Some K's 500 impressions
Well, I like the plug and the cable is very good.
But it has the same microphonics as K's 64 when you move the cable near the shells, not a serious matter for me.
About the sound, it sounds balanced, less warm and less forward than TY HP-400s.
They both require an amp to shine. Mine is just enough to make them sound very good, around 5.5 Vrms theorically. There's still a lot of room for improvement.
The other day I tried the 400s on iDSD Black Label, 8 to 10 Vrms on specs, it was like heaven on soundstage and refinement.
So I guess K's 500 would sound even better on a powerhouse but I'll have to wait a couple of weeks.
Otherwise, with less power, it may sound narrow, with a too forward bass, distant midrange and sibilant highs. When well-powered, I don't have these flaws.
Bass is deeeeep, detailed, tight, clean, it roars like an V8 engine, whereas TY 400s is more on (too much) enveloping mid-bass and impact. I have to say on K's 500, it may sound too deep and powering on some tracks
Midrange sounds detailed and full as TY but more forward and warm on TY. Both have beautiful midrange.
Highs are airy, very well extended and no noticeable sibilance. 400s is smoother.
Presentation is less forward than on TY, we have here a very wide but still immersive soundstage and very good resolution, instrument separation.
Overall, K's 500 sounds detailed, balanced, very slightly warm, wide, immersive, well extended, bodied. No lacking, no big coloration.
I'd say these are my favorite earbuds at the moment for home use. It would be more fair to compare these with TY HP650 coming next week and with more power.
I like the cleanness, immersion, refinement of high impedance earbuds that I haven't found on low impedance amped earbuds so far.
Maybe I simply haven't bought the good ones
-----> CAX, Stardust, Blox, Crow, Demun, Edimun, HS but Rose earbuds may be not for me
And there are many other high impedance earbuds, not even speaking of the ones that we are expecting and not released yet...
OMG that's a lot of money! End game is an endless game that we all like to play here.