[troymadison]

I don't think the K1000s are bass monsters.

 

[jp11801]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tev /img/forum/go_quote.gif BOT.... I love the K1000s, but like smeggy, have noticed a roll-off, somewhere around 30 hz. I say this in comparison to other phones that I'm familiar with. ie. the D5000, GS1000, DX1000 and HD650 which all offer bigger foundations to the sound (I have never heard the Ed. 9's, but long to experience its already legendary authority). As a point of reference, I've only heard the K's with powerful 300b amps, recables, beefy power cords, etc. The K1000's are not really about bass. They do it with respectable conviction, but its really their other attributes that place them in the major leauges - transparency, air, speed, midrange clarity, and a wonderful flat response from 30 hz up.

What instrument are you listening to that produces sound in an average recording that goes below 30hz?? Note average frequency range of instruments listed below. What most people define as bass roll off actually starts betwen 40-50hz. Other than 6 string bass guitars and the lowest notes of an organ/piano there is not much down there. Having owned akg k1000s for a long time they are not flat, no headphone has a totally flat response. The akgs probably start their roll off in the 50hz area. It would be easy to test this by simply busting out any reference cd with test tones at multiple frequencies to verify.

VOCAL Approximate Frequency Range
Soprano 250Hz - 1K
Contralto 200Hz - 700Hz
Baritone 110Hz - 425Hz
Bass 80Hz - 350Hz

WOODWIND Top
Piccolo 630Hz - 5K
Flute 250Hz - 2.5K
Oboe 250Hz - 1.5K
Clarinet (B flat or A) 125Hz - 2K
Clarinet (E flat) 200Hz - 2K
Bass Clarinet 75Hz - 800Hz
Basset Horn 90Hz - 1K
Cor Anglais 160Hz - 1K
Bassoon 55Hz - 575Hz
Double Bassoon 25Hz - 200Hz
Soprano Saxophone 225Hz - 1K
Alto Saxophone 125Hz - 900Hz
Tenor Saxophone 110Hz - 630Hz
Baritone Saxophone 70Hz - 450Hz
Bass Saxophone 55Hz - 315Hz

BRASS Top
Trumpet (C) 170Hz - 1K
Trumpet (F) 300Hz - 1K
Alto Trombone 110Hz - 630Hz

Tenor Trombone
80Hz - 600Hz
Bass Trombone 63Hz - 400Hz
Tuba 45Hz - 375Hz
Valve Horn 63Hz - 700Hz
STRINGS Top
Violin 200Hz - 3.5K
Viola 125Hz -1K
Cello 63Hz - 630Hz
Double Bass 40Hz - 200Hz
Guitar 80Hz - 630Hz
KEYBOARDS Top
Piano 28Hz - 4.1K
Organ 20Hz - 7K
PERCUSSION Top
Celeste 260Hz - 3.5K
Timpani 90Hz - 180Hz
Glockenspiel 63Hz - 180Hz
Xylophone 700Hz - 3.5K

 

[robm321]

While the K-1000s bass rolls off, it does produce the lowest frequencies (at a lower volume). I think what a lot of people miss though is that it has about the most accurate, tight, uncolored bass of any headphone every made with impact and all (assuming an appropriate amp is used).

 

[Piotr Ryka]

Is this bass so important? Maybe. Nice thing to hear isn’t it? So, I have both, K1000 and E9.
K1000 bass is more hard, dense and fast. Powerful, no doubt. All K1000 sound is more natural, but not as easy to hear, as this from E9. At the same time E9 bass is more spatial, extensive and hot. Also more imactfull but more in the background (not as leading), and softer. Generally E9 sound is more sweat and artificial, but very, very nice to hear. More relaxing; not as “intravenous” and life like, with all this natural harshness, what belongs to K1000 sound signature.
Important thing: if you want good K1000 bass, you need normal amplifier, not headphone one.
(Forgive me my English.)

 

[kwkarth]

In my experience, the AKG- K1000 by design rolls off in the low frequencies starting around 45Hz. I guess I've never heard any of the limited production K1k's that have been mentioned in this thread as intended for the US market.

The quality of sound that one hears from the K1k is heavily dependent upon the amplification used and of course, if amplification is up to snuff, then the source will make a large difference due to the resolving power of the phones.

I am convinced that I've not yet heard the K1k's at their best. There are better amps out there for the K1k's that I have not yet heard.

Happy Listening!

 

[troymadison]

Well, I rolled an OPA2107 in my amp and replaced the OPA2604. Now I only get half the bass with a lot less impact, but the sound is much more laid back and smoother. I don't like the changes much though to be honest, but it does prove to me that the k1000 is very transparent.

 

[tev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp11801 /img/forum/go_quote.gif What instrument are you listening to that produces sound in an average recording that goes below 30hz??

Your right, not many. But I hate to miss those low notes when they do occur. I listen to a lot of Choral music with pipe organ and attend a lot of live performances of the same. For this genre, the K1000's unmistakably roll off those "count the cycle" notes. I can hear the sub 30 hz notes and those between 30hz and 50hz with more conviction on other, bassier phones.

But I love the K1000's. For acoustic piano, nothing that I have heard from a dynamic phone seems to offer a flatter frequency response for most of the keyboard. As a pianist, this instrument is my acid test for flatness. Just my personal observation.

 

[Patrick82]

I have found that the more revealing you make the system the more it shows the rolled off frequency extremes of K1000. You need to tone down the midrange to compensate that, or get normal headphones with pads, however, pads blur the midrange details...

I got the most bass from K1000 with a PS Audio P300 Power Plant using the MWave4 setting because it toned down the midrange and highs. I got the same sound signature when I used it for different sources, amps and transports. With MWave1, MWave2, MWave3 and Sinewave the bass sounded rolled off and it was bright. With MWave4 the mids were a little slow and blurry but there was loads more bass information!

Since MWave4 and Valhalla power cord had opposite sound signatures, I couldn't listen to K1000 without MWave4. I drew some pictures to illustrate how it sounds like.

 

[troymadison]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick82 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have found that the more revealing you make the system the more it shows the rolled off frequency extremes of K1000. You need to tone down the midrange to compensate that, or get normal headphones with pads, however, pads blur the midrange details... I got the most bass from K1000 with a PS Audio P300 Power Plant using the MWave4 setting because it toned down the midrange and highs. I got the same sound signature when I used it for different sources, amps and transports. With MWave1, MWave2, MWave3 and Sinewave the bass sounded rolled off and it was bright. With MWave4 the mids were a little slow and blurry but there was loads more bass information! Since MWave4 and Valhalla power cord had opposite sound signatures, I couldn't listen to K1000 without MWave4. I drew some pictures to illustrate how it sounds like.

Thanks Patrick! This is very informative!

 

[oicdn]

What's funny is people say this and that are rolled off. the only experience I have intimately with stats is my SR003 and IMO, although it's "rolled off", I think it's what lends to it smoothness. "People say the SE530's are hugely rolled off, but for some reason, it's our highest selling IEM*".

Rolled off doesn't mean crap to me unless it's something that's immense. Like, a note that's completely missing and is blatantly obvious.

*I know that's a fact, because that's what Headroom said me over the phone when I was asking about the SRM-001mk2 and it's sound being reputably "rolled off".

 

[M0T0XGUY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oicdn /img/forum/go_quote.gif What's funny is people say this and that are rolled off. the only experience I have intimately with stats is my SR003 and IMO, although it's "rolled off", I think it's what lends to it smoothness. "People say the SE530's are hugely rolled off, but for some reason, it's our highest selling IEM*". Rolled off doesn't mean crap to me unless it's something that's immense. Like, a note that's completely missing and is blatantly obvious. *I know that's a fact, because that's what Headroom said me over the phone when I was asking about the SRM-001mk2 and it's sound being reputably "rolled off".

K1000's aren't electrostatic though...

 

[oicdn]

I know, but I was referring to the way people say "rolled off is bad" yada yada, yet, the really reputed rolled off IEM is the best seller.

 

[upstateguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oicdn /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know, but I was referring to the way people say "rolled off is bad" yada yada, yet, the really reputed rolled off IEM is the best seller.

NSESB

USG

d-_-b

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by upstateguy /img/forum/go_quote.gif NSESB USG d-_-b

Zing!

 

[tev]

Patrick, your graphic illustrations are fantastic!!!! Can you do one for the Power Plant Premier + VD?