Presto
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2016
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http://electronics.woot.com/offers/akg-over-ear-headphones-w-mic-12?ref=el_cnt_wp_2_2 K545 on sale for only $80 on woot
http://electronics.woot.com/offers/akg-over-ear-headphones-w-mic-12?ref=el_cnt_wp_2_2 K545 on sale for only $80 on woot
That's a very interesting deal.
In my earlier post here I described the sonic differences I hear between K845BT and K550. I should add that those differences persist when I used the K845BT wired; they're not just a Bluetooth artifact in other words. And I'm fairly sure that the K545 and the K845BT are the same headphone aside from Bluetooth.
The K545's nice portable-length-with-remote cable is removable/replaceable, with a 3mm plug on the headphone side, so spares or cable upgrades are easy to come by. And that also means it can accept an external Bluetooth receiver if you want. The earcup size is smaller, so while it's still an over-ear for me, it may be an on-ear for some people. On its own IMO the smaller size of the K545(slash K845BT) makes it a little less dorky looking on the head if you're out and about.
For me the K550 is still my preference from a sonic perspective, but for mobile use the K545 (or K845BT) is a really nice alternative, and I haven't seen a price anywhere near that low for the K545 before.
Today my new AKG 550 MKII arrived - they were sold cheap and design-wise I find them the most desirable headphones (still) out there. Even better looking than my D5000 and Beoplay H6.
It is a shame therefore that the ear-pads are made of very thin pleather, they surely deserve real leather.
But that are just the looks...is it just me or is the K550 MKII different sounding than the MKI?
When I bought my AudioTechnica ATH-A900Xs, 5 years or so ago, I vastly prefered them over the K550s, I felt the K550s sounded thin with a pretty abrasive peak in the lower treble, similar to the high-mid peak of my Denon D5000s, but worse. The K550 MKIIs sound pretty similar to the BeoPlay H6s, open, neutral, wide and with clear highs. Maybe because of the big earcups and pads they sound a little more intimate, closed-in than the H6s, not the sound, but my preception of it. The H6s remain unique, in that I never feel I enter another sound world.
The fit of K550s ear pads are spot on, the clamping is just right. The sound is wonderful, with a lean, articulate but still solid bass, a wide soundstage and clear smooth highs. Coming from the Sony MDR-Z7s I don't feel I miss much bass and warmth, 'thin' is a sound characteristic than no longer aplies to the K550s.
Just wrote a short review:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/akg-k-550/reviews/18482
Just wrote a short review:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/akg-k-550/reviews/18482
Had some issues with my K550 recently. The headband pad started peeling badly and the foam underneath is horrible on a bald head so I replaced it with a Sennheiser HD201 pad. Pretty much a perfect fit and it's thicker than the original so improves the fit. Then I noticed as the temperatures are rising so is the temperature of my ears (with Brainwavz angled pleather pads) so I invested in the new Sheepskin version of the Brainwavz angled pads. Definitely more comfortable and cooler they also seem a little shallower than the pleather ones and seem to sound a little clearer (subjective impression of course). I'm back to being really happy with my K550's again. I can definitely recommend the HD201 headband pad if anyone has the peeling issue. Takes a bit of work to clean the old foam off though.
I feel like I MAY have tried that headband before, but not sure now. I'm actually VERY comfortable with my K551's headband. Same went for the K550 and K550 MK II I used to own. ONLY bad one was the K553. NEVER buy that headphone. Stupid release by AKG. Sounds the same as the other 3 (they ALL sound alike per AKG lol....even the sound graphs are only like 1% different from each other), but the K553 has THINNER headband padding than the rest. SO stupid!
Those sheepskin Brainwavz angled pads sound interesting, but I dunno. They say it's easy to replace the earpads, but it sure doesn't LOOK easy. lol And yeah even you're sayin' it takes some work. My ears do sometimes get a lil warm like if I'm on the train and it's warm in there, or at home. But I just wipe them down with my shirt and they're good to go! LOL That is interesting that you think they sound clearer with Brainwavz, though I find the stock ones to be VERY clear anyway.
To be honest, all I did was get hold of the ring on the back and stretch it a little before attempting to fit them then it was just a case of rotating them on as normal with a little more effort requited for the last bit but I'd say with that initial stretch they actually went on easier than the pleather ones. Definitely more comfortable now.
I have recently put a new headband from a different brand on the K550s that actually feels nicer than the original. I will upload pictures of that later. But I do actually like the original earpadsHey heads up for anyone who looks sorely at their k550 pads before putting them on with a sigh! Dekoni (who make wonderful magnificent pads for a bunch of headphones like the thx x00) have commented that they are making custom k553 pads! since those models are basically identical, we effectively have top tier pads coming for the k550!!
Knowing dekoni, they will release a velour option, protein leather option, sheepskin option, and fenestrated sheepskin versions (possibly a hybrid with all three together as well). they should be releasing soon as in their comment they said to look for it on massdrop within the coming weeks. Since the k553s are so damn popular, no doubt the pads will be amazing!
Im personally goin to pick up the sheepskin, and possibly fenestrated as well.