I don't believe that K501 have the quality of studio monitors, but it doesn't mean they are bad, especially for USD150, which is silly compared to many headphones, but lets not start this, as we know that K812 are not just another consumer headphones, these are pro gear for studio use and while many already stated that this is marketing only, there are things that changing and many using their PC based systems for pro work to, think of the young and talented guys/girls, who cant effort USD1mln studio, ok?
 
Personally, I think that this is pretty fair that you compare the headphones based on their price, such as HD800 vs. K812, but their truly goal is way differ and that's what man forget very fast and start the giants war.
Do yourself a favor and just read what cucera wrote, I think the answer is there: extremely precise, dead neutral and absolutely not forgiving. Are these 3 terms are the head ones from general consumer headphones? Don't think so. Just take a look at LCD price range, which in my mind are way over their max, regarding money they are selling for and do you know why? Because nothing of these 3 components are there and that's why it sells so good.
I was bit ignorant, but starting to realize that AKG was and still is not really interesting what general consumer will think of K812 at all. But above all that, I do think that their MSPR is a joke and not the good one either, as the one that should be in the very beginning, was most acceptable, which would be dropping by market itself to around EUR 800, which will be very acceptable for many, but not anymore, because Harman/AKG, most probably, will follow Sennheiser and going to keep their price fixed as well, but we need just wait and see what is going to happened, this is to early to say the last and I think the hype will be over very soon.
 
THX

blackmore said:

  I don't believe that K501 have the quality of studio monitors, but it doesn't mean they are bad, especially for USD150, which is silly compared to many headphones, but lets not start this, as we know that K812 are not just another consumer headphones, these are pro gear for studio use [...] Do yourself a favor and just read what cucera wrote, I think the answer is there: extremely precise, dead neutral and absolutely not forgiving. Are these 3 terms are the head ones from general consumer headphones? Don't think so. Just take a look at LCD price range, which in my mind are way over their max, regarding money they are selling for and do you know why? Because nothing of these 3 components are there and that's why it sells so good. [...]

Click to expand...

 
Oh, K501 are certainly dated. One can hear grain compared to even K702. I wouldn't use it for monitoring, but the tone is more effective for listening than many more accurate newer models. I seek out models that play a coherent and enjoyable soundworld. And I agree that that seldom overlaps with monitoring capabilities. Whilst it's fair to ask if K812 is a useful for monitoring, it's also fair to ask if it's a pleasure to hear.

Well, I do read enough things that make me want to try K812 and I agree, the tonality is the key, lucky us we have enough to chose from.

Market will dictate the price and not Harmann International. The phone is overpriced, yes, but so are the HD800 since their increasing the price, Fostex TH900, all Audeze since LCD2 and every single Ultrasone. Nevertheless they all sell cans.
Jugded on sound quality ther price is accetable if you view the LCD3 as beeing reasonable priced.

blackmore said:

I don't believe that K501 have the quality of studio monitors, but it doesn't mean they are bad, especially for USD150, which is silly compared to many headphones, but lets not start this, as we know that K812 are not just another consumer headphones, these are pro gear for studio use and while many already stated that this is marketing only, there are things that changing and many using their PC based systems for pro work to, think of the young and talented guys/girls, who cant effort USD1mln studio, ok?

Personally, I think that this is pretty fair that you compare the headphones based on their price, such as HD800 vs. K812, but their truly goal is way differ and that's what man forget very fast and start the giants war.
Do yourself a favor and just read what cucera wrote, I think the answer is there: extremely precise, dead neutral and absolutely not forgiving. Are these 3 terms are the head ones from general consumer headphones? Don't think so. Just take a look at LCD price range, which in my mind are way over their max, regarding money they are selling for and do you know why? Because nothing of these 3 components are there and that's why it sells so good.
I was bit ignorant, but starting to realize that AKG was and still is not really interesting what general consumer will think of K812 at all. But above all that, I do think that their MSPR is a joke and not the good one either, as the one that should be in the very beginning, was most acceptable, which would be dropping by market itself to around EUR 800, which will be very acceptable for many, but not anymore, because Harman/AKG, most probably, will follow Sennheiser and going to keep their price fixed as well, but we need just wait and see what is going to happened, this is to early to say the last and I think the hype will be over very soon.

THX

Click to expand...

THIS my friend is the key point! And this is really true. I KNOW now, that the k812 was really made for the studio, not for enjoying music. AKG itself confirmed that. I didn't believed it, but now i'm sure of it. Thats why the k400-501 etc. Sounds better for enjoying the music. Not my cup of tea, i don't need a studio can.

natsukawa said:

THIS my friend is the key point! And this is really true. I KNOW now, that the k812 was really made for the studio, not for enjoying music. AKG itself confirmed that. I didn't believed it, but now i'm sure of it. Thats why the k400-501 etc. Sounds better for enjoying the music. Not my cup of tea, i don't need a studio can.

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All the AKG flagship hps are made for studio use, as well the K400, K500. 

Sorry but thats simply not true ;D what about k601 for instance? It was made for home use, at the same time the k701 came for the studio. And for the older ones.... which one is the flagship? K400 or k401? K500 or k501? All for the studio? I doubt it ;D

natsukawa said:

 And for the older ones.... which one is the flagship? K400 or k401? K500 or k501? All for the studio? I doubt it ;D

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None of them were the flagship. They all were a cheap and much worse alternative of Akg K1000. And I believe they were for studio use.
That's a shame if K812 is worse than AKG K501 and K400 because they're not so great themself.

@cucera

Market will dictate the price and not Harmann International. The phone is overpriced, yes, but so are the HD800 since their increasing the price, Fostex TH900, all Audeze since LCD2 and every single Ultrasone. Nevertheless they all sell cans.

Click to expand...

 
I completely agree with this statement.
There is a grossly overpriced headphone market which is by the way fully functional. Harman\Akg did not invent this market they've just came late to the party, Yippee-ki-yay !
 

@Blackmore
 
 Personally, I think that this is pretty fair that you compare the headphones based on their price, such as HD800 vs. K812, but their truly goal is way differ and that's what man forget very fast and start the giants war.

Click to expand...

 
In this 1k+ market there are many contenders but when compared with K812 it will be always ending with apples vs oranges argument (probably), since it has honest nature of sound presentation.
Subjectively maybe you would not use HD800 as a studio reference but generally there are many people that are using them exactly as such, so its not the price necessarily that is making them natural contenders.
Starting a war is too strong word. I would rather say healthy market competition which is always good for consumers (?)
 

I would say it's smarter to wait for the price to drop. The sale price really depends on how the competition is doing as well as popularity. I think beyer is feeling the pressure from the competition thus the price of T1 has decreased quite a bit lately.

After two day of excessiv listening to the AKG K812 I have to admit that it is together with the Sennheiser HD800 the best dynamic headphone I've heard so far. There are only a few differences. The AKG has a little bit more sub bass but the upper mids and treble are a little bit more pronounced as well compared to HD800. That's why it seems the AKG has a better resolution but this is not true.
 
If I did not already own a top headphone (HD800) and I have to choose a new one independent of dynamic or planar, I would pick either AKG K812 or HD800. Nothing else !
 
Summary: the difference between both are very small but at the end the HD800 is a small step ahead due to my listening preferences.

vincent199122 said:

  I would say it's smarter to wait for the price to drop. The sale price really depends on how the competition is doing as well as popularity. I think beyer is feeling the pressure from the competition thus the price of T1 has decreased quite a bit lately.

Click to expand...

 
Harman got this planned that is why they inflamed the price so badly. When the hype is over they will be ruffly the same price as the Senns.
 
If the Beyer would cost around 600 Euros it would be much more interesting for sure.

theduke990 said:

  After two day of excessiv listening to the AKG K812 I have to admit that it is together with the Sennheiser HD800 the best dynamic headphone I've heard so far. There are only a few differences. The AKG has a little bit more sub bass but the upper mids and treble are a little bit more pronounced as well compared to HD800. That's why it seems the AKG has a better resolution but this is not true.
 
If I did not already own a top headphone (HD800) and I have to choose a new one independent of dynamic or planar, I would pick either AKG K812 or HD800. Nothing else !
 
Summary: the difference between both are very small but at the end the HD800 is a small step ahead due to my listening preferences.

Click to expand...

 
So it seams that nuances will make decision factor what to buy.
 
Even that the hype is going in favor of AKG, I would choose Sennheiser. Better soundstaging abilities would won me over at the end. After all, I am a speaker guy trapped in a headphone

Don't forget that you can try HD800 almost in every high end shop and I don't even want to start about AKG. The last model I saw they were selling were K501.

Actually I just acquired my T1 recently despite the fact it's being said it's beaten across the broad by K812 in this thread. I have been listening to my PS1000 for 2 and half years and have come to a conclusion that the treble on low impedence headphones are pretty hard to deal with in terms of system synergy. The key I find is the amount of voltage output from the DAC. Too high of voltage will make the treble very hash.
 
My experience with the PS1000 powering by a portable device is very consistant with what being said in this thread. While it's easy to drive them to a state with good dynamics, the treble sounded terrible.