Closed Headphones that resemble AKG k501...

[plonkersaurus]

Right, I've had the K501's for 3 years sitting on my shelf and last month decided to finally take them down and burn them in...

A month later and wow, for the music i like (acousticy stuff) these sound close to perfection.

Now I'm struggling at work (office) with newish Denon d1001's which just don't compare at all.

I was wondering if anyone knows of any closed headphone that come close to the K501's, or what closed headphones K501 lovers use.

I was also looking at the Sony NC500 digital noise cancelling headphones, does anyone have any opinions on these or other noise cancelling headphones?

HELP!!!

Also, what would be my next stepping stone up on the open headphone market?

 

[REB]

Three years on the shelf? The K501?

They are good, aren't they? I've had them for a year or so and only recently swapped them for a pair of K500s (which I like even better, although the difference is small). It's nigh impossible to find a closed equivalent because the soundstage and the airiness are such important factors in the 501's sound signature.

If I had to choose a closed headphone, though, I'd go for an AT woodie. I know, I know, that's not really similar to the k501, but where are you going to find something that is?

 

[insyte]

3 years? what was it doing just sitting on your shelf?

I also think an AT woodie would probably be the closest, but the sound sig of the W5000 (the only one Ive auditioned) is still different

 

[plonkersaurus]

Hmm well at the time i prefered the HD595's, I've very much changed my mind now!

How much do AT woodies go for? I have a feeling they arent going to be cheap

(I live in england)

 

[cswann1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plonkersaurus /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmm well at the time i prefered the HD595's, I've very much changed my mind now! How much do AT woodies go for? I have a feeling they arent going to be cheap (I live in england)

If you want to raise some funds by selling your K501's PM me.

 

[REB]

I think a new w5000 costs in the region of 500-600 euro's.... You can get them used of course and take off a third of the price.

 

[Ishcabible]

Or a W1000 for about $300 used.

 

[burgunder]

I guess that you'll get much of the same sound signature from the AKG K272.

 

[Ishcabible]

Well, not really. Acoustic is good with them but not aurgasmic. Maybe I'm expecting too much from them though.

 

[plonkersaurus]

yikes, those cans are £670 in england! the K501's were only £80!

I have to say i was braced for around £200 but £670 is alot of money to spend on headphones especially since the point of reference is only £80!

are the w5000 really that good?

 

[REB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plonkersaurus /img/forum/go_quote.gif yikes, those cans are £670 in england! the K501's were only £80! I have to say i was braced for around £200 but £670 is alot of money to spend on headphones especially since the point of reference is only £80! are the w5000 really that good?

That is really expensive and not worth it, I think. The k501s are really cheap at ￡80 though. They outperform headphones which are significantly more expensive.

 

[moonboy403]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plonkersaurus /img/forum/go_quote.gif yikes, those cans are £670 in england! the K501's were only £80! I have to say i was braced for around £200 but £670 is alot of money to spend on headphones especially since the point of reference is only £80! are the w5000 really that good?

The W5000 is definitely NOT for everybody. You can read my take on it under my signature.

 

[REB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonboy403 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The W5000 is definitely NOT for everybody. You can read my take on it under my signature.

Good that you pointed that out. I guess it isn't, while the k501 is much easier to like (it is not a love/hate phone like the k701 for example).

It is proving a difficult quest to find a closed version of the k501...

 

[moonboy403]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REB /img/forum/go_quote.gif Good that you pointed that out. I guess it isn't, while the k501 is much easier to like (it is not a love/hate phone like the k701 for example). It is proving a difficult quest to find a closed version of the k501...

I've heard great things about them but I think a W5000 with the fitz mod would come a bit closer to the K501 than the stock would since it adds more bass quantity along with taming that AT coloration.

But then I'm just interpolating a imaginary sound signature out of what I've read from K501.

 

[mypasswordis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REB /img/forum/go_quote.gif Good that you pointed that out. I guess it isn't, while the k501 is much easier to like (it is not a love/hate phone like the k701 for example). It is proving a difficult quest to find a closed version of the k501...

It used to be a love/hate headphone, before the K701 came out and it got discontinued.