AKG k501s - what amp?

[tezzla]

Hi all, i have been itching to try the akg 501s after reading that they are fantastic headphones for classical and jazz, and also because they are actually affordable for me! The only downside is that ive read they need a good amp to really shine...

So my question is, is there an affordable amp that will make them sing at least semi-decently? And by affordable, i mean less expensive than the headphones themselves - say about 75% of the cost?

Id be buying in the Uk at about £90, so an amp about £75 would be ideal... could possible afford to spend £90...

Any help would be really appreciated - i must admit i dont really understand much about amps at all...

 

[Nak Man]

At the risk of more flame from 501 lovers, I'd like to say that 'amp' is the problem that you will be facing with 501. A good dedicated amp for them can easily increase your total spending to senn 595 level, a personal favorite jazz phones of mine. I don't listen to classic that much and I'm pretty sure 501 are great phones for this kind of music presentation.

Btw I found audiolab 8000a to give good results with 501 - and maybe you can find used one in your neighborhood at a nice price.

 

[Romanee]

Hi, Tezzla!

The new Portaphile V2.0 drives my K501s beautifully and moves sound through them that's musical, energetic, dimensional and really involving. I just got mine this morning, so it's not even burned in yet and it grabbed my attention immediately. From my experience with 2 prototypes of this design, it needs a few days to start to blossom, and some weeks to really mature, but it's very listenable at first startup.

It's slightly over your budget ($185 USD), but I believe it's the best "bang-for-the-buck" (as we say) for an amp that will deliver a dynamic and musical sound to and through your very demanding phones. It uses a single 9V battery, and if you want to use an AC/DC transformer you can buy the AC/DC back + and ELPAC power supply (a very sturdy and dependable "wallwart"). I don't know how to work that out with UK current. If you are interested I expect the best would be to contact the amp's maker, Cesar, at portaphile.com and ask him.

Look through the current Portaphile V2 owners thread for some first impressions:

Portaphile V2 thread