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AKG K501 ... wow ... wow ... wow

post #1 of 48
5/18/06 at 5:52pm
Thread Starter 
Just came to my door. Plugged it into my MicroStack and, without any break-in, the sound is simply miraculous. Much better (for me and my ears) than the K601s I returned and exchanged for the K501s. Everything is just, just -- I don't know the right word here -- musical? Seamless? Organic?

In comparison to the DT880s I'm also evaluating at the moment, the 501s seem far more capable at capturing the core musicality of a piece. The bass (and it's there, contrary to what you might have heard :-) and treble seem to exist in service to the key midrange, not the other way around. And since the midrange is where most of the musical action takes place in my favorite genres (classical, acoustic, baroque), this just works, man.

The 501s do lack the last bit of delicate resolution that the 880s possess, at least at this point in the break-in process. But I'm not sure I'll miss that when I'm getting the midrange magic that seems lacking in the 880s.
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post #2 of 48
5/18/06 at 6:05pm
I agree with you, the K501 are very sweet headphones. I ended up with the K240 Studio though, since I needed more bass for my rock/metal music. I'll get my hands on a K501 someday though/
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post #3 of 48
5/18/06 at 6:09pm
So the 501s > the 601s?

Were the 601s defective or is that the general consensus?
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post #4 of 48
5/18/06 at 6:22pm
Right now the K501 is my fav can, it could change next week but it will always be in my top 3.
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post #5 of 48
5/18/06 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by seantx
So the 501s > the 601s?

Were the 601s defective or is that the general consensus?
No, I don't think my 601s were defective. They were very nice headphones. However, they (1) were too bassy for me, and (2) they lacked resolution and detail, at least to my ears. As Tyll said in my original 601 thread, they probably make a great rocker headphone. They just don't fit my kind of music.

Or to put it this way: if the 501s are "sweet", then the 601s are "salty".
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post #6 of 48
5/19/06 at 1:58am
Oh yeah! I completely agree. The K-501 is a sweet can.

Try them with a tube or hybrid amp. The K-501 is great with tubes. I like them very much with the Millett Hybrid. I've got 90% of the parts for the Millett SRPP ECC99, and intend to build it to also drive the K-501.

I'll apologize in advance if you end up spending more money for a tube amp, but they're a nice compliment to the K-501.
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post #7 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:24am
I'm glad you found the right headphone for your taste - I remember the thread where you were quite unhappy with the 601. The 501 is indeed something special.
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post #8 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik
Oh yeah! I completely agree. The K-501 is a sweet can.

Try them with a tube or hybrid amp. The K-501 is great with tubes. I like them very much with the Millett Hybrid. I've got 90% of the parts for the Millett SRPP ECC99, and intend to build it to also drive the K-501.

I'll apologize in advance if you end up spending more money for a tube amp, but they're a nice compliment to the K-501.
According to my wife, my recent purchase of a Micro Stack and new headphones will have to satisfy me at least until Christmas.

/will note tube amp for future reference
//will note handle of person who suggested it to pass along to said wife
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post #9 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:28am
Welcome to the K501 club.

I re-cabled my K501 and the bass is more solid and deeper, but not flabby. It's a tight, deep bass. Plus I love how the K501s don't heat up my head as much as the DT880s do.
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post #10 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:29am

501 good for what kind of music

Erik, et al

I noticed you also praised the 501s in another thread. The author of this thread also said they were good for the type of music he listens to.
So my question to both of you, what kind of music does the 501 handle well (aside from classical and acoustic that was mentioned), or to put it another way, what kind of music do you guys normally listen to?
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post #11 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jagorev
I'm glad you found the right headphone for your taste - I remember the thread where you were quite unhappy with the 601. The 501 is indeed something special.
Yeah, they really are quite a magical headphone. They are *so* different from the 601s that I can't believe the same company makes both of them. That is in no way meant to disparage the 601s as I'm sure others would love the 601s and find the 501s lacking. Good thing there's more than one headphone out there for people.

The only real complaint I have about the 501s is the clamping force compared to the DT880s. The DT880 is a featherweight headphone that rests ever so gently on my head. The 501 is a tight fit, but I'm optimistic that they'll stretch out.
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post #12 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mix
So my question to both of you, what kind of music does the 501 handle well, or to put it another way, what kind of music do you guys normally listen to?
Heh. I find the K501 quite magical with all kinds of classical. It's probably strongest on chamber music, but it is really good with orchestral or vocal works as well. Most blues or jazz recordings also sound great on the 501.
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post #13 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:36am
I listen to almost everything.

Jazz, bossa nova, electronica, house, modern alternative, rock, classic rock, classic 40s-50s, disco , some rap...
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post #14 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lostlamb
Welcome to the K501 club.

I re-cabled my K501 and the bass is more solid and deeper, but not flabby. It's a tight, deep bass. Plus I love how the K501s don't heat up my head as much as the DT880s do.

I *love* the bass on the K501s. I'll tell you where the tightness of the bass stands out for me is with the cello. With the K601s and the DT880s, on some of my recordings, the cello is so deep that it sounds like a double bass instead of a cello.
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post #15 of 48
5/19/06 at 2:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mix
Erik, et al

I noticed you also praised the 501s in another thread. The author of this thread also said they were good for the type of music he listens to.
So my question to both of you, what kind of music does the 501 handle well, or to put it another way, what kind of music do you guys normally listen to?

I listen mainly to chamber, acoustic folk, baroque violin and cello, and concertos. I've tried a few rock/pop pieces today with the 501s and they sounded great, too.
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