[Captfantastic]

 
Hello all,
 
Check out this "bundle deal" from Headphone Bar in Canada.  I asked if they would make an exception to their "ship only to Canada" policy and they said they would.
 
Note the Fiio amp, line cord and the AKG K550's for a great price.
 
http://www.headphonebar.com/akg-k550/
 
 
Happy shopping and hope you all get what you want for Christmas!
 
Capt

 

[KANA]

 
Quote:

^
how does it sound like?

 
AKG K550 has a execellent design and very high resolution. 
But the bass sound is weak, and the high is a little bit nervous.
So if you want to listen to the classical music with AKG headphones, I do not recommend K550

 

[Noir7]

so basically its not a laid back but also not treble centric like the K701?

 

[KANA]

 
Quote:

so basically its not a laid back but also not treble centric like the K701?

 

I love the beautiful high tone of AKG headphones like K501, K701.
But the high tone of K550 is quite different from those cans.
K550 is not the lower model of K702, Q701, but in the different category (may be for the portable use).
K550 is more suitable for the popular music, or Rock music.
 

 

[Gwarmi]

Quote:

So if you want to listen to the classical music with AKG headphones, I do not recommend K550

So no good with a K601 or K701?
 
Maybe compared to a HD800, otherwise they're quite competent. Upgrade your source and amplifier.

 

[Deep Funk]

The whole picture of a good set up is easily underestimated.

 

[KANA]

 
 
K550 is the AKG's reference model of closed type headphone lines.
So we'd better to compare K550 to K530, not to the opened type ones like K601, K701.
K550 has normally miniplug for portable using, and K701 has 1/4 phones for home listening.
Also they have different exterior and different sound characters...

 
Quote:

The whole picture of a good set up is easily underestimated.

 
I try to connect K550 with several types of audio systems.
Basically I heard K550 with TRIODE TRX-PM84 (Tube DAC with headphone amplifer).

 

[Gwarmi]

Quote:

 
 
K550 is the AKG's reference model of closed type headphone lines.
So we'd better to compare K550 to K530, not to the opened type ones like K601, K701.
K550 has normally miniplug for portable using, and K701 has 1/4 phones for home listening.
Also they have different exterior and different sound characters... 
 
I try to connect K550 with several types of audio systems.
Basically I heard K550 with TRIODE TRX-PM84 (Tube DAC with headphone amplifer).

 
 
My apologies, I misread your post ~ I must've been day dreaming, I thought you made general
reference to all AKG headphones.
 
Not really surprised that the K550 is aimed at pop and rock ~ wonder if stiff internal
competition will come inadvertently from within AKG ~ the K271 is a pretty good headphone
in that respect.
 

 

[Edoardo]

Quote:

The whole picture of a good set up is easily underestimated.

Ehm... More clearly? 

 

[Armaegis]

Hmm, I'm intrigued. Normally their closed cans are quite bassy... argh, and it's actually available in Canada? 
 
 
 
 
no more toys no more toys no more toys...

 

[DigitalFreak]

Quote:

Hmm, I'm intrigued. Normally their closed cans are quite bassy... argh, and it's actually available in Canada? 
 
 
 
 
no more toys no more toys no more toys...

It's only 249 at Headphone Bar and you get a complimentary Fiio amp to go with it and if that wasn't enough super cheap shipping

 

[flint099]

Do you think its going to be possible to put the velours pads from the k701 to prevent sweating?? that would make them even better for me

 

[bigtim]

Confusing

 
I've been reading further insights from what I assume is the same FritzS on this German board - http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-110-12140-5.html. I had to use google translate but the reviews appear positive.
 
I'm hanging out for these still - they tick pretty much all of the boxes for me: closed back / circumaural / not focussed on a specific audio range....
....but the bass is the question. I read the whole thread and certainly don't want to start the whole neutral/coloured debate again but my current headphones are Sennheiser IE8 IEMs and love the bass - impact and extension where required but not affecting the rest of the music negatively. This will be my first and most likely only pair of quality full-size phones so it's a big decision for me.
 
FritzS' reviews appear to suggest that the bass on the K550 is more powerful that the Q701 (apologies if I have misunderstood) whereas KANA's impression was that the bass is weak. It's difficult as nowhere near me stocks AKG headphones so I have no reference point.
 
Looking forward to more opinions as these become available. 

 

[FritzS]

Quote:

Confusing

 
I've been reading further insights from what I assume is the same FritzS on this German board - http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-110-12140-5.html. I had to use google translate but the reviews appear positive.

@bigtim
yes I publish this test reports too. I dont translate the next test reports, have shorten time - and with Google translation it's horrendnous. My native language are German and my English is not soo good,  but good enough to see the bad Google translation. The better way - no translation and writing new in English. (Mostly I use http://www.dict.cc/)
 
Told in a short answer - the K550 is a good closed Headphone:
 
The K550 is a very pleasant musical headphones - my impression is rather warm, plump intoned.
Analytically, so that one seems to hear every hair of the brushes, when the drummer passes over the cymbals or drums - that he is not, in this direction K701/702 Q701 come closer.

You can use the K550, when volume is moderate provided (rather low), very long listening without fatigue.
 
But understand this as my impression, others could have another impression. I know (my credo) HiFi is not an exactly academics

 
 
Data of some common headphones (unfortunately the values are slightly different above, so you have to convert):
AKG K701, K702, Q701
Frequency response: 10 Hz - 39,8 kHz (Q701)
Sensitivity: 105 dB SPL / V
Nominal power: 200 mW
Impedance: 62 ohms

AKG K271 MKII
Frequency response: 16 – 38.000 Hz
Sensitivity: 91 dB SPL/V
Power handling capacity: 200 mW
Impedance: 55 Ohm

AKG K550
Frequency response: 12 – 28.000 Hz
Sensitivity: 114 dB SPL/V
Power handling capacity: 200 mW
Impedance: 32 Ohm
V(WBCV)@94dB SPL = 135 mV

Denon AH-D7000
Impedance: 25 Ohm
Sensitivity: 108 dB / mW
Maximum capacity: 1,800 mW
Frequency range: 5 - 45,000 Hz

BEYERDYNAMIC TESLA T1 HEADPHONES
Transducer type: Dynamic
Operating principle: Semi-open
Frequency response: 5 Hz - 50,000 Hz
Impedance: 600 Ohms
Nominal SPL: 102 dB (1 mW / 500 Hz)
Nominal THD: <0.05% (1 mW / 500 Hz)
Power handling capacity: 300mW
Max SPL: 126dB (300mW / 500 Hz)

Sennheiser HD800
Frequency response: 8 - 50,000 Hz
Nominal impedance: 300 ohms
Sound pressure level at 1 kHz: 102 dB (1 kHz, 1 Vrms)
Max Continuous nominal input power: 500 mW according to EN 60-268-7

Sennheiser HD600
Frequency response: 12-39000 Hz (- 10 dB / 1 kHz)
Nominal impedance: 300 ohms
SPL: 112 dB at 1 kHz, 1 Vrms
Max Continuous nominal input power: 200 mW

So we can calculate the demand power (and max. current and voltage spikes) and the necessary operating voltage. The max. SPL of 126dB can serve as a guide.
a) HA according to the standard of 120 ohms in series
b) HA amplifier 68 ohms in series
c) HA amplifier directly coupled to headphone.
 

 

[Deep Funk]

Quote:

Ehm... More clearly? 

How much more clear does it have to be?  Headphones are fun but if your set up is lacking you will have problem. Your transport/source has to be reliable and if so should have the tone/sound you prefer. Next up is the amplifier. Once you have tried a few of those you can be more precise with what you want. 
 
Regarding AKG and bass: I tend to like headphones like the K400/K500 and K240 DF which are often called 'bass light'. It depends on the amplifier you use in combination with the recording you are playing how bassy the AKGs will sound. I have noticed that with the K400 and K500 I need about 5 dB in gain to wake them up and for the DF (600 ohms mind you) about 10 dB in gain. Volume stays on say 7:30. These have more bass than you think but to expect that every piece of music should be brimming with bass is a misconception for which I can only forgive bassheads/addicts.
 
The K550 is 32 ohms right? I should be driven by tiny DAPs. Well the K701 was 63 ohms and it needed at least as much amplification as my DF. Given that this is in some ways typical AKG the K550 might be tricky to power but I should try one before making any such statement. For now the K550 is just something I am curious about yet I prefer to ignore it until I can audition it with my reference tracks.