[fuhur]

Hello

Having read some of the threads around here it seems I'm just starting out, so I won't mention any other history than the Pioneer SL30 I lost a few days ago.
I mostly listen to music using my laptop and my Cowon iAudio 7 - I've got a lot of FLACs.

I only managed to find 2 stores in my country. One's in the city I live in and only sells AKGs and the other one (only Sennheiser) is farther away and will cost me some transport fees + waiting that I wouldn't really like.

As per the title I can choose between: AKG K340, K324, K330, K321 and Sennheiser CX 300, CX 300 II, CX 55, CX 400, CX 500. The rest are either not in my budget or not available from these sellers.

I found much about these AKG IEMs on head-fi, but I've heard people mention the Sennheiser CX 300.
I don't really need bass as my Cowon already outputs a lot of those (I had to turn the sound card's bass effect off when using the Pioneer IEMs)

What do you think I should do?

 

[Zorander]

I did not know there is now another iteration of the K-340...

 

[fuhur]

After more careful investigation of the market (I found a new shop). I would like to know which one you think is better between the K340 and the CX500?

How do they differ?

PS: Why are the cheapest Shure IEMs more expensive than the priciest AKG IEMs?

 

[fuhur]

I found some denons and after some more searching the forum I'm adding AH-C452 to the list.

So:
1. AKG K340
2. Sennheiser CX500
3. Denon AH-C452

Can anyone help?

 

[kwang411]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuhur /img/forum/go_quote.gif I found some denons and after some more searching the forum I'm adding AH-C452 to the list. So: 1. AKG K340 2. Sennheiser CX500 3. Denon AH-C452 Can anyone help?

I have a pair of CX400 and a pair of Denon c751.

I really don't like the CX400, it feels very muddy compared to c751; it lacks instrument separation and clarity. I'm not sure how much better the cx500 is than cx400, but i wouldn't recommend cx400 at all. I didn't like it so much that I gave it away to my cousin ...

c751 has probably the best bass in this price range, but i find its mids a bit too recessed; sometimes I find the vocals being washed over by the music, as if the singer is singing within the band, which creates the illusion of a small soundstage.

I've heard the new c452's are very decent, and isn't as prominent on bass as its siblings. See if you can try out a pair!

 

[fuhur]

I don't think CX400 and c751 is a fair comparison. At least at the shops I have access to, the CX400 are aprox 60$ while the c751 are aprox 260$...

Also: I have no way to try a pair as I'm only shopping online. Also, it seems that none of my friends are into expensive IEMs.

 

[R3SET]

Go for the CX 55 or CX 400 if these are your only options, the AKG's seem to be quite bad, they look great though.

btw; maybe that shop can order the AKG 370 also, that's the top of the range, don't know how good it is.

 

[kwang411]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuhur /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't think CX400 and c751 is a fair comparison. At least at the shops I have access to, the CX400 are aprox 60$ while the c751 are aprox 260$... Also: I have no way to try a pair as I'm only shopping online. Also, it seems that none of my friends are into expensive IEMs.

haha yea, but for me.. its the opposite..

I got my cx400 when i first started this whole headphones business for $150 CAD (greatly ripped off, i know), and then i found c751 in new york B&H for $110 USD. I actually got the c751 for cheaper than cx400!

 

[Jackstraw]

Friend, I have both of those. Frankly, I'd even like AKG k340. I think the differ is AKG have not so good at expressive of bass, But it have been got more clean than others. Just my point of view.

 

[peaceful1]

it really deepens on your device 4 exp: cowon is very good with sennheiser , I have akg 340 I really like it its like your listening 2 music with flac level 8
there r other things 2 what volume u listen high mid low ?
what kid of music u listen ?
akg out put is only 20 mw my only problem
if it wasnt $ limit I would say
Sennheiser Worldwide - MX W1 - Wireless Earphones, Wireless Headphones, metallic design - Private Audio

 

[ok1907]

Akg k324p's are much better than cx series in clarity and instument separation. K340s are said to be the same with k234p but with better bass in quantity and quality. They are probalbly not as boomy as cx series but it is certain that they are better in overall. By the way, instead of buying cx series, you should try soundmagic pl 30 earphones. They are much better as well.

 

[kx1]

Having first bought CX500 from play.com, after two months of occasional listening, I found that I fell in love with them, because they kept on getting better and better as they burn in. However, after a flight to Hong Kong I thought I left them on the BA but I didn't. As I thought I left them on the plane, I went to play.com again and bought the AKG K330 as there were no K340 and I heard there's not too much difference between 330 and 340.

I have to say as I opened the AKG K330 and listened to them at the first them, they sounded 'YUCK', and I wondered how did I got myself into buying **** things like this?

but now, after two months of occasional burning in overnight, I have to say it is better than my CX500s, which in terms of bass (but too much of this makes it sounds muddy), the CX 500 id a bit better but not by far, just a bit. And in other areas such as the highs and the lows, the AKG reproduce much more details and with more clarity, as the AKG is well known for, I got the CX 500 for 15GBP (don't know if it is fake or not but it sounded really really really good compared to my old ones) I got the K330 for 25 GBP for new and I think that the K330 is pretty much a good bargain for what quality it gives.

Another interesting thing is that my K330 has really strong but thin cables which if I leave them folded, they do not tangle, whereas if I do the same to the CX500 they do, so the CX 500 has became 2nd place in the headphones now, Lol.....

Hope that helps you about CX 500 and K330