Astell&Kern AK T5p (AKT5p) Impressions Thread

[anouskatheresia]

I have new astell and kern ak T5P still in box. Got it as a gift from a photo competition and I didn't use it. So I would like to sell it. I'm based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Please contact me if ure interested.

 

[kerrys30]

I have new astell and kern ak T5P still in box. Got it as a gift from a photo competition and I didn't use it. So I would like to sell it. I'm based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Please contact me if ure interested.

 
There is a for sale sections you can post to (if you havent already)....may get better chance of sale there.

 

[dePhil]

Second week with the AKT5p - LOVE IT better every day.
 
Got it by chance/curiousity - couldnt resist the 50% price drop on Amazon - and after having heard it, would have bought it even without the discount.
 
Set up  >>>  AK120II / Balanced / AKT5p
 
The way I see it - not the best one to my taste for quiet home listening (my HD800 still serves me better here), but surely the best for going out and about, as well as for enjoying music in the office (or home with the family around).
Fits my taste and needs so well, that even didnt bother do a comparison with the IE800, which never left the shelf ever since.
 
Cheers to all!

 

[jwbrent]

  Second week with the AKT5p - LOVE IT better every day.
 
Got it by chance/curiousity - couldnt resist the 50% price drop on Amazon - and after having heard it, would have bought it even without the discount.
 
Set up  >>>  AK120II / Balanced / AKT5p
 
The way I see it - not the best one to my taste for quiet home listening (my HD800 still serves me better here), but surely the best for going out and about, as well as for enjoying music in the office (or home with the family around).
Fits my taste and needs so well, that even didnt bother do a comparison with the IE800, which never left the shelf ever since.
 
Cheers to all!

Congrats on your new headphones. I still have mine and continue to enjoy them immensely.

 

[batracom]

I am looking to get them. Has anyone on the thread compared them to the T5P 2nd Generation? The impression is that these are more neutral. Also, could you please confirm that the cable is not detachable, and general impressions on it? Is it robust enough, have there been any failures? Lastly, who services these in case of warranty repairs? AK or Beyerdynamic? Many thanks!

 

[dePhil]

Well, my personal take on AKT5p vs BD T5p-II
 
1) Better bass for AKT5p (balanced, and AK's factory defined EQ-off) - deeper and more tight, impactfull and controlled
2) BD T5p-II is kind of more neutral vs AKT5p with EQ-off. With EQ-on and bass-performance aside - wouldnt be able to distinguish which is which in a blind test. These two points are subjective and should be taken with a grain of salt, as the AKT5p is still running in and the T5p-II was in my hands for only 15-20 minutes.
3) The price difference is quite objective though:  € 760 (AKT5p) vs  € 1'200 (T5p-II)
 
Otherwise - indeed, the cable is not detachable on the AKT5p, but the quality is there, and its balanced too. Absolutely the way to go, if you have a balanced-out/AK player.
 
To sum it up: 
- practically the same look, feel, build & quality 
- practically indistinguishable sound performance (and especially so in the targeted environmnet - when out & about), with somewhat better bass for the AKT5p
- strange pricing situation with € 500 difference in favor of the AKT5p
 
Cheers!

 

[batracom]

Well, my personal take on AKT5p vs BD T5p-II

1) Better bass for AKT5p (balanced, and AK's factory defined EQ-off) - deeper and more tight, impactfull and controlled
2) BD T5p-II is kind of more neutral vs AKT5p with EQ-off. With EQ-on and bass-performance aside - wouldnt be able to distinguish which is which in a blind test. These two points are subjective and should be taken with a grain of salt, as the AKT5p is still running in and the T5p-II was in my hands for only 15-20 minutes.
3) The price difference is quite objective though:  € 760 (AKT5p) vs  € 1'200 (T5p-II)

Otherwise - indeed, the cable is not detachable on the AKT5p, but the quality is there, and its balanced too. Absolutely the way to go, if you have a balanced-out/AK player.

To sum it up: 
- practically the same look, feel, build & quality 
- practically indistinguishable sound performance (and especially so in the targeted environmnet - when out & about), with somewhat better bass for the AKT5p
- strange pricing situation with € 500 difference in favor of the AKT5p

Cheers!

Thanks for this, very useful. The pricing is indeed bizarre, but the T5p II can be had for less. Could you comment on the comfort, given that the pads are quite different? Also, would you take the phones to AstellKern or Beyerdynamic if say a driver or the cable has issues?

 

[dePhil]

Thank you too!
 
Difficult to give useful comment on the comfort - as I was switching between the two all the time, so no prolonged listening, and so on.
Still - I do not remember any comfort-related difference between the two, pads included.
 
In case of trouble - straight to the AK.
Last year I had my AK120ii's screen cracked - shipped it to them and had it back without any issues.
 
Much more likely is not a physical damage, but rather losing the balanced/standard adapter, or not having it with you - happened to me a couple of times, when people were asking me to try the phones on their devices, or I wanted to plug it into something else. This is the only hickup I've had so far.

 

[shuto77]

I'm thinking about picking up a pair of these. Are they essentially Beyerdynamic T5Pii?

Thanks!

 

[Subhakar]

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/821419/hd-bluetooth-tesla-headphones-from-ak-beyerdynamic-24-bit-aptx-hd-2016-ifa
 
 

First-ever Tesla headphones

with Qualcomm® aptX HD audio 

from

beyerdynamic and Astell&Kern 

 
 
http://asia-pacific-india.beyerdynamic.com/press/press-releases/press-detail/article/ifa-highlight-2016-1.html​
 
 
 



2017 launch, I guess?

 

[ductrung3993]

While 95% says that the T5p.2 is a significant improvement over the first gen, I have not heard comparison to the AK T5p itself. Can anyone chime me in? Thanks!

p.s. I just read dephil's post, but is still looking for more. 
 

 

[Ricecore]

Is there a replacement for the 2.5mm to 3.5mm converter that comes with the product? I've been looking everywhere... I believe it is 2.5mm 4 pole to 3.5mm 3 pole. Is this adapter/converter only available directly from A&K?

 

[andersen]

Just checked: my new Astell & Kern T5P headphones do have Beyer T5P 2nd gen drivers. Despite the fact officially they are still based on the gen 1 t5p. Obviously they have been upgraded silently....
 
My AK T5P
 

 
Beyer T5P gen 2: http://www.audioxpress.com/article/Beyerdynamic-Presents-T5p-Second-Generation-Tesla-Portable-Headphone-at-CES-2016
 
Beyer T5P gen 1: http://www.diyaudioblog.com/2013/03/beyerdynamic-t5p-recable.html

 

[HeadAmpTeam]

Anyone looking to get an AKT5p, we have a very limited quantity available on our website for $989 after promo code HeadFi10: http://www.headamp.com/order/astellkern-akt5p-closed-dynamic-headphones/

 

[SRKRAM]

  Well, my personal take on AKT5p vs BD T5p-II
 
1) Better bass for AKT5p (balanced, and AK's factory defined EQ-off) - deeper and more tight, impactfull and controlled
2) BD T5p-II is kind of more neutral vs AKT5p with EQ-off. With EQ-on and bass-performance aside - wouldnt be able to distinguish which is which in a blind test. These two points are subjective and should be taken with a grain of salt, as the AKT5p is still running in and the T5p-II was in my hands for only 15-20 minutes.
3) The price difference is quite objective though:  € 760 (AKT5p) vs  € 1'200 (T5p-II)
 
Otherwise - indeed, the cable is not detachable on the AKT5p, but the quality is there, and its balanced too. Absolutely the way to go, if you have a balanced-out/AK player.
 
To sum it up: 
- practically the same look, feel, build & quality 
- practically indistinguishable sound performance (and especially so in the targeted environmnet - when out & about), with somewhat better bass for the AKT5p
- strange pricing situation with € 500 difference in favor of the AKT5p
 
Cheers!

Thanks for the comparison. I've got a set of T1 gen2 and I've been pondering the T5p-II and AKT5p as I've wanted a good set of closed headphones. I just ordered a set of AKT5p, so I'm looking forward to trying them out. Significantly cheaper than the BD T5p in the UK. I do like the detachable cable on the T1, so I was tempted to get the BD version - Actually I still am tempted. It's good to hear that the AK cable is of good quality.
 
-Mark.