[mobettermusic]

Hello Head Fi'ers from a newbie. I've a chance to acquire a newish pair of AKG K1000's. Wondering if they'd work nicely with my AT HA5000 headphone amp - provided I bought a 4 pin XLR to a 1/4" headphone cable (moon audio). Your views are welcome...

 

[Elephas]

I've tried using the K1000 with the AT-HA5000. The results were not so good.

The RSA Raptor, Lehmann Black Cube Linear, Corda Opera, Prehead MkII SE and other headphone amplifiers I tried also did not perform well with the K1000.

The only headphone amp I tried that did OK was the AudioValve RKV, though I didn't think it was a good match.

I think the K1000 really needs a speaker amp.

 

[boomana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephas /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think the K1000 really needs a speaker amp.

Yes. They need speaker amps. That's why they come terminated for use with one! There are a couple headphone amp designers that are voicing amps for K1000s (Eddie Current, Woo), but I can only think of two specific models out there, though there may be more.

 

[Elephas]

Yes, momma, we will all procure speaker amps for the K1000.

 

[swt61]

The Nelson Pass designs are well suited to the K1000. While I haven't heard them with a 300B SET amp, I'd imagine that wood be heavenly.

 

[boomana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephas /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, momma, we will all procure speaker amps for the K1000.

Now that's a good son!

BTW, the Woo5, a headphone amp, sounds pretty good with the K1000s. I should be hearing it again in a couple weeks with the stock tubes now replaced with Western Electrics. The owner says it's even better, as it should be. Also, jp11801 has the Eddie Current HD2, which he's saying is also impressive with the K1000s. I heard it only before its recent tweaks, and liked it well with other headphones, but not so much with the K1000s. I trust John's opinion (at least on this), and will be very interested to hear the amp now.

 

[mobettermusic]

Thanks for your views - do keep them coming.

I sense it wouldn't be wise to pair K1000 with HA5000.

I'm fortunate to have a few options to use a proper power amp with these, but would rather not, so alternatively does anybody have experience with the Darkvoice 337 which certainly looks and feels the part. I know its not a seperates power amp rather a dual mono amp designed solely for headphone use.

A trade friend I know swears it's best he's heard with several headphones (Grado 1000 and RS1, AKG K701, bunch of Sennheisers, Ultrasone Edition 9). He has lots of head amps lying around at home because he listens mostly on phones at home including Graham Slee, Lehman, headroom, Earmax silver anniversary.

He's trying to tempt me into buying one - he must drop his price considerably though for me to even think about it seriously, but then that's the rip-off UK market for you I guess.

I might take one 337 on loan for a few weeks if it would drive the K1000s - any opinions out there? Perhaps an amateur review by myself beckons?

 

[boomana]

Repeat after me: S-P-E-A-K-E-R A-M-P

 

[Kees]

Is the Darkvoice 337 a speaker amp?
No it is not a speaker amp.

Believe me the K1000 want 10w/channel (or more).

 

[speakerhead]

how many amps can the K1000's handle?

 

[J-Pak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakerhead /img/forum/go_quote.gif how many amps can the K1000's handle?

They're hard to drive, but you can't biamp them or anything like that (if that's what you mean)

You can use two monoblocks.

 

[mofonyx]

Monoblocks?

2x First Watt F4.

 

[Veniogenesis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Pak /img/forum/go_quote.gif They're hard to drive, but you can't biamp them or anything like that (if that's what you mean) You can use two monoblocks.

He was probably asking about the number of amperes.

But most probably he meant "watts".

 

[boomana]

Impedance: 120 Ohms

Sensitivity: 74dB for 1mW free field

Power Requirement : 100mW for 1Pa

Power Rating: 1000mW (test tone DIN 45582) corresponds to approx 104dB



You need 10w/channel.

 

[robm321]

Quote:

Originally Posted by swt61 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Nelson Pass designs are well suited to the K1000. While I haven't heard them with a 300B SET amp, I'd imagine that wood be heavenly.

X 2 - a pricey 300B would be ideal, but Nelson Pass amps synergizes very well for less.