[barroquehead]

Hello everyone. I am new and this is my first post. I bought a pair of AKG K240 studio cans 3 months ago. My previous experience with cans were the old K240M . According to the frequency response graph based on a test by headroom the AKG 240S is not really flat, it overaccentuates bass... When I looked at how they perform the tests in headroom, they say they use "higher than listening level" volume... around 95db?? In my personal experience I do find the K240S heavy on the bass at high volume (high to leave my ears ringing if I listen for an hour), but I think that at low and even medium volume the AKG K240S is flat an very natural sounding, but then again my experience is limited to akgs and I base my thesis in the fact that the sound I get at low volume seems to be the same of the old K240M and the K240S are louder. Perhaps someone with more experience can enlight me? By the way, I love these cans, and only dislike the fact that in hot weather they cook my ears a little.
=255&graphID[]=423]http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=255&graphID[]=423

 

[ounkchicago]

Hi, I am also new to Head-Fi, and bought the AKG K240S two weeks ago. For the most part, I agree with the review posted by ReDVsion here: http://www.headphonereviews.org/revi...on=viewReviews

My opinion: these cans are not even close to being flat (when compared to my Beyer DT880s). They do indeed overaccentuate the bass, as you mentioned above -- unamped, the bass seems to be a complete mess. But amped, the bass is reasonably punchy and much less muddy, although I wouldn't go so far as to call it tight or accurate -- they still seem a little bloated. The mids are where these cans seem to shine -- you get a lot of detail out of the mids and they never seem harsh. The treble is recessed -- it doesn't sparkle as much as the Senns, Beyers, and Grados that I've heard. But because they are recessed, I also suffer less fatigue from longer listening sessions. I haven't quite pinned down why, but lower sibilance from poor recordings (as a result of the recessed trebles) may be one reason.

Overall, I am pleased in some respects and disappointed in other respects. This is one of the best headphones I've used in terms of comfort and low levels of listener fatigue. There is also the sense that they have a "groovy" sound which may complement certain types of music. To me, it seems like they go well with music that has slow, deep bass, rather than fast, punchy bass. However, I'm a little disappointed with the overall sound quality of these cans. The soundstage seems to be kind of a mess, and the overemphasized bass can detract from other elements of the music.

 

[ounkchicago]

barroque, I just realized that you didn't state whether you were using these amped or unamped. I think that unamped, these headphones sound like less expensive headphones (than they actually cost), but amped they sound like more expensive headphones. So I would only use the K240S with an amp. The sound is just too muddy and imprecise unamped.

 

[kramer5150]

I dont find them flat at all. IMHO they are about as colored as any of my Grados, and they are way more colored than the K701 and my A250.

They are one of the bassiest cans I own. On par with the sportapro and an un-modded KSC75

 

[barroquehead]

Ok, I see you both agree on the bass part, but how about the bass at lower volume?? I still think that at low volume the bass is flat, but I could be wrong... What I'd like to know is how does the bass sound in your other headphones at low volume, because if it is flat at high volume on an open headphone, at low volume it should be under flat (very little).. Ounkchicago, I listen to chamber music these days with the akgs plugged directly to my computer. I recently went to a live performance of a quartet and the sound out of my cans sounds just like it using foobar2000 upsampling my cds to 24bit 96kHz. Listening to the rolling stones.. again there is a lot of bass at high volume, but at low volume seems flat. I think the main issue is that if you're going to listen to rock at high volume the bass will be accentuated but it can be corrected using an equalizer. What are your thoughts? How do the Beyers and Grados sound at low volume? Well in any case your akgs are not yet broken in ounkchicago. Give them a month and you'll be as happy as I am, well even happier because you have the beyers to compare them with!! I looked at the review you mentioned and here are my thought on that... This cans don't need an amp in my humble opinion. The old model did, but it was 600 ohms like the senns hd600. These were designed to be plugged directly in a computer if you ask me... Nevertheless, people want to sell amps, and lets face it, we like to buy stuff! But for playing the rolling stones maybe the grados would be better. The whole point of rock is to listen at high volume isn't it?

 

[ManAtWork]

Usually there is decay in bass when under low volume, this applies to all headphones. In fact, AKG is not famous in bass performance, that's the characteristics of this brand. If you want better bass, consider Grados, Beyers. That's why those people like to have good bass wouldn't consider AKG. It isn't necessary to have too much focus on this weakness indeed.

 

[ounkchicago]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barroquehead /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok, I see you both agree on the bass part, but how about the bass at lower volume?? I still think that at low volume the bass is flat, but I could be wrong... What I'd like to know is how does the bass sound in your other headphones at low volume, because if it is flat at high volume on an open headphone, at low volume it should be under flat (very little)..

I see your point barroquehead. If I understand you correctly, you think that the bass is falling off more quickly than the other frequencies when you turn the volume down. I do perceive this as well with my 240's, but I would still not go so far as to call them "flat."

Quote:

Originally Posted by barroquehead Well in any case your akgs are not yet broken in ounkchicago. Give them a month and you'll be as happy as

Thanks for the encouragement. I've been burning them in 24 hours each day at moderate to loud listening volumes. Already, they sound very different than when I first bought them. I'll see how they sound in a month or two.

Quote:

This cans don't need an amp in my humble opinion. The old model did, but it was 600 ohms like the senns hd600. These were designed to be plugged directly in a computer if you ask me... Nevertheless, people want to sell amps, and lets face it, we like to buy stuff! But for playing the rolling stones maybe the grados would be better. The whole point of rock is to listen at high volume isn't it?

I agree that they don't need an amp. You can already make yourself deaf by merely cranking up the volume on your computer (if that is what your current source is). However, the "improvement with amplification" on these headphones is remarkable. Most importantly, I think that amping these cans goes a long way in fixing their greatest weakness -- the muddy bass.

 

[barroquehead]

I'm gonna try to fix my old poweramp and plug them there. Maybe you are right and they do improve with an amp. I also wanted to buy a pair of sennheiser eh-350 to compare the bass and use them in hot days instead of the akgs. Nevertheless I love the sound of them as it is, the only thing I really dislike about all the k240 family is the heat the leatherette pads produce against my skin in hot days. I wonder if that is the case with the more expensive akgs or if the velour earpads make a difference... Does anyone know anything about the eh-350s??

 

[GreatDane]

I used to own both K240M & K240S and comparing them it's obvious that the K240S is colored big time...in a good way to me. I thought the K240M had very good midrange, just not very exciting overall.

 

[ounkchicago]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barroquehead /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm gonna try to fix my old poweramp and plug them there. Maybe you are right and they do improve with an amp.

If you are happy with the way they sound unamped, I suspect you'll be blown away by the way they sound amped.

 

[qazwsx]

I don't find the K240S flat at all. If you are looking for flat buy into a MDRV6 or eH350 or HD280 or something.

 

[barroquehead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatDane /img/forum/go_quote.gif I used to own both K240M & K240S and comparing them it's obvious that the K240S is colored big time...in a good way to me. I thought the K240M had very good midrange, just not very exciting overall.

Do you find them colored at low volume compared to the old K240M? If you do then I'm wrong and they aren't flat at any volume... Maybe this has something to do with the thickness of my skull??

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

Originally Posted by barroquehead /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you find them colored at low volume compared to the old K240M? If you do then I'm wrong and they aren't flat at any volume... Maybe this has something to do with the thickness of my skull??

I never tested that idea(flat at low volume) when I had them. I think that the 2 cans would still sound quite different at low volume though.

Enjoy them.

 

[barroquehead]

Well, I was just gonna leave the idea of flat at low volume but yesterday as I was looking at Grado cans in Headroom I decided to see the most expensive thing they had... The GS-1000. I found the description quite interesting to illustrate the point I started this thread with. See here http://www.headphone.com/products/he...do-gs-1000.php
By the way have a look at how does the AKG K240 Studio compares to the GS-1000 and the sennheiser HD650 as far as frequency response goes. I am sure the stereo image of both this headphones must be superior of that of the k240 Studio but considering the huge difference in price I am loving my AKG K240 Studio more every day.

http://www.headphone.com/technical/p...are+Headphones

 

[slag]

I did feel like the K240S were pretty bass-heavy. It seemed better with my amp. I think these particular headphones can benefit strongly from a proper op-amp synergy.

Nonetheless, I found them to be "respectably flat" for their price range. They're bassier than, say, the HD595s, though.