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Imagination? Do headphones need contant use to sound the best?

post #1 of 12
2/7/12 at 9:50pm
Thread Starter 

I ask this because I've noticed an inconsistency with a used pair of AKG 702s purchased some weeks ago.

 

When they first arrived after a LONG gestation period in the postal system over Xmas they sounded awful with harsh forward midrange which made pleasurable music listening impossible.angry_face.gif  So for a few weeks I moved them to a less demanding audio situation where they sounded fine.  Later I retried them out in the music system and, surprise surprise they sounded fine, maybe still a bit midrange forward, but frighteningly close to the Sennheiser HD800s.

 

And I've observed, since then, that they sound better with constant use and can take a while to settle down again if unused for awhile.And BTW I have never observed this with the Sennies - they sound superb all the time.bigsmile_face.gif

 

Anyway I've been so pleased with the AKG 702s I've got another used pair on the way (purchased from a poster here) so there will be no need to plug/unplug from room to room.  But maybe this could be self defeating if one pair is used less -> sound deteriorates.

 

Anyone else observed this with AKGs or any other breed of phones?

 

John

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post #2 of 12
2/7/12 at 9:56pm

Heya,

 

Nope.

 

Very best,

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post #3 of 12
2/7/12 at 10:01pm

 

 They do seem to change with a bit of burn-in - my K601's took awhile, I'm also noticing my PS1000's with about 80hrs

 on them do seem to have an 'on form' day and off - or my imagination is awfully active of late.

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post #4 of 12
2/7/12 at 10:22pm

The concepts of "Burn-in" and "Play-in" are real to me. My first year working at CES, I learned some hard lessons... and I wasn't alone. Many first year exhibitors can testify!

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post #5 of 12
2/7/12 at 10:59pm

Are you sure it isn't your ears just getting use to them?

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post #6 of 12
2/7/12 at 11:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jzbass25 View Post

Are you sure it isn't your ears just getting use to them?


Sensible thought, but remember I was A/B with the Sennheiser HD800 all this time.  Initially there was no comparison but, as time went on the AQ got closer & closer.  Never quite made it, but so close I could not justify to someone else to go fort the Sennies rather than the AKG 702s. 

 

But OK for me as I'm a confirmed nutterevil_smiley.gif

 

John

 

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post #7 of 12
2/7/12 at 11:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jzbass25 View Post

Are you sure it isn't your ears just getting use to them?



Is this for me or Gwarmi to answer? Never mind, Tassie's got it! 


Edited by Silent One - 2/7/12 at 11:43pm
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post #8 of 12
2/7/12 at 11:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tassie Devil View Post


Sensible thought, but remember I was A/B with the Sennheiser HD800 all this time.  Initially there was no comparison but, as time went on the AQ got closer & closer.  Never quite made it, but so close I could not justify to someone else to go fort the Sennies rather than the AKG 702s. 

 

But OK for me as I'm a confirmed nutterevil_smiley.gif

 

John

 


Great avatar!

 

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post #9 of 12
2/8/12 at 12:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jzbass25 View Post

Are you sure it isn't your ears just getting use to them?



I agree with this statement.

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post #10 of 12
2/8/12 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thing Fish View Post



I agree with this statement.



So, explain to me why I hear a decreasing difference between the AQ from the Sennheiser HD800s & these AKG 702s.  Your comment would be valid if the 702s were the only headphones being listened to but they are not.

 

So, I disagree!!

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post #11 of 12
2/8/12 at 3:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tassie Devil View Post



So, explain to me why I hear a decreasing difference between the AQ from the Sennheiser HD800s & these AKG 702s.  Your comment would be valid if the 702s were the only headphones being listened to but they are not.

 

So, I disagree!!


Because you've listened to the Sennheisers a lot more and are used to their signature

 

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post #12 of 12
2/8/12 at 3:33pm

Nope, headphones don't get out of shape from a sedentary lifestyle like people.

 

As to my thoughts on the (tired) burn-in question:

 

1. Do headphones burn-in? Yes!

2. Do they actually sound different? Probably.

3. Can you truly tell the difference? Maybe.

4. Is the difference large relatively-speaking? Nope. If so, your headphone is defective or fundamentally flawed from an engineering perspective.

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