AKG K430 Impressions Thread - Page 5

Do you need to use a dedicated headphone amp to be able to say you're 'amping'? I am connecting them to the headphone out of my old Akai amp...I suspect that's not what people mean, but I don't know too much about headphones. The fact that you need to use an amp to get good (not great) performance out of a $30 phone should count against 'em though. What do you mean by 'grainy'? Like bad vinyl?

One more note - even with the EQing, bass doesn't feel as tight/is a bit muddy, but I also don't know much about EQing, so that might be a part of it. Still, I'm definitely enjoying these things, especially with anything brass and vocals - in other words, jazz!

I'd just like to say that these have really come into their own. I earlier said that the soundstage was all wrong on these, but frankly, everything is wrong on them without burn in. They're quite enjoyable now as work headphones - e.g. where IEMs are too much of a bother to use. Attacks on strings are now much better, closer to goosebump calibre (try it with the opening notes of "Tales of a Jedi Knight" from the Star Wars OST). The bass is still a little subdued, but not non-existent. EQing is a little hard because pushing it too much mucks up the clarity - which is why you want these things - so you just have to deal with this aspect of it.

I would still be loath to pay more than $30, maybe $40 for it. A bunch of people are flipping these on amazon for around $50...I'm not sure there aren't better options at this price range. I dunno what else is out there in the portable-closed-phone area at this price point though.

Looks like they are back on sale at $30...

I picked up some of these AKG K430's right before Christmas and for $29.99 I think they are an excellent headphone, at $98 not so much so. After I grabbed these I decided to check out other places, other prices and was quite excited to see websites selling them for up to $98 knowing that I had scored them for $29.99. When they first arrived I listened to them right away and at first they were OK, not great just OK. I had also purchased at the same time some SONY, I forget the model, anyway the Sony's were like $12.99 and they sounded better at first to me than the AKG's.

 I accidentally left the AKG's plugged in all night to my DAC with music playing (accidental break-in, lol) when I woke the next day and realized my ace move I put them on and the sound was so, so much better. I have had these for a week or so now and listen to them on and off each day and they continue to unfold and present more Bass as time goes by. I enjoy the fit and comfort of these light on-ear headphones and for the price I paid I feel as if I got a very good deal. 

 The sound has really opened up now, very much improved from first listen, I have Ultrasone Hfi 700 and these little K430's are creeping up on them....we shall see after another 50 hrs or so....

if anyone has a pair they don't like I'd be more than happy to grab them off you:) oh and I live in Australia.

Ok just got my pair and have had a few listens, enough to give my first impressions. The bass on these is fairly light but not as bad some headphones I have owned. The mid-range is probably the best area I like and the treble is good as well but a bit rolled of. I want to see if they improve with more burnin but so far I would say they are well worth $30 but not their MSRP. If I rustle up my V-Jay's I will do a bit of an A/B comparison but from memory I would say these are comparable to the V-Jays in terms of sound stage with maybe a slight edge on the V-jays in this area. I also think they are more comfortable and come with better accessories. Their cable is a bit on the weak side though. The fact I got both pairs in the around the $30 range suggest neither quite lives up to their MSRP though. Going from memory I would say signature wise the K430 is right in between the V-Jay and the Senn PX100 in regards to brightness. It is brighter than the PX100 but not as bright as the V-Jay which is good as I found the V-Jay a bit to bright. But all this is from memory so I will wait until I do a real comparison. If I'm lucky I might be able to rustle up a pair of PX100 to add to the mix but this may not happen.

Not sure if this is the pair I want as my portable headphone or not but will see. Certainly not a bad little pair though. Matto I may willing to work with you on my pair but I suspect the cost of shipping simply will make this not worth while for you, but we will see after I have time to use these for a while and let them continue to burn in. One thing I have learned is AKG headphones require alot of time to properly mature in sound, even the little ones like this pair.

dweaver, I would be very interested in a comparison between the k430 and the v-jays. I own the v-jays and consider them to be a very good open portable if you can get them below 50 dollars (the only downgrade being that they are a tad bright). I'm considering the k430 as a closed alternative for a friend, so I would love to hear more about it.

.::Short Review::.

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Bass: The bass on the K430 is there. Nice "uud" and "thuds" at times but somewhat light.

Highs: The highs on these are just. . .amazing! They are clear and can go somewhat high with the volume before it pierces the ear. 

Mids: The mids on these are pushed out a fair bit, which makes the highs and lows at time sound very bad. It is detailed in a way, but a little bit mudded.

Lows: Awful (compared to MS1i's). They are so muddy and crap. You can hear the lows, but it's so...so...muddy! If you compare the lows to apple earphones than they maybe great! 

Comfort: 2 out of 5 stars. Sorry for being mean, but they are not comfortable! After 30 minutes - 1 hour, my outer ears starts to hurt. It might be me, but it hurts! T__T

Design: Very good, love the design and that it has an integrated volume control. 

Value: $40 on eBay? HECK GET IT! 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jema 

dweaver, I would be very interested in a comparison between the k430 and the v-jays. I own the v-jays and consider them to be a very good open portable if you can get them below 50 dollars (the only downgrade being that they are a tad bright). I'm considering the k430 as a closed alternative for a friend, so I would love to hear more about it.

Deal is back http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/56254/musicians-friend-akg-k-430-closed-back-onear-headphones