delivery at 7:22 AM (EST). They're not here yet, but we usually don't get FedEx till later in the day. But I'm simply stunned at overnight delivery for "super saver" price.

Yowser!!

That's really good going. Living in south Florida when I order things I have to watch them dot around the southern states before even entering Florida, and then I painfully watch as they make it down the state. uh, I should move just for faster shipping times.

Well, FedEx man just arrived and dropped off the package. I can't believe it. Less than 24 hours from shipping in Montana these are in my hands!!

Gotta love HeadRoom and FedEx!! Listening impressions to come. I, of course, will not be able to wait to burn them in!

Well, my first impression right out the box was "boy, these things are light". Compared to having my Senns or the Grados on my head, the 501s are like a feather. Extremely comfortable circumaural cans. Been an *extremely* long time since I've own a pair of circumaural (late 70s Koss Pro 4a (or aa or aaa - sheesh, can't remember).

Second impression? The bass is not so bad. Trying to listen right after my Senns is tough because they don't put out near the same level with the same volume control setting as the Senns. That said, the bass on the Senns is a good bit punchier and solid, but the 501s have bass. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out (and remember what I read about taking the cushions off), got one off and, sure enough, brown rings. God has shined on me!!

I wish someone would take a picture of those rings... I don't see anything brown in mine but I do hear some (enough IMO) bass.

If your HD25 were your main phones, you've indeed got quite a contrast here!

hey. that was quick. Hope the sound will grows on you. lucky you got the brown pads

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It's not hard to see. It's very clearly a ring of brown around the outer edge of the plastic on the inside of the cushion. You wouldn't mistake it if you saw it.

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My Senns are my main phones because I need good isolating phones at home. The contrast is quite interesting. But I listen to so many different types of music that I thought it worthwhile to have some very different sets of headphones. I'll tell you one thing, the 501s basically have *no* isolation, so I can't listen at all in the same room with my family watching tv, etc.

yeah, headroom and fedex are awesome, I got mine in 1 day too for free shipping. UPS sux, package shipped a week ago, suppose to be here yesterday, delivery is rescheduled to today... still not here (5pm).

Enjoy your k501s!

You got them HOURS ago already and you're still not telling how much better that a capella sounds on the K501? Maybe you've got a defective pair.

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I've got grey foam there. Did someone ever A/B the MkI and MkII pads?

Anyway, I trust you will soon get velour pads. Please don't forget to report your A/B results.

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I wanted to wait until I've really had a chance to listen. With my family home (my 15 year old daughter is in the LR with a friend watching a movie, my wife watching TV in the 'computer' room with me) I can't really listen to them because they "leak". I use quotes because they don't really hold anything in, so "leak" is pretty much an understatement.

Sigh...

I ordered from headroom on sunday night, they arrived today...

And they're broken! The headband is bent in a weird way, and the left driver does not make any sound at all!

Damn... Why do these things always happen to me?

Did you contact Headroom? What did they say? Will they cover the shipping cost?

was the box all beat up?

According to the 30 days guaranty, I should call them and they'll send another one ASAP with a return shipping label so i can send them the defective one.

Weirdly enough the box was in perfect condition. I found out I can actually hear something from the left driver by holding the earpiece at a certain angle... I guess it's just a solder joint that somehow desoldered itself.

Okay, some observations about my new 501s. Keep in mind I've pretty much done *no* burn-in as yet, other than a few hours listening. This is by no means what I would consider a review, just some initial impressions...

Power consumption - these things do require considerable power. A PCDP, at least mine, will drive them to listenable levels, but you can hear the "pinching" of the sound as the output stage runs out of power. I'm thinking a high current amp with good power reserves would serve these puppies well. I'm listening right now on a table PC plugged directly into the headphone out, no amp (am out of town on business) and the sound is acceptable, but by the dynamics are clearly limited by lack of power.

Bass - perhaps it's the brown ring pads, but I've got bass. Not as punchy as my Senns, but definitely *not* non-existent. In fact, sometimes on my PCDP the bass is a bit too much with the "bass extension" on. (It's a nice, ten year old Panasonic 1-bit MASH player with "XBS".)

Right now I've got MS WMP equalizer with a slight boost in the 32 and 62 hz frequencies and there's bass, but I can hear it clipping at the level I'm playing. Just not enough power to show what these can do. (Oh, and I'm listening to Bruce Springsteen, Wild, Innocent, etc.)

Soundstage - this aspect is not readily apparent yet. A bit wider than my Senns. More power, accoustic music will probably show this off.

Mid-range - very smooth, very "fluid". Not as warm as the Grados, but way more detailed. The Grado's mid kind of sucks you in and is "clingy". The 501s are clear as glass.

Detail, clarity, whatever you want to call it - listening to some accoustic blues, this was pretty nice. I got a nice grin on my face and found myself nodding. Hearing some things (drum tips on cymbals) I hadn't noticed before. And this just on my old PCDP.

I'm going to let these burn in tonight with some wav files on loop. If these get better in the hundreds of hours of use/burn in (and with signicantly more power) than I suspect they'll be very good indeed.