AKG K601 & K612 Pro Owners... UNITE!!
Dec 18, 2014 at 5:35 AM Post #1,742 of 2,435
   
I'm going to have to try these next. I've had the K240 Sextett's (which were nice but I much prefer the 612's) and the K260's (which I did not like).

 
 
I haven't tried the sextetts (almost bought them off of craigslist but the seller never replied) but the if its anything like the K240 studios you'll (imo) find that the K340's sound like a clearer, more articulate and detailed version of the K240's without the midrange mountain. After listening to the K340 and K612's the K240's sound very sepia toned and dark, I would describe them as sounding vintage whereas the K612 is neutral and the K340 is euphonic and musical.
 
Dec 18, 2014 at 7:41 AM Post #1,743 of 2,435
   
I haven't tried the sextetts (almost bought them off of craigslist but the seller never replied) but the if its anything like the K240 studios you'll (imo) find that the K340's sound like a clearer, more articulate and detailed version of the K240's without the midrange mountain. After listening to the K340 and K612's the K240's sound very sepia toned and dark, I would describe them as sounding vintage whereas the K612 is neutral and the K340 is euphonic and musical.

yes, neutral is the word for K612, euphonic and musical for K712, Q701 in between. A good analog output stage could shrink the gap somewhat.
 
Dec 18, 2014 at 1:51 PM Post #1,744 of 2,435
  What surprises me the most about the K612 is it did not sound good enough to keep (for me) out of my Little Dot MKIII, Purity Audio, O2 or the Beresford amps. There were songs\discs I literally could not listen to due to a strange distortion\issue in the upper mids. I would have to try a disc and be like OK this is gonna be hit or miss. Now pretty much everything sounds freakin' awesome! I read about the importance of "synergy" with this headphone and the DAC and amp but I never thought it could be this remarkable. Truth is I really didn't like this headphone and as far as I was concerned it was gone...I had it boxed up and on sale here and another site. Now I listen to it and the Keces probably 80% of the time. They are dynamic, detailed, fast and somewhat forgiving now!
Still find it hard to believe but I'm grateful...makes for some beautiful listening sessions.


Interesting as I use the 601's with the Little Dot III and find there's zero distortion to be heard.
The only problem is it lacks bass on some recordings so I have a EQ for that.
 
Dec 18, 2014 at 2:36 PM Post #1,745 of 2,435
 
Interesting as I use the 601's with the Little Dot III and find there's zero distortion to be heard.
The only problem is it lacks bass on some recordings so I have a EQ for that.

You know... I have to revisit the K612 and LD MK III, I don't believe I spent enough time with them after being so let down with how my other amps sounded. I am going to try again and report back as I may have included the LD before giving it a proper chance. I have two systems and the LD is usually only used with my Beyers. 
Also the "distortion" I am hearing may have been a by-product of the K612 frequency response, the amp and the actual recordings I was listening to.
The strange thing is with the Keces amp those same recording now sound fine or at least much better and certainly listenable. 
 
Dec 18, 2014 at 2:52 PM Post #1,746 of 2,435
The other thing I've been trying which has been an absolute trip is listening with a sub playing right beside me. I am actually sitting close enough to the sub that I can reach the volume and crossover. I start with it pretty much off and slowly turned it up while listening until it just fills that slight missing foundation in the lows and introduces a feel in the bass. It's funny if you take the headphones off you would think the bass must be thumping but it's barely just audible, turn it off though and something's missing. The ear spoils quickly. 
 
Dec 18, 2014 at 3:04 PM Post #1,747 of 2,435
What surprises me the most about the K612 is it did not sound good enough to keep (for me) out of my Little Dot MKIII, Purity Audio, O2 or the Beresford amps. There were songs\discs I literally could not listen to due to a strange distortion\issue in the upper mids. I would have to try a disc and be like OK this is gonna be hit or miss. Now pretty much everything sounds freakin' awesome! I read about the importance of "synergy" with this headphone and the DAC and amp but I never thought it could be this remarkable. Truth is I really didn't like this headphone and as far as I was concerned it was gone...I had it boxed up and on sale here and another site. Now I listen to it and the Keces probably 80% of the time. They are dynamic, detailed, fast and somewhat forgiving now!
Still find it hard to believe but I'm grateful...makes for some beautiful listening sessions.


Do you believe in burn in and allow the K612's to do so? When i first got mine they were harsh and really unrefined for the first 30 hours (i got them used with just under 100hrs too) then i found the "relaxed" a bunch.
 
Dec 18, 2014 at 7:12 PM Post #1,748 of 2,435
I don't believe in burn in, myself. But I do believe the sound changes over time as the pads get more 'worn'. Sometimes it can be for the better, and sometimes worse. I do know if my K612's had an ounce of distortion, I would have sold them day one. My ears/brain can really pick up on distortion and never let go.
 
   
I'm going to have to try the 340's next. I've had the K240 Sextett's (which were nice but I much prefer the 612's) and the K260's (which I did not like).
 



 
Actually, I've changed my mind on the 340's. Too pricey for 40 year old headphones. Then you have to wonder if everyone on ebay is dumping the 'bass boosted' versions.
 
And speaking of pricey...
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AKG-K-340-Electrostatic-Dynamic-Systems-Headphones-RARE-VINTAGE-/161526537715?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones&hash=item259bbb5df3
 
Dec 19, 2014 at 5:38 AM Post #1,749 of 2,435
  I don't believe in burn in, myself. But I do believe the sound changes over time as the pads get more 'worn'. Sometimes it can be for the better, and sometimes worse. I do know if my K612's had an ounce of distortion, I would have sold them day one. My ears/brain can really pick up on distortion and never let go.
 
 
Actually, I've changed my mind on the 340's. Too pricey for 40 year old headphones. Then you have to wonder if everyone on ebay is dumping the 'bass boosted' versions.
 
And speaking of pricey...
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AKG-K-340-Electrostatic-Dynamic-Systems-Headphones-RARE-VINTAGE-/161526537715?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones&hash=item259bbb5df3

 
 
Lool most people only ask $250 or less, I got mine for $80 and I saw one on crqigslist for $200 but that was after I got mine.
That person is tripping to want that much for them even though they sound amazing!
 
Odd that you say you dont hear distortion in your  K612's; I can definitely hear it in mine but its rarely unbearable. 
 
Dec 19, 2014 at 7:01 AM Post #1,750 of 2,435
Do you believe in burn in and allow the K612's to do so? When i first got mine they were harsh and really unrefined for the first 30 hours (i got them used with just under 100hrs too) then i found the "relaxed" a bunch.

Yes, I burned them in for around 40-50 hrs before doing any listening. Firm believer in burn-in here. 
 
Dec 19, 2014 at 9:30 AM Post #1,751 of 2,435
"I don't believe in burn in, myself. But I do believe the sound changes over time as the pads get more 'worn'. Sometimes it can be for the better, and sometimes worse."
 
What about the loosening (or softening ) of the diaphragm over time?
I imagine it CAN  be a little too stiff at first, no?
Then there's the drying out with too much age.(decades)
 
Could this be an explanation for "burn in" or am I way off?
 
Dec 20, 2014 at 3:53 PM Post #1,754 of 2,435
 
Interesting as I use the 601's with the Little Dot III and find there's zero distortion to be heard.
The only problem is it lacks bass on some recordings so I have a EQ for that.


Hello Koukol, You are correct, I'm wondering now if I did even try the K612 & the LD amp...Anyway I ended up re-wiring the system and tried it with the AKG's and it sounds great so that was my mistake, the Little Dot does run the AKG K612 without issue. I've only listened to one disc so far but it sounds fine, plenty of power that's for sure. I had the volume around 27-28 on the LD but have since lowered it to around 21. The LD has some power doesn't it, it drives the AKG's with ease.
So right now I'm using an old Samsung Blu-ray player as a transport feeding a Maverick Audio D-2 DAC into the Little Dot and then into the K612's.
Again my bad on including the LD with amps I didn't like with the K612. Still feel this is a picky headphone though.
 
Dec 21, 2014 at 9:36 PM Post #1,755 of 2,435
Listening to Acoustic Jazz ~ Gold Encore Series on the K612's can't believe this is the same headphone...
 
Does anyone else have the Keces HA-171 amp paired with this headphone?
 

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