I don't remember the market being flooded with 1000$ IEMs in 2018 - at least not from mass market brands such as AKG. Even today, $500+ are mostly from niche players, and are not sold in electronics stores, only in dedicated audio stores.

...they are overpriced at MSRP. Don't get me wrong--I love them, but how many units could a company possibly expect to sell at $1000? Maybe the k3003 sold very well at or near MSRP but that was, what, 2011? The high-end iem market is congested (as it was in 2018 when these were new), to put it...

Someone on Headfonics reviewed the K3003 as being the best Iems he'd ever heard. I couldn't understand that... sure they were superior but the weren't the best, but with these N5005 that makes sense for an AKG headphone. I am so impressed. They're so accurate and nice to hear.

Here is a pic of the Radius ear tips.

I have been through several tips, Final E Types, Spinfit 100+ and 145, k3003 tips and few others. All of them worked BUT, I got a set of Radius Deep Mount tips and BLAM! Best fit I have had on the n5005s. Been listening to them for the last week and these tips ROCK!

I also just bought a new set up the large CP145 Spinfits and they are working well. I put the Spinfits from the n5005 on my k3003's and they are the bomb.

I bought the XL spin fit CP 100 as well as the Final Audio Type E in XL and they both fit.

Just got these. Very happy. A continuation of the cloud sound of the k3003 into a more striking one and it seems to involve water in terms of imaging. Sounds fun-happy as I expected since it's a major company and is a buy-product. It feels like you're on a yacht in serene waters off the shore of...

You gotta check both (Samsung and AKG both have refurbished sites if I’m not mistaken) frequently. They will fluctuate in price. I forget if I paid 200 or 400 for my pair. But I did see it for 200.

Is that the website? https://www.akg.com/factory-refurbished They have refurbished K3003 for 910$, can't imagine they would sell N5005 too cheap.

You may be able to find one really cheap on AKG/Samsung's refurbished site.

Which one is more musical/naturally sounding?

i have both and the 5005s have completely replaced my 3003s. the mid high boost gives you the same sparkle and brilliance of the 3003s while having a better low end. as long as you can find comfortable tips ( i use the spiral dots previously mentioned in this thread) they have all the technical...

Paid $700 for my K3003 but that was back then 2014. Quite diff honestly as the N5005 doesn’t have the sparkle and treble of the K3003. Both do extend bass really well and have wide staging. Weirdly though, the K3003 has better soundstage height and depth but other than that the N5005 has better...

How are they compared to your K3003? I paid 1000$ for my K3003, would kill to get a brand new N5005 for 200$...

...it anyway. I am EXTREMELY impressed with the N5005. I’m pretty sure it’s the best sounding IEM I’ve ever used. Ones I don’t have anymore that I remember fondly are the AKG K3003, Heir 8.0, and Heir 10.0. I can’t compare them anymore, obviously, but I’m confident in saying the N5005 beats...

...and to me they are not very similar, to be honest I don't quite like either, the K712 is too lean and the N5005 is too dark to me. I like the K3003 more, but is kinda heavy, the cable is non replaceable and the carrying case is a joke. For IEMs I quite like the Drop JVC FXD0 which is not that...

Are these worth upgrading from the EX1000 etc? I love the EX100- treble spikes and would like to know if the N5005 has that same type of pure bright EX1000 treble quality!! :)

I actually feel the n5005 is way superior to the fh7, HEY! But they can share filters! :wink: but yeah, i own both and imo the n5005 has the upper hand, the only other iem i can place it against is the ier m9

I've also auditioned FH7 and have Tape at home, they are good but not quite as refined as N5005.

...honestly try FIIO FH7 or for that matter even Shuoer Tape and you'll see why even $500 is a bit much for N5005. On top of that you can pickup K3003i used or new old stock cheaper and arguably better than N5005. I bought N5005 when it first came out, auditioned against K3003 and was not...

want to know the difference between k3003 and this one

Not at all. N40 / K3003 / N5005 have all different filter size.

I can confirm the filters are interchangeable. No promises on the sound though. I doubt the 5005s filters were made with the 3003 in mind.