AKG K812 Pro

[M-13]

  Which is ironic because the K812 actually produce more distortion than HD600, CMIIW.

K812 measures with more distortion than all of the Dr. Dre Beats line.
 
In fact it would hard to find something with higher distortion and worse looking measurements. And yet somehow it's the best headphone I've heard...

 

[Fegefeuer]

  K812 measures with more distortion than all of the Dr. Dre Beats line.
 
In fact it would hard to find something with higher distortion and worse looking measurements. And yet somehow it's the best headphone I've heard...

 
Anything done by Ultrasone measures worse. Yet I liked the Signature DJ a lot and above many better measuring headphonse. 

 

[M-13]

   
Anything done by Ultrasone measures worse. Yet I liked the Signature DJ a lot and above many better measuring headphonse. 

I'm also a pretty big fan of the Sig Pro. Haha It's very nice indeed, and serves my purpose of "ultimate closed can".
 
Have you seen the K812 measurements? It's pretty much a nightmare, haha. I have doubts the DJ or the Pro would measure worse.

 

[Fegefeuer]

 
I'm a also pretty big fan of the Sig Pro. Haha It's very nice indeed, and serves my purpose of "ultimate closed can".
 
Have you seen the K812 measurements? It's pretty much a nightmare, haha. I have doubts the DJ or the Pro would measure worse.

 
Yep, I still bought them and listened extensively until a few quality issues annoyed me to hell.
 
One of the biggest feats or ankers of the K812 is its "drivability" imo or sounding well off mobile and low-powered resources (or let's say easier than the HD 800). You can use them almost anywhere and still have good sound. No need to be glued on the desk. Been gaming with them on consoles, listening over the Iphone, hooking them up on my receiver, transporting them to my girlfriend's house and listening to them late at night, watching football, movies etc (in the living room of course, not next to her). Only the TH-900 rivals them in this (my favorite headphone). I hope more headphones follow. Sure those situations are not audiophile perfect but they still give you the best "mobile", sit anywhere around the house sound.
 
I can use the HD 800 only on my DAC/AMP, nowhere else without investing into something like the Centrance M8 (which I won't do). Practically glued which conflicts with my habits so it only gets special time (where it ultimately proves that it's still technically superior to the K812). 
 
Without this strength the K812 shines less against the HD 800, but it's a very very important strength. I still believe the price should be 1199€ like the HD 800 at max but better with something around 999€ while battering the T1. From there people can decide much easier which sacrifices they are willing to make. 
 
I like the Ultrasones for their rugged built. I might get a Signature again just for the purpose of having something I don't need to be too careful (i'm very OCD with my headphones) but they are overpriced as well.

 

[pietcux]

Btw the Sig Pro measures quite good on Inner Fidelity. And for the Sig Dj I haven't seen any reliable measurents.

 

[Claritas]

One of the biggest feats or ankers of the K812 is its "drivability" imo or sounding well off mobile and low-powered resources (or let's say easier than the HD 800). You can use them almost anywhere and still have good sound. No need to be glued on the desk. Been gaming with them on consoles, listening over the Iphone, hooking them up on my receiver, transporting them to my girlfriend's house and listening to them late at night, watching football, movies etc (in the living room of course, not next to her).

 
It's encouraging that some are able to take advantage of this feature. I pretty much listen only to CDs anyway, so I don't need mobility at home. It doesn't have the isolation I would need for work. So for me, it really has to stand or fall on merit, and not on add ons. And given the big disagreements about the sound and production quality (and the fact that there's a new flagship currently in beta mode but definitely in the wild), I want to wait till I hear it within the coming months. Still wish it had velour or K501 cloth earpads too.

 

[106099]

FYI
just got email notice from Headroom that they had K812 stock.

 

[Sonido]

Anyone know of good custom cables with EMI shielding for these? Or just a EMI sleeve I can apply? The lack of shielding makes the buzzing quite annoying at times when I'm using it. I'm surprised nobody criticized how average the stock cable is for a $1500 headphone. I know the HD800/HD700 stock cable has the shielding and no EMI interference problems.

 

[Claritas]

Anyone know of good custom cables with EMI shielding for these? Or just a EMI sleeve I can apply? The lack of shielding makes the buzzing quite annoying at times when I'm using it. I'm surprised nobody criticized how average the stock cable is for a $1500 headphone. I know the HD800/HD700 stock cable has the shielding and no EMI interference problems.

 
Actually, Tyll commented on it somewhere saying (paraphrasing), "The cable proves that AKG isn't serious this time."

 

[M-13]

 

Yeah I agree about the mobility. I love the freedom of not being chained to my desk. WIth all the new great DAPs out on the market and coming to market this year it's certainly a new era for K812 owners. I don't have any doubts other companies will start coming up with more and more efficient flagships.

 

[Blackmore]

Mobility? Are you kidding me?! Really?
 
If you like / need mobility, go customs, but don't start about K812 as an good option, because they are bulky, however, for each his own.

 

[M-13]

  Mobility? Are you kidding me?! Really?
 
If you like / need mobility, go customs, but don't start about K812 as an good option, because they are bulky, however, for each his own.

It has its uses. You never know until you have one. I don't want to be on a 6 foot dog chain bolted to my desk rig. I can walk around the house and find a nice spot to enjoy my music and hit play. I can go lay in bed or a recliner without having to think about moving my entire amp/dac rig and building a small table in every comfortable spot of the house. I can also take the K812 with me. To share with friends or when I travel for work. Honestly, everyone would love this if it meant they didn't have to change the sound of the their HD800/T1/LCD-3/HE-6. And oh my the K812 is very comfortable.
 
Think of it has a main rig that also works as a bedside rig without having to build a seperate rig like some people do on Head-Fi.
 
Btw, customs don't "work" for me. To each his own. That's probably the last thing I would pick for mobility.
 
Edit: and just to be clear I'm not saying this is some amazing or critical feature of the K812. It's just a nice bonus for those who want to take advantage. I understand some people might have aboslutely zero use for it.

 

[up late]

agree with blackmore. earphones are a much better option for portable use.

 

[M-13]

agree with blackmore. earphones are a much better option for portable use.

After a few years of being wowed by IEMs I realized I'm just more of a headphone guy. I don't like sticking things in my ears or the presentation from tiny BA drivers. I think for portable use the Sig Pro or Spirit Pro is the best option for me or for those who aren't into IEM. Some people have health issues because of moisture build up/infection. For those who prefer IEMs to heapdhones the world is your oyster since there are so many highend ones out now, including universal ones.
 
I think you guys are misreading what I wrote. I'm not saying the K812 is a ultimate portable solution.

 It's open-backed for crying outloud. What I'm saying is that it's a mobile flagship and that can be useful for some people in certain situations.

 

[Kiats]

Anyone know of good custom cables with EMI shielding for these? Or just a EMI sleeve I can apply? The lack of shielding makes the buzzing quite annoying at times when I'm using it. I'm surprised nobody criticized how average the stock cable is for a $1500 headphone. I know the HD800/HD700 stock cable has the shielding and no EMI interference problems.

 
Hey Sonido! Actually, that's one of the first things I noted about the AKG K812 - that the stock cable is as sad as the stock cable that comes with the AKG K702. I'll be getting my Toxic Cables BW soon - let me see what the EMI is on that one.