[maniacal71]

Really glad to hear that people are happy with their K's, love that Harbeth too,I've recently hooked up ny dap to the Meier Active balanced Quickstep as pre amp and winged it to my KT88 amp onto my speakers some non-audiophile Bose 901 vi and it just simply astonished me. I have never heard Bose sound so ****** good, ever!!

 

[xaval]

Listening to some Eva Cassidy here. Wow... these are special. The only thing that I'd upgrade here is the detail - many other cans illuminate areas that K501 can't see. Other than that, these are a pair of great sounding headphones indeed. A pleasent case of sin by omission. Lovely sins.

 

[tagosaku]

Just a bump while listening to my K501 with Enigma Cable.
 
And I wish they were still in business. I have a spare pair which I would like to re-cable one day.

 

[Fungus]

I recently got my hands on a mint condition pair but I'm having an issue with the headband mechanism. 
The elastic string that should supposedly automatically be pulled back to it's original unstretched position when not worn is isn't. 
It remains in the most stretched position unless I manually pull down the slider on both sides which causes excess string as seen in the photo. 
Is there a way I can tighten the string or by making it shorter? 
It's not sure how it got this loose since it's practically like new with high clamping force and with no signs of wear even on the ear pads. Plus the previous own didn't have a large noggin to start of with. 

 

[Fungus]

What portable amp pairs well with the k501? I've heard it needs more current. 
I'm using it with my jds labs c5 amp and on some tracks I can hear clipping. 

 

[MDR30]

  I recently got my hands on a mint condition pair but I'm having an issue with the headband mechanism. 
The elastic string that should supposedly automatically be pulled back to it's original unstretched position when not worn is isn't. 
It remains in the most stretched position unless I manually pull down the slider on both sides which causes excess string as seen in the photo. 
Is there a way I can tighten the string or by making it shorter? 
It's not sure how it got this loose since it's practically like new with high clamping force and with no signs of wear even on the ear pads. Plus the previous own didn't have a large noggin to start of with. 

 
You can change the elastic band yourself if you're a little handy, the service manual can be downloaded from AKG. You need to open the cup and losen a few screws and parts.
 
The elastic band and its plastic holder is also available as  a spare part.

 

[Fungus]

   
You can change the elastic band yourself if you're a little handy, the service manual can be downloaded from AKG. You need to open the cup and losen a few screws and parts.
 
The elastic band and its plastic holder is also available as  a spare part.

I couldn't find it on from akg. 
However I know there's a screw beneath the metal logo held on by glue. 
I'm afraid I'll damage if I try removing it. 
I wish akg used the elastic strip found on k301 xtra instead of two flimsy elastic strings. Seriously what were akg thinking. 

 

[pataburd]

Yes, i agree.
That's a pretty cheesy "suspension" system for a pretty classy set of cans like the K501!

 

[bracko]

*edited*

 

[MDR30]

It's easy to change the elastics. First remove the type sign (plastic sticker), a needle or a thin blade will do. Unscrew the cap and open. Likewise losen the two screws on the elastic holder on the headband.
 
The part is available as a spare part, but I just change the elastics on my K400, 401, 500 and 501 headphones, using a sharp knife.
 
Picures below from a K500, but it's basically the same.
 

 

 

 

 
Left aged elastic, right new.
 

 
Picture shows 10 cm length, I've come to prefer 8 cm.
 

 

[Fungus]

  It's easy to change the elastics. First remove the type sign (plastic sticker), a needle or a thin blade will do. Unscrew the cap and open. Likewise losen the two screws on the elastic holder on the headband.
 
The part is available as a spare part, but I just change the elastics on my K400, 401, 500 and 501 headphones, using a sharp knife.
 
Picures below from a K500, but it's basically the same.
 

 

 

 

 
Left aged elastic, right new.
 

 
Picture shows 10 cm length, I've come to prefer 8 cm.
 

My concern is damaging the sign during removal and not being able to glue it back on afterwards. 

 

[Claritas]

My concern is damaging the sign during removal and not being able to glue it back on afterwards.

(I really have to do this already.) I think I'll use a hair dryer on low heat to melt the glue.

 

[MDR30]

The sticker is plastic, fixed with double-sided tape.
 

 

 

 

 

[bracko]

  My concern is damaging the sign during removal and not being able to glue it back on afterwards. 

Even if you accidentally do that you can still order the stickers from AKG. They are sold as spare parts and are quite cheap.

 

[Sorrodje]

@MDR30: Superb explanations . thks for this