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I think k1000 is the truely hiend sonic performance for grand system.

post #1 of 30
8/18/08 at 8:34am
Thread Starter 
Driver itself is pretty colorless and can be tuned by the system. At first, I wouldn't consider k1000 as grand compared to other highend phones like L3000, w2002, R10 since the rest can produce sound quality at nearly or even better than k1000 from lower system.

However, things changed and I have to change my mind again when I changed my preamp from stello hp100 (which I thought it was already good enough) to my modified grace m902 (costing over $1k for hiend components) which can rival to $3k preamp and dac, my k1000 acted absolutely different and I could say that common scale full-size cans couldn't hold such cradle against this evil beast. The sound quality is some what resembles $3k avalon speakers (well not that close maybe around %80 for sound quality).

I wonder if there is anyone tried such headphone with very highend system like $10k or more.
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post #2 of 30
8/18/08 at 11:39am
Great to see that you enjoy your K1000's.
My impression are that it scale nicely when hooked up to higher quality source and amplifier as well.
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post #3 of 30
8/18/08 at 1:00pm
You don't even mention the amp used. I've found the K1000's to be the most amp sensitive headphones, at least in my experiene they are. Or are you using the Grace amp? Not exactly my first choice of amp fot the K1000's. I like the Grace a lot (It's significantly better than the DAC1), and I am curious about the Mods that you mentioned.

The better the headphones or speakers the more apparent differences upstream become.
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post #4 of 30
8/18/08 at 8:52pm
I think amps make a big difference for sensitive headphones. Especially for the K1000. A refined sounding amp will make the k1000 shine.

Buy the best amp possible.

Summit-Fi all the way!
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post #5 of 30
8/18/08 at 9:17pm
i think the k1k is pretty whack, for what is required to make them sound not harsh, i'd rather listen to real speakers like an integrated and some minimonitors.
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post #6 of 30
8/18/08 at 9:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by panda View Post
i think the k1k is pretty whack, for what is required to make them sound not harsh, i'd rather listen to real speakers like an integrated and some minimonitors.
You just hook the K-1000 to a power amp for loudspeakers. That's what the manual tells you to do. It is a lot simpler than most think.

I run mine from a warm, sweet Conrad-Johnson MV-52. Love it.
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post #7 of 30
8/18/08 at 10:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by panda View Post
i think the k1k is pretty whack, for what is required to make them sound not harsh, i'd rather listen to real speakers like an integrated and some minimonitors.
the k1000s have hundreds of amp possibilities at the top end of the spectrum whereas there are only a few truly high end headphone amps.

I top flight 300b based amp for the k1000s is almost impossible to beat.
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post #8 of 30
8/19/08 at 9:25am
I listened to them with ASL Twin Head as preamp, with CCa and 45 "mesh plate" tubes, and SS dedicated power section, and this headphones are supreme!
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post #9 of 30
8/19/08 at 9:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
You just hook the K-1000 to a power amp for loudspeakers. That's what the manual tells you to do. It is a lot simpler than most think.

I run mine from a warm, sweet Conrad-Johnson MV-52. Love it.
I agree. Most people over think it, trying to go with expensive headphones amps that are capable of powering it. A decent $500 speaker amp will do wonders with the K-1000.

I used the Jolida 1501RC and it sounded amazing.
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post #10 of 30
8/19/08 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by panda View Post
i think the k1k is pretty whack, for what is required to make them sound not harsh, i'd rather listen to real speakers like an integrated and some minimonitors.
To each their own I guess.
I like the K1000 for the simple fact that it can be driven by a regular speaker amplifier. Cause then I don't need to buy a dedicated headphone amplifier, which see very little other use...
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post #11 of 30
8/20/08 at 1:06am
Thread Starter 
Well, sorry for missing amp information. It was rushy back then. It's Firstwatt F1 (newest upgrade from Nelson Pass). My current system for k1000 is

Linn Genki (Superclock V3+blackgate+oscon+2xphyton ultra low-noise terloid+aes digital out+damping) -> Valhalla AES -> Grace m902 (Superclock V3+blackgate+opa627bp+ad8620+valkyrja wiring+separated terloids) -> Valkyrja XLR -> Firstwatt F1 -> k1000(apuresound V3)

Back then I was using Stello HP100 and I thought it was 90% of k1000. When switched back to grace, it's 60% and grace should be real 90%. It's acoustic, the real music. I never know k1000 is so sensitive to preamp so much like this.
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post #12 of 30
8/20/08 at 2:08am
All my experiences with the K-1000 had take me to the same conclusion, tubes, solid state, monoblocks, etc....I feel they are good in what they do right, and very bad in what they do not do right, the bass. The impact and extension is a must for me, till now I like what they offer in the upper registries, but for me they need a lot of improvement in the lower region...a lot...Even though the best AKG have done till now, IMO...
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post #13 of 30
8/20/08 at 2:11am
my mentality i guess is why waste a power amp on fones that leak as much sound as speakers, why not run some efficient speakers?

sovkiller, i feel the opposite and think their bass impact and tonality is actually quite good while they are extremely lacking in the top end refinment and the mids a bit recessed.
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post #14 of 30
8/20/08 at 2:15am
Thread Starter 
Because you guys didn't set the system right. Unfortunately, only very few people can archive that goal of k1000. It involves using greater-end interconnects, justified power cords with good tonal balance, power conditioning, etc.
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post #15 of 30
8/20/08 at 2:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by panda View Post
my mentality i guess is why waste a power amp on fones that leak as much sound as speakers, why not run some efficient speakers?
Speakers involve placement, room treatments and sweet spots. The K1000's sweet spot is always where you want it.
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