Neruda
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well, I don't have that amp, but I do certainly want it...
AKG K401 Review: Really long! time to put all questions to rest.
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Xander
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Neruda
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I think that Tim D is definitely on to something with that recessed upper midrange = wide soundstage idea. Check this out:
Notice anything? Each of those headphones has a dip between 2 and 5 khz. And each of those headphones has a wide, spacious soundstage. Very interesting! Why the hell would the upper midrange reduce the soundstage?
Here are a few more that wouldn't fit in that first picture:
Notice anything? Each of those headphones has a dip between 2 and 5 khz. And each of those headphones has a wide, spacious soundstage. Very interesting! Why the hell would the upper midrange reduce the soundstage?
Here are a few more that wouldn't fit in that first picture:
Xander
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I'm speechless.
If I were an audio engineer, I might have an answer. But I can only speculate. Maybe the lack of upper mids allow crash cymbals, and other instruments that have an airy sound reveal them selves better? Perhaps the upper mids "smear them" off of the soundstage, somehow, over powering them. I dunno. Weird mojo you got there Neruda.
btw, whats with the responce on those Beyers? I know, I know. Judging a phone by it's graph is bad, but they look really scary....
If I were an audio engineer, I might have an answer. But I can only speculate. Maybe the lack of upper mids allow crash cymbals, and other instruments that have an airy sound reveal them selves better? Perhaps the upper mids "smear them" off of the soundstage, somehow, over powering them. I dunno. Weird mojo you got there Neruda.
btw, whats with the responce on those Beyers? I know, I know. Judging a phone by it's graph is bad, but they look really scary....
Tim D
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I dunno I think headroom still needs to iron out some bugs...that DT770 looks too weird. Also notice how A LOT of phones have a strange dip at 75hz...I definitely think that is a headroom measurement anomaly unless you are willing to think A LOT of headphones just have a strange dip right at 75 hz.
Also you should see STAX's or electrostatics, or the big O when its graphs were up. The dip at 2-5khz is like a valley.
Also you should see STAX's or electrostatics, or the big O when its graphs were up. The dip at 2-5khz is like a valley.
Serow
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I'd guess that the dip at 75Hz would probably have something to do with an acoustic resonance of the headroom measuring system, if it shows up that consistently...
Xander
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Not ALL of the phones have the dip, though. The equipment ofcourse, is changing the actual response, what you see is only a rough representation of the actual response.. But, it's possible that it's hard to design a diaphragm that responds smoothly in that area, much as it's hard to design one that can re-create high frequencies without a lot of peaking and dipping.
Neruda
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A few headphones with no major dip (in the upper mids):
Xander
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Oh my god.. C'mon, it's so obvious their equipment is minipulating those graphs horribly.
Xander
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Look at the Grado and Beyer dip, right before 5k. Theres no way that happens with two completely different phones. It's almost IDENTICLE.
NuclearFusi0n
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Do you think the thin flimsy cord is holding this pair of cans back?
wallijonn
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Actually, I would have preferred he listen to high impedance headphones through some vintage Marantz equipment myself.
No, if anything, the amplifier held it back. I will be doing some resistor mods on my K501 (see Jan's site for tweaks) and seeing if i can coax more high end energy from the K501. i guess i would rather spend $2 on resistors than $150 on cables, cheapskate that i am.
it also appeases the tweaker in me. a high damping amp may have firmed up the low end in the case of the k401, and an equaliser (heaven forbid) may have bought the midrange out more (or polycarbonate caps in the signal path).
No, if anything, the amplifier held it back. I will be doing some resistor mods on my K501 (see Jan's site for tweaks) and seeing if i can coax more high end energy from the K501. i guess i would rather spend $2 on resistors than $150 on cables, cheapskate that i am.
chrono
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If anyone has suggestions on Headphone amps that pair good with these headphones, please let me know. post a msg
on this thread
on this thread
This thread has been really helpfull. I've always loved the comfort of AKG cans and now that I'm ready to upgrade I'm ready to audition both of these. Anyone had any experience driving either of these w/ an Airhead or Total Airhead amp? Is it sufficient?
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