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AKG K500 appreciation thread: K500 owners – UNITE! - Page 3

post #31 of 54
8/29/10 at 6:56pm

I just won a K500 off eBay.  I am looking forward to giving it a try, especially if its as good as my K400 which has been a pleasure so far.  Anyone have experience with using the K500 with tube amps?  I am hoping my bottlehead crack is up to the task of driving these.

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post #32 of 54
8/30/10 at 2:57am
Thread Starter 

k500 + tube amp = bliss

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post #33 of 54
8/30/10 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by REB View Post

k500 + tube amp = bliss


I hope so, what amp are you using with your K500?

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post #34 of 54
8/30/10 at 2:12pm

Does anyone know the history of the K500/K400, what year they were introduced, original price, initial respone ... I looked around the AKG site but they have very little info aside from the headphone assembly and specs.

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post #35 of 54
8/30/10 at 4:54pm

Darkvoice 332 is excellent with the AKG K40x and K50x series.

 

 

As for their history, I only found a bit here: http://www.audiocircuit.com/Home-Audio/AKG

 

It says that K401 and K501 are introduced in 1996.

 

Not sure about the accuracy, but this links says the K500 was launched in 1992. http://www.audioreview.com/cat/headphones-home-audio/headphones/akg-acoustics/k400/PRD_117743_2750crx.aspx

 

If that is correct, I would assume that K400 is launched in the same year since K401 and K501 were launched in the same year.

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post #36 of 54
12/14/10 at 9:36am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drosera View Post
.......
As to different versions: apparently there is a version with a completely metal (gold-plated) plug and a version in which part of the plug is made of plastic. Anyone care to eleborate on this?

 

There are two version, mine is the 1992 version of the first photo: with thw all metal plug.

I lost the adapter, and AKG Italy sent me the newest which is to little to screw in.

As you can see in the PDF Service Paper the old release no longer exist neither as spare part.

 

A curiosity: the first release cable and adapter are the same of the Denon AHD-D950 :-)

 


 

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post #37 of 54
3/22/12 at 1:59pm

bump :)

 

new owner of K500s here, just received mine today, gave them a good clean inside/out and I'm enjoying them now :D

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post #38 of 54
3/22/12 at 6:28pm

Sadly, mine have developed and issue with the plug and I have lost sound in the right channel.  I'll need to get it re-terminated which was something I've been thinking about doing already perhaps with balanced XRLs...

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post #39 of 54
3/27/12 at 2:24pm

Whatever works best. I sometimes detest the cables used for headphones.

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post #40 of 54
10/10/12 at 8:48pm

About to become part of the team!

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post #41 of 54
12/27/12 at 6:42am

Hmm now both my K400 and K500 arrived!

 

I can't tell which one is better... K500 is brighter with more extended highs, while K400 mids is very very sweet... Decisions decisions...

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post #42 of 54
12/31/12 at 12:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrAdrian View Post

Hmm now both my K400 and K500 arrived!

 

I can't tell which one is better... K500 is brighter with more extended highs, while K400 mids is very very sweet... Decisions decisions...

 

I also both the K400 and K500.  My experience with owning both cans has lead me to conclude the K400 is a better all-rounder and sounds great with many different genres, and is just more musical of the two.  The K500 is still very good and surpasses the K400 for detail/clarity and treble extension.  

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post #43 of 54
1/19/13 at 1:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrAdrian View Post

Hmm now both my K400 and K500 arrived!

 

I can't tell which one is better... K500 is brighter with more extended highs, while K400 mids is very very sweet... Decisions decisions...

When I received a pair of K400 as a present (almost 20 years ago) I immediately ran to the dealer to replace them with the K500 and pay a few extra Deutschmarks. To my ears, the clarity, soundstage, resolution of the K500 were far superior to that of the K400. I never regretted the trade-in and just ordered some replacement earpads. Still my main headphones. 

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post #44 of 54
1/19/13 at 1:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cip22 View Post

When I received a pair of K400 as a present (almost 20 years ago) I immediately ran to the dealer to replace them with the K500 and pay a few extra Deutschmarks. To my ears, the clarity, soundstage, resolution of the K500 were far superior to that of the K400. I never regretted the trade-in and just ordered some replacement earpads. Still my main headphones. 

 

Hmm quite the opposite to what I've done, I actually decided to keep the K400 and sold off the K500 for its mids presentation. Yes I agree with you how clarity, soundstage and resolution all are superior on the K500, but I ultimately preferred less treble for a very very clearn midrange presentation. Because there is so little bass and treble, K400 has all its focus on midrange, and does it fantastically.

 

That's only my opinion biggrin.gif

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post #45 of 54
1/20/13 at 6:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrAdrian View Post

 

That's only my opinion biggrin.gif

 

Of course! 

How nice that there's a pair of headphones for every pair of ears. 

k701smile.gif

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