[Traveller]

*** OFF TOPIC ***

Just saw Atomic Blonde tonight and Charlize was wearing K140s...
...but if even @EvilKillaruna hasn't had the honor...
Not sure if the director / wardrobe got it right, though, considering the film was centered around Berlin just before the Wall came down (1989) and the K140s are considerably older, AFAIK...
Or perhaps we should surmise that East Berlin was a few generations of (any) gear behind the West... ?

Still... cool to see them "casted" in the movie

Image c/o "fromthemovie"

List of AKG headphones I've had pleasure to review or personally own since establishing my blog (8-year perspective):
AKG GHS 1
AKG K70 TV
AKG K142 HD
AKG M220 PRO
AKG K240 DF
AKG K240 MKII
AKG K240 Monitor
AKG K260 Professional
AKG K270 Playback
AKG K271 MKII
AKG K272 HD
AKG K280 Parabolic
AKG K290 Surround
AKG K301
AKG K315
AKG K321
AKG K330
AKG K340 ES-D (BH)
AKG Q350
AKG K370
AKG K390 NC
AKG K400 LP
AKG K401
AKG K420
AKG K450
AKG K500 EP
AKG K500 LP
AKG K501
AKG K518 DJ
AKG K550 MKI
AKG K612 PRO
AKG Q701
AKG K7XX
AKG K1000 EP
AKG K1000 LP

 

[FritzS]

*** OFF TOPIC ***

Just saw Atomic Blonde tonight and Charlize was wearing K140s...
...but if even @EvilKillaruna hasn't had the honor...
Not sure if the director / wardrobe got it right, though, considering the film was centered around Berlin just before the Wall came down (1989) and the K140s are considerably older, AFAIK...
Or perhaps we should surmise that East Berlin was a few generations of (any) gear behind the West... ?

Still... cool to see them "casted" in the movie
Image c/o "fromthemovie"

*** OFF TOPIC ***
I own a AKG K50 (branded as Philips K50)

 

[DonS1000]

How are these as headphones for in the office? They don't fit in my briefcase I think so I suppose I should wear them while going to work. But if the sound quality is that much better than comparable headphones (such as the B&W P9), then it's not a big issue I think.

Also these headphones sound much better than the Shure SE846?

Is the AKG K872 among the best (as subjective as that may be) ? Does it compare with Electrostatics ?

 

[DonS1000]

*** OFF TOPIC ***

Just saw Atomic Blonde tonight and Charlize was wearing K140s...
...but if even @EvilKillaruna hasn't had the honor...
Not sure if the director / wardrobe got it right, though, considering the film was centered around Berlin just before the Wall came down (1989) and the K140s are considerably older, AFAIK...
Or perhaps we should surmise that East Berlin was a few generations of (any) gear behind the West... ?

Still... cool to see them "casted" in the movie

Image c/o "fromthemovie"

She looks like a bleached blonde.

 

[jagwap]

Is the AKG K872 among the best (as subjective as that may be) ? Does it compare with Electrostatics ?

I bought these for the office, although I don't wear them for the commute yet. It's too hot here and I need to make a shorter cable for them.

They are up there with the best. They are better that the Shures (from distant memory).

I don't know the P9s, but they are significantly better than the P7s. But then I don't like B&W headphones.

They may equal some electrostats, but not the best. However, where can you find a closed electrostat?

They (almost) sound like an open headphone. They are not perfect, but if the small idiosyncrasies do not bother you they are immensely satisfying.

 

[MozartMan1201]

Wonder how the K872 stacks up against the closed-back SONY MDR-Z1R ($1499, 70mm driver!)

 

[tdebug]

Wonder how the K872 stacks up against the closed-back SONY MDR-Z1R ($1499, 70mm driver!)

Both good but quite very different. Sony is very warm and little bassy sound. You might like Z1R for casual listening (many people do, following feedback here and there). Sony clearly created those having "premium" in mind, but not so much practicality. Build quality is great, but huge and heavy leather box (which screams "expensive") is a bit too much if you ask me - I wish they include long balanced cable instead, especially for the price. No carrying bag included also. Yes Z1R can be attached to a balanced source which is a plus, but they come with a long unbalanced cable and very VERY short balanced cable, which was truly annoying to use. Surprisingly, here in the EU I could not buy a proper balanced Sony cable anywhere, first wanted to order from the US but instead returned the Z1R during return window, to fund another headphones purchase.
So overall good headphones, but if you need critical listening and monitoring Z1R is probably not your choice.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Both good but quite very different. Sony is very warm and little bassy sound. You might like Z1R for casual listening (many people do, following feedback here and there). Sony clearly created those having "premium" in mind, but not so much practicality. Build quality is great, but huge and heavy leather box (which screams "expensive") is a bit too much if you ask me - I wish they include long balanced cable instead, especially for the price. No carrying bag included also. Yes Z1R can be attached to a balanced source which is a plus, but they come with a long unbalanced cable and very VERY short balanced cable, which was truly annoying to use. Surprisingly, here in the EU I could not buy a proper balanced Sony cable anywhere, first wanted to order from the US but instead returned the Z1R during return window, to fund another headphones purchase.
So overall good headphones, but if you need critical listening and monitoring Z1R is probably not your choice.

I think the Z1R are just fine for critical listening...they have outstanding clarity, detail retrieval and sound staging. Monitoring? I'd go in another direction.

 

[knaai]

Is there someone who could really give a good comparison between the AKG and Sony?

 

[jagwap]

Is there someone who could really give a good comparison between the AKG and Sony?

I think you have limited success in find a good comparison. While they are both good high end headphones, they are different in their style of presentation and will unlikely appeal to the same people. The AKG is close to the neutral tight bass response, although more emphasised than AKG have traditionally done, while the Sony are in the Harman curve/boost the bass (and a bit more) camp. I knew after 30 seconds the Sony's were not for me for this reason.

 

[buke9]

Totally agree as these are very different. I had the same experience as it didn’t take long before I didn’t like the Sony’s that much. One caveat as I only heard them from the new Sony dap and would liked to have tried them on a different amp and setup. I really didn’t like the highs on them as I want to say grainy it wasn’t but it wasn’t too realistic to me just a bit off. Like I said I would like to have heard them on something else as a usually don’t like same company amps as I think they emphasize too much on the sound signature they want just my opinion.

 

[tdebug]

Is there someone who could really give a good comparison between the AKG and Sony?

What exactly you want to hear as a good comparison? Have you listened any either of those two?
I am not professional reviewer by any means. But I had a Z1R for a month and now 872, but for only a few days.
872 is a reference headset and sounds exactly like that. They give you quite precise, very down to the ground sound. I believe this are kind of headphones you need for professional use. This is my preliminary feedback, so to say.
872 also come with practical carrying case instead of Sony's luxury-useless huge leather box.

On top of what I already said earlier about Z1R I can add that I kinda see why there are many hate or love opinions about those - some professional reviewers hate them, but lots of feedback on amazon is very positive. Not sure if you can use Z1R professionally - those are not reference headphones and mostly for causal listening and audiophiles who want to have luxury item and don't care about the price. So in general both headphones are very good, but also very different. I would have kept both if I didn't care about the price.

 

[zolkis]

What exactly you want to hear as a good comparison?

Very nice you have both these headphones. I've listened to the Z1R several times, and would describe it as having a little bit muddy midbass and a little bit hard midrange, but otherwise good sound stage and good sound. About the K872, it would be nice to know how is it in comparison (any of the following):
- bass extension (how deep and how defined it goes, see e.g. here, for instance the TH900 goes 2-3 discernible notes deeper than most others)
- bass impact and definition (e.g. kettle drums, drums, organ, pipes),
- is the bass hitting in the deeper end or towards midbass
- is there midrange hardness, honkiness, glare, sibilance (e.g. grand piano, electric piano, saxophone, voices)
- is there upper mids/ lower treble sibilance ('sss' sounds, especially with closed miked female voices)
- is there treble peak or glare or hash
- is there a difference (and what) how pink noise and white noise sound on both headphones in comparison
- which has a deeper, more relaxed tone, with more flesh (as opposed, which has a more upbeat, harder or thinner sound and where).

 

[knaai]

I do own the AKG for three months now and I was just curious if the Sony could level the AKG.
The first two weeks I was pretty disappointed with the 872, but I needed some time and I had to adjust the headphones the right way, a little high on the head. Now it sounds like a dream and I do choose it more and more over my favourite HP, the Hifiman Edition X, even when a closed back is not really needed.
I do understand the Sony as a lot more pronounced bass then the 872 and has a more ‘popular’ sound. Thanks for the information!

 

[Mark Up]

Is there someone who could really give a good comparison between the AKG and Sony?

I've heard both. The Sony is warmer, and outside of a little peak (not really a problem area at all) the highs are warmer and the high mids more laid back. The AKG is more about midrange. It has more treble, it's not harsh at all. It does have flat mids to lower mids that are nice, mid bass is flat, and sub bass rolls off a little too soon.