[Skye]

I'm beginning to wonder if the excessive sibilance is part of the receiver or something else in the signal chain...

I guess burn-in and a proper headphone amp will tell.

Edit: I suppose I should be editing instead of making more posts.

On one particular song, I could clearly hear the lead electric guitar on the left side, but as the lead riffs sustained, the reverb carried to the right side of the soundstage in waves. It makes me wonder how it was done, and how I can reproduce the effect.

You could say I am curious about a lot of my favored albums and songs, although I wouldn't quite call it "rediscovering" my music. I'll have to wait for a truly superior home system in a dedicated listening room for that, maybe with some Sonus Fabers. MMM!

 

[lejaz]

Keep us updated. I'd like to know if the harshness in the high end and sibilance diminishes as they burn in and any other changes. According to reports I've read it would take like 10 days or more of constant play to burn them in completely. Don't know how true that is...maybe they will start to change sooner.

 

[Acix]

The harshness will smooth with the burn in, the sibilance stay...It's is in the signal chain or/and the recorded materials. Any professional equipment will show you the true flaws.

 

[lejaz]

I wonder if the OP has tried them with a variety of material. Some recordings are very harsh with the 240DF, but most are not. Just goes to show that the monitoring set up of engineers varies a lot...not to mention their hearing. I hope he leaves them burning in and fills us in on their progress.

 

[Skye]

He might do just that.

 

[lejaz]

It's hard to believe that headphones that are so highly regarded by most (if not all) reviewers would sound so bad, as described. I was hoping to make them my next upgrade, so I'll be very interested to know if they improve.

 

[Skye]

Don't get me wrong, they are good sounding headphones. But I worry I am looking for ideal sound rather than good sound. Also, consider I don't have a proper headphone amplifier yet.

Sometimes I trust my ears, sometimes I feel they are unreliable. Sometimes I can enjoy how good a cheap system sounds regardless of flaws, and sometimes I notice the flaws in $20,000+ listening room stereos. I'm no expert, just a kid. A kid who is afraid he will never be able to afford what he really likes to hear.

...but I think these headphones are a step in the right direction.

Have you read Daniel Yee's weblog about the AKG k701 with the Heed Canamp? Google "Heed Canamp" and it is one of the first results. I find it very interesting.

 

[AmanGeorge]

The Canamp is well known to have excellent synergy with the K701, hopefully it will help a good amount when you get it, as will burn in.

I agree with Acix, though, that some of the issues you're having are bound to be a result of the qualities of the recordings themselves. The AKGs are extremely unforgiving and the differences between recordings can be very dramatic.

 

[lejaz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skye /img/forum/go_quote.gif Have you read Daniel Yee's weblog about the AKG k701 with the Heed Canamp? Google "Heed Canamp" and it is one of the first results. I find it very interesting.

I'm going to check it out...thanks. I'm using the emu 0404 amp now, but if the k701 is not going to have good synergy with that, I will probably try another hp that will. I don't have the money to spend to upgrade both the headphones and amp. My re-cabled k240DF has great extended treble, but I've rarely experienced the kind of harshness and sibilance you described with the k701. When I have, it was obviously coming from a poor recording. Keep 'em burning!

 

[mr. nice]

you obviously know mixing on headphones is not really recommended but.....

ask around gearslutz.com for what those guys use. mostly i see them with K701s HD600s and even the HD650 (which i personally prefer over the HD600 for mixing, though i'm no engineer by any means) knowing your equipment is more important than anything. obviusly

i think that nothing can beat the HP1000s or HD800s for pro audio work in a studio but obviously now we are in another league.

 

[mr. nice]

thinking things thru a bit and looking over your budget id personally do the following:
sell whatever you can and put your money into an

APOGEE ONE
and
ATH-M50s

should be a really nice looking and sounding combo. GLUCK!

 

[Skye]

Well, the headphones were nice while they lasted, but now they were ruined. I didn't know it was dangerous not to clean out my ears, and I haven't used a single cutip for seven years. Well, late last night when I was listening to my headphones, I had an ear wax explosion out of my left ear. The phones were covered with hot, sticky wax, and they are permanently colored brown-yellow. The explosion was so forceful that some of the wax got in the left driver making it sound incredibly muddy. Maybe the filament is coated? Can it be cleaned?

They really need to post warnings about these things. Maybe I will sue AKG.

 

[12Bass]

That's just bizarre....! Never heard of it until now.

 

[Adda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skye /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, the headphones were nice while they lasted, but now they were ruined. I didn't know it was dangerous not to clean out my ears, and I haven't used a single cutip for seven years. Well, late last night when I was listening to my headphones, I had an ear wax explosion out of my left ear. The phones were covered with hot, sticky wax, and they are permanently colored brown-yellow. The explosion was so forceful that some of the wax got in the left driver making it sound incredibly muddy. Maybe the filament is coated? Can it be cleaned? They really need to post warnings about these things. Maybe I will sue AKG.

You should see an ear specialist about that.
I had a similar problem once, no explosion though, just stuffed ears, after a good cleaning with a jet of warm water and I couldn't believe my ears, so crisp so clear, you might be in for a surprise.
I don't think AKG's warranty covers exploding earwax, but you could try to take your HP's apart and carefully clean them, with alcohol I guess.
Tough luck though, no one could have seen that coming :O