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K1000 reminds you of what speakers? - Page 2

post #16 of 23
8/17/09 at 10:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Buchanan View Post
The ESL-63s are a great, if somewhat limited in the low end, speaker. You MUST listen to any that you want to buy (for reasons stated above) and repairs will be neither simple nor cheap. I have a pair of 989s and they are wonderful (similar to the 63s, except with more bass and bigger).
Quad electrostats have a coherence that many speakers cannot achieve. Make sense as it is essentially one driver unit. Voice and strings are fantastic on it; less so precussion. Dynamics are also a bit of a bummer. Sweetspot on the ESL 63's is pin tight - we're talking about 1-2 inches. Low end is also a bit of a letdown. Can't win em all.
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post #17 of 23
8/17/09 at 10:48am
In terms of imaging, tonality and accurate soundstage it is hard to beat a pair of Quad Electrostatics or a Planar speaker such as a Magnepan. However, I have not heard any headphones including the K1000 which can come close to sounding like above mentioned speakers.
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post #18 of 23
8/17/09 at 11:15am
No doubt, loudspeakers image outside the head, whereas headphones image within. While the K1000 is a dipole loudspeaker like the Quad and Magnepan planar speakers, the rear wave on the K1000 is not heard to the same extent as do planar speakers indoors. I believe a lot of the soundstaging from planar speakers is due to their equally strong rear wave output which is reflected off the rear wall, eventually returning to the listener attenuated and delayed, adding a nice effect. Try listening to those same loudspeakers outdoors and see if their soundstage sounds the same.
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post #19 of 23
8/17/09 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooterboy View Post
In terms of imaging, tonality and accurate soundstage it is hard to beat a pair of Quad Electrostatics or a Planar speaker such as a Magnepan. However, I have not heard any headphones including the K1000 which can come close to sounding like above mentioned speakers.
Yep - I wouldn't use the words imaging & soundstage with headphones in the same sentence. The K-1000 is a good attempt..that's what I would call it let's call a horse a horse. On more traditional headphones they don't even come close...
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post #20 of 23
8/17/09 at 11:29am
The first thing that comes to my mind are Lowther based speakers. Lowthers are some of the fastest, liveliest, most dynamic drivers you can listen to, which I hear with the K1000. They also share a similar lack of low end bass response and once in awhile a bit of etch and glare up top. But the speed is right on, as I have always been amazed at the speed and clarity of the K1000 and transient response that lowthers and single driver designs in general offer.
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post #21 of 23
8/17/09 at 12:39pm
Ancient Audio - Harmony
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post #22 of 23
8/17/09 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
I've found bliss with the Quad ESL-63. Their mids might not be as magical as the ESL-57, but I've heard the ESL-57 and think the ESL-63 is a better performer overall. The mids might not have the same gorgeous tonality, but it isn't easy to find fault with them. If you can find a used pair locally, I think you'd love them.
You have to try the 2905's, for me the choice was very close and difficult between my kharma's and those. They considerably improve on the ESL63. But after several weeks with both, the kharma's won my soul (and my wallet)

...Planars, dipoles, and ES, are the least the k1000's remind me of, as they depend a lot on the rear wall reflection, the K1000's dont. If best they remind me of boxed monitors...

Quote:
Originally Posted by HiFlight View Post
I am running a set of Magnaplan MG12s in a fairly small space. They and my K-1000s have much similarity in sound and sense of realism, IMO.

You guys certainly are holding the k1000's in a very high standard, so much that I feel its overly hyped . Common, the K1000's are half headphones, half monitors, a strange monster, but there is no way I would choose them over the speakers you are mentioning, nor any other moderately priced/high quality monitor. K1000's are NOT speakers, I hope we all agree on this one, they might be the closest thing, but not close enough....

I agree that they might remind you of some speakers (just as the OP asked), when I posted my positive observations I wrote that they reminded me of the Reference 3A Royal Master's and their after family, but I could never say they are like xxxx or like xxxx, or worst, that they are better than xxxx speaker.

For once you guys should be a bit more objective and put the k1000's in the pedestal they belong (the headphone world) and dont try to put them at the level where speakers perform,

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooterboy View Post
However, I have not heard any headphones including the K1000 which can come close to sounding like above mentioned speakers.
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post #23 of 23
8/18/09 at 6:47pm
From the speakers I have heard the K1000 tonally sounds very similar the Cain & Cain Super Abbys.
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