D1000>akg 271>or D2000

[Tokenganjaclan]

So I've been using the Denon D1000 and I love their sound sig, But am planning to upgrade to a more full sized can. I've seen alot of reviews on the AKG and they seem to fit my style music wise. My main music taste is metal, classic rock. Which the Denons do quite well. And it seems like the Akgs will work well with this music too. So basically will the Akgs do it? Or should I wait and go right for the gusto and upgrade right to the Denon D2000s? The Denons are $100 more so is that price jump worth it? I mean do the Denons just smoke the Akgs sound wise? Help me justify the extra $100...lol

 

[alexboo12]

Hey, i am about to add AKG 271 to the mix with the Denon D1000. Personally, i will keep the Denon as a fun can and the AKG for daily listening. My main taste is toward jazz, acoustic, and vocal stuffs and i thought they are more matched with the AKG 271. I think based on your taste, maybe you should go check out the ultrasone (for closed can) and Grado for the open can.
Cheers,
AP

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tokenganjaclan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Or should I wait and go right for the gusto and upgrade right to the Denon D2000s? The Denons are $100 more so is that price jump worth it? I mean do the Denons just smoke the Akgs sound wise? Help me justify the extra $100...lol

Not sure about *smoke*. For me it was the other way around, D2000 just couldn't hold against velour padded K271S. I have owned two D2000 pairs at different times and every time after some A/B comparison AKG was getting out a clear winner. But of course you need a good amp to make those shine, recabling wouldn't hurt either (Zu Mobius).

In the end both D2000 are gone for good.

 

[jonathanjong]

What do you listen to, Andrew? I'm wondering if differing musical tastes affect the comparison. I'm scoping for my next upgrade (in a few years...).

 

[richierich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathanjong /img/forum/go_quote.gif What do you listen to, Andrew? I'm wondering if differing musical tastes affect the comparison. I'm scoping for my next upgrade (in a few years...).

few years? Sure buddy! More like few weeks.

 

[Tiemen]

I had both the K271 and the D2000.
The AKG is good with acoustic music and well recorded pop. For rock, they lack slam. I owned the K271 twice, and sold them twice because I found them utterly boring.
I had also a fit issue. My ears are to big for the earpads, with the vinyl earpad and even so more with the velour ones. So very uncomfortale for me.

The Denon are far more comfortale, and better with rock IMHO. But still not great, because the Denon can also sound a bit dull and slow, though not as bad as the K271.
I sold the Denon for these reasons:
treble sometimes harsh and sibilant, there's not much nuance in the bass (difference between acoustic and electric bass not always obvious), fatiguing in the long run, vocals sounds sometimes recessed, not good isolation for a closed can.

I'm still looking for a good all-around closed headphone. I hope the Kenwood KH-K1000 will fit my needs.

 

[nickchen]

No need to engage any more, that guy is banned.

 

[Tiemen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickchen /img/forum/go_quote.gif No need to engage any more, that guy is banned.

Yeah, I noticed that after my post

Anyone knows why he is banned? It sort of surprises me.
Or am I not allowed to ask that

 

[jonathanjong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by richierich /img/forum/go_quote.gif few years? Sure buddy! More like few weeks.

Can't...girlfriend will kick my rump.

 

[pataburd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiemen /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Denon are far more comfortable, and better with rock IMHO. But still not great, because the Denon can also sound a bit dull and slow, though not as bad as the K271. I sold the Denon for these reasons: treble sometimes harsh and sibilant, there's not much nuance in the bass (difference between acoustic and electric bass not always obvious), fatiguing in the long run, vocals sounds sometimes recessed, not good isolation for a closed can.

Tieman,
Your experience with and description of the D2000, with the possible exception of isolation lacking, are almost completely disparate from mine. The D2000, to me, sound lively, as quick as the track demands; fairly extended, smooth and detailed in the highs; deep and reasonably well differentiated in the bass; open, clear and reasonably balanced in the midrange.

That said, however, I think the D5000 offer more detail, dimensionality and differentiation than the D2000. In the bass department, for example, the D5000 offer better dynamics, texture, roundedness and definition: any ambiguities perhaps evident between acoustic and electric bass on the D2000 are completely cleared up with the D5000.
PAB

 

[Tiemen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pataburd /img/forum/go_quote.gif Tieman, Your experience with and description of the D2000, with the possible exception of isolation lacking, are almost completely disparate from mine. The D2000, to me, sound lively, as quick as the track demands; fairly extended, smooth and detailed in the highs; deep and reasonably well differentiated in the bass; open, clear and reasonably balanced in the midrange. That said, however, I think the D5000 offer more detail, dimensionality and differentiation than the D2000. PAB

Is it possible that Denon has not only a quality problem with the outside build, but also the inside build?
Maybe if I had your D2000 (and your amp), I would say the same. But my D2000 was the way I described it. And Kees, who bought them from me, had some same SQ problems with them. He also described them as bass light. Go figure.
Saying that, I also heard different sounding AKG K271 Studio's. One with lean, tight bass and clear mids. And one with more fat, sloppy bass and veiled mids

 

[pataburd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiemen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is it possible that Denon has not only a quality problem with the outside build, but also the inside build? Maybe if I had your D2000 (and your amp), I would say the same. But my D2000 was the way I described it. And Kees, who bought them from me, had some same SQ problems with them. He also described them as bass light. Go figure. Saying that, I also heard different sounding AKG K271 Studio's. One with lean, tight bass and clear mids. And one with more fat, sloppy bass and veiled mids

Tieman,
It could very well be an internal quality issue as you say. And I've never had any loose screws, either--well, maybe in my head, but not in the D2000!

Besides the amp, the source can make a big difference, too. For example, when I exchanged the Panasonic S47 for the (EVS-modded) Oppo 970HD, I immediately noticed much smoother and clearer treble response. Cables, too . . .

Oh! This can be such a wearisome hobby! I'd really rather sit down at the end of the day, and read and take notes on Frederick Copleston's A History of Philosophy than agonize over this silly--o.k., I called it "silly" and I sha'n't retract--stuff! Hopefully, after the Bada PH-12 comes back, the Darkvoice is out the door, and I've decided between the D2000 and D5000, I can finally do just that (i.e. spend the evening reading Copleston: such a fine Jesuit scholar--and, alas! orthodox: the terms "Jesuit" and "orthodox" and/or "faithful to the Magisterium" weren't always mutually exclusive like they can more-often-than-not be today).
PAB

 

[SawaFish]

Though I can't speak for the D2000 I found the K271s to have a more enjoyable sound signature but the D5000 was technically better with the biggest difference being that you can actually enjoy good bass with a D5000 while with the K271s it always stays in the background unless you listen to techno/hardcore where it's mainly bass...

 

[Tiemen]

To give a more balanced opinion on the D2000, this is what I liked in them:
rich sound, gives a wow effect, a lot of bass, tons of details, good soundstage, great impact and presence with rock (slam, oomph).

And I agree with Pataburd: a wearisome hobby it is sometimes indeed.

 

[pataburd]

For rock, the D2000 are awfully tough to beat, IMHO--emphasis on "humble". : )