Official K-81 DJ thread - Page 106

I would think that one of our many re-cablers could do quite a good business with some serious re-cabling and let us all go over the top!

Just want to throw in my 2 cents.

I just got these yesterday and they're currently back in the box waiting to go back.

I bought them to replace my aging Grado SR-60s and was hoping for something equal to, if not better than, them. After browsing this thread I thought I found the pair. Not even close.

For one, the band is a death vise as others have said. Maybe it's been too long, but I remembered the Grado's being pretty uncomfortable at first but they were nothing like this. It's not worth the discomfort trying to break them in.

Second, they're too small for someone with a larger head. I have to extend them to the last notch and then they just barely reach my ears. This, of course, also compounds the tightness.

And lastly, and most importantly, they sound really flat compared to my Grado's. I'm no audiophile so I won't go into too much detail here.

I think the Grado SR-80s or 125s are in my future...

Reach into the cups and pull out the pieces of foam..
And to stretch it out (not sure if it's a good idea though, less grip=less isolation?) just put some books between the 2 cups and leave it there for a while..
I think most bought these for portable uses, they have excellent isolation

Pulling down on the metal trim on the very top of the headband and pulling the cups outwards also helps.

OH SNAP!

After 3 weeks.



Glue reccomendations, please. I already tried Krazy glue. Seemed like they would hold up, but no.

I'm sort of an idiot though, but I thought they could handle the rigours of my bookbag.

awww sorry to see that Maybe glue and some tape (keeping in mind I am no exper in fixing headphones)

I'd recommend some 2-part epoxy, as it should bond stronger than the plastic (meaning you can expect your next break to happen somewhere else ). The trick will be keeping the headphones clamped together while it sets.

Araldite will fix it, you know the 2 part glue ones resin the others hardner

On a side note, I think the K81DJ is one of the most stylish headphones I have seen. It is one of the few cans I don't feel like a dork wearing. Ya I may not look 'cool' wearing them, because they are not Bose (which we all know means cool ), but I still feel comfortable in them. I think they definately factored style into the design.

You might try heating up a small rod of steel and pressing it into each side to make holes, then put glue on it and in both holes (along with the whole cracked surface, push it together, clamp it and let it dry. At least that way there is a 'spine' to add some strength. I can't believe your bookbad did this? Must be a damn jungle in there!!
I find the K81DJ to be far superior to the SR-80. I think you just prefer BRIGHT headphones. That is probably why you like Grado. Nothing wrong with it, just a preference. As others said, try removing the foam/cloth inner 'pads'. They'll get a little brighter (I'm told, I never tried it, since I wouldn't want them bright).

As far as comfort that is subjective. You need to try bending them. Also try putting the top of the band slightly forward on your head. I also use them at the max (10) setting, but find them very comfy now. The tight grip gives them the great isolation people attribute to them.

Sorry they didn't work out. (BTW: I think you would HATE the HD-600!)

I actually think krazy glue would suffice but no matter what type of glue I use I'd have to be able to clamp the surfaces together for anything semi-permanent which is difficult to do, and the headphones split in such an odd manner making it even tougher.
One glimmer of hope is that the little part attached to the headband, and the part attached to the actual phone are both free to rotate on their own axes, which leads me to believe that the two small components might be replaceable without having to replace the headband or the earpeice. I wonder if AKG customer service will sympathize with me, and charge a small fee for that type of repair.

Maybe you should try the Allessandro MS1's they might work for you (basically tweeked Grado125), I would have to disagree with you on the sound quality issue, imo the K81's betters the MS1 unless you only like listening to metal/hard rock with a caffine fix. Granted they are excellent for that. Depends on your personal preferences they both are excellent. I miss not having the MS1's around occasionally, but could never listen to them for long without getting ear fatigue though -initially impressive but tiring enventually. but I'd really miss the K81's..
both phones scale up well with a decent amp and source.

Yep the K81's are groovy enough not to look like your from another planet they are well designed.

I generally agree with this, except for the Grado part. I'm no fan of those phones, either. No huge discomfort either, but I'm definitely a 10 . I can't imagine whose heads they think that adjustment range is for - that 10 setting is about in the middle for everything else.

It's great that some have passion for the K81DJ's. However, after reading all this hype about their bass - it's just hype, IMHO. I purchased a pair through the Fascination route (good tip!) and proceeded to burn them in for several days. However, after extended listening, my conclusion is that the bass does not live up to expectations. Even amped, the bass is neither as deep or as tight as V6's, 580's, or PortaPro's (no - PP's are not boomy if properly amped). Even my KSC-75's give them a good run in the bass department, and then they sound better anyway.

Moreover, the K81DJ's bass is extremely volume dependent. In fact, that appears to be the dirty little secret about the foam inserts. Without them, the upper mid-range is clear and strong enough that they never get fed enough power to bring in the bass. With them, you turn up the volume due to the muffling - and they get enough power to start pumping out some bass. Even then, it's long way from a hip-hop slam.

Again, no offense to those who like and champion these phones, but my money would've been better spent for a pair of Senn 485's (same price when discounted) or even a pair of the new Koss Pro4AAAT's (as low as $79 discounted).

I got a pair of K81s a few weeks back. I've been really happy with them--all but the cable. Since I paid much less than I anticipated, I figured I'd get a decent cable for them. Cantsleep was nice enough to make one for me. I installed it this weekend.

The stock cable was too long to be portable and had too much memory. I didn't expect any sound difference with a new cable--that wasn't my reason for making the change. But I've noticed things sound a bit tighter and cleaner. I've noticed a couple other changes too, but I'm reluctant to say it isn't placebo.

Either way, I couldn't be happier with the headphones with new tangle-free cable for portable use.

I wish someone would start a K81DJ recable service. I like my K81's but dislike the cable intensely. I am not a DIY-er, however.