AKG Experts - After the K701, which is the next best AKG model

[oak3x]

Have owned the AKG K701's for the past few years, and truly appreciated their detailed, yet neutral sound presentation...

With this in mind...

1. Which is the "next best" AKG model that more of a neutral, detailed sound (after the K701's)?

2. Has anyone heard of AKG planning any new headphone releases in the near future?

 

[PFKMan23]

The natural progression are K1000s. As far as what he future holds, I haven't seen anything in the audiophile category as a future release.

 

[Uncle Erik]

The AKG K-1000 and K-501 are both better than the K-701. Both have a far more natural and coherent presentation. I like the K-701 well enough, but it is trumped by their previous designs.

The K-340 hasn't arrived yet, and I've barely put two hours on the K-240DF so far. I can't make a good assessment of the K-240DF yet, but I have been enjoying it a lot. Tonally, it's more accurate than the K-701.

 

[Fitz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like the K-701 well enough, but it is trumped by their previous designs.

I am Fitz, and I approve this message.

 

[oak3x]

How do the K501's compare to K271?

 

[-=Germania=-]

not even in the same ballpark.

FYI - if you want to move up in teh world and stay with the 701's, get the ALO recable. The 701's did not stun me into submission with the standard single ended...but ALO Balanced and it was a love affair. Albeit, not the same love affair I have with lambdas now.

Honestly, I would look into getting k501's and k500's. The k500 is more versitile and the k501 has that liquid vocal quality.

Is this Fitz approved?

Also, I think that the k400 is pretty freaking sweet and seems to handle anything I throw at it. The soundstage seems to be better than the k701 and spectrum less *colored*.

 

[ludoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=Germania=- /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also, I think that the k400 is pretty freaking sweet and seems to handle anything I throw at it. The soundstage seems to be better than the k701 and spectrum less *colored*.

I'm a recent addict so I'm not in the same league as most of you, but I am loving the K400s I received a couple of weeks ago. I prefer them to the k501s I had briefly in my hands.

Thanks for the k400 appreciation thread you started about one month ago, it was that and lots of past messages (mostly by Fitz) about old AKG models that made buy the k400s (and quite a few other AKGs).

 

[facelvega]

Let's see, is there a commonly agreed-upon order of AKG goodness, from which any one person might slightly differ, but which we can call the more or less reliable norm? Would it go something like

-K1000
-K340 (especially when modded, and of the right version)
-Sextett (but only a good one, fully-sorted)
-K701
-K501

-and then a bigger, YMMV category including the K601, K400, K500, K401, uncommon detuned Sextett versions (like K241), the rarer hybrids, and perhaps one or two more

-Followed by K290, K280, K270, K271, K240DF, and a few others as the high-middle options

Does this sound about right? Do I have any two in the wrong order, not for you personally, but for what you take to be the consensus opinion? Fitz?

Considerations: the stock of the K340, once stellar, is subsiding; the stock of the Sextett is now at a peak; not enough people have the rarer ones for a consensus to have emerged.

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by -=Germania=- /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also, I think that the k400 is pretty freaking sweet and seems to handle anything I throw at it. The soundstage seems to be better than the k701 and spectrum less *colored*.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludoo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am loving the K400s I received a couple of weeks ago. I prefer them to the k501s I had briefly in my hands.

Also,

the K400 is great and very flexible, with a nice full bass response that some find lacking in the K501, but really it's a limited headphone, which can only go so far in terms of detail resolution, and the super-deep earpads create a non-fatiguing but also non-involving relationship to the music. Great for long-term background listening, not for close listening sessions IMO. I would have a hard time choosing them over a K701, though they do look a hundred times better, without the tasteless bling and toilet seat look of the 701.

 

[ludoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would have a hard time choosing them over a K701, though IMO they do look a hundred times better, without the tasteless bling and toilet seat look of the 701.

The fact they can be bought on ebay in decent to good condition for about 40 euros helps too...

 

[pataburd]

The K501 are (empirically IMHE) the next step "up" in overall sonic quality from the K701, then (theoretically IMHO--I can only wistfully imagine) the K1000.

The K501's balanced and seamless midrange is their supreme and indisputable trump card over the K701, IMHO. With vocals, for example, there is simply no contest IMHO.

Right now, I prefer the APS recabled K501 to the RAL recabled K701.

 

[oak3x]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pataburd /img/forum/go_quote.gif The K501 are (empirically IMHE) the next step "up" in overall sonic quality from the K701, then (theoretically IMHO--I can only wistfully imagine) the K1000. The K501's balanced and seamless midrange is their supreme and indisputable trump card over the K701, IMHO. With vocals, for example, there is simply no contest IMHO. Right now, I prefer the APS recabled K501 to the RAL recabled K701.

How do the lower frequencies (bass) of the K501's compare to that of the K701's?
Having owned the K701's, I felt the bass was fine...but I wouldn't want anything less

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludoo /img/forum/go_quote.gif The fact they can be bought on ebay in decent to good condition for about 40 euros helps too...

Well, if you take price into consideration, they win hands down-- though I never saw a pair sell for that little on ebay.de for the year and a half that I used to keep track of it. Typical prices were 55-75 Euros for a decent pair, depending on luck. Still, a grand deal compared to new options at that price, and since K400 are almost always in good condition, a really viable used purchase.

 

[ludoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, if you take price into consideration, they win hands down-- though I never saw a pair sell for that little on ebay.de for the year and a half that I used to keep track of it. Typical prices were 55-75 Euros for a decent pair, depending on luck. Still, a grand deal compared to new options at that price, and since K400 are almost always in good condition, a really viable used purchase.

Exactly, especially given what you get for less than 100 euro when buying new. And I guess prices have gone down, as in the past month and a half I bought my K400 for 40 euros, and a (supposedly, it's not here yet) new in box K401 for the same amount. One from Germany one from Austria.

 

[Nik]

The right K 340, best AKG and not only AKG... K 340 with EAR HP-4 (balanced): a dream setup. point !