[imackler]

Selling a pair of in anyone knows of someone in need: http://www.head-fi.org/t/799490/akg-k501-shipped

 

[interface95]

I have already tried every combination between k601 and k702 switching their pads and inner foam rings.
Anyway, somehow I did not try my k501 with k702 pads (angled pads, have been my favourite pads on the k601).
The result is awesome! I can't stop listening right now.
Bigger soundsstage, increased bass and deep bass does exist now even if it's not much.
Also the treble is a little bit increased (I found the k501 a little dark in comp to k601 and 702).
The only downside is that it's not that detailed, but maybe that's because of the huge soundstage.
 
All in all I enjoy listening with the new pads very much.

 

[ginetto61]

I have already tried every combination between k601 and k702 switching their pads and inner foam rings.
Anyway, somehow I did not try my k501 with k702 pads (angled pads, have been my favourite pads on the k601).
The result is awesome! I can't stop listening right now.
Bigger soundsstage, increased bass and deep bass does exist now even if it's not much.
Also the treble is a little bit increased (I found the k501 a little dark in comp to k601 and 702).
The only downside is that it's not that detailed, but maybe that's because of the huge soundstage.
All in all I enjoy listening with the new pads very much.

 
Hi !  thanks for the advice.
I tried my k501 with the k701 stock pads and i did not like the result.
Have you used the original k702 pads ?  
because i was thinking to try something of what can be found on ebay. 
Moreover lately i have become more doubtful about velour pads in general.  
I think that to have sealing around the ears is very beneficial.
Velour pads leak sound.
Thanks again.
Regards,  gino

 

[interface95]

Hej all,
some one seems to sell an K501 in my country:
https://www.willhaben.at/iad/kaufen-und-verkaufen/d/kopfhoerer-akg-501-158781835/
 
Since it's a nice deal and I already have one, I thought I could tell you.
If there are problems with shipping, I could help out.

 

[imackler]

Incredible price!

 

[Claritas]

OK, Guys...

K501 measurements up at Innerfidelity. Big thanks to Tyll Hertsens for measuring these for us.

Other info.: The baffle configuration on this pair is 6 sections in the inner ring (3 open, 3 closed) and 4 small open sections in the outer ring. NOS elastics and pads.

 

[jdpark]

Those are great specs, and reflect what we've suspected for a while, that these offer a great all-around sound virtually flat from 80-4000 and with a slight dip in the sibilant area of 4000-6000, followed by a slight boost from 6000-8000 and a gentle roll off until about 11,000.  There does seem to be fairly high THD relative to some on the market, but perhaps that is what gives them a bit of added "warmth" overall. I suppose Tyll would have written about them if they were more easily acquired these days.  

 

[Claritas]

Comparing its FR with the roughly contemporaneous HD580/600:

1a. Bass rolls off sooner.

K501: -5 dB @ 40 Hz and -10 dB @ 30 Hz
HD580: -5 dB @ 30 Hz.

1b. Bass rolls off more.

K501: -20 dB @ 10 Hz
HD580: -15 dB @ 10 Hz.

2. Treble is more even on the Senns, lacking especially the narrow spike K501 shows at 6 kHz.

Maybe the two notches (4-6 kHz and 6-9 kHz) were a deliberate attempt at tuning, like the notches Philips went for on the X2. AKG might have been trying to take into account ear resonances and/or done some in-house work on subjective preferences.

3. Very tight channel matching. Far superior to any mid-priced Senn. This is very encouraging, all the more so with a single-sided cable.

I'm unsure whether to attribute the elevated THD+noise measurement more to inherent limitations of the driver or to K501’s poorer isolation (not evident in the measurements but subjectively true for me) letting in more background noise. We might know more in a few weeks, when ultrabike measures types of distortion and CSD.

 

[jdpark]

That's an interesting point about the channel matching, which is one reason why the imaging on the K501 is so good. Also, compared to the HD650, which I have, they have less bass quantity, but actually seem a little bit faster, which makes them still pretty good with acoustic jazz. The K501 however, is generally not as good with contemporary pop music as the HD650, because they do tend to show signs of distortion in the deep bass area with electronic-infused music styles. 
 
For me still, a good second pair of rather low-priced headphones to go with the K501 is the Beyer DT150, which is also in the sub-$300 range depending on where you find them. They're closed, and have a lot of qualities that the K501 lacks, such as big, responsive bass, and a tiny bit of extra clarity at the top end, but not a huge spike like most of the other Beyer cans. 

 

[Beagle]

Anybody?

 

[goober-george]

My original Akg K-501 pads are a little flat so I replaced them with fresh Akg K-601 pads and that improved the bass quite a bit I feel. YMMV.

 

[Beagle]

Do they fit the same way (i.e. twist-on" method?)

 

[goober-george]

Yes. Same method.

 

[Beagle]

Thank you

 

[amigastar]

"Had to use" my K501 since the cable of my Hifiman HE-500 was broken. I used them with Project Ember 2.0 (6N6P tube) and even if my Hifiman HE-500 are fixed now, i kinda miss the more airy sound of the AKG.
 
Don't get me wrong the HE-500 are marvelous hp with amazing bass texture which the 501 not quite have, but i really loved the more holographic soundstage of the K501, the Hifiman have more a mid oriented soundstage whereas the AKG soundstage is wider.
 
Anyway Project Ember 2.0 with the AKG 501 is really an impressive and transparent pairing and very delicate and not strident to listen to.