Bobby B.
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2005
- Posts
- 86
- Likes
- 12
I just left our car 10 minutes ago. I hope I can find the right words right now. I'm pretty tired. 15 hours of driving, 8 hours of walking at the IFA. Still excited and impressed though. I almost got deaf and blind, you wouldn't believe the lots of electronical stuff there
. Sorry if some images are blurry.
The IFA in Berlin is known to be the biggest trade fair of consumer electronics with over 1000 exhibitors. To mention a few I’ve visited:
AKG
Sennheiser
Beyerdynamic
Sony
Marantz
Grado, Stax as well as any headphone amp producer have missed though. But that didn't matter, the day got exciting enough.
I've listened to the following headphones:
AKG K 27i/k 601/k 701 (amp?)
Sennheiser HD 595/600/650 with Lehmann Audio amp (about 700€)/Orpheus with HEV90 tube/other new models
Beyerdynamic DT 770/880/990 (amp?)
Seeing the AKG thread growing pretty fast, I guess you'd all like to know what they sound like
Keep in mind that the music as well as the amps were new to me, that means the impressions are subjective and could differ from person to person.
AKG
The first exhibitor I've visited. There were two white leather sofas, both with the new K 601 and K 701 to their left and right. The sofas were free, so I sat down, put on the K 701 ... The music was strange, kind of jazz mixed with electronic
. Their dynamic sound and agility just blew me off. Very detailed highs and punchy and deep bass dominate the sound. Compared to my HD 650 they seem to be for listening analytically. Soundstage was also quite impressive, but no better than the Senn's IMO. But there's one thing about them I've really disliked: The sound is very close and gets quite stressy at high volumes. I haven't listened to Grados yet, but from what I've read in these forums, I think the Grado-lovers here should give this one a try. Ordinary sound, but they didn't fit my taste.
Then I tried the K 601. Considering they almost cost only half the price of the k 701, I would say the k 601 is a serious price recommendation. Sure, you'll miss that unique bass and those outstanding trebles, but the sound is just completely different. It is further away which made me breathe a sigh of relief, it reminded me on the DT 880, same price, they just look really beautiful and are as far as quality is concerned simply much better though. So don’t get confused about the new AKGs: their design is quite similar, but their sound is defined completely different
There has also been released another portable pair of headphones: the K 27i. That new folding technology makes it a little tricky to put them on, but once you’ve figured this out you will be served an appropriate sound, dominated by the bass. Don’t know about the Grado SR-60s or other good portable phones, so I can’t say if the price of 60€ is justified or judge them at all.
Summary:
K 701
+ outstanding highs and bass
+ clear mids
+ nice soundstage
+ futuristic design
+ storage cradle
+ quality
- price
- analytically defined sound (subjective)
Pics: Pic 1 , Pic 2 ,
Pic 3
K 601
+ price
+ quality
+ balanced highs and bass
+ design
Pics: Pic 1 , Pic 2
K 27i
Pics: Pic 1 , Pic 2
Sennheiser
The definite highlight for me. They exhibited the complete headphones and microphone range as well as a High End Room (pic) with 3 seats, a 5.1 sound system, the HD 595, 600, 650 equipped with Lehmann Audio amplifiers for each of them as well as two (!) Orpheus connected to one HEV90 amp. I really was excited about having the pleasure to test these often called “best headphones ever”
. I was stunned when I first saw the HEV90 in the High-End room, almost jumping through the glass to touch the Orpheus. So I grabbed them and put them on. Wow, they're really light! Of course the Orpheus does have better highs, mids, bass and soundstage as the other 3 HDs, but that didn’t surprise me. What excited me the most was something else: it was like they weren’t there. When you put them on and the music starts, you wouldn’t want to believe that the sound comes from these cans, it’s placed inside your head, floating around your ears. Due to their low weight you will forget you're wearing them after a minute. The Orpheus isn’t just better than the rest of Sennheiser headphones, it’s a completely different and new experience, giving “High End” a new definition.
Back to reality: I’ve had the first listen with the HD 600, too, which differed a lot from their big brother, the HD 650 and in the end I’m really happy to own these, because I really can’t say I like the very detailed sound the HD 600 came up with.
That event really made my day or even my year.
Pics: HD 580, 600, 650 , New HDs , High-End Room door , High-End Room wall ,Orpheus 1 ,Orpheus 2 Orpheus Room 1 ,Orpheus Room 2 ,PX100 White Series
Beyerdynamic
The first time I listened to this brand. The sound of the DT 880 is quite similar to the HD650’s, but I neither liked their looks, nor was the quality satisfactory (I almost ripped off the headband when I grabbed them first, because one side of the phones wasn’t fastened properly to it). I didn’t see a reason for using them instead of my Senns; my first impression was “a low budget HD 650”. If you want better cans for this price, then I would recommend the AKG k 601. My opinion might change though, my father met an employee of Beyer and he said I could borrow his DT 880 for a while.
I found that the dt 880/990 only differ a little. I actually don't understand why you have to pay 50€ more in order to get the 990.
All in all I find the sound of beyers quite good, but nothing special. You have to love this brand for their online customizer though. And for the two Beyerdynamic cups they gave me for free
Sony
Hmm, I didn’t manage to listen to their high-end phones unfortunately. I’ve been looking in their hall for minutes, but all I found were mid-range phones, no sign of the MDR-SA series.
Update:
Anyway I forgot to mention Marantz . They've had some awesome SACD-Player-Amplifier combos connected to HD 595s. They were almost as impressive as Orpheus, because of high quality CDs, while the Orpheus was connected to a DVD-Player which had some Live-DVDs of Norah Jones and Shania Twain inserted.
Pics: Marantz , CD-player-Amp Combos , SACD Player , 9000€ Amp
All in all a day I won't ever forget. I need to assimilate this event, might have enjoyable dreams as well. Back to the car
The IFA in Berlin is known to be the biggest trade fair of consumer electronics with over 1000 exhibitors. To mention a few I’ve visited:
AKG
Sennheiser
Beyerdynamic
Sony
Marantz
Grado, Stax as well as any headphone amp producer have missed though. But that didn't matter, the day got exciting enough.
I've listened to the following headphones:
AKG K 27i/k 601/k 701 (amp?)
Sennheiser HD 595/600/650 with Lehmann Audio amp (about 700€)/Orpheus with HEV90 tube/other new models
Beyerdynamic DT 770/880/990 (amp?)
Seeing the AKG thread growing pretty fast, I guess you'd all like to know what they sound like
AKG
The first exhibitor I've visited. There were two white leather sofas, both with the new K 601 and K 701 to their left and right. The sofas were free, so I sat down, put on the K 701 ... The music was strange, kind of jazz mixed with electronic
Then I tried the K 601. Considering they almost cost only half the price of the k 701, I would say the k 601 is a serious price recommendation. Sure, you'll miss that unique bass and those outstanding trebles, but the sound is just completely different. It is further away which made me breathe a sigh of relief, it reminded me on the DT 880, same price, they just look really beautiful and are as far as quality is concerned simply much better though. So don’t get confused about the new AKGs: their design is quite similar, but their sound is defined completely different
There has also been released another portable pair of headphones: the K 27i. That new folding technology makes it a little tricky to put them on, but once you’ve figured this out you will be served an appropriate sound, dominated by the bass. Don’t know about the Grado SR-60s or other good portable phones, so I can’t say if the price of 60€ is justified or judge them at all.
Summary:
K 701
+ outstanding highs and bass
+ clear mids
+ nice soundstage
+ futuristic design
+ storage cradle
+ quality
- price
- analytically defined sound (subjective)
Pics: Pic 1 , Pic 2 ,
Pic 3
K 601
+ price
+ quality
+ balanced highs and bass
+ design
Pics: Pic 1 , Pic 2
K 27i
Pics: Pic 1 , Pic 2
Sennheiser
The definite highlight for me. They exhibited the complete headphones and microphone range as well as a High End Room (pic) with 3 seats, a 5.1 sound system, the HD 595, 600, 650 equipped with Lehmann Audio amplifiers for each of them as well as two (!) Orpheus connected to one HEV90 amp. I really was excited about having the pleasure to test these often called “best headphones ever”
Back to reality: I’ve had the first listen with the HD 600, too, which differed a lot from their big brother, the HD 650 and in the end I’m really happy to own these, because I really can’t say I like the very detailed sound the HD 600 came up with.
That event really made my day or even my year.
Pics: HD 580, 600, 650 , New HDs , High-End Room door , High-End Room wall ,Orpheus 1 ,Orpheus 2 Orpheus Room 1 ,Orpheus Room 2 ,PX100 White Series
Beyerdynamic
The first time I listened to this brand. The sound of the DT 880 is quite similar to the HD650’s, but I neither liked their looks, nor was the quality satisfactory (I almost ripped off the headband when I grabbed them first, because one side of the phones wasn’t fastened properly to it). I didn’t see a reason for using them instead of my Senns; my first impression was “a low budget HD 650”. If you want better cans for this price, then I would recommend the AKG k 601. My opinion might change though, my father met an employee of Beyer and he said I could borrow his DT 880 for a while.
I found that the dt 880/990 only differ a little. I actually don't understand why you have to pay 50€ more in order to get the 990.
All in all I find the sound of beyers quite good, but nothing special. You have to love this brand for their online customizer though. And for the two Beyerdynamic cups they gave me for free
Sony
Hmm, I didn’t manage to listen to their high-end phones unfortunately. I’ve been looking in their hall for minutes, but all I found were mid-range phones, no sign of the MDR-SA series.
Update:
Anyway I forgot to mention Marantz . They've had some awesome SACD-Player-Amplifier combos connected to HD 595s. They were almost as impressive as Orpheus, because of high quality CDs, while the Orpheus was connected to a DVD-Player which had some Live-DVDs of Norah Jones and Shania Twain inserted.
Pics: Marantz , CD-player-Amp Combos , SACD Player , 9000€ Amp
All in all a day I won't ever forget. I need to assimilate this event, might have enjoyable dreams as well. Back to the car
