How dothe AKG K271S compare to the Senn HD280's?
Apr 2, 2004 at 10:04 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 10

appar111

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Just curious as to how these cans compare, as they are both closed, are known to be a little bass-shy, etc.

I know the AKG's would probably be comfier, and the Senns would be easier to drive. The AKG's also have the option of a fairly easy cable swap from either Zu Cable or Stefan Audio Art. But the Senns isolate verrry well.

Biggest difference would be the price-- are the K271's and HD280's in the same ballpark as far as sound signature, and would the AKG's be worth the almost $100 extra?

Does anyone out there have both sets of cans and can give us a comparison of the two?

thanks,
appar111
 
Apr 2, 2004 at 10:13 PM Post #2 of 10
I've had both, I vascilated on which I liked better. I think the K271's had better mids & highs certainly, and if they had great bass I would have never gotten rid of them. I ended up with a pair of Beyer DT250-250's for the same price as the K271's and am much happier with them. Best closed headphone's I've heard, and that includes the CD3000.
 
Apr 2, 2004 at 10:26 PM Post #3 of 10
Wow, the 250-250's are that good, huh? I wonder how they'd sound out of my rotel integrated.. Since they're 250 ohms, they'd probably be an even better match, impedance-wise, than the HD280's...

Would you characterize the 250-250's sound as warm, bassy, clean?
 
Apr 2, 2004 at 11:17 PM Post #4 of 10
Compared to my HD600's, they are a bit stronger in the bass, very similar in the mids (pretty damn good), and the mid-treble is a bit more forward, and the upper treble a bit more recessed. They are the only closed can I've had or heard that came anywhere near being in the same league as the 600's for even handed musical production. The stronger bass is a plus in my book :) Of course the 600's being open lets them soundstage better, but other than that the 250-250's hang with them quite well.
 
Apr 2, 2004 at 11:48 PM Post #6 of 10
HD280 and K271 sound fairly similar, however the K271 has more detail. a more forward midrange, quicker bass, and a smoother high end. The Zu cable helps bring out more bass extension and bass and midrange detail. Both suffer from sounding quite closed in and not as "alive" as the CD3000 oropen cans like the HD600, or Grados. I will have the Ultrasone HFI-650DVD fairly soon to compare with them.
 
Apr 2, 2004 at 11:54 PM Post #7 of 10
To me the HFI-650DVD sounded cheaper and more artificial than both the 280's and the K271's and were far below the 250-250's. Glad I sold them relatively quickly.
 
Apr 2, 2004 at 11:56 PM Post #8 of 10
Quote:

Originally posted by Tyson
To me the HFI-650DVD sounded cheaper and more artificial than both the 280's and the K271's and were far below the 250-250's. Glad I sold them relatively quickly.


I have read a number of people stating they have a similar sound signature to the CD3000, so they intrigue me. I was trying to decide between the the HD280 (would like a little more bass) and V6 (too much bass and highs) for portable use, but a deal came along on the Ultrasone's that I couldn't pass up.
 
Apr 3, 2004 at 12:03 AM Post #9 of 10
The 271 kicks the 280s ass - if you hear the 271 you'll never go back to the 280. It has a much stronger, lower bass, and the painful treble of the 280 is gone.

I had the 250-250 and returned them because the bass out of the 271s was better. This isn't what most people find, so I wonder if mine were somehow faulty. But in my experience, side by side, the 271 had more bass.
 
Apr 3, 2004 at 12:07 AM Post #10 of 10
Can't say much about the HD280, but I might add that the AKG271S has good bass...but good low bass, greater than that of DT250, which I recall someone having accurately described as "subterranean." On the other hand, it is a bit lacking in midbass compared to the DT250.
 

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