[hawkhkg11]

Hey everyone,

I got my K501s recently, and after reading all the threads about the no-bass issue, I was extremely, and pleasantly surprised with the bass in these cans. I'm running them straight into an Entech 203.2 DAC (no amp yet). From what I've read, I expected bass similar to my ER6i's, if not worse.

The bass performance of these cans is comparable to my SR225 with bowls. It's a very tight and refined bass. If I had to describe it, I would say the K501s have very realistic bass (not artificially added bass) and overall naturalness that just makes the original recording both true and very musical. The huge soundstage (which some call unnatural) is also a new experience for me and I must say I prefer this soundstage to the "in-your-head" Grados. These cans sound a lot like speakers; in fact, when I listen to them I often feel like the speakers on my desk are playing and not the headphones!

The detail in the highs are simply transparent. For jazz, classical, and acoustic stuff, it's really wonderful beyond words. Needless to say, these are the best phones I've heard so far, and I think I've found my sound. At $150 new, these are a steal!

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkhkg11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The detail in the highs are simply transparent. For jazz, classical, and acoustic stuff, it's really wonderful beyond words. Needless to say, these are the best phones I've heard so far, and I think I've found my sound. At $150 new, these are a steal!

That may be true, but they lack what I would consider to be "enough" bass impact for rock/metal.

 

[Hi-Finthen]

Fully agree, glad you're pleased with these excellent cans. Try 'em with a high current tube and be WOWed ye
t again ;-}

Listin' to Madman across the Water and the presentation of vocals and keyboards and strings and yes Bass and drums in the LFs are all there wonderfully ;-}

 

[wafflesomd]

501 = the best bass I've ever heard

Love them to death, but had to sell them

 

[hawkhkg11]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 /img/forum/go_quote.gif That may be true, but they lack what I would consider to be "enough" bass impact for rock/metal.

I'm not too versed on the demands and requirements of heavy rock/metal as I don't listen to these genres too much, but yes, I would imagine you would need more raw impact than the K501s can deliver. But for overall clarity, I've not heard a better phone.

However, My Bloody Valentine and JAMC sound great on these phones.

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkhkg11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not too versed on the demands and requirements of heavy rock/metal as I don't listen to these genres too much, but yes, I would imagine you would need more raw impact than the K501s can deliver. But for overall clarity, I've not heard a better phone.

Bass-clarity is definitely one of their strengths. IMHO they can go toe to toe with any can under ~$250 in that regard.

 

[mypasswordis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkhkg11 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not too versed on the demands and requirements of heavy rock/metal as I don't listen to these genres too much, but yes, I would imagine you would need more raw impact than the K501s can deliver. But for overall clarity, I've not heard a better phone.

Yes, I love the K501 for its fantastic clarity. I also think it has enough impact and bass in general for prog rock, and I don't listen to hard rock or metal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wafflesomd /img/forum/go_quote.gif 501 = the best bass I've ever heard Love them to death, but had to sell them

That means a lot, coming from a tuba player. Although, it does roll off around 60Hz...

 

[penguindude]

Comparing to Sennheiser, they are considered very much "bass-less." They only excel paired with a good amp.

 

[Rob80b]

The K501's do have excellent bass, but what they do lack is the bottom octave or the foundation as we say. For a long time I was an advocate of their bass until I cam across a few of my recordings which I knew quite well only to discover that the lower bottom was absent.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=63002

 

[Uncle Erik]

The K-501 bass is fantastic when reproducing real sounds. By real, I mean a live recording of a voice or instrument. Where they fall down is when the low end is electronically modified, e.g. overdriven amps, compression and when the recording engineer boosts the low end. All of that is artificial.

That's why the K-501 is amazing with acoustic music, which is typically jazz and classical. Use a high current amp with them, and they're one of the top headphones out there. The problem is that people pair them with weak battery powered amps and play artificially bass-heavy music through them. That leads to disappointment and a trashing in the threads.

Use the K-501 as it is intended, and it whoops the K-701. I think of it as the "baby" K-1000. If you're dismayed by the prices and lack of availability of K-1000s, get one of these instead. Use a current rich desktop amp, and you'll get the same sound signature and presentation. The soundstage is, of course, different, but the K-501 is hugely enjoyable at a bargain price.

 

[Fitz]

Another one has seen the light.

 

[Hi-Finthen]

Very nicely spelled out post "uncle", excellent understanding and the ability to transpose your experience for the readers understanding!!!

 

[feh1325]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Use the K-501 as it is intended, and it whoops the K-701. I think of it as the "baby" K-1000.

you, sir, have made my day

 

[gates_2]

threads like these make me feel really good that my only pair of cans are the k501s, which i bought new at $99

 

[jdimitri]

Yep, never really got it either..
Out of HF1, open darths and K501 i use them most..

Hmm as much as i love them, i might have to let the darths go soon