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K1000 vs R10 ...

post #1 of 198
2/21/06 at 3:20pm
Thread Starter 
This is what I have discovered about the K1000 after many hours of listening and experiments with the same amp used with the R10. The amp is an integrated 30 watts all tube, push-pull, the Leben CS-600.

Until today I was just listening to the R10 because a “better” sound than the K1000 and the AKG was sleeping for a couple of days.

Yesterday arrived the RCA NOS 6L6GC Black Plate (the “Holy Grail” of any 6L6 tubes), and I heard this superiority respect to the stock Sovteck, the R10 improved the musical tone and details.

Then, just to do another try… I plug the K1000 (speakers outputs) and WOW ! My God, another cans playing to my ears. The K1000 is the more dependent can I have encountered in my life, cables, tubes are so evident with them ! Much more than the R10 that has a own personality. If you do not thing EVERYTHING you’ll never have good result by the K1000, but if you have a bit of patience and (a good amount of money to spend in hi-fi gear) you will find the best sound from any headphones setup, just IMHO. No any cans can match the openness and soundstage of the K 1000 (I think all are agree here…), the work is to find the right and perfect tone balance and you are in heaven… this is my last experience.

The R10 is still in my great consideration, but a bit less… after today !

Best!
Nicola

PS:
Not so good the sound of the K1000 plugged on the headphones output in the same amp...
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post #2 of 198
2/21/06 at 3:30pm
Yep, the K1000s kick all sort of @$$, but they are finicky. Totally worth any effort, money and headache it takes to find the setup that you prefer. They are hard to beat.

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post #3 of 198
2/21/06 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 
I don't think they need a lot of watts, not less than 20-30, but every littlest details must be studied for the best sound.

Yes hard to beat !

Best!
Nicola
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post #4 of 198
2/21/06 at 4:01pm
Thread Starter 
The Leben CS-600 has 4-6-8-16 ohm selectable, I find the 4 ohm the best position for the K1000.

Best!
Nicola
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post #5 of 198
2/21/06 at 4:20pm

K1K vs R10

Well given that the Sony @ $4k compared to $600-800 for the K1000, there should be a significant difference. The Sony R10 may sound smoother, but over all especially sound stage, transparency of instruments, and how detailed to K1K is, even if it's a tie it makes it hard to justify the R10.

You can buy a $4k pair of speakers that will sound much better than the R10 for the same price. I paid that for my VS VR4jr's. So, the R10's just simply seem to be wasted money IMHO since the price is so unreasonable.
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post #6 of 198
2/21/06 at 4:45pm
"No (m)any cans can match the openness and soundstage of the K 1000 (I think all are agree here…), the work is to find the right and perfect tone balance and you are in heaven… this is my last experience."


Good observation. Put another way...

The AKG K-1000 is simply the best set of headphones in the world.
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post #7 of 198
2/21/06 at 5:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by robm321
I paid that for my VS VR4jr's. So, the R10's are just simply seem to be wasted money IMHO since the price is so unreasonable.
Unless you really don't have the time or space for speakers. In that case, the speakers are a waste of money.
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post #8 of 198
2/21/06 at 5:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PATB
Unless you really don't have the time or space for speakers. In that case, the speakers are a waste of money.
That's how I feel. Expensive speakers are a waste since my apartment is small and offers poor acoustics.

Nik, the K1000 is indeed a tricky beast. I don't believe any longer that the AKG needs tubes, but what it does need is a good high current amplifier. I have found the Pass Aleph 3 to offer smooth musicality in combination with great transparency. You don't need to spend thousands on an amp for the K1000 but you may need to try a few different amps or tubesets until you find the right one for you.
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post #9 of 198
2/21/06 at 6:26pm

Still....

Quote:
Unless you really don't have the time or space for speakers. In that case, the speakers are a waste of money.
Ok, even if you can't have speakers - $4K is over priced. I was making the comparison to point out that $4K goes a long way elsewhere. I would expect headphones to dominate anything on the market, and the R10's don't
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post #10 of 198
2/21/06 at 6:32pm
I agree, Nicola. The K1000's can really shine in the right system, but they can be very lackluster in other systems. With the EAR Yoshino V20, they are glorious. I'm sure that you're now experiencing pretty much the same thing, as I told you you would with your Leben amp! I'm glad it has worked out for you.
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post #11 of 198
2/21/06 at 6:44pm
I briefly tried the K1000 on the 4-pin XLR outputs of my SDS-XLR using Ken-Rad VT321/Tungsol 5687 and the sound is glorious. Warm but not syrupy, without sacrificing detail. As expected, the soundstage is huge. I am driving the SDS-XLR/K1000 fully balanced from the Meridian G08.

I didn't spend much time testing the K1000 as my pair has distortion on the right channel with some music (back to AKG service for the second time ). I was going to purchase a First Watt F1 or Aleph J to drive the K1000 but am putting that on-hold until I get the K1000 back and fully test it with the SDS-XLR. I may not need another amp.
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post #12 of 198
2/21/06 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wmcmanus
I agree, Nicola. The K1000's can really shine in the right system, but they can be very lackluster in other systems. With the EAR Yoshino V20, they are glorious. I'm sure that you're now experiencing pretty much the same thing, as I told you you would with your Leben amp! I'm glad it has worked out for you.
Good!

A friend of mine, here near to my city, has the K1000/V20, I think we will meet one day... (soon...).

Best!
Nicola
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post #13 of 198
2/21/06 at 11:13pm
I listen to a K1000, driven by a good 300B tube amp. (ASL AQ-1005DT), and to an R10, driven by an SDS and a Cordia Aria, almost every day. Although the R10 can't match the size of sound stage of the K1000, the R10's quality and refinement of presentation is clearly superior to that of the K1000. And, I've used several kinds of tubes, and more than one amp. to drive the K1000. While the K1000 is really a fine headphone, it is no match for the R10. As for speakers costing no more than the R10, unfortunately loud sounds are not welcome by another in our home. So, headphones are the only option.
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post #14 of 198
2/22/06 at 1:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeg
I listen to a K1000, driven by a good 300B tube amp. (ASL AQ-1005DT)...
So which is it, a good 300b amp or an ASL?

My point is, it's not always the case that the phones are the weakest link.
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post #15 of 198
2/22/06 at 1:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pawlowski6132
So which is it, a good 300b amp or an ASL?
ASL makes great amps if you happen to get a quiet one. They just seem to have a heck of a lot of lemons...

Biggie.
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