[fewtch]

Interesting how there's a lot of K340 love around right now... I wonder if the K501 might have a similar following fifteen years from now, as it's going out of production soon.

"Wow, I found these K501 headphones made back in the 00's... they have this magical midrange that's hard to find anywhere..."

Think maybe I'll pick up a second pair if/when the prices drop to $99 or less in a few months

.

 

[BluesDaddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch Interesting how there's a lot of K340 love around right now... I wonder if the K501 might have a similar following fifteen years from now, as it's going out of production soon. "Wow, I found these K501 headphones made back in the 00's... they have this magical midrange that's hard to find anywhere..." Think maybe I'll pick up a second pair if/when the prices drop to $99 or less in a few months .

Yeah, keep 'em boxed up in mint condition (unless, of course, your current set malfunctions, then you gotta break 'em out!!).

 

[Purgatos]

If/when they hit $99 there's no chance that I won't buy them and then I can tell my grandkids that I owned the mighty K501 before it was worth $500 on eBay.

 

[vid]

I'm so going to order them this weekend.

 

[seacard]

oh, come on. I love the 501s, but there is a big difference between them and the 340s that will prevent the 501s from ever becoming a cult classic. First, the technology used in 501s is used in hundreds of other headphones, whereas if you want a electrostatic/dynamic hybrid, the 340 is pretty much your only choice. Second, the 501 has been replaced by an upgraded model (601 and 701), whereas the 340 wasn't replaced. In 10 years, when the 501 and the 701 are both available (and presumably and 801 and a 901), nobody would take the 501. The 340 wouldn't be nearly as popular today if AKG had introduced the AKG 440 and 540, which improved on the 340.

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacard oh, come on. I love the 501s, but there is a big difference between them and the 340s that will prevent the 501s from ever becoming a cult classic. First, the technology used in 501s is used in hundreds of other headphones, whereas if you want a electrostatic/dynamic hybrid, the 340 is pretty much your only choice.

Yeah but do people buy it for the technology, or for the sound?

Quote:

Second, the 501 has been replaced by an upgraded model (601 and 701), whereas the 340 wasn't replaced.

That doesn't mean that the famous K501 mids won't be rediscovered/celebrated years down the line. Still a sort of "classic" to me, no matter what the public ends up thinking.

P.S. no, I'm not speculating that the K501 will be worth some huge amount of money, or achieve massive fame. Just that it may be rediscovered/enjoyed for what it is at some time in the future following its discontinuation.

 

[VR6ofpain]

do you all really think they'll drop below $130? I'm thinking retailers will just sell out of them at that already bargain price.

Seriously though, if I could get them for $99 I would order them in a second. So maybe if TTVJ drops them to $109 I buy, since I still have my $10 discount that I have not used (you get it once you sign up on his site).

 

[mysticaldodo]

What is the conditions for a headphone to be considered classic status?

 

[vid]

It has been done. There is no way to stop it now. In a week I should have them in my hands.

140 e for the phones, 20 e for shipping, no gourmet dinners for this student.

 

[wualta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacard ...if you want a electrostatic/dynamic hybrid, the 340 is pretty much your only choice. Second, the 501 has been replaced by an upgraded model (601 and 701), whereas the 340 wasn't replaced.

Not quite true. The K340 was replaced by the K4 and the K145, but for some strange reason, they weren't appreciated by '80s ears and sold poorly. To be sure, there are far more K340s out there than the successor models.
 
EDIT: When I say replaced, I mean replaced-- the K340 disappeared from the line and the K4 stayed, however briefly. If anyone would like to say that the K4 wasn't a replacement even though it replaced something, I'll let the assertion go by with a silent smirk.

 

[philodox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wualta Not quite true. The K340 was replaced by the K4 and the K145, but for some strange reason, they weren't appreciated by '80s ears and sold poorly. To be sure, there are far more K340s out there than the successor models.

The K4 and K145 were not replacements for the K340. Yes they came out after the K340, yes they were hybrids, but they were not replacements. If anything, the K1000 replaced the K340. The K340 was the premier headphone made by AKG in it's time, like the K1000 and now the K701. The K4 and K145 were not marketed as a 'top tier' headphone from what I have been able to dig up. The only head-fi member I know of that own's one is Lan, so maybe he can comment.

 

[JunktionFET]

In my opinion, the K501s have a sound that is most certainly unique among headphones. The K601s and 701s may also have bits of this, though I have yet to listen to them. The combination of that tight lean bass with the smooth but crystal clear midrange/presence is definitely a switch from what I generally hear out of the other headphones in my collection.

They are also by far the most comfortable headphones I own. I sometimes forget I have them on, and with certain kinds of music I almost think I'm listening to speakers. They have an uncanny ability to almost place images in front of me instead of inside my head.

 

[aerius]

If I could accurately predict the K501's future, I'd have the powers to make a huge fortune in the stock market. My guess is "unlikely", unless someone figures out a simple tweak to unlock the full potential of the headphones and bring them to a new level of performance as was done with the K340.

 

[skudmunky]

I had a chance to compare, among other things, AKG k240s and k501. I think that if I could have both, I would be pretty darn happy. The k501's lean bass and oh so sweet midrange really compliments the awesome bassy-ness of the k240s. If I only had that much money. Ah well, maybe in a while the k501 will still be around at a good price.

 

[Ferbose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by seacard oh, come on. I love the 501s, but there is a big difference between them and the 340s that will prevent the 501s from ever becoming a cult classic. First, the technology used in 501s is used in hundreds of other headphones, whereas if you want a electrostatic/dynamic hybrid, the 340 is pretty much your only choice. Second, the 501 has been replaced by an upgraded model (601 and 701), whereas the 340 wasn't replaced. In 10 years, when the 501 and the 701 are both available (and presumably and 801 and a 901), nobody would take the 501. The 340 wouldn't be nearly as popular today if AKG had introduced the AKG 440 and 540, which improved on the 340.

I second this.
K501 is now outdated.