Hi,
I was looking for a K340 thread to share my impressions and found this one.
On Friday I received a pair of K340 bought on a local auction site for a low low price of ~$80. I was pretty excited getting such a bargain and couldn't wait to listen to this classic legendary headphone. I have a quite old and somewhat beaten-up small DIY headphone amp, which I was sure isn't enough to power them, but I was hoping to at least get a glimpse of their potential. I picked them up from the post office on Friday morning and was able to get 10 minutes of listening time before having to head for work (also they are in mint condition save for elastics). I thought they sounded great, but as I haven't listened to them properly I was afraid it might just be the well known "new toy" thing so I tried to stay unbiased and not form any premature opinion. I don't have to tell you how impatient I was the whole day itching to spend some serious listening time with them.
Well, it's Sunday evening and I have another pair on its way to me from German eBay
These are the best headphones I have ever heard. Period. Of course, I haven't tried many truly high end pairs, but I absolutely love these. Before I got the K340 I have tried several pairs that I liked, but each of them had its strengths and weaknesses: K400, my old favourite - incredibly wide soundstage, lush midrange and very natural, but not that detailed and with rolled off highs; SA1000 - very detailed, great extension in the highs, but sometimes too bright, sibilant and not too musical etc. I also have older DT990/600ohm, K260 and listened to my father's K701 and HD565 Ovation, but neither of them really did much for me. I have to admit that I was beginning to be a little skeptical that there even was any "higher-fi", because everything sounded to me quite similar with no clear winner including the established K701, Beyers etc.
The K340 are the first headphones that when I put them on and pressed PLAY, I stopped thinking about what they did well and what not and just enjoyed the music. They sound so effortless and natural that I just listen with my jaw on the floor speechless. You may think I'm exaggerating, but it's true - these are the first headphones about which I can safely say that they are (for me, of course) miles better than any other I've heard. Maybe it's that I heard K701 on a wrong amp or something, but the K340 wipe the floor with them.
Anyway I'm really happy I discovered these magical headphones and most importantly that they renewed my confidence that there really is more to discover in the world of audio and that the relative mediocrity of budget-fi is only the beginning. I see Staxen in my (admittedly distant
) future and am planning the Ming Da tube amp as my next purchase. I must say I'm hoping that my current DIY amp is not doing the K340 justice, because if I'm happy with them now I can't imagine how great they will sound from a proper tube amp
To conclude - I'm sure these headphones are not perfect and definitely are not the most comfortable ever, but they opened my eyes and ears to something new and better and, as I hope, paved way for even greater things to come in the future.
PS: I'm really sorry about this looong post. Add: do you really find them heavy?? They certainly are heavier than most phones at 390g, but I barely feel them in use...