AKG K3003 High End 3 Way System Headphone

Sep 12, 2011 at 4:33 PM Post #76 of 4,058
Well, I meant expertise with headphones and acoustics in general, as I don't think there's that much BA/DD hybrid expertise out there anyway. Plus, Final Audio managed to build one of the finest BA IEMs I've ever heard from scratch, without prior expertise in BAs, so why not AKG? Oh and btw, harman is completely nonexistent as a headphone/IEM brand here in Europe, so it's AKG's name on the line anyway, regardless of the outcome.
 
First unpacking video, complete with free Italian lesson
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Sep 14, 2011 at 12:02 AM Post #77 of 4,058
These seem to graph pretty well. It seems like an EX1000 with less sibilance exposure and more bass. The midbass seems a bit emphasized but not nearly to the extent of the FX700s to give an example. 
 
Sep 14, 2011 at 2:24 AM Post #78 of 4,058


Quote:
These seem to graph pretty well. It seems like an EX1000 with less sibilance exposure and more bass. The midbass seems a bit emphasized but not nearly to the extent of the FX700s to give an example. 

Haven't heard this model, but I like the graph. DF works fine for full-sized cans (beyer) but not, IMO, IEMs. That said, the ER-4S curve is probably the overall-smoothest I've ever seen. Oh, and I think we may now finally have an IEM that compares to (if not slightly surpasses ??) the ER-4S wrt impulse response. That's significant IMB.
Alas that huge price tag!
 
 
 
Sep 21, 2011 at 11:19 AM Post #81 of 4,058
^ I got short one here :)
 
Note that the JH16 and UM miracle that I used for comparison is the demo, universal version.
 
I audience this today at about 2 hours time at the shop.
 
This thing is really amazing, it has superb clean, smooth, clean high, VERY airy feeling, slightly behind JH16 in term of quantity.  Overall HF quality wise, quantity considered   K3003 > JH16 > UM Miracle > SE530.   I find JH16 treble a little too much for not so good recording.  It's amazing this small thing can sound really large, a lot of space between instruments.
 
Soundstage is not as large as JH16, but it's very very good.  JH16 > K3003 >> UM Miracle > SE530
 
Instrument separation is also slightly behind JH16.  JH16 > K3003 >> UM Miracle > SE530
 
Bass preference is K3003 > UM Miracle > SE530 > JH16, I find JH16 bass a little too much.
 
Vocal transparency: K3003 > JH16 = UM Miracle > SE530, all three JH, UM and Shure good in a different way.  JH16 can be very transparent, but at the same time, not so forgiving.  K3003 transparency is just slightly behind JH16, but more transparent and leaner than the quite thick UM Miracle vocal.
 
One thing I need to compare is with the FA flagship IEM, I audience before, and I thought I don't really like it, but maybe my taste has change since.
 
That's my opinion.
 
Sep 22, 2011 at 8:00 AM Post #86 of 4,058
Thanks for your impressions RedBull, what about isolation?
 
Funny thing about the JH16's soundstage, the JH13 had disappointing soundstage when I demoed them. These AKGs do look very interesting apart from pricing.
 
German Audio magazine did a short review, not much in-depth info but they rated them 90/100, which is at the same level as the T1 in their full-sized list. They also reviewed the EX600 and B&W C5 and gave them both a 70/100.
 
I inquired about the version w/o remote and they said late October. Maybe I'll give them a try then.
 
Sep 22, 2011 at 11:26 AM Post #87 of 4,058
Quote:
best find out how long the warranty is and whether it's covered under it (my guess is it's not...)


The shop says the warranty is 2 years.  There are 2 parts of the cables, the shorter upper part is kind of rubber material and the lower upper part is made of cloth.  I'm more worry about the rubber part.  I didn't ask whether it is covered under warranty or not.

 
Quote:
Thanks for your impressions RedBull, what about isolation?
 
Funny thing about the JH16's soundstage, the JH13 had disappointing soundstage when I demoed them. These AKGs do look very interesting apart from pricing.
 
German Audio magazine did a short review, not much in-depth info but they rated them 90/100, which is at the same level as the T1 in their full-sized list. They also reviewed the EX600 and B&W C5 and gave them both a 70/100.
 
I inquired about the version w/o remote and they said late October. Maybe I'll give them a try then.


Isolation is somehow varies, I don't really get a good isolation, it's fully covered, but I can still hear outside noise, for me TF10 isolates better, but maybe I have to change to smaller/bigger tips.  For my friend, he said the isolation is good.
 
Yes, JH13 sounds a bit lack of weight (I obverse vocals in this context) compared to JH16, to me JH16 really sounds as open as an open I hear normal sound without earphone.
 
I tried again today, I'm still impressed.  Btw, it has 3 sound filter, all comments above based in the so called 'reference' filter.  I did tried the Bass enhanced filter, to me, it added the bass a little but, but the overall sound gets warmer considerably, less transparent, less the brilliant high.  I did not try the enhance treble filter though.
 
Today I compared with TF10, TF10 sounds noticeably warmer, less brilliant treble, much less detail, less instrument separation, but more bass.
 
I tell you this is a VERY detail earphone.  This is the first time I can hear in Jason Mraz concert, the audience is actually really sing with him, which I never noticed on other earphone, or headphone, detail retrieval is really amazing.  It beautiful, speaker like high, speaker like vocal clarity, well, I still prefer LCD-2 bass tho, but the bass is totally acceptable.
 
One thing that I'm worried is whether the sound is going to be fatiguing for long term listing, for that, I guess somebody really have to buy a pair and listen for hours at home, this is what I'm worried, ... for that $$$ ???  hmmm .....  anybody want to take the plunge??? 
biggrin.gif

 
I also did try with an amp, iBasso P4, the sound improve even further, the vocal become more 3 dimensional, and more bass punch, so, it does improve quite significantly with amping.
 
Sep 22, 2011 at 1:45 PM Post #88 of 4,058


Quote:
The shop says the warranty is 2 years.  There are 2 parts of the cables, the shorter upper part is kind of rubber material and the lower upper part is made of cloth.  I'm more worry about the rubber part.  I didn't ask whether it is covered under warranty or not.

 

Isolation is somehow varies, I don't really get a good isolation, it's fully covered, but I can still hear outside noise, for me TF10 isolates better, but maybe I have to change to smaller/bigger tips.  For my friend, he said the isolation is good.
 
Yes, JH13 sounds a bit lack of weight (I obverse vocals in this context) compared to JH16, to me JH16 really sounds as open as an open I hear normal sound without earphone.
 
I tried again today, I'm still impressed.  Btw, it has 3 sound filter, all comments above based in the so called 'reference' filter.  I did tried the Bass enhanced filter, to me, it added the bass a little but, but the overall sound gets warmer considerably, less transparent, less the brilliant high.  I did not try the enhance treble filter though.
 
Today I compared with TF10, TF10 sounds noticeably warmer, less brilliant treble, much less detail, less instrument separation, but more bass.
 
I tell you this is a VERY detail earphone.  This is the first time I can hear in Jason Mraz concert, the audience is actually really sing with him, which I never noticed on other earphone, or headphone, detail retrieval is really amazing.  It beautiful, speaker like high, speaker like vocal clarity, well, I still prefer LCD-2 bass tho, but the bass is totally acceptable.
 
One thing that I'm worried is whether the sound is going to be fatiguing for long term listing, for that, I guess somebody really have to buy a pair and listen for hours at home, this is what I'm worried, ... for that $$$ ???  hmmm .....  anybody want to take the plunge??? 
biggrin.gif

 
I also did try with an amp, iBasso P4, the sound improve even further, the vocal become more 3 dimensional, and more bass punch, so, it does improve quite significantly with amping.


If these were available for $600 I would buy. I'm searching for the lowest price but the lowest price i found was 999 from Headphone Bar, but they only ship to Canada.
 
Tell more about detail and HF, please.
 
 
Sep 22, 2011 at 3:08 PM Post #89 of 4,058
Quote:
Isolation is somehow varies, I don't really get a good isolation, it's fully covered, but I can still hear outside noise, for me TF10 isolates better, but maybe I have to change to smaller/bigger tips.  For my friend, he said the isolation is good..

 
Quote:
One thing I need to compare is with the FA flagship IEM, I audience before, and I thought I don't really like it, but maybe my taste has change since.


Thanks for the info on isolation, I don't strive for extreme isolation, as it usually impairs soundstage and openness.
 
One thing regarding the FA flagship IEM, if you're referring to the FI-BA-SS, let me tell you from experience that perfect seal is of utmost importance with these, or else they'll be much too sharp and sibilant. Best to bring your own tips to the audition (e.g. Sony Hybrids), because the stock tips are no good.
 
Sep 22, 2011 at 4:00 PM Post #90 of 4,058
Thanks for your impressions RedBull, what about isolation?
 
Funny thing about the JH16's soundstage, the JH13 had disappointing soundstage when I demoed them. These AKGs do look very interesting apart from pricing.
 
German Audio magazine did a short review, not much in-depth info but they rated them 90/100, which is at the same level as the T1 in their full-sized list. They also reviewed the EX600 and B&W C5 and gave them both a 70/100.
 
I inquired about the version w/o remote and they said late October. Maybe I'll give them a try then.

They ranked the C5 on par with the EX600? Eww...............
 
 

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