AKG K501's & First Tube Amp
Sep 8, 2003 at 2:17 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 10

amadeus-mozart

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Hi,

I use a Headroom Cosmic w Ref module for most listening. I find it works well with my Senn. 600's (stock) but not as well with my Grado RS-1's. (VWAP Pads) I'm getting AKG K501's and a Tube Amp was suggested. Does anyone have a feeling as to what would go well with the Grados and AKG's?

Many thanks,

AM
 
Sep 8, 2003 at 2:25 PM Post #2 of 10
I own the k501. You don't nessearily need a tube amp, just an amp with a lot of power. You can preserve your investment and get a base station one for your cosmic or sell your cosmic and get a tube amp that can drive both efficient and inefficient phones like a singlepowr MPX3, Supra, Audiovalve RKV w/impedencer, or wait a little for the new ray samuels tube amp.

What exactly don't you like about your cosmic reference with grados? It should work very well with the cosmic and base station one, better than the meta I used to own (which I liked very much).
 
Sep 8, 2003 at 4:16 PM Post #3 of 10
Quote:

Originally posted by SENOR4Q
I own the k501. You don't nessearily need a tube amp, just an amp with a lot of power. You can preserve your investment and get a base station one for your cosmic or sell your cosmic and get a tube amp that can drive both efficient and inefficient phones like a singlepowr MPX3, Supra, Audiovalve RKV w/impedencer, or wait a little for the new ray samuels tube amp.

What exactly don't you like about your cosmic reference with grados? It should work very well with the cosmic and base station one, better than the meta I used to own (which I liked very much).


I plug the Cosmic into a surge protector. Would getting the regulated Cosmic Power Supply do as well as the Base Station? Is there an audible improvement using the Base Station?

Thanks,

AM
 
Sep 9, 2003 at 4:01 PM Post #4 of 10
Quote:

Originally posted by amadeus-mozart
Would getting the regulated Cosmic Power Supply do as well as the Base Station? Is there an audible improvement using the Base Station?

Thanks,

AM


Ah! A couple questions I would like to hear the answers to as well since I have the older Cosmic with a 5v/500mA wall-wart.
600smile.gif
 
Sep 9, 2003 at 4:57 PM Post #6 of 10
Quote:

Originally posted by MoLtoSoLo
I had the Single Power MPX3, K501 sounded amazing with it. No longer lack of bass, just very balance and still got the midrange-high magic.


Hi,

I'm getting Banger's Base Station. I post about it after it arrives.

AM
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Sep 21, 2003 at 12:06 AM Post #7 of 10
Quote:

Originally posted by amadeus-mozart
Hi,

I use a Headroom Cosmic w Ref module for most listening. I find it works well with my Senn. 600's (stock) but not as well with my Grado RS-1's. (VWAP Pads) I'm getting AKG K501's and a Tube Amp was suggested. Does anyone have a feeling as to what would go well with the Grados and AKG's?

Many thanks,

AM


Well my new AKG K-501's arrived. I have to say that they sound very good with my Cosmic Ref Amp. I like them so much that I'm thinking eventually of getting the K-1000's. Unfortunately that needs about 7-10 the power output of the Cosmic. Does anyone have an opinion on what is necessary to drive the 1000's cleanly?

Thanks,

AM
280smile.gif
 
Sep 21, 2003 at 6:06 AM Post #8 of 10
Quote:

Originally posted by amadeus-mozart
Well my new AKG K-501's arrived. I have to say that they sound very good with my Cosmic Ref Amp. I like them so much that I'm thinking eventually of getting the K-1000's. Unfortunately that needs about 7-10 the power output of the Cosmic. Does anyone have an opinion on what is necessary to drive the 1000's cleanly?

Thanks,

AM
280smile.gif


Regardless, I think the 501s are better sonically overall than the K1000s
 
Sep 21, 2003 at 3:35 PM Post #9 of 10
Quote:

Originally posted by kwkarth
Regardless, I think the 501s are better sonically overall than the K1000s


Really?? Is it that you do not like the K-1000's or you felt that the 501's were somehow better balanced? Or what??

AM
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Sep 21, 2003 at 7:13 PM Post #10 of 10
I like the K-1000s a lot but I feel that they're not (to my ears) as accurate spectrally as the 501s. The K1000s sound colored (peaks between 2-6kHz). While they're less colored in the mid bass than the 501s, I find the upper midrange coloration of the 1000s more objectionable than mid-bass coloration of the 501s (which is slight). Somewhat program dependent as well.

I also feel that the highs are more pure and extended in the 501s than they are with the 1000s.
 

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