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K1000 vs OmegaII

post #1 of 27
4/28/08 at 10:19pm
Thread Starter 
If given 3000 to spend on either a K1000 with a good SS amp (aleph3, Firstwatt, RWA Sig30) or an OmegaII properly amped (WooGES, KGSS, etc.) which would you choose and why?
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post #2 of 27
4/28/08 at 10:39pm
Having heard both of them in 2 different setups :

CEC TL51XR > Stax SRM-717 > Stax Omega II

Lavry DA10 > DIY Pass Aleph > AKG K1000

I can say that I would choose the OII over the K1000 here but that's not quite fair since the Stax setup is more expensive. I don't know how would the Omega II behave with a lesser source than the CEC but I believe that they're really source AND amp dependent, very sensitive to every upstream components. The K1000 is kinda like that too but it isn't as refined as the Stax, they're too much distant for me, lacking some body and bass, which the OII, don't lack at all and that's quite a feat for a stat if you ask me. The Stax grabs you smoothly while the AKG let's you fly in the air at a cost.

Hope it helps, I can't comment any further cause I don't own any of these and only had so little time to audition each cans.

My vote goes for a KGSS + OII setup !
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post #3 of 27
4/28/08 at 11:05pm
There is no choise. They're different and sooner or later you'll realize you need both.
This is HeadFi...
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post #4 of 27
4/28/08 at 11:21pm
Tough choice! Both have an ethereal quality and have the ability to disappear on your head. I'll take the K1000 though as ultimately I find it more engaging.
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post #5 of 27
4/28/08 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 
canman do you use your MPX3 as a preamp for your K1000s through your F1?
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post #6 of 27
4/28/08 at 11:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by milezone View Post
canman do you use your MPX3 as a preamp for your K1000s through your F1?
I have been planning on it, but i have no cables that can accomodate the 1/4" headphone output to widely spaced RCA inputs. Right now I am using a Lexicon DC-1 preamp which is fun because its really emphasizes the bass but it also sucks because the bass is bloated. Even so it sounds pretty good.
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post #7 of 27
4/29/08 at 2:39am
Don't preamp using a headphone out socket. RCA inputs should be fed a line level signal, not the output from an amplifier, what you are planning to do might result in damage and will almost certainly result in poor sound.
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post #8 of 27
4/29/08 at 2:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kees View Post
There is no choise. They're different and sooner or later you'll realize you need both.
This is HeadFi...
Stop it! Stop it!

The OII has been gnawing at me. And YOU'RE not helping any!

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post #9 of 27
4/29/08 at 2:59am
True...I'm biased as I head to weigh an he90/es1 vs k1000/300b amp...both same source.
It really comes down to type of sound you like.
You could have both and they'd be complementary or you could choose one over the other depending upon your tastes.

I chose the k1000s since I found that I just love the impact of dynamic cans and wanted to put the money from the he90 towards a better source.
Electrostats are just too laid back for my music preference...I like to feel the music in front of me, but the electrostatic sound always seem to envelope me from all directions. I could hear the lushness/smoothness/refinement of the music, but I never felt it. I do wonder if Neilvg's ES2/he90/nwo combo would be different, but I'll leave that to the future.

It really is just a matter of tastes...they'll both sound great.
I think if u listen to both and you can't afford both, you'll be able to figure out which type of sound you like more.
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post #10 of 27
4/29/08 at 11:02am
Omega 2. They have a really smooth sound that's different from dynamic headphones. Also, when I heard the K1000s connected to my Manley Stingray, they were super dynamic, the bass hit my head hard (maybe I was cranking it too loudly). With the K1000, I did hear the strings on the violin individually vibrating though. I feel Omega 2 are more well rounded though.
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post #11 of 27
4/29/08 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
Stop it! Stop it!

The OII has been gnawing at me. And YOU'RE not helping any!
its too late. give it up :P
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post #12 of 27
4/29/08 at 1:07pm
I would get a K1000 and a RWA Signature 30 (or similar).
Why? Because I already have a nice Omega II rig, and have had my eyes on the K1000 for a long time. Easy choice!
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post #13 of 27
4/29/08 at 1:20pm
The K1000s are not a match for any of the electrostatic headphone setups I have heard. In the end, they're still dynamic, and have all of the same flaws and drawbacks. They're still quite good though.

But I'd rather take the O2.
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post #14 of 27
4/29/08 at 2:24pm
Until this weekend I would have agreed. Then I got to play around with a K1000 with two different aftermarket cables and a Jadis Orchestra Reference amplifier
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post #15 of 27
4/29/08 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenithon View Post
Until this weekend I would have agreed. Then I got to play around with a K1000 with two different aftermarket cables and a Jadis Orchestra Reference amplifier
i mostly agree. i heard the O2 at headfest last year and, while terrific, did not impress me as much as the k1000s in the k1000 room, which were powered by a number of different amps. i knew i wanted a k1000 after spending some time there.
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