pataburd
Headphoneus Supremus
Hey philodox, Jay, Jan et al,
After finally heeding your advice, I took the K340 home and ran them from my A/V rig, consisting of: RAM-modded HD-841 universal player, Denon AVR-1905 receiver, MAC AgQ IC (analogue), Millersound digital coax, MA Source and HC PCs, DakiOms everywhere, quasi-Cloud Nine isolation platform (beneath HD-841), RDC Cones (beneath AVR-1905) and MA Rollers under the PowerVar conditioners. This rig is not as refined as my office gear, but still holds it own.
You were right, the K340, now being better driven, sound much more open and immediate, not constrained or sluggish in the least. In fact, the high frequency response is quick and detailed, somewhat reminiscent of the 325i, but more refined and not as forward or overly commandeering (as treble can be with the Grados). Very nicely balanced from top to bottom, too. The K340 strike me as everything I wished the 325i and MS-2i could have been in a perfect hybrid, only with more midrange detail, low end extension and detail, and expansive soundstage: the K340 are everything (IMM*, and it's both excited and tired at the moment) the 325i/MS-2i aspired to be and more, much, much more.
On the CD, In the Digital Mood, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, (Track 2: "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"), the drum hits were solid and tight, bass was better controlled (making me think more certainly that these K340 are the bass-light version). Back up female vocals were very well resolved. Horns were rich and tonally accurate. Still not as textured in the transients and chiseled at the edges as the K501, but very graceful, elegantly detailed, transparent and well-ordered, nonetheless. The K340 are very different in their own right and, apparently having found a more compatible (SS) amplifier, have really come into their own--really. It looks like they'll be my "home 'phones" for a while. : )
Thanks again, Jay, for persistently pressing the point. While still primarily identifying myself as "a K501 kinda guy," the K340 have shown themselves a worthy, at-home compliment!
PAB
*Key:
IMM = in my mind
After finally heeding your advice, I took the K340 home and ran them from my A/V rig, consisting of: RAM-modded HD-841 universal player, Denon AVR-1905 receiver, MAC AgQ IC (analogue), Millersound digital coax, MA Source and HC PCs, DakiOms everywhere, quasi-Cloud Nine isolation platform (beneath HD-841), RDC Cones (beneath AVR-1905) and MA Rollers under the PowerVar conditioners. This rig is not as refined as my office gear, but still holds it own.
You were right, the K340, now being better driven, sound much more open and immediate, not constrained or sluggish in the least. In fact, the high frequency response is quick and detailed, somewhat reminiscent of the 325i, but more refined and not as forward or overly commandeering (as treble can be with the Grados). Very nicely balanced from top to bottom, too. The K340 strike me as everything I wished the 325i and MS-2i could have been in a perfect hybrid, only with more midrange detail, low end extension and detail, and expansive soundstage: the K340 are everything (IMM*, and it's both excited and tired at the moment) the 325i/MS-2i aspired to be and more, much, much more.
On the CD, In the Digital Mood, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, (Track 2: "Chattanooga Choo-Choo"), the drum hits were solid and tight, bass was better controlled (making me think more certainly that these K340 are the bass-light version). Back up female vocals were very well resolved. Horns were rich and tonally accurate. Still not as textured in the transients and chiseled at the edges as the K501, but very graceful, elegantly detailed, transparent and well-ordered, nonetheless. The K340 are very different in their own right and, apparently having found a more compatible (SS) amplifier, have really come into their own--really. It looks like they'll be my "home 'phones" for a while. : )
Thanks again, Jay, for persistently pressing the point. While still primarily identifying myself as "a K501 kinda guy," the K340 have shown themselves a worthy, at-home compliment!
PAB
*Key:
IMM = in my mind