AKG Q460 "Quincy Jones" vs. Koss PortaPro [{(nooblet impressions)}]

This is a very subjective noob review for people who aren't terribly concerned with pure signal source. I use EQ on my player. I don't compare these two headphones with the same EQ settings. I'm comparing their potential, I guess. I definitely listened to them with the EQ flat...just for kicks, but then I optimized my EQ settings the best I possibly could via Rockbox to get the most out of both of the headphones.

First impression: (just recieved the QJ's)

I've already stated that I'm pretty sure I'm not an audiophile...more of a "music enthusiast". I don't know anything about "roll-off" and "forward" and all your techy lingo'phile words. I have been looking for a good portable rig w/o being too cumbersome and spendy. I settled on the Clip+ (for now) for a source. Had the Fiio E5, but it really didn't help all that much when compared to the white noise it introduced.

I began my search with the Koss PortaPro. They were a ton better than my Vmoda Bass Freq's. The vast improvement left me wondering what else was out there beyond the $30 PortaPro...it "had" to be incredible. I got a good deal on the Miles Davis Tributes and sold them after 2 weeks. They were too revealing of poor recordings that I used to enjoy. They were also a bit harsh on my ears. I sold them and settled on the AKG Q460's. I had seriously considered the K181DJ...but went with the 460's due to their size / portability.

The first couple of seconds made me wonder if I would regret my purchase, but after about 15min they seemed to open up and really "sing to me".

What I'm noticing after my initial use is that they are a much more capable headphone than the PortaPro. They have more prominant mid range...(is this what forward mids are?)...and are much more detailed. They are louder than the PP's...I'm assuming they are lower resistance. The bass response seems more controlled, the mid's (as I stated) make themselves more known, and the treble is more detailed and crisp.

I'm sorry for the vague, non-technical verbage here, but I just don't have the experience in HiFi that you guru's seem to have.

All I know is that after about 15min of use...they sound like a whole different playing field than the PP's. They make the Koss sound thin and muffled. No amount of EQ'ing will open up the PortaPro's to compete with the QJ's. I'm very happy with them.

I don't find the PP's to be useless. When EQ'd to compensate for their shortcomings...they get the job done. When I "let my ears rest"...the PP's sound alright with the Clip+. It's kinda like a bag of chips versus chocolate cake...or a  shiatsu massage versus sex. Chips and a massage are pretty alright if you don't know any better, but chocolate cake and sex blows that crap away. It would be hard to go back after knowing what I know.

Can you seriously "hear" a difference? I was supposed to hear a difference on my guitar cables, but I don't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aurnob88 

your description of the portapro's is how i feel as well. idk why their so loved on this forum, and people quote them as being better than more expensive cans

Well it's funny...I have migrated back to the PortaPro. The more I use them (especially amped) the more I see why they are praised. There are better phones out there for sure, but I got mine for $30 and for the money...they can't be beat. Having said that...the QJ's are gone b/c of a somewhat unnatural sound especially in the bass arena. Sounded sorta plastic'y. I couldn't use them at all for rock b/c the more natural sound of the PP's outshined the QJ's. I feel like the PP's have more headroom / soundstage. You can listen to them at higher volume w/o fatigue. You can listen to them at lower volume and not miss anything.

I'm on to bigger and better things.

Will try my new  Turbines tonight and if I don't like 'em...I'll bite the bullet and go for the ZX700 or the much touted M50's.

 

Not liking the Turbines either...not quite as bad as the MD's. I guess I just hate IEM's. They feel as if they're not "airy" at all. Just sitting there in your ears. Maybe I need some space between my drums and my music for some sound stage? Turbines are going back.