[size=10pt]I'm going to dive straight into the sound of the K601. Bass is where this headphone will be criticized most. Whilst it extends fairly well, the impact can be put to question; when a recording gives you bass impact, the K601 usually comes out with it, but it can fall short sometimes, especially when a recording has been a little reserved in terms of bass. It certainly won't suit the "bass head" type of listener.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Mid range is frankly superb, and the best part of the headphone's sound. Open and expansive, but somewhat lush at the same time, it really involves you. However, this comes with some penalty; there is some fuzz on the side of instruments, taking that clear edge off what you'd expect from reference headphones, and it can get a bit muddled depending on how many different sounds are thrown at it. Nonetheless, it still has a good deal of clarity and separation considering the headphone sits more in the "mid-fi" category.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Whilst most describe the K601's treble as "non-fatiguing", this is not entirely true; where a recording has a tipped treble, you'll certainly notice it with this headphone. That being said, it's definitely not intrusive for the most part, and you shouldn't find your ears feeling really tired out after a good listening session with the K601. Again, as with the mid range, you lose that clear edge and more refined detail of a reference headphone, but the headphone is by no means lacklustre in terms of over-all detail.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]The K601 has a fairly wide sound-stage and sports an airy sound. Instruments will have good separation and positioning where recorded, though there is still a sense that things could be a little more accurate.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]This headphone is orientated for home usage, and you'll find portable players and low grade sound cards don't really do it justice, resulting in a lack of flesh and impact to the bass and treble especially. Pair it with a "mid-fi" source and amplifier, and it'll really supply you with some great audio. Whilst the airiness and sound-stage help make the K601 work well with classical, that relaxed edge to the sound enables the headphone to act as a fairly good all-rounder, and I enjoy it with any music I throw at it.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Onto comfort, this headphone should certainly cause you no problems with of a CD or two's worth of straight listening, if not more. The velour ear pads are soft, and clamping force is quite light. This has some drawback, as moving your head forwards too far can result in the headphone slipping a bit, and vigorous head-banging on any axis will move it easily, but this should be little issue for most users. The headband is just a flat piece of leather, and I have found it to cause some pressure discomfort over long listening periods, but usually a slight repositioning will fix the problem for a while on top of that.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]This leads me onto design. Whilst comfort will be very good for the majority of users, the K601 is not without design flaws. The adjustment mechanism does not allow for a great deal of movement, and it works mostly in the vertical plane, so for those with particularly wide or over-all large heads, the headphone may not fit properly. Whilst the headphone is relatively attractive, the design is by no means as robust as some headphones, and though it may be sturdier than it appears at first sight, it might not last a major beating, or a big accident.[/size]
[size=10pt]As for those who like to re-cable, the single ended design and complex access means you'll have to put in some work to get the job done compared to some headphones. The pads at least come off relatively easy, where you simply push down on them and turn them anti-clockwise, not to mention that K701 pads (plus pads from earlier models such as the K501) are interchangeable, allowing for some slight tweaking to be made if desired.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Over all, the K601 performs well with several types of music, responds well to good equipment, and offers great comfort, all at a reasonable price. Most certainly worth checking out if you're looking to upgrade from a lower end set-up, or want to enter into headphone audio with a decent amount of money to spend.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Mid range is frankly superb, and the best part of the headphone's sound. Open and expansive, but somewhat lush at the same time, it really involves you. However, this comes with some penalty; there is some fuzz on the side of instruments, taking that clear edge off what you'd expect from reference headphones, and it can get a bit muddled depending on how many different sounds are thrown at it. Nonetheless, it still has a good deal of clarity and separation considering the headphone sits more in the "mid-fi" category.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Whilst most describe the K601's treble as "non-fatiguing", this is not entirely true; where a recording has a tipped treble, you'll certainly notice it with this headphone. That being said, it's definitely not intrusive for the most part, and you shouldn't find your ears feeling really tired out after a good listening session with the K601. Again, as with the mid range, you lose that clear edge and more refined detail of a reference headphone, but the headphone is by no means lacklustre in terms of over-all detail.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]The K601 has a fairly wide sound-stage and sports an airy sound. Instruments will have good separation and positioning where recorded, though there is still a sense that things could be a little more accurate.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]This headphone is orientated for home usage, and you'll find portable players and low grade sound cards don't really do it justice, resulting in a lack of flesh and impact to the bass and treble especially. Pair it with a "mid-fi" source and amplifier, and it'll really supply you with some great audio. Whilst the airiness and sound-stage help make the K601 work well with classical, that relaxed edge to the sound enables the headphone to act as a fairly good all-rounder, and I enjoy it with any music I throw at it.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Onto comfort, this headphone should certainly cause you no problems with of a CD or two's worth of straight listening, if not more. The velour ear pads are soft, and clamping force is quite light. This has some drawback, as moving your head forwards too far can result in the headphone slipping a bit, and vigorous head-banging on any axis will move it easily, but this should be little issue for most users. The headband is just a flat piece of leather, and I have found it to cause some pressure discomfort over long listening periods, but usually a slight repositioning will fix the problem for a while on top of that.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]This leads me onto design. Whilst comfort will be very good for the majority of users, the K601 is not without design flaws. The adjustment mechanism does not allow for a great deal of movement, and it works mostly in the vertical plane, so for those with particularly wide or over-all large heads, the headphone may not fit properly. Whilst the headphone is relatively attractive, the design is by no means as robust as some headphones, and though it may be sturdier than it appears at first sight, it might not last a major beating, or a big accident.[/size]
[size=10pt]As for those who like to re-cable, the single ended design and complex access means you'll have to put in some work to get the job done compared to some headphones. The pads at least come off relatively easy, where you simply push down on them and turn them anti-clockwise, not to mention that K701 pads (plus pads from earlier models such as the K501) are interchangeable, allowing for some slight tweaking to be made if desired.[/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt] [/size]
[size=10pt]Over all, the K601 performs well with several types of music, responds well to good equipment, and offers great comfort, all at a reasonable price. Most certainly worth checking out if you're looking to upgrade from a lower end set-up, or want to enter into headphone audio with a decent amount of money to spend.[/size]
