Balancing my K501

I have recently started my "balanced" journey with a pair of HD650 and a RudiStor amp NX-33, and I was trully impressed by the huge step forward in sound quality I have been able to experiment.

Since I own at the same time a pair of K501, I was wondering if I could also try them balanced out of my NX-33. So my question is as follows:

can I get my current stock cable reterminated for balanced operation with two 3pins XLR plugs ? Would that allow true balanced operation ?

I know I could have the entire cable changed, but at this stage, I first would like to listen how my K501 respond to balanced operation. I have not been able to see any comments on that anywhere.

Thanks a lot for your help,

HeadRoom is offering the K701 balanced with apparently stock cables, so is there a chances my current SE stock cable could be recabled for balanced operation with 3pins XLR plugs ?

Sorry if it looks as an obvious question, but I have really no clue on that depsite searching all the forum.

K501 get so much deserved love that it was really suprising to me to see that noone seems to ever have listen a K501 balanced !

Thanks

More than 3 months later, I finally had the opportunity to recable and balance my more-than-ever beloved K501.

To K501 owners willing to go the same road, please note that the stock cable of the K501 is a 3 wires only as shown in the picture below, and you will need a complete recabling (for both right and left drivers) in order to have the job done.



I have been extremely lucky to be in contact with a local DIYer with excellent references who has been able to do a fantastic job on my K501.

Here are some pictures of the K501 recabled. The cable used is a Mogami miniquad, and a pair of Neutrik plugs. The K501 are used balanced from my RudiStor NX-33 amp.





Needless to say the end result is nothing short of stunning. They are simply becoming my favorites cans so far. Unless many K501 owners, I find them indeed excellent all rounder, but of course, I am so much in love that my judgement might be flawed. Thanks anyway for reading.

Curiously (or sadly, depending on your preferences), the lower bass extension do not seem to increase substantially over the single ended operation. Improvement is noticeable, but especially regarding quality of bass response (even more tight, accurate, more texture and details), more than quantity.

Indeed, the overall improvement in sound is not comparable to the metamorphosis of the HD650 when running balanced.

However, for me, the HD650 had way more room for improvement than K501 . I find that the HD650 in SE mode is severley flawed for my tastes(low and thick, lacks clarity...), while I was already in love with the K501 running SE.

What balancing achieves for the K501 is simply stunning, because it takes the K501 to an even higher level of performance. The best analogy I can think of is like going from a SD DVD to a HD Blu Ray on a 50" display. No, the image is not bigger (bass and treble response do not seem to increase significantly), but OMG it seems so much more accurate, with more texture, inner details, amazing background clarity. The sense of depth and ambiance are improved and imaging is incredibly stable and pinpointed. I do not feel the soudstage is bigger (it is already big enough to me), just a lot more precise, which gives the feeling of having "more space around".

Detractors of the K501 will say it still lacks the weight and density of an HD650 for example, which would be right. Actually, the sound of the K501 could be a bridge between the fullness of the HD650 and the airyness of the electrostatic sound.

Mmmm, if I get bored of the K501 balanced one day, maybe , but it might not be tomorrow

Since my balanced K501 got home, I have not reached the HD650 not even once

Seriously, I would like to give the balanced HD650 some listening sessions to refresh my memory and to be able to answer better your question.