What's the deal with AKG? And the people who love their style?

Why don't you listen to some AKG's and find out for yourself?

They're discontinued. People buy them because they still sound good, and they're a conversation piece. Probably the same reason people still idolize the Sony R10, but I haven't heard it so I won't say any more lest I get shot.

A little from Column A, a little from Column B. 

 

I don't know that you could fix on *one* element at play. It's some combination of them. 

 

They *do* sound good. Really good. Though I agree - not better than the Stax 507 or I suspect than the 007/009 (have not heard those myself). But the prices for used K1000 can be attractive for the sound quality, if you're not after collector grade rigs. 

 

Regarding the 501 - some complain about the detail of the K7-- series, and some feel the soundstage is unnaturally large. The 501 were a sweet spot of mid-range goodness, with great soundstage and a very easy on the ears signature that plays very well with vocals and solo string instruments. 

Edited by liamstrain - 11/12/11 at 5:42pm

The K1000 is also still an attractive buy because it offers a unique kind of headphone experience. Though you could argue a good pair of near-field speakers might work better in the end.

I have some 702's and they are actually quite decent sounding but i'm not a fan of their looks.

 

Oh OK, you should be familiar with the modern AKG sound with your 702's. I've heard the K501 and some of the older early 90's models, the K55 and one other which I forgot. I did like the K501 but it was a bit lightweight, which I found common with AKG. My current K701 has more bass and less top end than I remember with the K501. AKG is a particular sound which some (myself included) like because they don't enhance bass while sounding open and clear. Never heard the K1000 but I have a feeling it's not my cup of tea, being literally an earspeaker..
 

 

Sennheiser HD800>K1000 HD598>K501

 

IMO anyways. Their turning cups are still kind of a novelty.

People who love the K501 should try the Q701. I prefer it to the K501.

 

Of course you'll get the following who will say...blah blah blah..it's green..AKG is all marketing..sounds plasticky or other nonsense.

 

Don't listen to them and just try it.

 

Here's how I rank my favorites now that are open:

 

Q701 > HD-598 > K501 > K601 > K702 > K240 Studio

 

Yeah..I'm one of those stupid people who actually thinks the Q701 is much better than the K702 /K701 and sounds much better. Yes, minor differences, but enough for me.

 

Q701 is one of my favorites now. Used it non-stop for 2 weeks without complaints. Even got a nice ALO SXC cable for it on loan

 

BTW the Q701's soundstage is not abnormally large. K702's is for sure (but not too badly). Just seemed a bit off and not too accurate.

 

Q701 to me is smooth and non-fatiguing. It's much warmer than the K702. Seems to me like a mix between a bright and energetic headphone and an HD-600. Wait, isn't that the K601?

Edited by tdockweiler - 11/12/11 at 6:10pm

 I was going to ask how your K601 was coming along ~ it's been a renewed love story with mine, so close to putting them back into the box and offering them up

 for sale at one stage and then my new source and amp arrived. Totally different headphone to my old Auzentech/ASUS source and Counterpoint head amp.

 

 Natural sounding, big sound stage courtesy of a better source. I was chatting to a local retailer who wanted my opinion on the K601 and I told him my thoughts.

 

 Keep a demo in the audition room and see if you can convert anyone who walks in through the door looking for a HD600/HD650 but you're going to have to tell

 them that they need a very decent rig too, that in itself makes them awfully compromised with some people ~ it doesn't help that the pricing makes them out

 to be a little 'mid fi' contender ~ they're worth so much more than that on a high end rig IMHO.

listen to a pair of 240DF's and find out why older AKG's are considered legendary and more sought after compared to newer models. even the sextetts are worth the hassle. give them enough power and music will talk to you. i prefer using power amps speaker outputs to drive them. it's just simple as this saying ''they don't make them like they use to''.

I haven't tried them on a "high-end" rig, but the K 601's don't compare to the HD 600/650 at all IMO. If the HD 650's are "hi-fi" then the K 601's are certainly "mid-fi"

 

I also didn't find them to be natural sounding at all. Unless AKG comes out with something less artificial sounding I won't bother buying another one. The older models do look interesting though. . .

K601 was my upgrade from the HD-600. No, I'm not kidding What's funny is that I originally owned a VERY early K601 with the Asgard and it sound very, very bad. Very harsh and fatiguing. It was easy to blame the amp, but that wasn't it.

 

I gave them another chance later when I got a better amp and this pair was a much higher numbered pair. This one is very very balanced sounding. It is a lot warmer sounding than the K702 and much more natural.

 

Maybe variations between pairs just like the K501? It's possible! I could listen to my K601 for hours without fatigue. I never thought I'd say it though, but this new Q701 sounds even more closer to neutral. I know most people who hate the K702 will be confused by that.

 

I will say though that if the K601 is natural sounding..the K501 is even more so.

 

I was trying to get rid of my K601 a few weeks ago due to it getting no use, but I just couldn't do it. It's still so good for gaming. One of my favorites for gaming.

 

You could try to sell a K601 for $120 and it'd take weeks to sell. Kind of sad really!