[Kiep]

I just tried K240 at a pro shop and liked them better than K271, BD 770 and 990. Brought them home and like them better than my HD650.
Am I nuts?
Anyone out there with similar reactions?

 

[Uncle Erik]

I've got a pair of K-240DF in the mail to me. I'm definitely going to compare them to the HD-650 - you might be on to something.

 

[sunseeker888]

They are excellent for monitoring. I presume you are referring to the original 600 ohm version? I never listened to the 55 ohm new ones. Well, they are pretty neutral, maybe a tad recessed at both ends of the frequency extremes, but not enough to really hinder their presentation.

 

[jgonino]

what kind of source/amp was this out of? I agree that an HD650 would probably sound like crap compared to a k240 if the amp and source are weak.

I really enjoyed my k240 anniversary edition, which was 600 ohm. I think It sounded better than the HD650, but thats just my opinion.

 

[sunseeker888]

jgonino, good point about the possibility of a weak source/amp. I reckon that the reason they are good for monitoring is that, especially back in the day, many monitoring stations had sub-par headphone outs, or incorporated the head-outs through a headphone distribution panel.

 

[rederanged]

Interesting timing... I just got home with my new K240 Studios and have been comparing them with my HD650s.

Initial impressions using my CKK3 and PPX3 amps and some Radiohead, Massive Attack, Beck, and Wilco.

The tonal balance of the two sets of phones is actually pretty similar. The mids in the HD650s are a little more forward and tighter sounding, and the bass is a bit tighter and deeper. I was expecting the K240s to be bassier than they are. The bass is definitely there and it sounds pretty good, but it does not shake my brains. The K240s seem to have somewhat uneven treble, and roll off more quickly at the upper end than the HD650s.

The K240s are surprisingly difficult to drive for 55 ohm phones. They must be pretty inefficient. My iPod could only get them up to a moderate level with the volume at 100%, and they sounded pretty terrible that way. Both amps drive them wonderfully, however.

So far I think the K240s are very nice sounding for a $70 pair of cans, but the HD650s sound better in all respects. (As they should at 4-5x the price!) I've only had an hour with them, though, so the opinions stated in this post are subject to change.

 

[ecclesand]

I liked my K240 Sextett, K240 Monitor, and K271S better than the HD650. Come to think of it, I like pretty much everything more than the HD650.

 

[synaesthetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecclesand /img/forum/go_quote.gif Come to think of it, I like pretty much everything more than the HD650.

This. =P

 

[GreatDane]

K240M=sold

K240S=sold

HD650=

 

[fraseyboy]

Hmm....

The Sextetts are 600 ohms aint they... So they're pretty hard to drive?

 

[003]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecclesand /img/forum/go_quote.gif Come to think of it, I like pretty much everything more than the HD650.

+1

 

[mitchb]

Your only nuts if having an opinion is a symptom of psychosis. I don't think it is. Not yet anyhow.

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgonino /img/forum/go_quote.gif what kind of source/amp was this out of? I agree that an HD650 would probably sound like crap compared to a k240 if the amp and source are weak.

Actually even the 55 Ohm K240S is harder to drive than an HD650. Lower impedance, but also way lower sensitivity. It only starts to catch up to a 650 on a very good amp, but to my ear never makes it up to that level. On a good amp, though, I will take a 240S over an HD595, and I stand by that.

 

[Fitz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiep /img/forum/go_quote.gif I just tried K240 at a pro shop and liked them better than K271, BD 770 and 990. Brought them home and like them better than my HD650. Am I nuts? Anyone out there with similar reactions?

Yes, you are nuts, but only us nuts can recognize how good a lot of the AKG headphones are. There are many K240 versions, but you probably listened to the K240S ("studio")? The general consensus for best to worst is:

K240 Sextett
K240 DF
K240 Monitor
K240 Studio

So maybe if you only heard K240S, you should try to listen to other versions too.

 

[Fitz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Actually even the 55 Ohm K240S is harder to drive than an HD650. Lower impedance, but also way lower sensitivity. It only starts to catch up to a 650 on a very good amp, but to my ear never makes it up to that level. On a good amp, though, I will take a 240S over an HD595, and I stand by that.

Maybe would you take a K241 over a HD650?